#but Rylan sees the chance to use it for good

[ghostradiodylan]

I subscribed to a Russian dataminer for cut content from The Quarry. You’re not supposed to share and I understand why and support paying people for their work! Buuuut I also understand why people might be hesitant to pay someone in Russia on a poorly translated website to access this stuff, so I’m gonna take my chances with potentially being banned because a couple of these things the Quarry fandom at large needs to see! Screenshots and discussion under the cut.

[you can subscribe or send tips here if you’re interested, they do have more SMG stuff including cut DPA content]

Thank you @insertlovelyperson for this!

These are somewhat Ryan and/or Dylan centric because I find them the most interesting, but they also had the most story-impacting cut content IMO.

RYAN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO WARN DYLAN ABOUT THE WEREWOLF OUTSIDE THE RADIO HUT.

I know I’ve talked to a bunch of people about this. I know @andromaqves was one and I can’t remember who else but omfg, justice for Ryan!! I think they cut this because they made the werewolf more obvious than Justice's performance indicated but THAT MAKES IT WORSE. DO YOU NOT SEE HOW THAT MAKES IT WORSE YOU GUYS?!

Ryan also could have had the chance to actually get a shot off against Silas in the version of the radio hut scene where Dylan isn't bitten, and he'd think he had killed the werewolf.

Then as he's heading back to the radio hut, Dylan warns him that it's coming back and we get the rest of the scene as it plays out in the game.

I get why they cut this, because if they established for certain that regular bullets can't actually harm the werewolves, there's no stakes to Abi potentially shooting Nick, but it's a cool sequence, it's always good to see the boys work together, and it would have been AWESOME if Ryan could have been infected here instead of Dylan!

This exchange just made me laugh:

Kaitlyn to Ryan: you really look up to Mr. Hackett.

Ryan: Yeah, he’s always been nice to me.

Kaitlyn: Well, so have I!

Ryan: A few days ago I slipped on wet grass and ate shit and you laughed and shouted ‘Nice Walkin Christopher Walken' and everyone called me that for the rest of the day.

Kaitlyn: See, you get my best bits! 😂😂😂

Dylan reads Ryan the synopsis of a romance novel they find in Mr. H’s office that appears to be a thinly veiled reference to the bonfire love triangle. 😂

Ryan and Kaitlyn: actually showing care and concern for Dylan post-amputation instead of pretending it didn't happen.

Dylan, in shock but still an asshole: I'm fine, I’m doing better than Kaylee Hackett. 💀

Again, this is just funny and a great question from Emma.

Abi can not be into the kiss with Nick, presumably due to the no-longer-in-place relationship system. I'm betting if you didn't get their relationship stats up you would get this result.

Laura claims to Ryan that Chris Hackett drunkenly admitted that his family was KILLING PEOPLE who were investigating them, but there's nothing else to back that up in the datamine that I've found so far (not that I think she made it up lol, just that it would have been interesting if the Chris scene was cut to remove that too).

And the one my heart can't fucking take, Kaitlyn and Dylan on the way to the scrapyard variant where Ryan has kissed Kaitlyn at the bonfire and they actually talk about it because she asks Dylan if he's jealous of Laura getting to go off with Ryan. He says he's jealous but not of Laura...

"You're pretty awesome and I'm... just Dylan" 😭 😭 😭

And, "you guys seem like you've got a connection"?? Kaitlyn as Rylan shipper, confirmed. 💖

More details and discussion on the Discord @itscomingupaces made us: https://discord.com/invite/RHgdqBBXh7

[bloomingkyras]

Carmen: Hey..I'm sorry.. I just gave the girls their bedtime and I didn't know that u stop by at this early. If not u can meet them. U can go to their bedroom if u want?

Juan: (shaking his head) Nah..it's ok. I will meet them tomorrow morning. I just come to ask about u? would u mind if we have a talk?

Carmen: Sure..I'm waiting for my cake to bake. What u want to talk about?

Juan: I see, that u look a bit different after we breakup..Did u see someone? I'm sorry, if i'm too nosy. Did the girls know it?

Carmen: No..That not my priorities for now. I'm happy of what I have. Maybe someday. By the way, Corrin call me the other day, that u both had a son? It's true, Juan?

Juan: (sigh) I thought she will not telling u before me. But yeah..It's true.His name is Rylan. And I'm gonna take the custody on him, since Corrin's husband won't allow her to take care of him after he turn 6. And someday I want him to meet his sister's. If u don't mind?

Carmen: I'm not sure..Let's ask them. I'm sure they will ok with that. If u ask me.

Juan: Are u sure,u don't see any one? Can I still got a chance, to be a good dad and (sigh) maybe? It's ok if not.. (touch her face) Carmen, u are a greatest mum, that I have see..again..I'm sorry of what happen to us.. I do really hope that u don't have grudge on me. And thanks for letting me be a part of this situations. I'll better get going before late. See u guys tomorrow.

Carmen: Thanks, Juan..I let them know, that u coming tomorrow if they awake. Take care.

*Creator's notes: I don't know how to explain but both Carmen and Juan decided to be co-parenting and declared their relationships as friends.I also forgot to said that, Carmen got the custody of both girls and Juan will take turn to take care of them on weekend or when the girls need him and vice versa. And a bit tea, Rose know that both of her Mama and Papa are not living together.

[evertidings]

maybe it's my (unhealthy?) need to fix everything, but i was quite disappointed that i couldn't follow Blane to the bathroom, then talk some sense into A and then beg K and Rylan to give us one more chance. it's so hard to choose who to spend time with, and even though i only want to romance my sassy half-vampire <3, i still want to read the scenes with the others to get to know and befriend them. please don't take this the wrong way, it's just that all your characters are so damn interesting <3

my initial thought when i got this ask (in the kindest and nicest way possible) was kinda like “well, we can’t always get we want.” but i was playing @infamous-if yesterday and hit a part where the game branched off into three scenes and it kinda hit me that oh fuck, this is what it feels like to be a player and not see all the scenes at once.

like, i get it. as a reader i do get it. you want to do all three (or however many) scenes you want in one playthrough but the game just, just doesn’t allow it. but as a writer i giggle a little because, well, it just entices you to play more. these scenes are such boosters for replayability. i don’t even think it’s intentional half the time they just… are. that’s the beauty of these games i guess. if you want to play all the branches, that’s a good sign :))

[pbandjz]

𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠- 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐱 𝐟𝐞𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐂/𝐖- 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭/𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐰

–𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞 (𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝) 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥, 𝐑𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!--

DISCLAIMERRR!!!

(IM SORRY IF THERES ANY MISSSPELLS ILL FIX IT IN THE MORNING THIS IS A RUSHED POST IM SORRY READERS <333)

Chapter 2

You begin to wake up as you hear a hurried knock on your door. The sun shining through the sheer curtains hits you in the eyes. You rub the sleepiness from them and push open the curtains to see outside. You can hear the water moving against the boat as it flows swiftly through it. You start to get up from your comfortably thin sheets. Making your way to the door, you hear Dottie outside talking to other people. You let out a tired groan before opening the door. “Good Morning sleepy head!” Dottie barges into your room along with Nana, Aphmau, Katelyn and Lucinda. Closing the door behind her, she looks at you with bright eyes. “Soooo….?” Dottie looks at you expectantly. “So..? what??” You look around at the girls as they get comfortable on the floor and bean bags. “Well you know ... I saw how Blaze was holding you last night and I couldn't help but tell the girls about it!!” She looks up at you apologetically as you stumble onto the edge of your bed and she sits on a pillow she took off your bed. Your eyes widen and your face flushes a bright red. You throw yourself back onto your bed as the room erupts in giggles and chuckles. You get up and shoot a glare at the pouting Dottie you wrap yourself in your comforter and reach for your pillow. You smile stupidly and giggle into your pillow while wiggling, making everyone giggle and let out teasing “oooos”. You look up at the group of girls keeping only your eyes visible. You give them a nervous look. “NO WAYYY” Nana giggles and holds onto Lucinda for emotional support so she doesn't explode. Lucinda pats her head comforting her and chuckles. “What happened after Dottie and the boys left anyways? All Dottie told us is what she saw happen before making Daniel and Rylan leave you alone with that Blaze guy~”. Your jaw drops as you turn your head to Dottie giving her a fake glare pulling away from the pillow. “Yeah! Tell us what happened!” Katelyn looks up at you from the bean bag with a teasing grin. You look around the room nervously and Dottie's tail starts wagging with anticipation. You turn to meet Nana's eyes sparkling with joy on the verge of squealing and her tail swaying in the air excitedly. You let out a long sigh before putting the pillow on your lap. 

After a longer pause, you break the deafening silence. “....I think he kissed my head while I was falling asleep…after he carried me to my room last night..” You can't bring yourself to make eye contact with the group but you can hear Nana start to squeal and giggle silently. You notice after a moment of stunned silence someone had stood up. You feel warm hands wrap around your wrists, prying them off your shame pillow. You look up at Dottie, “THIS IS TOTALLY YOUR CHANCE!!” The other girls start humming in agreement. Before you can pull your hands away, Dottie drops them and puts her hands on your shoulders with a more sincere smile. “It's been enough time y/n…you should really go for it this summer..” She looks at you almost worried but with a smile nonetheless. You look around again to soft worried smiles and quiet agreements. You look back at her with a soft smile. ”I-I'll go for it..” You nervously reply. Dottie sits back down on the pillow. Nana continues to giggle and yap about the two of you, You laugh and continue to converse with the group in a circle on the floor. The group falls silent as a knock on the door surprises them.

“Hey y/n?”. You can tell its blaze by his voice. Dottie gives you "the look" again along with everyone else in the room. He knocks again after a few seconds pass by. ”Is she still asleep?” You hear him whisper to himself. You see Dottie attempt to say something but before she could, you stumble to cover her mouth with your hands. He knocks on the door once more but much quieter making Nana giggle. Damn. Worse timing ever Blaze. You curse in your head.

Sighing, you get up and slowly open the door. Looking up at the sleepy red-haired boy. You can see his eyes wandering into the room as Nana, Katelyn, Lucinda and Dottie giggle. “Oh! I'm sorry, is now a good time better?” He whispers scratching his chest. “YE- ahem. Yeah! Now is a good time! Don't mind them..” You giggle nervously. “They barged in this morning." You close the door behind you and lean against it smiling while drifting your eyes away with embarrassment. He chuckles and brings his hand to rest it on your head. You look up at him surprised. “What?” He smirks, looking into your eyes. This time his hair was bright red and the light coming through the hall window was shining on his blue and green eyes. You blush softly and smile. “Nothing, how'd you sleep?” He asks while pulling his hand off your head and into the pocket of his sleeping pants. You think for a moment. “Hmm, pretty good actually. It's my first time sleeping on a boat. I'm surprised I didn't get sick” You giggle. “uh how'd you sleep?” You ask looking into his gentle gaze. Your heart skips a beat when you make eye contact with such loving eyes. But you keep your ground and keep looking. Blaze brushes his fingers through his hair. “I slept pretty good too. I'm glad you got your rest. I had a talk with Guy this morning. He said we’d be on the Island by tonight or tomorrow morning. Anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to join us for breakfast! You can tell the girls too if you want”. You smile at him. “Thanks for letting me know Blaze. I'll be sure to tell them. I'm sure they're hungry after bothering me this early.” You both giggle and wave your goodbyes. You attempt to open the door but you can feel someone holding the door closed. You push it open and watch as the group stumble to their feet and look down in shame. “Breakfast is waiting for you. We can talk about this later..” You point out of the room as you watch them walk out with their heads down. You close the door and change into something cute and comfy with your bathing suit under it. You planned on finally putting the outdoor pool to good use before getting to the island.

 As you walk out you can hear the sound of chatter over the faint sound of sizzling bacon. Walking into the room, Dottie pats the seat in between her and Blaze. "Saving it to tease me.." You think, giving her a glare before sitting on the stool. Giving Blaze a soft sleepy smile. “Your outfits are pretty cute you know?” You can feel your cheeks turn a soft red. “Thanks..” You couldn't look around or it would make it obvious but you could feel the gazes of all the girls burning in your direction. You look away casually. You were correct. They were all giving you “the look”, but stopped before anyone else saw it. You roll your eyes and watch as Aaron serves Aphmau breakfast, and then kisses her on the head. You smile but your heart yearns a little bit. For someone (BLAZE COUGH) to embrace you like that. He finished plating and serving all the bacon and took a seat next to the short girl. All you hear is the sound of crunchy bacon being bitten into. But all you can think of is soft lips meeting the skin on her forehead. As you finish up you notice Blaze has also finished. He looks down as you both get up from your seats and smiles at you. Before you can think of something to say you were interrupted by an excited giggle. You turn to see Nana. She ducks and avoids looking at you. She was watching the entire thing. “What's wrong Nana?” Zane asks nervously. “Hm? Oh! Nothing, I'm just uhh excited! To go to the pool today!” “ Me too!” You blurt out. “Oh, ok then.. Well, we can go after this if you'd like Nana.” Zane smiles at the pink-haired Meif’wa as she giggles and hugs his arm. “Who wants to join me and Zane?” She asks, swaying her tail around happily. Everyone but Lucinda chimes in to agree. “I'm more of a beach girl. I'll stay out of the water if anyone needs me.” We all head outside to the top of the boat. The blue sky cleared of any gloominess. A few clouds are enough to make a small cooling breeze pick up on this hot sunny day. It was relaxing. You slipped out of the baggy clothes to reveal a soft pink and blue bathing suit. Nana had helped you pick one out. It fits you perfectly. Reaching for the bag Nana had brought with her, you pull out 2 bottles of sunscreen. You gesture for Nana to come to you and she does happily. You both open a bottle and Nana yells at all the boys that weren't already putting some on, to line up in front. You watch as Blaze, Daniel, Rylan, and Garroth all fight their way out of the pool. Blaze and Garroth being in the lead stand in front of you. Before Garroth gets a word in, Nana calls Zane to come get sunscreen as well. He gets up while groaning and mumbling to himself. “Aw, that's not fair!” Garroth pouts and grumbles. You both get to work. You feel extra nervous to touch Blaze but you do it anyway to not seem suspicious. You put a little bit on his shoulders and chest. You can feel his eyes staring at you. You look up and he is. Your heart skips another beat as you continue to spread the lotion across his tanned arms. He chuckles as you hesitate to rub the sunscreen across his chest. So you pull his hand out and put some on his hand. “Spin,” you say cheerily. Spreading more on his back you can't help but admire it while gliding your hands gently but firm enough to not leave a white cast. You reach up to his neck to cover the nape of his neck and shoulders. You can see the goosebumps form on his skin as you gently rub your hands against his neck making you giggle. When you're done you pat him on the back. He turns to you and grabs the bottle from your hands. He sits on the chair and pulls you in closer by your arm. Gently place his hands covered in sunscreen on your arms one by one. He makes his way to your chest. He carefully covered it in sunscreen, trying not to get his hands on or in your swimsuit. His hands were big and callus but his grip on your side held you still and the gentle but firm rubbing made you turn red. He finishes the front and turns you around. Finishing up, you look at each other and finish helping everyone else put sunscreen on.

[izayoichan]

Lucas just smiled and nodded, as the two of them planned to go shopping first and then help River after. It was nice though, to see that one of Carl’s two kids clearly took after him, and was learning in his fathers restaurant. Although he loved the coffee that River made for him, neither had the skills to teach Liam, so that this chance came along, made him very happy.

With that summer did what it always seemed to do, which was go by way too fast. Liam juggled his summer job with the barista, and helping out at the shelter, and both Lucas and River noticed how much happier he seemed than when he was at school. Both Dinah and Logan had gotten their first summer jobs as well, but they did spend quite a lot of time at the shelter alongside Liam. For Rylan and Ye-min the summer was filled with lots and lots of practice. They were slowly getting their first throw into their routine, so it was a lot of off-ice practice, on top of a lot on the ice. Although they both said Ty didn’t have to, he was mostly found at the rink or at their practice. Especially when they used the strength training, which Tyvan was also doing after a talk with his parents and Vy, to help him train both his legs and to help him with his upper body strength on the side. And where you found Tyvan, you would also find Amuary. Of course, when they had time, they joined the others for being at the shelter, movie nights, outside tent nights, and in general, all the good things of summer. 

Beginning - Previous - Next

[aphilosopherchair]

Ghosts Feeling the Economic Squeeze

The economy is tough for everyone, but it's especially tough for ghosts. With so many people out of work, ghosts are finding it hard to find jobs that they're qualified for.

"It's a ghost town out there," said Casper, a ghost who has been looking for work for months. "There just aren't enough jobs for everyone."

"It's been really competitive," said Bryan Wilson, another ghost, who was laid off from his job as a night watchman. "So many other ghosts are also looking for work."

Miss Frizzle, a ghost who was a former teacher, said that she's been struggling to find a new job. "I'm qualified and I have experience, but no one seems to want to hire a ghost," she said.

But why do ghosts need jobs? "In a story universe where the paranormal did not exist, we would be just dead. But we have a chance here. And given the customs of the fiction we live in, we need to buy things like ectoplasm and spectral silk to keep that chance. Consumers don't want to read about totally undignified and unclothed ghosts," explained a ghost named Emily.

"Just like us humans, ghosts have needs to feel comfortable and safe," said Stella C. Ai, an afterlife care expert. "They also want to have a sense of belonging in the world they live in, so they might desire their own homely, private space, which graveyards are not."

"And although they might not require food in the same way humans do, they may still have a hunger for energy, especially if they need to stay buoyant in places haunted by toxicity and apathy," she added.

Many employers are expectedly reluctant to hire ghosts, worried that ghosts would be disruptive or scare away customers.

"We just don't think ghosts are a good fit for our company culture," said one manager, who declined giving her name. "We're looking for someone who is friendly and approachable, and ghosts just don't fit that bill."

Another problem is that ghosts are not as versatile as humans. They can't do many of the jobs that humans do, such as driving, cooking, or cleaning.

"We're pretty limited in what we can do," said another ghost, Floaty. "We can't really interact with the physical world, so that rules out a lot of jobs."

The job market for ghosts is also being affected by the rise of technology. Some companies are now using robots to perform tasks that were once done by ghosts, such as scaring people in haunted houses.

"It's not fair," said Robbie, a ghost who was replaced by a robot. "I'm the real deal, and I can do the job better than any robot."

But some employers are starting to see the benefits of hiring ghosts. Ghosts are often very hard-working and dedicated employees. They're also very good at getting things done without being noticed.

"I've been very impressed with the work of our ghost employees," said Mr. Jenkins, a manager of Happy Inn. "They're always on time and they always get their work done."

Some ghosts are working as actors in ghost movies and TV shows, tour guides in haunted houses, and psychics and mediums.

"It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing," said Ghost of Christmas Past, a ghost who works as a tour guide. "At least I'm getting to see some new places."

A growing group has even started working as influencers on social media. They share their ghostly experiences and advice with their followers, and some have even managed to amass large followings.

"It's a great way to connect with other ghosts and share our stories," said one ghost influencer, who goes by the moniker ghost_with_a_plan. "And it's also a great way to make money."

So while the economic climate is definitely challenging, there are still ways for ghosts to find work. With a little creativity and determination, they can find success in the workforce.

Reported by Rylan Bard, a journalist for Nether Yammer. Additional reporting by Human, a ghost writer, ergh, human ghost writer, ergh, human writer for Nether Yammer.

Check out the rest of this Tumblr site for crucial and actual diversity-themed content.

[wheat-angel]

Questions 1-5 from the Casual Ask Game for Wheatley if he doesn't mind (@dzvagabond)

(Thank you for the ask @dzvagabond ! You're also giving me the chance to answer this with the two different Wheatley's that I F/O. >:3c)

1. Well, go on, introduce yourself!

Oh bloody- THAT'S what I was forgetting to do yesterday! Sorry sorry, I'll get on with that now.

'Ello there! I'm Wheatley Merchant. Here's a picture of me Ry drew.

(Ignore the date that's wrong now whoops)

Uhhh I'm not sure what else to tell you other than what's on that reference, honestly, kinda already covers a lot, yeah? I mean, obviously I'm the one on the left right now. But that's a given. I suppose th@t'S mE-

...uH, 'eLl0?

'Ello?

Oh! Hi there. Sorry had to connect in to see the question- Oh I thought I forgot something! Well, let me do that now: My name is Wyatt Lee. Sector- Nope, not the MCA, Lee.

Uh, 'scuse me. Force of habit, MCA is where I work y'see. J-Just call me Lee. Anyways, I have a drawing of me and Rylan that she drew... Ah! Found it!

Uh, let's see, I'm 7'0- Yes I'm serious and yes the weather is good up here- and as you can see I'm an android. I'm pansexual and use He/Him pronouns. Uh, I think that's all the basics? Let's see, what's next?

(The rest of Lee's responses will be Purple for the sake of ease.)

2. So, how have you and (Rylan) been? What have you two been up to recently?

Been good! Not really much of note being honest. Except Halloween recently, but we just kinda cuddled and ate candy.

Great! The only thing I can think of is we went to a work party for Halloween with some co-workers/friends. Ry's been going out more and more so I can go to a few parties which I appreciate. I personally love em, but I promise I pay it back in full by equally spending time inside with her. And even if they don't wanna go that's OK too!

3. How did you and (Rylan) meet anyways? What was that first encounter like?

...Back in Aperture. Yeahhh that's uh. I don't think I really need to describe the first encounter besides we were in a bad situation and trying to get out of it. So uh. Skip.

It was when Rylan first started working for the MCA. They got scared shitless when they heard my voice for the first time. Nearly jumped a full foot off the ground... Then apologized when they saw me and said "Sorry, you just sounded like a friend I had." Uh, I kinda didn't get it then, but looking back, they were talking about their Wheatley from their world.

4. So, like, how is (Rylan) as a person?

Ohhh where to begin? She's just- They're so amazing y'know? I mean, they're the whole package of kind, generous, steadfast in her morals, loyal, funny... And she is... So beautiful to me. In like- A She AND gender-neutral way? Anyways, honestly, couldn't ask for more.

Well, I mean, what's not to love? She's smarter than she gives herself credit for, they'll be patient with me, well except for when I'm taking my time heheh. That's- That's a joke. Just teasing. Anywho- honestly I love them for the kindness they got, and the moral compass... Plus their laugh is EVERYTHING to me.

...Also, bonus points for being damn pretty. Like my god- They are a fucking knockout.

5. Any upcoming plans with (Rylan)? Like in the next coming week or even month maybe?

Christmas! And uh- otherwise that's kinda it. Nothing really planned.

Oh, just Christmas. And since we went to a Christmas work party last year, and we didn't go to the Halloween one that year... Yeah you can imagine where I'm heading with this one- doing vice versa this year. Though before holidays come to give us our off days, Ry is trying to figure out presents for our close group friends from work. I mean, I am too. One of them is really hard to shop for- *cough cough* Emmerson *cough* -but we'll get through it and then we're scot free to cuddle up during the holidays.

[cupcakecoterie]

@true0neutral - Hazel, half-elf cleric

@miaaoi - Froseth, dragonborn monk

@hyperewok1 - Remi, human paladin/warlock

@lindira - Clarity, tiefling rogue/warlock

Marion - Ava, human ranger

Brian - Barnabus, minotaur fighter

@lovemmawesome - Rylan, wood elf sorcerer

We were missing a @fauxfire76 this particular day on account of travel-related shenanigans, but I stepped in as best I could. It’s way easier with @miaaoi ‘cos Froseth’s quiet; harder to step in for a bard since they’re not generally the quiet types.

Almost immediate problems sprung up because some of the folks I asked to give me the kinds of questions they were researching in their parts of the Silver Vault kind of ... didn’t. So Darvin found that his “bard tales and songs from that particular date and time” section was more about teaching the songs themselves and bardic technique, and Ava got overwhelmed with the sheer level of research material, being more used to guided study with tutors.

Hazel with help from Froseth asked some questions outside the Silver Vault, mostly in relation to Tharizdun and what names he might go by in the Southern Lands beyond Tharizdun and the Chained Oblivion. There weren’t any additional names, but apparently the nomenclature “Chained Oblivion” was reserved for high-ranked ‘people’ and the irredeemably tainted. Anyone who was just worshipping in the common way stuck with Tharizdun, and the question for later became “what do they think Tharizdun is a god of, anyway?”

Clarity stuck with practicalities, for the most part, researching teleportation magics in general and specifically teleportation circles in and around Baronsvere. Most of them weren’t particularly helpful, or potentially buried under rubble or black sludge, but they did see the one in the palace at Blackcrown as a potential entry point for their dealing with King Jain Nerrand III so long as an army of Belarys mercenaries was adequately distracting the standing army of Crownsguard.

Remi and Barnabus were also on practicalities, sort of. They were looking at previous assaults on wellsprings of corruption, trying to look at the “what not to do” elements of it to hopefully guide their own attempts. What they got was more or less horrific, and on their “how to assault a wellspring” list is simply the words “if you don’t have divine protection, just don’t”.

Following on from that, they asked Alisaie to gain access to the World Map, hopefully to figure out any commonalities that might tell them where to find wellsprings in the Elvenwild or Baronsvere. Also to look up some of the creatures Remi and Barnabus saw in their review of wellspring assaults. She’d already pulled up some information on how various sapient species mutate under the corruption, which wasn’t fun for anybody. Unfortunately she didn’t really find anything, since the ecosystem of the Southern Lands is incredibly different than that of most of Elossa and especially the Elvenwild and Baronsvere. She has ‘educated guesses’. That wasn’t followed up on just yet.

Meanwhile, Hazel and Froseth went back to the Mythology Ampitheatre to follow up on her question about how Tharizdun is worshipped in the Southern Lands. Turns out that they don’t have the advances that Alama-Ver has in desert agriculture and the sun is mostly a source of drought for them, so most of their thoughts on the sun involve making it stop being so punishing. So an ‘eater of the sun’ probably doesn’t seem so bad to them. Hazel went vaguely nuclear.

Eventually, they figured out they’d done all they could do for the moment in terms of research and, after a variable night’s sleep and a bit of breakfast, they went to say their good-byes. Legolas the moose sulked until Hazel suggested bringing Legolas to Hearthhome, at least until Remi and Alisaie got the chance to settle down somewhere moose-friendly. The party does not deal well with unhappy animals.

And on that note, they used Hazel’s home-key to go directly from the palace courtyard to the dooryard of Hearthhome.

I’ve actually got the rest of the missed sessions ready for upload now, and I’m going to spam, so I don’t forget. Still need to check if @ladyzolstice has room for a chibi commission and really need to find Frankie on Twitter for a token, though I haven’t seen Frankie on Twitter in awhile so I hope they’re okay. Anyway, that’s all for next week.

[tar-oh]

Pick-a-Card!

So, I’ve decided to try out a pick-a-card. This is taking place of the daily cards from Thursday and Friday. It’s just a general reading, think of it as your daily card, except you get to choose a pile. You’re welcome to choose more than one, especially because some of them are kind of similar messages. Just pick whatever feels right! If you do pick, and it’s not resonating, try another pile. There is a chance there just isn’t a message for you in this pick-a-pile. If that’s the case, sorry! Maybe next time, or you can find another reader on here who resonates better.

Okay, so it goes:

Pile 1: Amethyst

Pile 2: Clear Quartz

Pile 3: We’re calling this the Pink/Gold Rock. I found it in an old jewelry box, and I’m still trying to figure out what it is.

Pile 4: Opalite

So, again. Pick whatever calls to you. You can have more than one.

Pile 1: Amethyst

New Moon in Aries, Waxing Moon, Ace of Wands, Wheel of Fortune, King of wands rx, 10 of pentacles reversed, Temperance and 5 of wands, and algiz. 

“I get so far, so fast.” - So Far, So Fast by The National

This pile seemed to be more work/creativity themed.

You're feeling inspired with new ideas. You're being advised to put these plans into action because you're on the right path. Though, you may be feeling impatient and want to jump right in. Maybe you feel that you're not quite strong enough to do so, but you are.  All that you want is possible, you just need to work for it. Remember not to go too fast and to take time out for your loved ones. Also, be smart with your finances in this time. However, things are in the universes hands, so luck is definitely on your side. For some, you may be meeting someone new. This can be romantic or platonic. They may be able to help you with these new ideas. For others, you may be dealing with an overbearing boss or authority figure. Stand your ground, but don't get too defensive and be kind (I know that really sucks because my first instinct is to chew someone out). But remember, luck is on your side, so all will work out in the end. Pile 2: Clear Quartz

Full Moon in Taurus, South Node, Ace of Cups reversed, Two of Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles, The Artist,  The Magician reversed, 7 of cups, berkana.

"I think about you way more than anything else." - Quiet Light By The National

"All the very best of us string ourselves up for love." - Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks by the National

Oh boy. I sense heartbreak in this pile.

The biggest message I'm getting with this pile is that you're doubting your self-worth. This could have stemmed from a situation involving a heartbreak. I think some of you may have been cheated on (take what resonates).

Others may have gotten into a relationship that seemed promising, only for it to turn out not so great. You may have rushed into things with unrealistic expectations, or found that it was hard to balance this relationship with the rest of your life.

And for others, you may be pursuing something or someone that is actually quite toxic. You've created an unhealthy attachment towards this situation or person, and you need to step back and reevaluate things. The lyrics from Quiet Light, "I think about you way more than anything else," as well as the card South Node suggest this. I'm not saying this is a horrible thing. We all have our obsessions. It's just that we need to figure out which ones are healthy and which ones aren't.

Whichever applies to you, there are a few things you need to know:

One, you need to take a step back and figure out what it is exactly you want. You need a plan. Whether this be a situation involving money or a person, you need to figure out what actions you need to take. Do not rush into things. It's not the time to do so.

Secondly, listen to your intuition. If you're with someone and something feels off, then this is probably not the situation for you. You need to slow down and listen. Chances are, you already know what you need to know, you're just not paying attention.

And lastly, the Full Moon in Taurus talks about Law of Attraction. I'm not going to get into that, but there's something it says in the guide book for this card that I think applies to this: "Value yourself and others will value you too." Trust me, I know how hard it is to get out of a depressive state. I've been depressed the majority of my life. However, once I started trying to be kinder to myself and tried harder to stop doubting myself, I found myself feeling better. I'm not saying this is the end-all-be-all, or that this is going to work for everyone (I think it would be total bullshit to say that, honestly), but what I am saying is that you can program your mind to be nicer. Yes, I still have bad days, but they're less frequent. Life is not all rainbows and roses, but with a little bit of effort, it can have a few more rainbows and roses.

Whatever situation you're in, I'm sorry.  Know this: There is a new start within this situation. You can choose to start new. You can choose to free yourself of this toxic situation. I think this choice gives you power. It won't happen overnight, but an effort can help it happen. You don't deserve to be in this situation. Know that you're not alone (like seriously, if you need to talk, feel free to dm me!) Know that "All the very best of us string ourselves up for love". So, again. You're not alone. Don't let this get you down.

Sorry if this was kind of heavy, but apparently it needed to come through to someone. Maybe this was what you needed to hear to realize what kind of a situation you're in.

Pile 3: Pink/Gold Rock

Full Moon, Seven of Swords, 3 of pentacles, Death reversed, The World, Queen of Cups, Four of Swords and Ansuz (A) rune.

"There's a little bit of hell in everyone." - Rylan by The National

"I'm addicted to the soundtrack. I need the noise."  - Don’t Know Yet by Silversun Pickups

This group has a habit of keeping bad habits. It's okay, we all are there once and awhile. The problem is that you've gotten too comfortable where you're at. You've been stagnant, resisting the change. But, the thing is, when we allow ourselves to become stagnant, we grow apathetic. Is that a life worth living? This refusal to let go of bad habits and even obsessions will not end this chapter of your life. Instead, you'll be stuck reading the same three sentences over and over and none of it is going to register in your brain. You need to work on letting go of the negative and allow change to come in.  

Some of you may need to work on forgiving yourself and others, as well as stop needing to do it all alone. You may need to collaborate with others in order to work through this change. Some of you are just being hardheaded and sneaky. Don't be that way. Honestly, just Death Reversed and Seven of Swords suggest this, but I also have a feeling that one of you needs to hear this. Circling back to the thought about not needing to do it alone, this applies to you especially. You need to be open about your emotions and thoughts. Work through this with someone else.

Others may need to take a break. Clear your mind. You're ignoring your intuition. Clearing your mind may help you quiet all those doubts you have, enabling you to trust your gut. 

Overall, however, a new chapter is beginning. The World and Full Moon signal cycles ending. You're in this stage. It's up to you to be ready. Do you want to keep going back a few pages to reread what you missed while you were repeating those sentences? Or do you want to be able to finish this book and start another one? You have everything you need available to you; whether it's within yourself, or by working with others, it's up to you.

Pile #4: Opalite

Full Moon in Aries, The Lovers, The World, Ace of Pentacles, Seven of Cups, The Tower, Page of Swords, Page of Wands, 8 of Swords, Hagalaz

"Don't you know, someday, somebody will come find you?" - So Far, So Fast by the National 

"Guardian Angel, what do you see? I have tripped on all of your signs." - Romance Languages #1 by Cold War Kids

You are so smart, but you're afraid of the unknown and that's holding you back. You're terrified of what the future brings, so you allow yourself to stay stuck in this mental cage. Living in your daydreams instead of acting them out. You have a curious mind, always striving to learn new things. You're also extremely insightful, and usually you're really good at communicating. But this fear is holding you back, making you feel unfocused and unable to use your voice. I see that some of you may need to make a decision about some sort of union. Maybe this is about the joining of ideas, or a relationship. Whatever this is, it offers stability and the end of a hard chapter. But, to get here, you need to take the blindfold off and free yourself. You're ignoring all of the signs sent to you that it’s time to change, and because of this you're going to experience a tower moment. You have built a foundation that is not stable, and it's going to fall down. It may come as some shocking revelation. Or something painful. I do think this tower moment is avoidable if you already know what this decision is and can act on it, but if not it's out of your control. Once it's happened be building your foundation back up. Just remember this: you're not trapped, you've only convinced yourself this. Hope something in this resonated! I spent a lot of time on this and now I feel like I could sleep for days :( Also, still really in need of more lyrics outside of The National...I swear there’s more in the deck, but those seem to really want to come out these past weeks!

[roadklls]

hello, rylan (27, she/her, gmt+2) again, introducing you to my lil angry hedgehog by the name of kara davidsen + more info, wanted connections. / @redridgeimp​

name: kara davidsen nicknames: n/a age: 31 ethnicity: Indigenous (Awaetlatla First Nations + Himalayan; this is unknown to them, as their arrival in the orphanage was not met with any information regarding their biological family). gender/pronouns: genderfluid, they/them, she/her sexual/romantic orientation: pansexual/demiromantic been in red ridge for: on and off all their life occupation: criminal (mostly drug dealing atm) affiliation: none (deviant, though occasionally will lend a hand to valencia or whoever needs it) positive traits: loyal, observant, clever, headstrong, generous, determinate. negative traits: proud, aggressive, cold, hot-headed, cruel, resentful.

BIOGRAPHY —

(WARNINGS for child abandonment, abuse, bullying, substance abuse, medical misconduct / patient abuse, overdosing, death, violence).

red ridge, nv, 1989.  left, discarded like unwanted leftovers — they found them in a cardboard box, half-freezing, on the doorsteps of the charming orphanage. they were given a name that was supposed to be temporary, until a family would pick them up: kara. something breaking, something thunderous, like the storm raging on the night they’re found. their last name davidsen, from the orphanage of st. david��s. lost in the world, but they soon found an ally in a child left, discarded like they were — delphine, though sharing none of their blood, became their sister.

red ridge, nv, 1993. it was clear from the very beginning that the two would have to fight teeth and nails for their place in the world, but their bond served as a double-edged weapon, kept them safe with one another and the rest of the world away. the two barely ever left each other side, and kara, in particular, soon developing a violent protectiveness over their sister. this bond would allow them to sustain the abuse, the violence, the difficulties they were soon thrown into the second they were assigned to their first foster family. it is a poisonous environment, one that corrupts the valorous side of them to leave the broken parts behind, the damage. together, they fight back. together, they survive.

red ridge, nv, 1999. taken out of the foster family, they both return to st. david’s. it’s not a victory, but it’s the chance for something better to happen - kara won’t admit it, but they hold hope someday this might have a sense. find a family for the both of them, with food on the plate and fresh clothes every day.

red ridge, nv, 2001. delphine might just get that. changes of getting out st. david’s are always slim (there’s a thing about kids grown in the desert, they bark and bite as if coyotes themselves have been the one raising them), but delphine is taken away. off to a good family, off to a better family: the bond, the magical bond that had kept them fighting through the various different wildfires life had enjoyed putting them through, it suddenly broke. kara was left behind. dumbfounded, angry, a question left ringing in their head without the knowledge to put it into coherent words: what’s the point of loving, what’s the point of caring — if it all gets taken away?

red ridge, nv, 2003. but they do love, and they do care. in their own misguided, clumsy way; and one day they bring another kid in the orphanage, two years their younger, a scared, wide-eyed kid. the other kids enjoy teasing him, enjoy the look he gets when they knock the glasses off his face and he has to go scramble to find them. kara hates that. kara enjoys putting themselves between them and him and grin at them: say come on, what are you gonna do? what’s that, are you afraid? (maybe they mimic the way delphine would look after them. maybe, in their own half broken language, they are just trying to summon delphine — or their spirit, the protective archetype of an older sibling — back into their bones. they vow they will protect eric, even though they have to endure the other kids’ beatings in his place. but one day it is too much: we gotta get out of here, they say to him one night, after they found the other kids collecting punches in eric’s gut and the tutors pretending to look the other way. we gotta get out of here.

somewhere across the nevada / utah border, 2005. breaking out wasn’t the hard part; by now kara knew exactly how to slip out, just had lacked a motivation to leave the orphanage. the hard part is when they’re out in the cold, freezing their asses off somewhere in utah, trying hard to find a fucking way to live and coming up empty. they steal cans of meat from a barn; the owner finds them, threatens them both, a shotgun aimed at kara’s throat. he sees something in them, and then somehow understands: these aren’t thieves. these are assets.

eureka, ut, 2006. scott halbridge has a lot of flaws, but one couldn’t say he isn’t a resourceful man. there isn’t a single felony he and his makeshift clan haven’t dabbled with, even just for a taste of it — and the two orphans he found in his barn might just help him grow his business. the younger kid, the one with the glasses, is soft and unassuming but he’s got a skill — he’s good at handling drugs, he’s good at selling ‘em too. the other one, the girl (he keeps calling them that and kara wants to bite the vocal cords off his throat but they won’t; they won’t, he won’t understand, it’s better they just play nice) — kara’s tougher to handle. but they’re great at kicking ass, and when needed they can slip in and out of buildings and steal shit without anyone ever noticing it. they’re both extremely useful. but eric gets to try the merch he sells and he begins growing a sweet tooth for it. when the money he brings back to scott every week grows shorter by one, two, ten doses — that’s when he understands. and his way of making eric understand, too, is by jumping on him, bashing in his head, slamming him against the wall. kara doesn’t think — it’s a single instinct that leads their arms to move, retrieving the shotgun by the side of scott’s desk, aiming, shooting. the shotgun recoils back and throws them off their balance. kara falls, but so does scott: his brain sprayed all over the walls. panting, eric stares at kara. they know what he’s seeing: something damaged. something terrifying. kara breathes, wipes the blood off the side of their cheek. “we gotta go”, they say, and then they’re on the road again.

elko, nv, 2010. another kind of scott halbridge ends up taking them in. a gang of sorts, someone who has use for their talents. kara’s attitude for fighting and taking one, two, a hundred punches, proved them to be a great resource for the needs of criminal enforcers. eric’s charm, instead, proved once again to be a fruitful assets in selling drugs: they found a life of their own, as unlawful as it was, and kept surviving on their own.

carlin, nv, 2013. eric was too soft for this world. kara had known from the beginning, and yet it still caught them off guard. the drugs got the best of him, swallowed him whole — after he’d given in to a manic episode in public, he was forcefully committed to a rehabilitation facility where the limits of ethics were more than a little stretched. they’d abuse him verbally, physically, use prescription drugs on him too liberally until he was left a screaming, aching mess of a human being. once kara learned of this (once they were able to track the place they’d taken him to), they followed through with the promise they’d made with delphine years before, the one that the loss of delphine had  led to breaking but had to be respected now, for it was sacred: them against the world, no matter what. somehow, kara managed to break him out of the facility. somehow, he got his hands on drugs again. eric overdosed at the age of 22.

red ridge, nv, 2014. though kara had known anger all their life, this was the first time they experienced pain. on their own, with no destination, or even a reason to keep moving forward, they ended up back in the place where they’d began. red ridge, nevada — old contacts allowed her a way into the safe, usual business of fucking around and stealing cars, selling drugs, whatever could get them by. they were good at dealing, even good at fighting for respect. within years, they had a decent business network going on. though they didn’t care about valencia’s business in the city, and the many gangs trying to start shit in town, never did, really — they found the conflict, the violence, to be the healing balm for their aching soul. they soon began fighting at rogue’s club: though lacking discipline or any sort of training, they’d been fighting since the day they were born and could take punches for hours. the pain became a shelter, a relief. it kept them alert and out of their sorrow, out of their weakness. her life became a pantheon for violence — the fights, the ghosts, and the drugs she wouldn’t use. each of them a replacer for something she couldn’t get anymore. each blow landing against her ribcage, a reminder: this is for delphine, the way she was taken and gone forever, and perhaps a part of them had hoped coming back to red ridge would make her show up again, summoned by memories and whatever bond they’d shared — that’s a fairy tale, isn’t it? they always fucking hated those. this is for eric, the way he vanished out of thin air, no matter how much they tried to hold his molecules together, force shapeless air back into the container of his body. this is for their inability to accept it. this, at last, is for kara davidsen and all that’s left of them. a bag of bones, a blooming of bruises. and their anger: so thick, so venomous you could smell it in the air.

[varricmancer]

The Golden Halla | 3

Pairing: Cullen Rutherford x OC

A/N: Obviously I’m deviating a bit from canon. It would be rather boring if it was always the same thing though, yes? Anyway, enjoy the latest chapter! PLEASE let me know what you think. 

He was fighting desperately to stay asleep despite the pull to awareness he could feel clawing at him. He was at peace here in the fields with his mystery woman. She’d prepared them a picnic and he lounged on the blanket as he watched her dance around merrily, the skirts of her simple blue dress rippling about her bare feet, her snowy hair floating behind her like a waterfall. He smiled when she caught his eye and laughed, her joy contagious. She had claimed she was dancing his demons away, so there was no reason to be afraid of them or that she was one herself. 

“Won’t you tell me your name?”

She skipped towards him, dropping onto the blanket gracefully. 

Shrugging, she picked up a pastry and took a small nibble. Her features were somewhat hazy in this place, but her lips were still clear enough to keep him captivated. Thin, but not harsh. Soft-looking. He watched transfixed as her tongue appears to flick away some crumbs on the side of her mouth.

“You can call me Hana,” she finally answers with a teasing grin, her lovely amber eyes sparkling with mirth. 

Cullen snorts, amused. “The name of the halla? Well, if I wasn’t so certain this was a dream before, it would be clear now. That creature is taking over my life,” he sighed. 

Her laugh was a gentle thing, as lovely as her. 

“Perhaps.” 

She pauses, cocking her head thoughtfully like she was listening to something only she could hear. 

“It’s time to wake up, Cullen.” 

He loved the way she said his name. Everyone else began his name like they had something stuck in their throat. With her, it sounded like a song - one that she loved to sing. 

“Will I see you again?”

“Sooner than you think,” she chuckled, fading right before him. 

He groaned as he came to awareness, her wave of farewell still branded behind his eyes. 

The distant snickering was the first clue that he wasn’t alone. Next came the realization that there was a very warm body breathing next to him. A warm furry body. 

He cracked up one of his eyes and briefly wondered if he was still dreaming. There could be no other explanation for the fact that there was a halla cuddled up with him on top of his furs. Or that one of his arms was draped loosely across the back of the beast as though to pull it closer. He quickly pulled away in embarrassed horror, his face turning crimson as the low snickers from the front of the tent evolved into outright mocking laughter. 

“Commander, if I’d known you had a thing for horns I would have volunteered my services,” The Iron Bull laughed heartily. 

Cullen groaned and turned to face the front of his tent where Bull and The Herald were both sticking their heads into with unapologetic grins. Of all the people to find him in such an embarrassing situation, the loudmouthed Qunari mercenary and the proclaimed Herald of Andraste were not his first choice. 

He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, snorting as Hana slept on unbothered by their guests. 

“Is there something I can do for you?” 

“We heard about Loranil making it here and bringing the Halla with him. We wanted to see her again, make sure she was doing alright. She wasn’t in her stall though and Cole told us to find you. I was confused about why the Commander of this little party would know where a lone halla was - wasn’t expecting to see you two so cozy,” Kaaras Adaar shrugged with a teasing grin. Bull stood there cackling close enough to the other that their horns were surely clanging against each other. 

“Yes, she’s proven to be rather...friendly. She must have snuck in during the night. I’ll have to speak with the stable boys.” 

“There’s no shame in wanting a warm body during cold winter nights,” Bull drawled, doing what Cullen interpreted as a wink with his single eye. 

“Maker’s breath…” he grumbled, standing up and waving them away. 

“Unless there is pressing business, I’d appreciate some privacy so I might get ready. I’ll walk her over as soon as I’m done and you may visit to your heart’s content.” 

Kaaras nodded, “Alright. We’ll leave you be, Commander. We’ve all been summoned to the war room in three hours’ time for a debriefing of my experience in Redcliffe, however. Cassandra’s getting generous and actually giving me a couple of hours to recuperate from my travels before interrogating me.” 

Cullen actually grunts in amusement and waves as the two Qunari take their leave. It isn’t until he could no longer hear their stomping that the halla decides to wake up, actually yawning and looking up at him drowsily as though to ask, ‘What’s with all the racket?’ 

“This is all your fault, you know? What are you doing bursting into my tent in the middle of the night? How did you even undo the ties?” Cullen grumbles as he quickly throws on his armor and splashes his face with water he kept in a pitcher for such purposes. 

Still, as embarrassing as this whole situation was, at least he’d slept fairly well after the nightmares left him. He actually felt refreshed and starving for a full meal for the second day in a row. Perhaps the worst of his symptoms were over? He’d never heard of them leaving so quickly. Perhaps the Maker saw fit to help him in his efforts to assist with closing the breach. 

Cullen snapped at Hana to get her to follow along, which it seemed like she did reluctantly. Cullen chuckled quietly as she shook her head and blinked at him blearily when she stood up to walk towards him. It seemed even halla could not be morning risers. In a moment of weakness, he reached out and scratched behind her ear, which she seemed to love since she nickered softly and rubbed her head into the touch. 

“Alright, you’ve been spoiled enough from me for today. Back to your post, Miss Hana.” 

He led her back to the stables swiftly, waving her into her stall. As he locked her in, he could swear she was staring up at him in the halla equivalent of puppy dog eyes. 

“You’ve had free reign enough, for now. Perhaps when I take Grace out later you may come. Until then, be a good girl.” 

Hana propped her snout on the top of the gate and huffed at him. He actually cracked a smile and tossed both her and Grace an apple before he left, heading towards the war room to look over reports and discuss some things with the other advisors until the meeting. 

***

“As allies? Are you sure that’s wise?” 

Cullen stared incredulously at The Herald as he explained the horrifying events from Redcliffe. 

“Would you rather us all locked up like your mabari? Give us a sip of lyrium from time to time if we’ve been good little mages?” 

The Tevene mage that the Herald had dragged here with him from Redcliffe like a heavily perfumed stray was not helping his already shot nerves. He glared right back. 

“No. I know very well the horrors of the circles, but I know just as well the dangers that unchecked magic can bring. There are not nearly enough templars here to contain them all.” 

“They are not here to be contained, Commander,” Kaaras answered softly. “Kindly remember that Haven is just that - a haven for all. Including those that are born with something that they often never asked for in the first place.” 

As the old familiar fear receded, he felt ashamed. 

“You are right, of course. Please forgive me. I let my fear cloud my reason.” 

The Tevene mage looked at him strangely then, as though he’d found a puzzle to solve, but went silent. The Herald nodded, understanding shining in his eyes. 

“I’ve heard some of your story, so I understand your concerns. However, let us give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Many are simply happy for a chance to find the families they were taken from, so I imagine they will be much too busy for staging a takeover.” 

“Understood, Herald.” 

The Qunari nodded, adding a soft smile of reassurance that Cullen felt he didn’t deserve. He fell silent and let the others run the meeting as he lost himself in memories. 

He shook his head, forcing himself to stop thinking about such maudlin things. He had better things to worry about now. Accommodations and supplies for an extra hundred people, at least. He’d need to ask about for a more accurate tally. Increased lyrium supplies. Andraste’s ass, there was going to be lyrium everywhere. 

Cullen gulped at the realization, practically tasting the song on his tongue. But no, he could handle it. He’d tell Cassandra to increase her vigilance...and to be on the lookout for a replacement, just in case. Perhaps Rylan. 

When the meeting was over, he strode quickly from the room thinking he’d stop for a bite then take Grace out for another ride. He was halfway to the door when somewhere cleared their throat behind him. 

Turning, he found the Tevene mage eyeing him sheepishly, though he maintained his proud stance. 

“I wanted to...apoligize. That was unfair of me to start our acquaintance in such a way. I’m afraid I was being as judgemental of templars as others are of me.” 

Cullen rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. 

“That’s quite alright. I can’t say there wasn’t a time I would have deserved every word and more. Pray accept my apologies as well Magi...err...Lord...Pavus, was it?” 

The mage chuckled lowly, waving his hand with an affected flourish like many nobles were wont to do. 

“Just call me Dorian, Commander. The scary magister is my father.” 

“Alright, Dorian.” 

The mage’s smile is friendly - and perhaps a bit flirtatious. 

“I was wondering where I might bed down around here, Commander. I know many are in tents, so if you would be so kind as to point me in - Venhedis! What is that awful sound?” 

The awful sound was a horrible screeching bray coming from the stables. But it wasn’t normal. It sounded...terrified. 

“Hana!”

Cullen sprinted towards the stables, unmindful of the fact that the mage ran with him. He burst through the door and towards Hana’s stall. She was spooked horribly - her eyes wide and watching everyone fearfully as she reared back, kicking her hooves towards some unseen thing. 

“Shhh, easy girl. It’s just me. It’s alright.” 

Like it was he was her lighthouse in a storm, she latched her frightened gaze on him, letting him lead her back to calm. Once she stopped kicking he finally walked into her stall, taking a moment to note that it was unlatched already. He slowly reached out and stroked her neck, ignoring the ear-piercing screaming as it died down. She finally went quiet beyond a slight nicker, her body shaking under his hand. 

“There we go. Good girl, Hana. I’m here.” 

She stuck her head under his arm, seemingly trying to hide under his coat. 

“Friend of yours?” 

Cullen startled, meeting Dorian’s amused gaze. The mage nodded towards Hana, visibly softening in sympathy for the creature. 

“Of a sorts, I suppose. She was a gift from the Dalish for the Inquisition, but according to another elf around here she’s chosen me or something. I’ve never seen her like this before, though. She’s normally so calm. I don’t see anything that could have spooked her.” 

Dorian looks around the stables thoughtfully, humming as he holds his hand up that soon emits a slight glow. His eyes narrow as he follows some invisible thread leading towards Hana’s stall. He frowns and closes his hand before meeting Cullen’s questioning look. 

“There’s a trace of magic in here. It’s not...evil, but it’s hardly something innocent. It feels ancient.” 

Cullen strokes Hana, as she continues to use him as a shield from the world. 

“They didn’t hurt her though?” 

“No. She appears healthy, although…”

Cullen’s brow furrows as the mage stares thoughtfully at the halla. 

“Dorian, what’s wrong with her?!” 

Dorian shakes his head, “It’s not something wrong, it’s just something strange. She doesn’t feel like your average beast. She has immense power, for one thing. Immense magical power.” 

“She’s some sort of sacred halla for the Dalish...could that be it?” 

“No,” the mage shook his head, pulling on his mustache thoughtfully. “She feels like a mage. Which seems strange given the hooves and rather furry appearance, yes?” 

Cullen pried Hana’s head out from under his coat, holding her snout in his hands. For the first time, he really looked into the halla’s eyes and realized they were a warm amber ringed in black...just like the Hana from his dream. 

His breathing became unsteady as his mind struggled to understand what it was piecing together...or rather had been trying to piece together for a couple of days now. It was impossible, wasn’t it? But...he supposed nothing was truly impossible when it came to magic. 

“Dorian, this is going to sound strange, but is there a way to find out if she’s...really a halla?”

The mage quirked an eyebrow at him, “My dear Commander, I was merely theorizing. It’s always a good idea to throw out the most impossible things to narrow down the possible ones.” 

Cullen stared into Hana’s eyes, which were looking at him with such soft understanding that there was no way what he’d figured out couldn’t be true. 

“Please?” he looked at the mage, plea in his eyes. Dorian straightened and nodded firmly. 

“I’ll do some research.” 

“Thank you. And Cassandra is nearby, next to the training yard. Please inform her of what is happening - quietly, if you please - and that I’d like two men stationed outside of the stables.” 

Cullen smiled warmly at the mage as he took his leave, then turned and settled onto the bottom of Hana’s stall. 

“I’m going to feel awfully stupid if you turn out to be some sort of demon or possessed halla,” Cullen sighed, settling his hand onto her head to pet her once she plopped her head into his lap. “I’m sure everyone is going to think I’m going mad and that I’m going overboard for something they’d all rather cover in spices and serve for dinner.” 

“If someone’s done this to you though, I’ll do what I can to help.” 

Cullen sighs and settles in to keep watch over a single halla, uncaring of the troubles that lay outside the stable doors for the moment. 

[faenet]

hi I just came across your blog & i wanted to say your edits are beautiful!!! & also, I've read TOG & ACOTAR, & I wanted to ask if you have any other book recommendations that are similar I guess to TOG & ACOTAR?? Like fantasy, action & of course romance:)

I’m so glad that you enjoy our blog! Our members have a few recommendations that I’ll put under the cut:

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive. (fantasy, young adult)

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir: Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. (fantasy, young adult, romance)

Circe by Madeline Miller: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. (mythology, fantasy)

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente: Koschei the Deathless is to Russian folklore what devils or wicked witches are to European culture: a menacing, evil figure; the villain of countless stories which have been passed on through story and text for generations. Deathless lights up like fire as the young Marya Morevna transforms from a clever child of the revolution, to Koschei’s beautiful bride, to his eventual undoing. All told, Deathless is a collision of magical history and actual history, of revolution and mythology, of love and death, which will bring Russian myth back to life in a stunning new incarnation. (fantasy, historical fiction, mythology)

Defy by Sara B. Larson: Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king’s army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince’s guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can’t prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she’s sworn to protect? (fantasy, young adult, romance)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. (fantasy, young adult, romance)

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers: Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. (fantasy, young adult, romance, historical)

Hunted by Meagan Spooner: Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. She knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. (fantasy, young adult, romance)

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. (fantasy, fiction, romance)

Red Winter by Annette Mari: Emi is the kamigakari. In a few short months, her life as a mortal will end and her new existence as the human host of a goddess will begin. Shiro is a yokai, a spirit of the earth, an enemy of the goddess Emi will soon host. But she saved his life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command-whether she wants him or not. On the day they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate-but how can she erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro is her only hope… and hope is all she has left. (fantasy, young adult, mythology, romance)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. (fantasy, young adult, romance)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (young adult, dystopian, romance)

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever. (fantasy, young adult, romance)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. (fantasy, young adult)

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson: Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. (fantasy, young adult)

The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset: The Girl Who Never Was is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right? (fantasy, young adult, paranormal)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. (young adult, fantasy, romance, paranormal)

I hope this helps!

♡ Lauren

[rubiesintherough]

honestly, though?  so many of my muses need to have someone actually help them face / process their trauma... i mean: 

( warning, this is full of triggers )

aedus:   the fact that he still hasn’t fully been able to move on from samuel’s death, because for the past couple centuries, he was too angry, and too broken to even talk about him for more than a short while. Just clung to the watch. 

cassie:  and with her... she’s facing new trauma  every single day in terms of abuse. Very violent, life-threatening abuse. And has no one she can talk to about it, because even the regulars who come into the bar --- while, yes, she considers them friends and they do care about her --- know better than to stick their noses into it and intervene

dustin:  then there’s this ghost who still has such terrible ptsd revolving around his death that he’s been drifting through the park for 30 years and has only ever managed to go near the lake if it’s to coax away some kid who’s getting too close to the water ‘cause their parents aren’t looking... and then he gets the hell away from there as fast as he can. And even in his revived!verse?  The feeling of water on his skin, even in a bath or shower, is enough to send him into a panic... 

fayne: and this ballerina though, even though there’s never been one single, traumatizing moment in her life that she’d call as such, there’s definitely been enough anxiety, depression, stress, and neglect that she felt she had no choice but to turn to very, very unhealthy coping mechanisms just so she doesn’t commit suicide... though, there is a part of her that knows she chose those specific mechanisms because there’s a good chance they’ll lead to her death, she just doesn’t want to openly admit to that. 

isabella: she lost both her husband and her infant daughter in the span of 24 hours. And wasn’t able to even mention their names without breaking down in tears for over fifty years... she never spoke to anyone about them, because she couldn’t for so long. And now, no one in her life even knows they existed. But, she still goes back to that old, overgrown cemetery to bring them flowers every single year because she feels like she can’t move on. That moving on would betray them somehow.

mahia: ............ i don’t even know where to begin with the amount of trauma mahia carries. Deaths, essentially kidnapping, torture, having her sense of self stripped away, burying her family and friends, having to adjust to an entirely new world, being hunted, living every single day in fear because there are people actually trying to kill her, having to cope with the possibility that the deities she’s spent years praying to don’t exist or have fully turned their backs on her and struggling to deal with the absolute feeling of hopelessness and loneliness that comes with that?   Nightmares. Panic attacks. The terrifying thought that if she lets someone close, she’ll get them killed. She is beyond broken. . 

rylan:  he took a lot of lives while serving Novis. He made a lot of mistakes that he’s trying to make up for. He saw a lot of war, a lot of death... lost a lot of friends during his time in the military. And he refuses to talk about any of it. He deflects. He uses humor. He does his best to distract the other person from the issue at hand and hopes they forget about it. Because he doesn’t want anyone else to know just how terrible of a man he used to be. It scares him. It’s why he keeps running, trying to put as much distance between himself and the Belt as possible. But, he really does need to open up. He still remembers the names of every person he killed, he knows his exact kill count... and he won’t let himself forget. Which, no, he shouldn’t. He did a lot of bad. He caused a lot of pain. But, he’s trying to damn hard to do better. He’s trying not to be that soldier. He WANTS to be better than that. But, to start with... he needs to be honest about it all and actually tell someone. 

trent:   like fayne, there’s never been one singular traumatic event that he’d label as such. But, this guy’s been through the wringer. And he’s not   a l l o w e d   to break or show any weakness... because he doesn’t want Greyson to see it. He knows his son views him as this superhero. And Trent really wants to live up to that. So, he shoves everything down. Never cries in front of him. Always smiling, joking, doing his best to be the strongest, best dad he can be. But, in doing so, completely disregards the fact that he really does need to sit down with someone and talk things through. Though, that can be hard, too. Hard to find a therapist he can really open up to, considering he’s a vigilante who can, you know, throw people and stop bullets with his mind

vivian:  i don’t think she’s ever even mentioned Damien, her brother. Even though his death was what prompted her parents to flip out and start pushing the other kids to be better, perfect, hunters. While she wouldn’t call it abuse, her parents definitely weren’t great... shoving her out into the field to face monsters and ghouls from a very young age, no matter how scared she was, no matter how unprepared she felt. The fact she got attacked by a vampire  --- and, might I add, got in serious trouble for being attacked, because she  ‘ should’ve known what to do ‘ --- and still has a crippling fear  ( not to mention the scars )   from that encounter... fear bad enough she can’t even take a case if there’s a chance a vampire will be involved, she has to find another hunter and hand it over. 

[izayoichan]

Back at Rylan’s work.

River looks at Rylan carefully and reaches for the bag, taking out some painkillers for Rylan

“You don't have to do it if you don't feel up for it. I will  do what you decide. If you want to go home and rest it's okay.” “I would like to do it.. I mean.. imagine living with someone like Carl, being trapped in a relationship with someone that abuses you.. If these bruises can help one person get help, then me being in a little pain and being tired is worth it..”

He takes the painkillers from River, swallowing them with some of the soda. 

“Using this to help someone.. it feels good somehow.. “

Annette watches them, smiling at Rylan's words, but not interrupting them talking.

“Alright, then you can count on me. But if he gets tired or I see it's too much, I'll pull him off the shoot. Just for now, I don't want him overexerting himself... But if it's a few simple ones, hopefully there won't be many troubles.” “Agreed, at any time if it is too much, just call stop. I'll have Marie and Madelene do the shot with you.”

She looks at River. 

“And we will portray you as the one that helps, not an attacker, so you know.”

She stands up, and opens the door getting Marie's attention, telling her the plan.

“Thank you.. “

He looks at River and then at Annette, happy that he hasn't just set River up as a bad guy.

“Oh... Okay. Good to know.” “Let's see if we can get this done then, while I am still drugged down enough.”

He chuckles, his hand resting over River's. 

“When you're ready, just come down to the shooting area, I'll set up a small changing space for you. It won't be anything fancy, and mostly in your current clothes.”

Marie Smiles and walks off to prepare everything, waving at Madelene who nods, finishing up the shoot she is doing.

“Okay, I think we're ready to do this then…”

River gets up and helps Rylan up, letting him find his balance, noticing he feels a little wobbly. When he is sure he has found his balance, he leads him to the area where Marie is waiting. 

“You can sit there for a bit Rylan.” 

She motioned to a sofa, which River helps him over too, smiling softly at Rylan. 

“Since this shoot is too…” “Show off the bruises.. I know.” “Yes, we’ll only need some makeup on you, River.” “Okay, so makeup on me. I can deal with some makeup... “

He moves over to the chair, letting them put makeup on him, Rylan just watching them as Madelene sits down next to him, having some pose suggestions. 

Beginning - Previous - Next

[oldmutyler]

LET’S RUIN THE FRIENDSHIP ➝ RYOVAN.

TAGGING ➝ Donovan Smythe, Rylan St. James..

LOCATION ➝ Rhode Island.

TIME FRAME ➝ 4/20 & 4/21

WARNINGS ➝ NSFW.

NOTES ➝  Rylan & Donovan really get into their act. Afterward, things get awkward. It’s extremely long. Took me forty-five years to get it posted.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

While she wasn’t too concerned, there was a big difference between she and Donovan sitting together on his couch and putting on a five minute show for their parents over FaceTime, and spending an entire weekend under their watchful eyes, right there in the same place as them. Though, she figured they’d been pulling it off well so far, and holding Don’s hand wasn’t as taxing as she’d been pretending it was. She was comfortable with him, it was fine. Wearing a red and black dress, red hair tied into a sleek low bun, she definitely felt as cute as Donovan kept telling people he thought she was, and dishing out compliments about him was coming easily to her, too. Though, taking a slight break from their act was very much needed, so once she’d found a spot for them on a couple seats out of earshot of their families, she finally let go of his hand, bringing up the champagne flute she was holding to take a sip. “I think it’s going pretty well, don’t you?” She asked, glancing over at her fake-boyfriend. “I mean, your hand’s kind of sweaty, but I can deal. I do think they’re buying it, though. Have you considered a career in front of the camera?” Rylan teased, only looking up when she heard the sound of her mother’s familiar voice. “There you are. We’ve barely gotten the chance to speak to you all day! I’m surprised that you’re not literally sitting in his lap, your hands haven’t separated once.” Evelyn grinned, evidently buying their act, too. “You can’t blame me, right?” Rylan smiled easily, glancing toward Donovan seated beside her, then back to her mother again.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan didn’t really know how this was going to work. It was easier to lie to people when they weren’t right in front of you. He could text his siblings and pretend like he was dating Ryland and he could FaceTime his parents. But this? This was different. This was real life. He had been worried about it for most of the day, but he had actually pulled it off a lot better than he thought. Maybe it was because of the support he was receiving from Rylan or something. It was a lot easier to be stuck in a lie when you had a partner. Maybe she was right about teamwork. Walking around telling people that he thought Ry looked gorgeous was easy because she did look really nice. That wasn’t a lie. It was easier to tell one big lie when it was surrounded by a couple small truths. Don was about to respond to her goading him when her mother approached them. A smile quickly spread across his face as he greeted the woman. “I think we both spent enough time pretending like we didn’t want to hold hands, so we’re probably not going to let go anytime soon,” he joked, letting out a soft chuckle. As much as he did love the St. James parents, it was a lot easier to lie to them than it was to his own, so he felt himself relax a little more. More relaxed than he had been for most of the day. He could tell that both of them needed a break from this charade though, so some alone time was probably needed. “We were actually going to head to dance floor soon. I promised her a slow dance. You ready, Ry?”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

They hadn’t discussed all of the ins and outs of their lie. Like whether it was just a random, recent occurrence, or if everyone had been right, and they’d secretly wanted each other for a long time. It seemed, as Donovan responded to her mother, that they were going with the latter. It made Rylan smirk softly, though she wiped the look off her face before her mom had focused on her again. The whole thing was honestly just completely laughable, she could hardly believe they were even doing it. Even more so that people were literally buying it. She nodded along in agreement, reaching out to gently rest her hand on his thigh as she sipped on her champagne. She’d catch up properly with her parents later; even if this was a sham, Donovan was still one of her ultimate favorite people to be around. She was having fun with him regardless, so even if they didn’t have a fake romantic dance lined up, she totally would’ve dragged him onto the dance floor with her at some point anyway. “More than ready, babe,” she agreed, taking ahold of his hand again and standing up. Rylan finished up the champagne, then handed the glass over to her mother, the sound of Maggie Rogers’ Say It beginning to play working kind of perfectly for them. It was something they could slow dance to, at least, and Rylan wasted no time in leading her fake-boyfriend over to the dance floor, turning to face him once they’d found a spot. She lifted her free hand to wrap around his neck. “I should’ve worn bigger heels,” she frowned, letting go of his hand to wrap her other arm around his neck now, too. Her feet moved easily along with the music as she looked up at him. “You know, you’re not the worst fake boyfriend in the world,” she shrugged a shoulder gently, watching him through her lashes. “You can dance, at least.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan figured it was a nice touch. Making everyone think they had been correct all along and that the two of them had been secretly in love with each other this entire time. It would make up for the fact that they were actually dead wrong. Don and Rylan were just two good looking best friends that people wanted to see together because neither one of them had settled down with anyone else yet. It was just easy for people to want them together. But it was never going to happen. That didn’t make playing along with this lie any less fun though. Actually, knowing that they were making their parents a little happy made this fun. It’s why they were doing it. He just really wanted to have fun with his best friend though. As fun as it was to keep up this lie, it was still better when it was just the two of them. There weren’t any lies between them. Just two buds having a good time. A smile spread across his face as she led them to the dance floor, settling his arms around her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s not my fault you’re so short,” he teased with a smirk. He stared down at her as a light chuckle left his lips. It was easy to roll his eyes at her usually, but it was a little harder when they were dancing this closely together and he could feel eyes on them. “I’m probably the best boyfriend you’ve ever had. Real or fake,” he joked. He moved to the beat music, actually enjoying this. Faster songs were usually his jam, but he just liked dancing in general. It was fun. “You’re not too bad yourself.” He let out a small sigh as his eyes moved across the room. There were less eyes on the two of them than he thought, but that didn’t mean people weren’t going to start staring again. He was going to continue holding her as close as he was. “This wasn’t the worst idea ever. Everyone's happy for us.”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

A small part of Rylan wondered if this was weird. The fact that she and Donovan weren’t really acting any differently to the way they usually would, save for hand holding and the occasional cheek kiss here and there. Had they just been here as best friends, they would’ve still spent the entire time together, they would’ve still been dancing together. Maybe not this closely during a slow song, but still. It was all just very comfortable, strangely very familiar, despite being completely new territory. “Oh, I’m not complaining about being short,” she shook her head, “I’m complaining about you being too tall.” Her arms tightened a little, pulling their bodies slightly closer together. It was easy to block everybody else out and just focus on dancing with Donovan, and just talking to him. Nobody would know what they were saying, so it was okay. As long as they stayed close and at least looked like they were into each other, that was all that mattered. She found herself playfully rolling her eyes at his comment. “You never liked any of my exes. I will say, though, that you’re probably the best looking. And I’m definitely the best looking girl you’ve ever dated. Real or fake.” She wasn’t even joking. None of Donovan’s exes had measured up, as far as Rylan was concerned. She didn’t even really know why, they just hadn’t. As Don looked away, Rylan found herself studying his face. Just the familiarity of it. It was comforting, it made her feel better about all of this. She found that she was still doing it as he looked back at her again, like she was trying to figure something out. From the corner of her eye, she could see Diana Smythe staring, but focused on Donovan again quickly. “You know what would be nice right now?” She questioned, offering him a small smile. “Curling up on your couch and watching a horror movie. Without your mom watching us like she currently is.” She paused, lips tugging into a subtle smirk. “Just me and Tiger, though. You’re not invited.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Pretending to be someone’s boyfriend really wasn’t all that hard for Donovan. He had been in relationships before, but this was even easier than that. Rylan was his best friend. They did all of these things anyway. He loved every second they spent together anyway, so hanging out together just came naturally to the two of them. Holding hands? Not so much. Kissing each other on the cheek? Definitely not. He was just thankful they hadn’t been pushed to actually kiss each other because he wasn’t sure he would be able to go through with it. “A girl’s never really complained about my height before,” he teased, shaking his head. It was easy to get lost in their conversation. He seemed to be a lot more cognizant of the people potentially staring at them than she was. She was good at bringing him back to her though. As much as he wanted to look around, he was still enjoying being in that moment and just talking to her. “You are... Top five. I’ll give ya that,” he said with a smirk. Maybe he just wasn’t willing to give her the truth, which was that she definitely took home the cake for most attractive girlfriend. Real or fake. But that was only because she had Robin’s face, or at least that’s what he would tell her if he ever did reveal the truth to her. He shot her a confused look as she stared at him, not really sure what she was looking at. But then she started talking and it seemed like the moment was gone. “What if I brought a blanket? Could I sit with you guys then?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at her. His eyes glanced over at his mother one last time before he shook his head. “She’s planning our wedding in her head. You know that, right? This is her dream come true.”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Like she’d said, Donovan really wasn’t the worst fake boyfriend in the world. She could imagine that he hadn’t had any complaints from his actual past girlfriends, so she just rolled her eyes at how cocky he sounded, though it was done playfully. That was something she’d always loved about their friendship, how playful they could be. They could be serious when they needed to be, too. But things with them were just easy, they were fun. That was one of Rylan’s favorite things about her best friend. Then again, there were many, if she really had to list them. “Top five?” Her brow raised, and she shook her head as she glared up at him. “Please. I have Tramp Stamp beat by a landslide. Plus, do you see how hot I actually look today? You’re dancing with a ten, babe.” Rylan knew she was good looking, though she really was just teasing. She wasn’t actually that conceited. She’d never been the shyest of people, so when she saw that he’d caught her staring, it didn’t bother her. Nor did it force her to stop. If something was on her mind, she’d generally say it. It was both a blessing and a curse. It was just that she didn’t even really know what she was thinking in that moment. She was just a little lost. But Donovan could always bring her back. He always had. “Mm, maybe. As long as I get to fall asleep on you and Tiger gets to fall asleep on me. Then I guess we could make it work,” she shrugged a shoulder, expression playful as she looked up at him. It was very easy for her to hold eye contact with him. Again, it always had been. “Oh, I know it,” Rylan grinned, glancing over toward his mother again for a brief second, before her gaze was locked with Don’s once more. “What do you think she thinks we’re saying right now? Give me the mental script. What does she think my stud of a boyfriend is saying to me.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan could not help but laugh at her. She wasn’t wrong. She was a ten. All of her sisters were. Just because she was his best friend... It didn’t mean he hadn’t noticed. There just weren’t any feelings behind noticing that she was good looking. “Hey now. Tramp Stamp still booty calls me from time to time. I can’t talk trash about her,” he replied playfully. He liked watching Rylan roll her eyes whenever his ex-girlfriends were mentioned. It was hilarious. He usually had a similar reaction to her ex-boyfriends, but they were real duds. He would die on that hill. All of her ex-boyfriends were losers. That was just the truth. His eyes glanced down at her for a second, pretending like he was scanning her outfit. “You look good,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. That was probably the best compliment she was going to get out of him when it was just the two of them. He had been complimenting her all day in front of relatives. “That’s what happens every night anyway,” he shrugged. It was true. The three of them usually ended up in a pile on his couch or on his bed. It didn’t really matter what their plans had originally been, but Rylan drove all the way out there, she ended up falling asleep and spending the night. It was just how it worked out. And he had no complaints about it. Sure, sometimes she’d fall asleep on his arm and he’d lose a little bit of circulation in it, but that didn’t really matter. “What does she think I’m saying to you right now?” He questioned, letting out a small sigh as he thought about her question. “Probably something like... I’m glad we found each other. I mean, we’ve always been together. But I’m glad we finally really found each other,” he said with a smile, keeping his eye contact with her. “Then I’d say you look hot and smile at you. She’s expecting me to pull some move and kiss you. She knows her son, but don’t worry. I’m not going to do that.”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

“You should really just date her again. The two of you could have adorable babies, Tramp and Stamp,” Rylan teased, her eyes shining with the way she was grinning up at him. It was just a natural reaction to being around Donovan, for her to be happy the way she was. Fortunately, it would work well in their favor if people were looking. Which she knew they were, even if she wasn’t paying any attention to them. “Wait,” she paused, eyes widening. “Did you just… Give me a real compliment?” Her mouth hung open, but again, she was just playing. Though, it was rare he complimented her. It felt kind of nice, even if it was just a brief, simple one. And probably just to shut her up. She could still appreciate it. Her arms were still wrapped around his neck, and it was without realizing it that her fingertips had begun to stroke softly through the back of his hair as they danced closely together. If their parents were looking, they would’ve noticed, and they would be eating it up, so it was okay. “True,” she shrugged. “You probably don’t sleep as well when I’m not there, huh? That goes for Tiger, too. I know I sleep better laid out with the two of you.” Rylan liked to think of herself as a strong person, and she really was, but like everyone, she had a past, and sometimes it liked to haunt her. It didn’t get the chance to when she was with Donovan. He made her feel safe. Not that she’d admit that, of course. But on some level, she was sure he knew. She nodded once he questioned her, watching him as she awaited a response. “That’s pretty smooth,” she grinned, nodding her head once more. “Maybe even enough to have earned the kiss you’re afraid to give me.” She sent a wink his way, the song coming to an end. Rylan took a step back, unwrapping her arms from around him, but caught his hand in her own. “For the record, I’m not worried,” she shrugged a shoulder, smile soft. “Pull all the moves you want.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan could not help but chuckle at her surprise that he had given her a compliment. They were so good at this fake couple because it was just so easy to be around each other. He hadn’t stopped smiling or laughing since they’d shown up at the wedding and it was clear that people noticed it. He wasn’t doing it for show. It just came naturally. It was just a nice touch for their fake relationship. He was constantly complimenting her in his head. It was about time one of those things slipped out. He just didn’t want her ego to get too big. It was already ridiculous. It was nice to hear that she didn’t sleep great without the two of them. Not nice because he wanted her to sleep terribly, but nice because he felt similarly. Plus, he hadn’t expected her to say something so nice to him in the middle of the ragging on each other. “I like it when you’re there. The animals all look for you. It’s basically your house too,” he laughed, breaking their eye contact for a second. He didn’t really know why, but he just had to. The moment felt too serious. Too.... Something. He couldn’t stare directly into her eyes. “Afraid?” He echoed, a little disappointed that the song was over. He had been having a good time. Not that he thought their good time was going to end anytime soon. “I’m not afraid to kiss you. It would just have to be a really good one. We’re only gonna do it once for all our fans here, you know? We couldn’t half-ass it,” he teased. His eyes glanced down at their intertwined hands as he bit down on his bottom lip. “Who’s saying I haven’t started pulling moves already?” He let out another chuckle as he looked up at her, before moving his gaze toward a table of refreshments. “I think I’m getting another glass of champagne. You want one?”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

As much as Donovan may have teased her and acted like it was annoying when she’d show up at his place unannounced all the time, Rylan knew he didn’t mean it. She knew that he liked it when she was there with him. And as much as she enjoyed the teasing, it was kind of nice to hear him tell her seriously that he liked having her there, too. “I’m their mom, of course they like it when I’m there,” she agreed, her eyes seemingly locking with his. It didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, although it did make her feel something. She just wasn’t sure what. It was nice, though. It was almost calming. So much so that Rylan took note of the way Donovan pulled his gaze from her, though she chose not to question it. They’d been drinking champagne all day, they were both just evidently losing focus a little bit, that was all. “Afraid,” she repeated, nodding her head. “Just like how looking at me scared you just then.” This was an act, right? No, maybe neither of their parents were standing within a close enough proximity to hear them, but that didn’t matter. Method acting, or something like that. Truthfully, Rylan didn’t know what she was doing, she just knew she wasn’t holding back. Again, maybe it was the champagne. The table of which her gaze followed his to shortly after, with her nodding her head in response. “Champagne sounds really good right now.” Her fingers laced easily with his as she tugged him gently toward the refreshment table. She went back to studying his face once they were off of the dance floor, the smile easing onto her lips a small but completely natural one. “I’m not gonna push you away, you know?” She assured him, gaze flickering toward their mothers, who were standing together and both watching the two of them now, before fixing itself on Don again. She motioned him closer with her pointer on her free hand. “You can kiss me.” She didn’t know why her voice had softened the way it had. But it had.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

He couldn’t place it. That feeling he felt when they were staring at each other. He didn’t know what it was, which was why he looked away. Donovan couldn’t really say what he felt, but there was something. Something he wasn’t ready to think too hard about. That’s why he was relieved when they were back to teasing each other. Teasing each other about kissing, but it was still pretty normal. He wasn’t afraid to kiss her, but Donovan didn’t kiss anyone without their permission and he definitely wasn’t going to start with Rylan. Not after all she’d been through. If he was going to kiss her then he was going to need an invitation, even if it was a fake kiss. “You don’t scare me, Ry. Kissing you isn’t all that scary,” he mumbled out, his eyes meeting hers again. He didn’t know what they were doing. Suggesting that they drink more champagne was probably the wrong thing to do. The last thing they needed to do was drink anymore. Clearly there was something affecting their decision-making skills. He followed her pull in the direction of the refreshments table. Maybe he’d grab a piece of cake or something while they were over there. He needed something to help get him away from his alcohol-induced thoughts. As she spoke, he followed her gaze over to their mothers and then met hers again. That was that invitation he had been thinking about earlier. The thing he said he’d need if he was going to kiss Rylan. “I can kiss you,” he repeated, taking a step closer to her as she beckoned him closer. He could feel his own drop a little in volume with every inch of the gap he closed between them “You can’t laugh,” he warned, even though nothing really seemed all that funny right about now. He thought it would have been funny, but he didn’t feel like laughing. In all honesty, he felt nervous. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek as he leaned down to press his lips against hers, surprised at the fact that he didn’t immediately want to pull himself away.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

It wasn’t a real kiss. None of this was real. So the fact that Rylan’s heart seemed to be racing a little bit, her gaze drifting momentarily to Don’s lips, really didn’t make any sense. Then again, she was probably just caught up in their act. It wouldn’t be all that surprising; they’d been glued to each other all weekend. “No?” She questioned, the corner of her mouth tugging up into an almost lazy smile. “Good.” If they were afraid of each other, of being this close to each other and of acting the way they were then they would’ve blown their cover already. It was good that they were both comfortable, that it didn’t feel weird as she held onto her best friend’s hand. The last thing she’d ever expected to be doing was kissing Donovan Smythe, it had always seemed so out of the question, so Rylan chose not to let herself think about the fact that she wasn’t trying to push him away now, and instead was motioning him closer. His words drew a small, barely there laugh from her, though it wasn’t at the situation. “Just kiss me,” she whispered, unsure of why her voice was so hushed and soft, or why her eyes followed his mouth as he moved in closer, until their lips were pressing softly against one another’s, her eyes fluttering shut. It should’ve felt weird, but it didn’t. His lips pressing to hers didn’t feel weird, nor did his hand cupping her cheek. The only thing she questioned was the way her heart raced. Donovan was her best friend, it wasn’t that kind of a kiss, she shouldn’t have felt the way she did. But she did. Almost afraid she’d get too carried away, Rylan finally pulled back, though not very far, eyes opening to immediately scan over his face. They locked with his own. “It wasn’t so funny,” she said softly, not even thinking about it as she lifted a hand to rest gently on the back of his neck, her lips finding their way to his once more.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

They had to kiss. Their parents were watching just about every move between the two of them, so it only made sense. This moment had been building since the second they decided to fake their relationship. Donovan always knew it was coming. There was going to be a moment where he had to fake-kiss his best friend. But it was really fake. You couldn’t fake a kiss. His lips were going to have to touch hers and he could feel the nervousness building up inside of him as he stepped closer to her. He knew if he thought about it too hard, he might back away because she wasn’t completely wrong when she accused him of being a little afraid to kiss her. He definitely was. When their lips met, he was weirdly surprised to feel her kiss him back. He should have figured that she was going to. It was a part of their act, after all. But still, feeling her lips pressed against him, he really didn’t want to stop. And that scared him. Maybe that was why he had been so afraid in the first place. He knew if he kissed her, there was going to be a small chance that he liked it, and an even smaller chance that he wasn’t going to want to stop. His eyes met hers as she pulled away as he tried to read her face. He nodded his head at her words. But before he could respond he felt her lips back on his again. And it kind of excited him. It made him think that maybe she’d felt it too. Whatever it was. He really did like the feeling of kissing her. That was why he instinctively deepened the kiss and dropped his hand to her waist, pulling her closer to him. He didn’t want to let go, but suddenly his mind recalled the fact that they were in public. Not just in public. They were at a wedding and people had already been staring at them, so it was probably a lot worse now. He pulled himself away from her, his lips still stinging from whatever that was. “Good job, buddy,” he breathed out awkwardly.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

This wasn’t supposed to happen. And it certainly wasn’t supposed to feel like this… Whatever this feeling was. Rylan couldn’t really place it. She figured it probably had to do with all of the champagne, and just the whole fake boyfriend-girlfriend moment in general. She couldn’t question it too much. If she did, she’d scare herself, though it wasn’t like she was exactly the most calm once their lips had parted. Moving back in was a way of keeping her mind from thinking too deeply. At least that was what she was going to tell herself as her lips pressed back against her best friend’s again, her fingers sliding into the back of his hair as their lips moved against each other’s. Rylan’s parted instinctively, deepening the kiss the same way Donovan had. She didn’t want them to stop, but she knew she couldn’t think like that. She couldn’t help it, though. Once they’d parted again, she could feel how hard her heart was racing, she could still taste him on her lips and she hated that she wanted so badly to move right back in. By this point, their parents had probably walked away, they probably weren’t watching anymore, so this definitely wasn’t just a show for them. Not that she’d admit that, not even to herself. Her lips curved into a small smirk in response to his words, her eyes never leaving his. “You too,” she agreed, the one hand still holding onto his tightening its hold a little bit. Her gaze moved toward the door briefly, then back up to Donovan, with Rylan not even giving herself the chance to consider what she was saying or doing. “Come with me,” she whispered, finally tearing her gaze from him to lead him over to the door and toward the bathroom. She needed to be alone with him. She didn’t know why.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

It was all that champagne. It had to be. Donovan had thrown back a few glasses and he was sure that Rylan had a couple too. The champagne had to be the reason why he didn’t want to stop kissing her. He was drunk, and she was hot. And they were pretending to be a couple anyway. It was just easy to get caught up in the moment of it all. Her lips felt nice. He just didn’t want to think about it too hard. If he started to really think about then he would realize that they’d taken it a step too far. His tongue was in his best friend’s mouth. Or at least, it was. Until he finally decided to pull the two of them apart. It wasn’t hard to tell that no one had really been watching them. That was just for the two of them. His mom has turned away a while ago and her mom didn’t seem like she could not have cared any less about the two of them. His heart was racing and he couldn’t pull his eyes away from her. He wanted to know what her next move was. What their next move was. His eyes glanced down at their intertwined hands as she started to lead them over toward the bathroom. He really didn’t know what was going on. He couldn’t think too hard about it. If he really focused on what they were doing and why then he would probably stop the two of them, and that was the last thing he wanted. He bit down on his bottom lip as they made their way into the bathroom, making sure to lock the door behind them. His eyes met hers as he took a step toward her, closing the gap between them. They never had to use words with each other. That’s just how they were. He could usually tell what she was thinking and that wasn’t different just because they were in unchartered territory. He stared down at her, keeping his eyes fixed on her as slid his hand to rest on her thigh. “No one can see us in here,” he breathed out before placing his lips back on hers.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Rylan never held back, it just wasn’t in her nature. She was a St. James, after all; they didn’t do that. But this was taking things to a whole new territory even for her. She’d never looked at Donovan this way before. The way she was right now, her heart racing as she looked up at him, the need to close the gap between them unbelievably strong. Whether that was because she’d never allowed herself to look at him that way or not, she really didn’t know, she just knew that there was something different going on here. Something unexpected. Something she wasn’t willing to stop, even though she knew she should. She was waiting to snap out of it, for the sound of the bathroom door locking behind them to bring her back to reality, but it didn’t. If anything, it just made her want her hands on him, the idea of them so alone and finally in their own privacy somehow working her up. Rylan didn’t say anything as she looked up at her best friend, though she was sure the look in her darkened eyes was doing all of the talking for her. She wanted him. She didn’t know why or how, but she did, and her lips seemed to reconnect almost desperately with his once his hand was on her thigh, his words acting as some kind of accelerator to push her closer to him. Letting go of his hand, she reached out to grab fistfuls of his shirt, edging toward the sink and pulling him back with her until she felt it hit her back. She never broke their kiss as she hopped up to sit on the sink, her fingers now fumbling with the buttons on Don’s shirt. She easily unfastened it, her lips still moving desperately against his. A soft, barely audible whimper fell from her mouth and into his in some kind of anticipation that she was trying hard to ignore.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Doing something like this had never crossed his mind. Donovan couldn’t even think of a time where he’d thought about kissing Rylan. Let alone, making out with her in a bathroom. He figured it would stop soon. They wouldn’t let it go too far. One of them had to come to their senses. They couldn’t keep kissing the way they were kissing without it leading down a dangerous path. But it didn’t really seem like either one of them wanted to stop. And the fact that he had closed the door behind the two of them made it pretty clear that he didn’t want any interruptions pulling them away from each other. The fact there weren’t any other eyes on them really should have stopped them. Their act could be over in here. But Donovan was too caught up in her and the way their lips were connecting to care about who was watching. He was actually relieved that they were alone. He didn’t resist when she started unbuttoning his shirt. He ended up shrugging it off and letting it fall to the bathroom floor, not exactly caring where it ended up. Both of his hands were now on her thighs, pushing their way under her dress as he kept his mouth pressed onto hers. He wasn’t going to stop kissing her. It had taken over two decades for the two of them to kiss and he wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. She didn’t have to say that she wanted him. He knew her. He could tell by the way she looked at him, by the way she kissed him. Words weren’t a necessity for them. He positioned himself perfectly in between her legs as he began to slide his hand underneath the waistband of her panties. He moaned at the feeling of how wet she was. It was obvious that she was enjoying what they were doing, but this was obvious. “Fuck, Ry,” he breathed out against her lips as he stroked his finger along her center. He finally pulled his lips away from hers, so his gaze could meet hers. He reached for her hand with his free one and guided it to his belt, keeping his eyes on hers with every movement.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

How close they were, how desperate their movements were, it would suggest that they were finally relieving years of pent-up need for each other. But as far as Rylan was aware, that wasn’t the case. Donovan had always just been Donovan, her best friend. He was gorgeous, there was no denying that, but she’d never looked at him as anything more. Right now, though, all she could think about was how ridiculously hot he was, and how badly she wanted her hands all over his body, her lips against his. She slid her hands up his chest and over his shoulders once she’d unfastened all of the buttons, pushing his shirt off and onto the floor. Instinctively, her legs parted further to slot him in between, her hands now running down his bare chest, moving over his muscles, nails dragging lightly over his abs. She was grateful that neither of them seemed to have come to their senses yet, and that she evidently wasn’t the only one into this. With the way his hands were moving up her thighs, he was about to feel just how wet she was for him already, how much all of this had turned her on. The moment his fingers slipped inside of her panties, she pushed her hips slightly forward, the moan she responded with soft and almost drowned out by their kiss. She couldn’t do that once he’d pulled away, though, and found herself just looking up at him, her breathing faster, though her movements were sure and confident, no more so than when he’d moved her hand to his belt, with Rylan bringing her other hand over and unfastening it instantly. She tugged it off, eyes never leaving his as she unfastened the button and zipper on his pants, hand slipping under the fabric of his boxers to wrap her fingers around him. This should’ve felt more wrong than it did, but it didn’t. “I want you,” she stated in a soft voice, hand moving slowly up and down his length, just in case there was anything unclear here. She wanted him.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan wanted more of her. He wanted all of her. It was sort of crazy to think about. Thirty minutes ago, he wouldn’t have guessed that they were going to doing any of this in the bathroom. He thought they would drink a little, dance a little bit, and make his parents smile. Not that he was complaining. He was enjoying every second of the two of them going at it like this. It was surprising, but still enjoyable. He had never thought about her in this way, but he wasn’t sure if he could ever unsee her in this way after today. Maybe if he just blamed it on the champagne induced haze then nothing would change after this. Being able to feel that she was just as into this as he was, definitely turned him on. He could feel himself getting harder and harder just by touching her. He wanted her. He needed to be inside of her soon. He let out a soft moan as he stared down into her eyes, waiting for her to finish unhooking his belt. It felt good watching her. He enjoyed being able to gauge the reaction of what he was doing to her. His breath hitched as she wrapped her hand around his shaft, a small moan leaving his lips as he looked down at her. He leaned down and pressed another kiss to her lips, finally breaking their gaze. “I want you, too” he whispered out against her lips. He pressed his body up against hers as he moved closer to her, his hand pushing down her panties until they were at her ankles and out of his way. He moved her hand away from him and pushed his own boxers down, moving himself so he was positioned at her entrance. There wasn’t any time to think this through. The moment she said she wanted him, there was really no turning back for the two of them. He slowly guided himself inside of her, bucking his hips forward as he filled her. “Fuck,” he moaned out at the contact. He pulled his lips away from hers, so he could stare into her eyes all over again. He breathed out heavily as their gazes met, moans escaping from his lips with every movement of his hips.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Rylan had no expectations here, considering she’d never thought about doing this with Donovan, but if she had had any, then he would’ve been exceeding them already. Just the way he kissed her, the sound of his quiet moans, it was all a major turn on. All he’d done was move his fingers against her and she could already feel herself growing wetter, more desperate for him. Her movements were anything but slow or careful as she worked on getting him out of his pants, and she couldn’t even ignore how hot it was to feel him hardening in her hand. To know that she was the one doing that to him just made her want him more. Her lips easily reconnected with his, legs beginning to tremble slightly with anticipation as he pulled her panties down. She didn’t just want to feel him inside of her anymore, she needed to, and couldn’t even help but break their eye contact as she watched him pushing down his own pants and boxers, unashamedly taking in the sight. “Jesus,” she breathed, the sight of him so hard for her making her practically ache for him. Rylan’s focus moved back up to Donovan’s face, her legs spreading apart and her hips pushing forward again as he began to guide himself into her. She whimpered in response to feeling him sinking the whole way in, her arms lifting up to wrap around his neck as she rocked her hips into his. She was breathing faster already, her leg lifting to bend at the knee for him to hold onto. “Fuck,” she moaned into the feeling, head tilting back slightly.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Usually kissing his best friend having sex with her would have Donovan nervous. It was a precarious situation. But he wasn’t nervous at all. He was planning on blaming that on the champagne confidence, but it was really the fact that it all felt so natural. All of it. Even small things like holding her hand just felt like something that they’d done a thousand times. This? They clearly had never done anything like this, but it didn’t feel weird. It didn’t feel awkward at all. It felt like something they should have been doing all along. And that scared him. Maybe if he was in his right mind and not currently wrapped up in the euphoria that was sex with Rylan St. James then he would have been more cognizant of just how scary it all was. But he couldn’t focus on any of that right now. He was throbbing with want and need because he needed to be with her. The feeling of him finally sinking his way into her had blown away any of his expectations. He held onto her leg as he started to move in sync with her hips, keeping his eyes on hers. She felt really good. There was something incredibly sexy about staring into her eyes while all of this was happening. He had been staring into her eyes for most of the night. It had gone from friends being cordial to wanting each other, and now it was just total lust. He could feel himself swelling up inside of her. He slid his hand up her body, resting it on her neck as he kept pounding himself in and out of her. “Shit, Ry,” he cursed out, his breathing incredibly hitched. He could feel himself edging closer to his release. “Tell me you want me again,” he breathed out, knowing those words would definitely guide him to his brink.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

For past reasons, Rylan had a very love/hate relationship with sex. Sometimes, it scared her, so much that she just couldn’t even do it. But she’d never had sex with Donovan Smythe before. And honestly, doing this with him now should’ve terrified her, but it really didn’t. It felt so right, and it definitely felt good. Like their bodies just fit so perfectly with one another’s as he thrusted in and out of her, the feeling of him rubbing against her in all of the right places causing her to moan for him as she held onto him. She never really let herself focus on the other person too intently whenever she was hooking up with someone, at least not to the point of locking her gaze with theirs, but she couldn’t even break it with Donovan. The way he looked at her was only turning her on more, and the confirmation that this was really him, that he was right there in front of her, making her feel so good as he pounded in and out of her, only added to everything further. While one of her arms stayed wrapped tightly around his neck, the other loosened a little, her hand sliding into the back of his hair and her fingers grasping onto it slightly, though not enough to hurt him. “I do, I want you,” she breathed, her words shaky and filled with total lust. Maybe she should be afraid that after this, she’d never stop wanting him. But she wasn’t. She couldn’t find it in herself to feel any negative feeling right now, not while he was making her feel so good. She leaned forward to reconnect their lips, but the kisses were messy thanks to their movements. “And you want me too,” she mumbled against his lips. Her hips rocked in time with his, the volume and pace of her moaning increasing as their movements drew her quickly closer to the edge. It felt like they’d only just started, but she knew she wasn’t going to last too much longer.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Just friends was an interesting concept. Something Donovan would have lived by before this moment. He had always been so adamant that he and Rylan were just friends. That was something he could probably never say again. Or maybe he could. Maybe they just had to do this once. It was just an itch they had to scratch. And then things would just go back to the way they were. They’d kissed and they were drunk, so it only made sense that they had kept going. They couldn’t stop themselves. They knew everything about each other, so it only made sense that when it came to sex there was some sort of connection there too. He really wanted her. He knew that she could tell just how much he was enjoying this by the look he was giving her. And hearing her say again that she wanted him started to pull him closer to is breaking point. He knew he wasn’t going to last much longer, not with the way he was fucking her, and definitely not with the way they were looking at each other in between messy kisses. “I really fucking want you,” he gasped out. He couldn’t help, but wonder if he had always wanted her. If it had just been lurking in the back of his mind for years. He didn’t think so, but he really couldn’t be sure anymore. He wasn’t one to constantly curse or even express himself that way, but there was really no other way to put. He did really fucking want her. He felt himself drawing to his release as his body started shaking. After riding out his orgasm, he let out a deep breath as his body went pliant. He leaned forward to place another kiss against her lips before he pulled his body away. He wanted to sneak one more in before this was all over because he knew the minute they left this bathroom, this was done. “Shit,” he breathed out. “Way fucking better than Tramp Stamp,” he sighed, reaching down to pull up his boxers.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

This was a movie thing. One of those cheesy romcoms where two people who had been best friends their whole lives suddenly wound up all over each other. It didn’t happen in real life, and certainly not to Rylan and Donovan. But it was happening now. She was convinced it was just going to be this one time, though, which perhaps only made it all even more appealing to her, made her feel things even more intensely. She would’ve usually lasted much longer than this, but her need for him was overwhelming, and when he told her he wanted her too, it only pushed her closer to the edge. Even if she knew it already. Rylan hadn’t been holding back anyway, but the moan that fell from her lips once she finally hit that breaking point was even louder than the others, her walls clenching tightly around him as they both rode out their orgasm. Her body felt weak, but she could still lean forward to kiss him back, even if it was done kind of lazily, then she found herself whimpering at the feeling of him pulling back out of her, her legs shaky and weak. Holding onto the sink once Donovan had pulled back, Rylan watched him for a moment as she tried to catch her breath, a small laugh falling from her lips in response. “Obviously,” she agreed, bringing a hand up to push loose strands of hair from her face. It was safe to say her neatly constructed bun had suffered with how fast their movements had been, and Rylan definitely wasn’t looking as well put together now as she had before, but she didn’t care. Climbing down carefully from the sink, she leaned down to pull up her panties, instantly feeling how wet they were once they were back in place. It was almost like she hadn’t registered what they were doing until she’d turned back to look in the mirror, noticing the way her mascara had run a little bit and how messy her hair was.“God,” she muttered, wiping under her eyes to neaten up her makeup, then got to work on her hair. This had to go back to normal. It just did, Rylan wasn’t going to let it not. “We should really get back out there,” she sighed, straightening out her dress and refusing to look Donovan’s way again.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan didn’t want to think about it too much. If there had been something brewing between them for a while. Whatever it was, it was over now. They had acted out whatever feelings were there. Even if they were just there for that day or if they had been there between them two of them for decades. Whatever it was, it was done. They had both reached their orgasms and now they could move on. A soft chuckle escaped from his lips as she agreed with him. He thought the mention of her least favorite ex-girlfriend of his was a nice touch. It was a nice way to ease back into being normal. They were going to put this behind them. That was going to be the last kiss they were going to have outside of faking it for their family. And even this, had been sort of for show anyway. He was certain someone would notice that the two of them had disappeared into a locked bathroom all those minutes ago. He leaned down to pick up his shirt off the floor and put it back on, his hands immediately starting to button it up. He gazed at himself in the mirror, noticing how rough he looked. How rough they both looked. He glanced over at her for a second before tucking his shirt into his pants and readjusting his belt. He wanted to say something. Anything. But he knew it was better to just forget about it. This never happened. He could tell from the way she was refusing to look at him. She didn’t want to think about anything that had just transpired. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to do something to make it look like they weren’t just having sex in here. “Yeah. Let’s go. I’ll get out of here first and go talk to my mom or something. You can stay in here and fix all of that. You look terrible,” he joked, letting out an awkward laugh before he reached for the door and made his way out of the bathroom.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Although this had obviously been a mistake, a very stupid and in the moment one, the worst part about it was that Rylan didn’t feel like it was one. She hadn’t considered what it would do to their friendship, and while she liked to think they were strong enough to go back to normal after this whole day was over, the realist in her worried a little bit that they wouldn’t. What if they’d just screwed everything up? She wished she’d thought about that possibility before, but she hadn’t, and now here they were, with Rylan afraid to even make eye contact with Donovan again. She didn’t even really know what to say, though she did glance at him in the mirror when he spoke to her, shooting him a playful scowl in the reflection, though it was definitely halfhearted. “Thanks. That’s just what every girl likes to hear,” she joked, going back to fixing her hair, though she watched her friend as he exited the bathroom, leaving her in there alone. For a moment, she just stared at the door once it’d closed behind him, wondering if all of that had really just happened. It had. It shouldn’t have, but it had. She didn’t know where to go from here. One thing was for sure though, Rylan was definitely not in a party mood anymore. She wiped away any smeared makeup with the pad of her thumb, picked up her purse, then headed out of the bathroom, her heart feeling as though it’d dropped into her stomach when she laid eyes on Don talking to their mothers. Rylan pushed a small smile to her lips as she approached. “Hey, listen, I’m not feeling so great, I think I’m gonna head back,” she announced, refusing to meet Donovan’s gaze again. She swallowed, looking up at her mom. “You know, actually, maybe I could come stay at home tonight?” The idea of sharing a bed with Donovan felt almost wrong now. Her mom agreed that it was a good idea, evidently concerned that she was sick.“Okay, great. Uh, I’m just gonna go grab my stuff from the room, then I’ll order a Lyft. I don’t want you to have to leave yet.” She reached up to kiss her mom on the cheek, then did the same to Diana. She chose not to look at Donovan as she left, though, and simply headed up to their hotel room without looking back.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Hearing her response made Donovan immediately regret the joke he’d made. He thought it would help get things back to normal, but it sort of just seemed like he was insulting the girl he’d just had sex with. Going out to talk to their mothers did not make anything better. They were annoying. They were just asking questions about a fake relationship he really didn’t want to think about at the moment. His eyes would glance back at the bathroom door as he waited for Rylan to emerge from it. But she hadn’t yet. And he was still stuck putting on a fake smile, pretending like he wasn’t internally freaking out. Suddenly he saw his best friend approaching and his eyes stayed fixated on her. She never looked at him. Just like when they were finished back in the bathroom. He couldn’t blame her. Maybe she blamed him for all of this. He had kissed her. He slipped his hand under her panties. He was the instigator. Even if she had led him to the bathroom, he had still started all of this and he should have stopped it before they went too far. He was the reason it seemed like she couldn’t even stomach being around him. He watched as she said goodbye to her mother and his, never really even acknowledging his presence. His eyes followed her as she walked away, before he turned his attention back to their mothers. He listened to them talk for a few moments before excusing himself from the conversation. He wasn’t just going to let her leave on those terms. It wasn’t good. They were best friends. He couldn’t just let her go stay at her parents’ house without even saying goodbye to him. He made his way back inside the hotel, taking the elevator to their room and unlocking it with the key he had stashed in his pocket. “Hey,” he greeted with a small sigh. “You don’t have to leave. I mean, I’m not gonna keep you here if you don’t want to be around me, but I’ll take the couch tonight. It’s a pull out. It’s perfectly comfortable,” he mumbled out, taking a seat on it.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Rylan could only imagine what their mothers had been saying to Don. No doubt it would’ve all been about them, and frankly she was glad she wasn’t there to hear it. Honestly, right now she didn’t know it she’d even be able to give them any kind of convincing response. She really didn’t even feel like being around anybody, so once she’d departed from their small group and headed to the hotel room, she mentally planned to spend at least the rest of the evening alone. She’d grab her things, get a Lyft to the house, then she’d just hide out in her old bedroom until morning. She was sure she’d feel better by then. Though a part of her ached with sadness as she arrived at the room and saw Donovan’s shirt on the bed, suddenly missing him. It seemed he wasn’t far behind, though, and as she heard the door opening, Rylan looked over, her gaze landing on him right away. Unlike before, when she hadn’t been thinking properly, she couldn’t stop thinking now. Scenarios flashed through her mind, of things always being awkward and uncomfortable between them now. Then of her being pressed up against him all over again. She didn’t verbally respond, and instead trained her gaze on his face, studying him for a moment as she slowly walked toward him. She was aware of what she was doing now as she stopped in front of him, looking up at him momentarily, before she leaned up to press her lips to his again. She gave no explanation, and simply lifted her arms to wrap around his neck, unsure of why she was deepening the kiss the way she was, but she was. This was why she couldn’t stay here tonight, or why she didn’t think she could. How was she supposed to keep her hands off him now? Honestly, she didn’t even want to, nor did she try.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan was sure their parents thought they were in some sort of fight. He also wasn’t entirely sure if they weren’t in a fight. They’d never really had one before. A few arguments here and there, but they always ended up just forgetting about it and ordering pizza. This was probably going to be different. Everything about their relationship was suddenly different. He couldn’t tell if Rylan didn’t want to talk to him or if she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Either way, their bathroom hookup had changed things for them and it didn’t feel like it had shifted their relationship in a positive way. He wanted to see her and talk to her. He knew there wasn’t really much he could say to reassure her that their relationship was still the same, especially since he wasn’t even sure if it was still the same. She was avoiding him. That was something they’d never done with each other. Avoided one another. He always wanted to hang out with her and he was certain that she always wanted to hang out with him. His eyes stayed on her as she started to move toward him, he immediately pulled himself up from the spot he’d taken on the couch. He didn’t know what she was going to say to him. He stood there, waiting for something to come out of her mouth. He was surprised to feel her lips back on his. That wasn’t what he had been expecting, but he wasn’t going to complain about it. It didn’t take much for him to follow her lead and deepen their kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth. His arms wrapped around her as he pulled her body closer to his. A few minutes ago, he was certain that whatever happened in the bathroom was never going to happen again, but now? He wasn’t so sure.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

A switch had flipped, whether Rylan wanted to acknowledge it or not. What’d transpired between the two of them had changed something, and she could tell herself that it’d go back to normal tomorrow, but she wasn’t entirely convinced that it would. Especially not when she’d laid eyes on Donovan again, and when the thought of leaving him here alone tonight caused her heart to ache. Leaving him at all just made her feel weird. She felt like there was too much distance between them now, while they were in the same room, so how she would be okay in a whole other building was anyone’s guess. It didn’t matter now, though, because as soon as their lips were reconnected, Rylan knew she wasn’t going anywhere. Pulling back from the kiss, she looked up at him a little breathlessly already. “One minute,” she promised, moving away from him to grab her phone from her purse. She evened out her voice as she tapped on Evelyn’s contact, lifting her phone to her ear. “Mom? Hey. Yeah, change of plan. I think I’m just gonna stay here with Donovan tonight.” Her eyes locked with his. “Yeah, I’m sure. He’s gonna take care of me.” She wrapped up the call quickly, slipped her phone back into her purse and then tossed it onto the couch out of their way, before making her way back over to Don, this time with no intention of pulling back as she leaned up to press her lips to his once more. Her tongue slipped through the part in his lips, moving gently against his as she began to unfasten the buttons of his shirt again, blindly leading him over toward the bed they would be sharing for the night.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan’s heart was already racing. It had started when he noticed her walking toward him and now that their lips were pressed together, he figured it wouldn’t slow down anytime soon. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew he wasn’t going to take any questions. He didn’t even want to pull away. He was certain that if he did, even just to catch his breath, they would lose this moment. One of them would overthink it and they would stop kissing. Things would go back to being stunted and awkward, and he did not want that.. A sigh escaped from his lips as she pulled away from him. He was worried. He wanted to keep kissing her, but he didn’t know what she was doing. His eyes stayed on her as she took out her phone, nodding along as he heard her talking to her mother. That was a good sign. She wasn’t leaving. And he was going to take care of her. He didn’t know what her staying in the room meant for whatever was going on here, but at least it meant their friendship wasn’t gone. Although he still wasn’t sure if they could ever go back to a regular friendship. He was enjoying kissing her a little too much. He was glad that it didn’t take long before she was right back there with him. It was still nice that they didn’t have to use words with each other. It was one thing when she needed creamer out of his fridge, but it was another to just look into her eyes and know that she wanted him. But he did. He could tell when she was still on the phone. He followed her lead over to the bed. The bed they’d reserved to just sleep in before. There was no way they’d had this in mind when they made the reservation. He kept his lips on hers as he shrugged off his shirt, happy it was coming off for the second time that evening. He pulled his lips away from hers to turn her around, his hand finding the zipper on her dress and sliding it down. He wanted to see more of her. He hadn’t gotten that chance earlier.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

There were many things about all of this that Rylan could and perhaps should question. But what was the point? She didn’t have the answers, and the two of them were managing to surprise her with every move they made. Maybe it said something, the fact that they could stop for her to call her mom, then get right back to it again. The break could’ve disturbed the moment, but Rylan only wanted Don more once she’d finished up the call. The thought that this was it for the night, that it was just the two of them in their room, that was exciting to her. It shouldn’t have been, but it was, and now all she could think about was feeling him inside of her again, her hands all over his body, his lips against her own. Pushing off his shirt was easy this time, maybe because her movements weren’t so rushed and desperate. Instead, she was moving kind of slowly, taking her time. Something felt different this time. The slowness almost nicer somehow. Pulling back once Don had, Rylan looked up at him, until he was turning her around and she could feel him lowering her zipper, the fabric of her dress beginning to fall already. “Take it off,” she whispered, glancing back at him over her shoulder. She didn’t just mean her dress, considering she’d begun to peel that off herself now. She let it fall down to the floor, heart beating a little faster as she clarified, “All of it.” They’d done the hurried, in the moment public bathroom sex. She wanted something real now.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan knew they should stop. Nothing good could come out of this. Just an awkward morning tomorrow. But he couldn’t stop. Not with the way her lips were on his and not with the way he wanted her. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about earlier. How her hands were all over him. How he could feel just how wet he’d made her. He wanted to feel all of those things again. Up until a few minutes ago, he wasn’t sure it would ever happen again. It wasn’t clear to him just how much he wanted it to happen again. And maybe that should have worried him, but he couldn’t focus on being scared and worried right now. Not when he was so distracted by her. He glided his tongue over her lips as they kissed, enjoying the pace at which they were moving. They were still desperate for each other, but it wasn’t quick or rushed. They had all night. This was their room. Not some bathroom they were hoarding by locking the door. He missed the contact of their lips once he’d turned her around, but he just wanted to see her. All of her. He glanced up at her as she stared over her shoulder at him, their eyes meeting as her dress fell. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her back, peppering slow kisses against her skin. He moved his hands up her back, finding the hook for her bra. It didn’t take long for him to unhook it, his hands gliding it off her shoulders as he returned his lips to her bare skin. He moved his hands to slide up her front, massaging her breast as he continued moving his mouth against her. Their bodies were so pressed together. There wasn’t any space between them, which he liked. He knew she could definitely feel how hard he was and how much just touching her was turning him on. His lips found their way to her neck, pecking lightly at her skin. Not only could she likely feel how turned on he was, but his heart was currently pounding in his chest.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

It hadn’t really been clear to her why she’d struggled to make eye contact with Donovan before, but as she looked back at him now, her gaze locking with his, it suddenly made sense. It wasn’t that she was afraid or ashamed, it was that she knew that looking too intently at him was going to bring this feeling washing over her again, the feeling of desire for him. That was definitely not a good thing, not if they wanted things to be back to normal after this, but for now she just couldn’t worry about that. Not as Donovan slipped off her dress, his lips brushing against the skin on her back. Rylan’s teeth sank into her bottom lip, eyes closing as her body reacted to the small kisses. She knew goosebumps were rising on her skin beneath his lips, and the moment his hands were on her now bare chest, she knew her nipples were hardening under his touch. She exhaled a shaky breath, hand moving behind her to slip between them and cup at the growing bulge she’d felt against her back. He was so hard already, she knew she was so wet. They couldn’t deny themselves of this. Breathing faster, Rylan finally paused to turn around, bringing her gaze up to Don’s again. She never broke contact with his eyes as she lowered her hands to unfasten his belt once more, followed by his pants, then lowered herself down to begin sliding them and his boxers down his legs, gaze still never leaving him. She waited until he’d stepped out of them to stand back up, gently pushing him backwards onto the bed. How she’d never noticed how hot he was before was beyond her. She’d always known he was good looking, but laid there in front of her, he was really, really hot. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, at least not to Rylan, as she lowered herself again, this time to peel off her panties, then climbed onto the bed on top of Don, her body hovering over his. She pulled the hair tie from her hair, letting it flow in waves over her shoulder, and stared down at him, both terrified and completely turned on.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

One time thing or not, Donovan was starting to feel zero regrets about it. Maybe that would change tomorrow. When they were awake and could barely look at each other again. He didn’t know. He just knew that he was lost in the moment he was experiencing now. Tomorrow seemed impossible. Going back to a time when he hadn’t had his hands all over her body. A time where he hadn’t felt her nipples stiffen at his touch. It seemed like they had passed a point of no return. But that was something he would have to worry about in the future. Right now, he was just focused on the way her hand was holding him through his pants. Then she turned around and their eyes were locked again. Seeing that want in her eyes and reciprocating that feeling was all new to him, but it also felt familiar. Like something that was always there. They’d both just been looking past it for all these years. He kept his. eyes on her as she lowered herself to take off his pants. She wasn’t even really doing anything, but he could feel himself swelling up even more as he stepped out of his pants and underwear. He breathed out deeply as he felt her push him back onto the bed. He bit down on his lip in anticipation as he watched her slide her panties off. Finally, he could get a good look at her, and he had no complaints. She was hot. But he’d always known. He had just never seen this much of her before. His eyes met hers again as she climbed over him, he could tell that there was an ounce of fear in her face just by looking at her. He brought his lips to catch hers, his hands returning to roam over her body. He pulled away to look up at her, compassion in his eyes. He wanted her, but she was still his best friend. “Ry,” he breathed out a bit uneasy. “This is okay?” He mumbled out against her lips, hoping for confirmation to keep going.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

It probably wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for a person to like to take charge in the bedroom, but it went a little deeper than the norm for Rylan. She knew how it felt to have absolutely no power in this situation. If she was in charge, she didn’t have to bring back that memory, so this was where she felt better, being the one to finish up undressing them, and then climbing on top of him. The fear she felt had nothing to do with that, it was in the fact that she wanted this so badly, and it scared her to think about it. It scared her to think of Donovan in a way other than him just being her goofy best friend. But not so much that she wanted to stop. She wanted him too badly, and she knew he wanted her, too. She could feel how hard he was against her thigh as she hovered over the top of him, her head ducking for their lips to reconnect. Rylan pulled back when she felt Donovan doing the same, looking down at him again. She decided not to respond verbally just yet, and instead just studied his face, let her eyes scan over his, before they were lowering to his lips, and Rylan finally nodded her head. “It is,” she whispered softly, closing the gap between them again to press her lips back against his, parting them to deepen the kiss once more. Her body seemed to be moving of its own accord as she moved her leg to straddle his lap, slowly rubbing herself against his length. She let out another shaky breath as she pulled back from his lips, unable to keep her eyes from looking into his again. She didn’t know what was happening, why she needed to be watching him so badly, but she did. Even as she reached down between the two of them to run her hand along his shaft, before slowly lowering her hips to guide him inside of her. “I want you,” she mumbled, lips pressing to his once more, before she finally sat up on top of him, hips rolling to guide him in and out of her as she looked down at her best friend. She hoped that was still what he was.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Best friends weren’t supposed to do things like this. Best friends stayed up late watching movies and ate pizza together. Best friends complained about their bad dates and made goofy jokes to keep the other one laughing. Best friends did not look at each other the way they had been looking at each other all night. And he knew that best friends definitely didn’t screw each other twice in one day. He couldn’t break the stare he had on her as he waited for a confirmation from her. He could tell in her eyes that she wanted this, and he could tell from the heat radiating from her lower half that she really wanted this. He smirked as confirmation left her lips and she pushed her lips back onto his. That was all he needed to hear to keep going. He moaned into her mouth as he felt her vibrating against his length. He wanted more of her. He really didn’t think he needed to hear anything other than she wanted them to keep going, but then she said she wanted him before she pressed her lips against his again. He liked hearing that. There was something about knowing that the one girl he was certain never looked at him in that way wanted him now. She needed him now. As she led him inside of her, it felt even more amazing knowing that she was so wet and turned on by him. That was all him. “Oh, fuck,” he breathed out at the contact, a small moan immediately leaving his lips. He reached up and slid his hand up her body, gripping onto her breast and massaging it as she rode him. He leaned his head back, not being able to control the sounds leaving his mouth. She felt so good. That was pretty apparent by how hard he was inside of her and by the panted moans leaving his lips. “I’ve wanted you so fucking bad, Ry,” he mumbled out in broken breaths.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Not that Rylan had ever considered sleeping specifically with Donovan before, but the thought of sleeping with a close friend had never played out this way. She’d always expected that it’d be weird and awkward, that they’d probably both laugh too much and have to stop, but that wasn’t the case. There was nothing funny about this. There was nothing awkward about it. Even being naked in front of him, and seeing him so exposed, it wasn’t weird. Feeling how hard he was for her, hearing the sounds he made as she moved against him, none of it was weird at all. In fact, it was just incredibly hot, and it felt so strangely normal. Rylan only grew more and more turned on as she moved, choosing not to hold back as a moan fell from her lips in response. Evidently, she was comfortable being her loud, out there herself with Donovan no matter what the scenario, and this one was no exception. The pace of her hips quickened with each new sound he made, partially because she wanted to draw more from him. She’d been scared to say anything when they’d done this before in the bathroom, worried that talking to him would make it all too real, but hearing him breathe out her name like that, telling her he’d wanted her, it was ridiculously hot, it caused her to whimper in response, leaning down to hover her body over him as she held herself up with one hand, her hips rolling fast against his. “You’re so fucking sexy,” she breathed, something she’d maybe regret telling him tomorrow, but she was pretty caught up in the moment now. Whatever was on her mind, she was going to say it, mostly because he was making her feel too good to stop herself. Her lips found his, pressing messily against them as she moaned anything but quietly into his mouth.

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Their bodies shouldn’t have fit so perfectly together. It all should have been more awkward with limbs in the wrong place and lots of giggles leaving both of their mouths, but the room was filled with moans and heavy breathing. He hadn’t even known what he meant when he told her he’d wanted her so bad. Did he just mean today? All along? He wasn’t even sure anymore. But they had been able to make the transition from friends to lovers pretty seamlessly. Surprisingly, the chemistry was there. He’d felt it the moment their lips were pressed together. He had warned her not to laugh before their kiss, but it definitely wasn’t a laughing matter anyway. He’d had lots of girlfriends and had kisses plenty of women before, but that first kiss and the many they’d shared since then were already catapulted to the top of his best list. And the sex? It was definitely becoming some of the best sex he’d ever had, but he was certain he could not tell her that. She would never let him live it down. He wasn’t even sure if they were ever going to even acknowledge this after tonight. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to. He just wanted to exist in the moment. Then she called him sexy. And he was surprised. In the bathroom, it was like they had been two characters. Two people playing boyfriend and girlfriend fucking in the bathroom. But this was something else. This was real. This was Rylan telling Donovan that he was sexy. This was just for the two of them. His teeth sank into her bottom lip as he pulled his mouth away from her, catching his breath. “Look at me,” he instructed breathlessly. He waited until their eyes before he leaned his body forward, propping himself up as she rode him, his arms wrapping around her. “Say my name,” he begged. He wanted to hear his name come out of her mouth and he didn’t even know why, but the thought of her looking at him and saying his name while he filled her drove him wild. “You like it when Donovan fucks you, right? Say it.”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

If she really let herself think about it, Rylan would still be waiting for one of them to snap back to reality, for them to come to their senses and stop what they were doing. But that hadn’t happened, and it wasn’t going to happen. Not when this felt as good as it did, not when their bodies were moving in time with one another’s almost perfectly, like they were always supposed to be this way. It was easy to forget that this wasn’t what they usually did, and that it could potentially ruin everything. Right now, Rylan’s mind was consumed by Donovan, by the way he was making her feel as she rocked her hips against his. The sounds she whimpered out were repetitive against his lips the faster she moved, her own lips practically throbbing once he’d pulled away, desperate to draw him back in. But then he was talking to her, he was looking up at her and telling her to look at him, and Rylan couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. Her hands found their way to his face, holding onto him as she cupped his cheeks and listened to his words. His request was too hard to pass up on, considering just how hot the idea of saying his name right now was, but it was also scary. Rylan felt her heart beating harder as she looked down at him. “I do,” she breathed, nodding her head, hips still rolling against his. “Fuck, Donovan. I like it when you fuck me.” It was the first time she’d allowed herself to so much as mutter his name, but it didn’t feel wrong like she’d thought it would. She’d gotten caught up in the moment now, and although she leaned forward to crash her lips into his again, it didn’t stop her from talking like she’d hoped it would, with her whispering almost desperately against his lips, “You should’ve always been fucking me.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan was aware of how Rylan hadn’t said his name yet. He’d said hers plenty of times now, which made him feel ridiculously vulnerable and stupid. But he liked that he was with her. He couldn’t wrap his head around it, but for some reason the fact that this wasn’t just random sex with some stranger made it better. Deep down, it just felt like it was always supposed to be her. No one knew him like she did and that was only amplified sexually. That’s why he had made her look into his eyes. That’s why he was begging her to say his name because he wanted it to feel real. He wanted another reminder that this was Rylan and he was Donovan. And she did. She said it and he could feel himself pulling closer to his edge at her words. They were what he needed to hear. The feeling of her lips against his kept him from saying something else. Something more embarrassing, but then he heard her next words. He even felt them with the way she said them pressed up against his mouth. She was right. They should have been doing this. The ways their bodies molded together made it clear that this was supposed to happen. “I know,” he breathed out, nodding his head. “I know, Ry,” he repeated, his breathing getting heavier. They shouldn’t be saying those types of things to each other. He knew that. Or maybe Donovan would know that tomorrow. Right now, he was lost in the moment. He was lost in her. “I’m really fucking close,” he muttered as his breathing got heavier. He couldn’t compare this feeling to anything he had ever experienced before. This was something other than just a random fuck. Something he was nowhere near ready to unpack. He pushed his lips against hers as he felt himself nearing his breaking point wanting to stifle his moans into her mouth.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

When she thought back on this tomorrow, it was going to be terrifying. But right now, saying Donovan’s name, reminding herself that he was who she was with, he was who she was currently riding, it wasn’t scary. It was something, but not scary. The reminder made her clench around him, her walls tightening as she rocked her hips with his, trying to pull them both closer to their orgasm. She hadn’t been thinking when she’d said what she had, about how they should’ve always been doing this, but it seemed that he agreed with her, and that only made Rylan whimper more, only made her moan a little louder for him. She was close, too. And only getting closer the faster they moved together, the more she thought about who exactly she was doing this with. She didn’t need to respond, she knew he’d be able to feel the way she was tightening around him, the way her movements were getting a little messier, the way the volume of her moaning increased as her lips pressed against his. The moan that followed the feeling of her reaching that release was longer, it was louder, and Rylan instantly began to slow the pace of her hips, though not to a stop just yet. Her energy was suddenly all wiped out, though, but she continued to ride him, wanting the both of them to ride out their orgasm together. Finally, she slowed to a stop, but her heart was beating hard, her breathing still fast and desperate as she rested her forehead against his, still higher up than him thanks to the way she was straddling him. “Fuck,” she muttered, trying to calm down. Her eyes had fluttered shut, almost like she was afraid to look at him as she spoke. “I didn’t know how badly I needed you.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Tomorrow was going to be something else. Donovan didn’t know what they were going to say to each other in the morning. It was clear that there was something brewing between the two of them. People who just saw each other as friends didn’t fuck like that. They didn’t need for each other like that. Ever since that first kiss, she had been the only thing on his mind all night. But tomorrow he was going to have to stop thinking about her. They were best friends. No matter how hot she was or whatever amount of palpable chemistry they had. They couldn’t ruin that for sex. Friendship was more important. But that was something to think about tomorrow. Not tonight. Tonight, he was focused on finally hitting his release as he felt her nearing her own. She tightened around him as she rode him. It was obvious that she was right there with him. He body shook as he neared his breaking point, finally stiffening as he reached his orgasm before it came to an end, his length still sensitive as she rode him slowly finishing out their waves together. His breathing was still incredibly uneasy, but it was nice to feel her forehead against his. She wasn’t looking at him, but she wasn’t immediately retreating like she had when they were still in the bathroom together. She wasn’t pulling away from him yet. He brought his hand to her chin, lifting it up slightly so that their lips could meet before pulling away with a smile. He wasn’t ready to let go of her just yet, especially since he was unsure of what was going to happen next. “Still better than Tramp Stamp,” he breathed out, the heaving of his chest finally slowing down. He didn’t really know what else to say. Now that they were done, he wasn’t even sure if he was allowed to kiss her anymore. “Tonight was good. Tonight was a good night.”

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Last night, sleeping with Donovan hadn’t seemed wrong. It hadn’t seemed wrong to kiss him once they were done, or to fall asleep in his arms afterwards, the two of them wearing no clothes. It was a different story this morning, though. Rylan had woken up early, almost forgetting everything that’d happened the night before, but then she’d turned and seen Donovan beside her, just as naked as she was, and her heart had sank. To say she regretted what they’d done would be unfair; Rylan could never regret Donovan, no matter what the situation. But the prospect of what it could do to their friendship was causing a lot of doubt to creep into her mind, and she didn’t know how they were supposed to move forward. She decided to take a shower to give herself the time to think, and made sure to slip carefully out of bed so as not to wake her friend. The plan she came up with as she let the water wash away everything from last night was simple: pretend it never happened. If they could just go back to normal, everything would be okay, she was sure of it, and by the time she’d walked back out of the bathroom and into the hotel’s bedroom, seeing him awake told her it was time to put her plan into action. “Hey!” She greeted cheerfully, patting at her long hair with a towel. She’d taken clothes into the bathroom with her, and had put them on before coming back out. Rylan tossed the towel aside, then began rummaging through her bag to find a hairbrush. She looked at herself in the mirror as she dragged it through her messy hair, making a point to herself not to look at Donovan. “I think check out’s pretty soon. We could go to my parents house and grab breakfast.” She made sure her tone was light and even, like everything was the way it always had been. “Or yours. I don’t really care which. Sleep well?”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

It was tomorrow. The tomorrow he had been dreading all last night. It didn’t ease his nerves when he woke up and his best friend wasn’t lying next to him. She was gone. He sighed in relief as he heard the shower running. At least she wasn’t really gone. She was just in the shower. He would not have been surprised if she had just taken off. Honestly, if he had woken up first that’s exactly what he might have done. He was hopeful that she would walk out of the shower with clothes on because the idea of seeing her in a towel was a little distracting for him. He stood up from his spot on the bed and searched for his discarded boxers, feeling a little shyer about being naked than he had last night. He reached for them and slid them on before picking up the rest of the clothes. He wasn’t going to put any of them back on. He rummaged through his overnight bag and pulled out one of the t-shirts he’d brought, pulling it on over his head before tossing yesterday’s clothes back into the bag. He was dressed now and sitting back on the bed waiting for his friend. That meant things really couldn’t be all that weird. He could feel the nervousness building up inside of him as he heard the bathroom door swing open. She surprised him with her greeting. He wasn’t expecting her to be so cheery. “Hey, weirdo,” he replied sending her a look of confusion. His eyes stayed fixated on her as she spoke. He’d basically been staring at her for the past twenty-four hours, so this was no different. “Did I sleep well?” He asked, even more confused, She should’ve already known the answer to that. She was acting strangely. That was clear. “Are you alright?” He questioned, sitting up from his spot on the bed. “Did you fall and hit your head in there?” He expected things to be weird, but this wasn’t what he expected. It seemed like she had just decided to hit delete on everything that happened yesterday. Like it was wiped from her memory.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

The fact that Donovan was dressed by the time Rylan had joined him in the bedroom again was definitely a good thing. She wanted this to be normal, she wanted to pretend nothing had happened and that they were just their usual, goofy selves with one another. That would’ve been much harder to do if she had the temptation of seeing him there wearing nothing again. Rylan knew that now she’d done this with Don, she was going to want more. But she wouldn’t allow herself to do that, that would be very much counterproductive. Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about that; he was clothed. The look he shot her didn’t pass her by, but Rylan chose to ignore it, instead just flashing him a warm smile, before concentrating on brushing her hair. “That’s what I said,” she nodded her head, finally bringing her gaze to him in the mirror’s reflection. Donovan clearly hadn’t gotten the memo that they were going to be pretending this hadn’t happened, but Rylan hoped that if she kept up her act, he’d catch on. The last thing she wanted to do right now was talk about it. “Fall and hit my head? No, weirdo,” she laughed softly, brows tugging together. “I’m fine. I’m good actually. Kind of excited to get back to Chicago. I mean, I always love being here, but I miss work. It’s the St. James in me,” she winked over her shoulder towards him, tossing her hairbrush back into her open bag. “So, about breakfast,” She began, standing up to look at her friend. “Where are we thinking? My parents? Yours? A diner? Help me out here.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Donovan was confused. That was probably clear by the looks he kept shooting in her direction. He didn’t want to do this. He didn’t know what he wanted. He didn’t know if he wanted things to change between them, and he didn’t know if he wanted to hook up again. Well, his body was definitely in favor of hooking up with her again, but his mind wasn’t on the same page. He just knew that he did not want to pretend like it never happened. That wasn’t a good idea. Clearly, Rylan had somehow convinced herself that it was a good idea and he wasn’t going to buy into it. He wasn’t going to play into this act. His eyes met hers as she looked up at him from the mirror and his face fell. The moment from last night seemed to be over. She definitely wasn’t interested in him anymore. “I’m not doing this with you,” he shrugged. None of the words that came out of her mouth really registered with him. “If you want to be weird then that’s your choice, but I’m not enabling this.” He stood up from his space on the bed and went over to his bag, pulling out a pair of jeans to slip on. He stood up and slipped them on, wanting to just get dressed and get out of there. He started searching for his shoes, but he could only find the ones he had on last night. And even then, he could only find one of them. He poked his head up at her as he paused his search to talk to her. “I don’t want to eat breakfast with you. Once I find my shoe, I’m just going to go to the airport. I’ll eat there. You can meet me there later.” He knew his words were harsh, but the girl he had just slept with was walking in the morning after pretending like it just never happened. It annoyed him. He sighed as he finally found his other shoe, sitting back down on the bed and making the effort to put them on.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Rylan and Donovan were best friends, they were always on the same page. Always. So the fact that it seemed they weren’t right now, and that he seemed annoyed about the way she was acting, it really didn’t make much sense to her. It also made it harder for her to keep up her act, because the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Donovan, but they couldn’t acknowledge last night. She’d decided adamantly that they couldn’t, things would never be normal between them again if they could. “What are you talking about?” She asked, deciding to play dumb. She kept her expression neutral, though it faltered as she watched him moving around the room, her heart breaking inside of her chest. She could only keep this up for so long before she was stepping toward him and gently grabbing ahold of his wrist. “Don,” she spoke softly, her expression sad now. The look in her wide eyes was sad, too. It was almost pleading with him, in fact. She didn’t want to have to physically tell him that she was ignoring what’d happened, she wanted him to just know. She wanted him to understand. Rylan shook her head at him, not sure of the right words without getting into everything, before she finally let go of him, letting out a soft sigh. “Look,” she licked over her lips, wrapping her arms almost protectively around her middle. “If you want to go eat at the airport, then that’s fine. That’s where we’ll go. But please just…” She trailed off, eyes still pleading with him. He had to know what she was saying without making her say it. He had to know that she just wanted everything to go back to normal. “Please.”

DONOVAN SMYTHE

Don really didn’t know what to think. He knew why she was doing this. She didn’t want things to change between the two of them. But it was too late for that. And acting like what happened didn’t even occur wasn’t making him feel very good. It was actually kind of pissing him off. He could feel the anger boiling up inside of him as he looked up at her with a shrug of his shoulders. “You know what I’m talking about,” he retorted. They never really had any fights. They were best friends. Sometimes they disagreed and just casually joked around with each other, but he was actually growing a little angrier with her. He almost pulled away from her when she reached for his wrist, but he couldn’t actually bring himself to do it. He knew what she wanted. They didn’t need words. She wanted him to play along. And he really wished he could, but even looking at her was too much for him. He didn’t want to play along. He didn’t want to rewrite history with her. She was going to have to do that all on her own. He broke his eye contact with her and dropped his gaze back down toward his feet, slipping his shoes on and leaning down to tie them. “Everything’s fine. I just want to be alone before we sit next to each other on a flight home,” he sighed, sitting back up. If he was going to play her game and just move on then she was going to play his game and just let him be alone. She couldn’t have it both ways. She couldn’t just get whatever she wanted. He felt like his heart was broken and he didn’t even know why, but it didn’t feel good. “Go to your parents’ house. Or go to my parents’ house. I don’t care. I’m going to the airport. Alone.” He stood up and reached for his bag, pulling the strap over his shoulders.

RYLAN ST. JAMES

Of course she knew what he was talking about. Although she wasn’t willing to talk about it, last night really had been amazing. It had been something unexpected, but that had just felt so right. But that didn’t change anything. It didn’t change the fact that they were best friends, and that Rylan wasn’t prepared for them to lose that. Evidently, she had a strange way of showing it. But they could get over this, she knew they could. She could give Donovan the space he apparently needed, she could give him time to think, then she was sure he’d be on the same page as her all over again. They didn’t do different pages, they never had. So, as much as it hurt her to do so, she eventually nodded her head, arms tightening a little around her middle. It felt weird to not run to Donovan, for him to not be the protection she needed. She would just have to be her own for now, though. “Okay,” she finally said, her voice small. “I’ll go to my parents’ house and I’ll meet you before the flight.” She took another moment to watch him, inwardly fighting with herself about whether she should just drop it. A part of her wanted to shake off the act, step forward, cup his face in her hands and press their lips together. But that was also why she couldn’t. Things would never be normal between them if they were going to randomly kiss all the time, and Rylan didn’t want to make it a habit. She eventually stepped back, turning to begin moving things around in her bag, just to give herself something else to focus on. “If you want to change your seat, you can,” she said quietly. “I’ll just meet you at the airport later. You can let me know what’s going on then.” If he wanted to leave, she had no right to stop him. And he owed her nothing.

[college-girl199328]

Consumers are scoring deals at Calgary auction that’s pivoted to selling online shopping returns

Christmas is coming again at Rylan Herndier’s house. On New Year’s Eve, he picked up a load of goodies from Ollive’s Auction that he bid on this week.

“I like the excitement of an auction. It seems like everyone is getting into it. Some people get carried away with the bidding,” Herndier said with a laugh. He’ll likely win points for scoring two knitting machines — one for his wife and the other for a friend that he said retailed for four times what he spent on them.

The pandemic left some retailers struggling with return rates of around 20 to 30 percent of items sold. Then veteran auctioneer Wayne Ollive came in. For the past two years the Calgary man has been holding auctions selling thousands of returned products – some not even opened.

“You cannot imagine what we get. It’s unbelievable what people are buying online,” Ollive said. “We never know what’s coming. It’s an absolute surprise every Tuesday when we open up the boxes.”

Ollive works with a national liquidation company that sources returns from retailers. He said, on average, products are about 70 to 80 percent off depending on who is bidding against you.

“It’s pretty interesting. There are some terrific deals, but some people drive you up a few dollars more than you want to pay. However, so far everything I’ve gotten I’m extremely happy with,” Herndier said.

Like regular online shopping, online auction bidding can be done from the comfort of your home. The auction will continue for several days. Pick-up is from a southwest Calgary warehouse currently packed with everything from air fryers and paddleboards to steam cleaners and electronics.

With inflation taking a bite out of everyone’s budget, the chance to get something at the price you want to pay for it seems like a good deal. However, there is the risk that comes with buying something that isn’t from the retailer.

“A lot of customers buy items that they said they would never think about buying but they see it and they’re sitting at the kitchen table and they can shop right there and they will buy it when normally they would never buy it, but (they’re) very happy that they ran across it because they can use it,” Ollive said.

Ollive added they get around 1,000 items at each auction. He said customers are welcome to come to the warehouse to check out the product in person but he said not many people do.