#event: 001.

[twenty46]

when she’s twelve, her father tells hyein her cowardice is her downfall. well, her cowardice and her misfortune being born a girl rather than a boy.

in any sense, her gutlessness lends to her demise.

she never quite believes him⏤ it’s hard to take anything much of what he says as credence anymore⏤ but when she hears jeongbin’s voice in the forest and her legs take off from underneath her, clumsily leading her through the thicket of trees, all the while tripping every some odd steps scraping her knees and hands on the forest floor in the attempt of a great escape. she’s almost giddy with terror, even though her heart is pounding and her hands grip the steering wheel so tightly she can feel the way the leather burns against freshly cut skin.

park jeongbin has not sat at the front of her mind in years; a sort of defense mechanism on the part of hyein to preserve what little sanity she managed to keep in the aftermath of august 2012 but now he sits at the forefront almost mocking hyein to dare and try and forget about him once again. in the end, thanks in large part to joengbin, it’s autopilot that sees her home.

even then, her hands don’t unclench from the wheel and she listens to the way the motor hums and looks at the way the headlights illuminate the siding of her home, all the while her eyes dart to-and-fro looking for a sign of life in the otherwise bleak backdrop.

surely, jeongbin is still out there somewhere. he was a lot of things, but a quitter was never quite one of them.

hyein however is not like jeongbin, and after an hour of sitting in the car she gives up the ghost and carefully exists her car, still glancing around her as she enters her home on unsteady feet. it’s only when she gets inside does she get a good look at herself, and sees the twig in her hair and the bits of dirt marring her face. her hands too, are coated in earth and blood and she’s sure her knees⏤ though maybe bar the clods of dirt⏤ no doubt look to be in a similar state.

she hasn’t looked quite this bad since that august, nor has she felt this same level of fear since then. but then maybe that’s the appeal of jeongbin, gone but never truly forgotten; a boy capable of always eliciting a reaction.

even still, the tension leaves her somewhat when she gets in the shower and hyein overstays her welcome as burning hot water fades into lukewarm temperatures before finally emptying the water heater until she’s left with nothing but water that feels nearly frozen to wash over her.

her eyes are red-rimmed and nose red, though she refuses to say they’re tears because she’s nearly thirty years old and deluded enough to convince herself that maybe it wasn’t the voice of a dead boy she’s heard but just exhaustion seeping through her body; and at nearly thirty, she’s far too old to be crying over imagined creatures in the night.

she tells herself she’ll make herself a drink after she gets dressed. she’ll make a drink, she’ll go to bed, and she’ll go back to the funeral in the morning and pretend nothing’s off. if someone asks about her hands or her knees she’ll tell them she slipped on a patch of ice because she never went in the woods and she never heard park jeongbin because he’s dead and god and the dead do not speak.

only, when she does get dressed and makes her way into her kitchen she sees park jeongbin standing there in the low-light, body resting against the kitchen island and yang hyein lets out a scream of such terror she’s sure that her father can stepmother can hear her from their home.

she fumbles her way over to the wall, hands haphazardly slapping at it until finally she comes in contact with the light switch. the light is all to bright, but the revelation that it brings sets her mind at some ease. the face before her is thinner than the one she remembers jeongbin having and signs of age are upon it as well⏤ park jeonghwan stands before her with a glass in hand and exhaustion written into his frame.

“jesus, fuck me!” she doesn’t mean to exclaim it especially not at the volume it leaves her throat but hyein’s been through enough in the last two and a half hours to last her a lifetime and she sags against the counter as her heart rate begins to slow again. “jeonghwan what the fuck are you doing here?”

there are nicer ways to express concern, she’s sure, but they all escape her in the moment and fear gives way to irritation as she looks over him, “have you even been home yet? you look like you walked here straight from the forest.”

LA JAVANAISE ft. @dayfires

[glxtter]

deep down, aurelia appreciated that leo wanted to help her. but her public persona was the kind of person who didn't need anyone's help and she was all about keeping up appearances. the real aurelia feels bad for leo but the fake one that she's playing right now doesn't give a shit if she hurt his feelings. "good. or at least...help people who need it, yeah?"

jesus. he sounds like such a chauvinist dickhead when she talks about him. but it wasn't about him being a knight or her being a damsel — he was genuinely just concerned and wanted to help. "alright, fine," he says, hoping the party lights obscure how his cheeks are burning. he feels so embarrassed, like he can never do anything right no matter how good his intentions are. "i'll never help you or anyone else ever again."

[yanderestarangel]

HEADCANONS JKK | STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO

TW: ftm reader, praise, degradation, oc nanami (I think), manipulation, step!incest, sub!reader, dom!nanami, recorded!sex, threats, blowjob, v!sex, afab anatomy, forced feminization, use of lingerie, degradation, dark!smut, breeding, creampie, daddykink.

smut confectionery event ┆ SUNDAE ┆ forced feminization, record sex, headcanons. ˖⁺ ⊹୨ "stepfather + stepson" ୧⊹ ⁺˖

˖⁺ ⊹୨ 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓭𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝔀. 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ୧⊹ ⁺˖

⊹ ࣪ ˖ ꒰ঌ ♡ ໒꒱ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ꒰ঌ ♡ ໒꒱ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ꒰ঌ ♡ ໒꒱ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ꒰ঌ ♡ ໒꒱ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪

𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮<3

♡ 𝐒𝐅𝐖 ♡

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who started dating your mother because it was convenient for him to have company, he didn't really love her, but he was already forty years old and needed meaning in life. But he didn't expect that he would meet the new obsession of his life in an unconventional way... You, the son of his future wife.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who was astonished by your beauty and beauty, he asked your mother everything about you ─ what college you went to, what you liked or didn't like and even more intrusive details, in this case if you had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Your mother answered some questions and he diverted her focus by saying "They were questions to try to be a good enough stepfather." You on the other hand didn't like his intrusion into your life and home... He noticed that and soon thought of a way to try to turn things around in his favor.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who knew you didn't like the idea, initially your instinct said internally that there was something wrong there, but you couldn't get in the way of your mother's happiness, and he would use everything to his advantage. He started complaining to your mother that you didn't accept him as a father figure, making your mother give you an hour-long lecture talking about how his co-worker and now boyfriend was good to you and tried to be your father even if you didn't let him. Kento smirked when he saw your angry face, he knew that now you would have to let your guard down with him and finally he could act according to his initial plan.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who deliberately goes shirtless and has sweatpants hanging loosely around his hips every morning in the kitchen. He smiles at you while the blonde hair falls on his face and the purple circles under his eyes and the woody perfume that leaves his skin, a happy path of hair would shyly follow to his crotch, giving an extra touch to his muscular appearance, especially the thick veins that they continued from his arms to his biceps. He would smirk at you as he would ask you if you slept well and if you were hungry ─ he would still see the reluctance in your eyes and would approach you, kissing the back of your hand lightly. "I'm not your enemy pretty boy... I just want to be the best for you, you know that right?" The blonde man's voice was husky and seductive, like a balm, as if he was bringing you into a tempting trap.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who makes you feel sorry for him, manipulating you, saying that your mother didn't pay as much attention to him as she did at the beginning of the relationship and how he needed to work extra hard to make up for your household bills, saying that you were the only person who still paid for him staying in that house and putting up with your mother... ( Which was a lie, Nanami did everything he lied that your mother did, he ignored her and preferred to spend his money to buy you gifts or even buy you a car go to your college. ) he would look at you with his brown eyes eyes and place a hand on your thigh. "You'll never leave my side... Right my dear son?"

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who gradually manipulates you into staying on his side every time your mother fights with him. Saying that you can't sleep in his room because she doesn't want him there and asking if he can sleep on the floor in your room ── mentally he will be praying for you to accept that he stays in the room and offer your bed to him. If you do the second option, the blonde's heartbeat will accelerate to the point where you can hear the sound of his heartbeat. He couldn't sleep that night, controlling himself as much as possible not to touch you and make you his even in your sleepy state. Nonetheless Kento couldn't, he wanted you to want him equally as he wanted you.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who encouraged your mother to accept the company promotion and go traveling with her bosses for days to be alone with you. He calculated exactly when she was going to leave and called the company to say that he was sick and couldn't make it, returning home to be with his sweet stepson and finally putting his final plan into practice. Make you his little toy.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who waits for you to arrive from your appointment while happily cooking a meal for you; He saw you notice his effort and place an innocent kiss on his face. As he resumed preparing the dinner, his fingers trembled slightly over the stove. He couldn't help but think about how your kiss felt on his cheek, the warmth and tenderness that radiated through him. His mind raced with thoughts of you, imagining the future they could have together. He didn't just want to be your father figure, but your lover, to adore every inch of your body just for him.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who listened intently to you and your day out at college, with his eyes always trying to find yours. "That's wonderful, darling," he praised, his voice velvety smooth. "You truly are such a good boy, always taking your responsibilities seriously." He came closer, running his thumb over your lower lip and feeling like it was the perfect opportunity ─ Then Nanami couldn't resist any longer. Leaning in, he captured your lips in a searing kiss, his hand sliding up your thigh beneath the table. His tongue probed your mouth eagerly, tasting the sweet essence of your youth. "I want you so badly, lad." he growled, his voice hoarse with desire. "I've wanted you since the first day I laid eyes on you."

♡ 𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐖 ♡

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who soon made you submit to him with dominance and words of affection, bending you over the table and sticking his thick, veiny hand into your underwear ─ finding your clit easily and applying the necessary pressure to make you moan and whimper beautifully. "Such a good boy, submitting to your stepfather," Nanami purred, his fingers expertly stroking your clit through the fabric of your underpants. He savored the way you responded to him, your moans filling the room like music to his ears. He slipped his finger into your damp entrance, coating it with your arousal before pulling away. "Is that what you want, my prince? To be touched by me? To be owned by me?" He asked, his voice husky with lust. "Tell me, and I promise to give you everything your heart desires." With a satisfied hum, he stood up abruptly, all traces of gentleness gone. Kento had finally trapped you in his trap, and you fell like a needy bunny.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who forced you to wear expensive lingerie that he bought for you. The silk and lace fabric was short and hugged your curves, practically not even covering your breasts ─ your cunt wet your panties while you saw your stepfather's hands wander to your cell phone and press the record button, starting the perverse and forbidden little show of you two. "You're so eager for me, aren't you, my pretty little boy... You're such a slut for me." He circled around you, the camera capturing every angle of your shapely body adorned in the delicate lingerie. His fingers trailed along the lace, teasingly grazing your sensitive skin. "Spread your legs wider, boy," he commanded, his voice low and commanding. "I want to see that wet pussy of yours, ready and waiting for me."

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who saw you obediently followed his instructions, your arousal evident through the soaked fabric of your panties, Nanami couldn't resist a chuckle. "Look at you, my dumb, pretty boy..." He mocked as he pinched one of your nipples behind the thin silk fabric of your bra, making you moan like you were in heat. "Now, keep being a good boy and suck daddy's cock, can you do it right?"

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who forced you to suck his cock, pulling your hair while you felt the tip of his dick massage your soft cheeks. His camera clicked steadily, capturing your submission, sealing your fate as his willing pawn. Though he had no intention of betraying you, the threat hung heavy in the air, a tool to keep you obedient and submissive. "You know what happens if you disobey, don't you?" He warned softly, thrusting into your mouth rhythmically. "Your mother will see exactly what her little boy has become." Nanami threatened between moans, as he took his dick out of your oral cavity and slammed the hard shaft into your warm and wet tongue.

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who dragged your panties to the side and rubbed the hot tip of his fat cock across your swollen clit, seeing the quivering mess you were. Slowly, methodically, he began to pump into you, your moans filling the room like a symphony of surrender. Each thrust drove him further into your core, claiming you as his own possession. "Such a good boy, taking it like a whore for his stepfather.... Beg for more, prince," He commanded, leaning down to kiss your neck. "Beg for my release, for the chance to carry my child, You want daddy to make you daddy too, don't you? You're going to be a beautiful father baby boy...Carrying my children around like the beautiful man you are." His fingers would find your clit, rubbing it in firm circles, intensifying your pleasure. Your moans grew louder, filling the room without caring if the neighbors would hear or not. "That's it, my sweet boy," he whispered, his breath hot against your ear. "You're doing so well, taking me so obediently."

STEP!FATHER NANAMI KENTO - Who fills you to the brim with his hot, thick seed, the tip of his cock rhythmically hitting your sweet spot even as you tremble and feel completely filled by him. He takes his cock out of your sensitive hole while sticking three fingers inside, He would soon look into your eyes and smile. "You're going to be a daddy's boy and save all my seed right?" With a quick pat on your head, he turned off the camera and pocketed his phone. "Good boy," he muttered, already planning the next encounter. "Don't disappoint me." Though the threat still loomed, it was clear that Nanami found satisfaction in his domination. After all, what better way to ensnare someone than through their deepest desires? And you, dear boy, were caught in his web.

𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓪𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂'𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓮....𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓽𝓸𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼 🍰

[ode2rin]

MAKE YOU MINE .ೃ

pairing. itoshi rin x gn!reader

genre. best friends to lovers | pining | light angst to fluff

content/warnings. 3.1k+ wc | reader is in a toxic relationship with their boyfriend (not rin lmao the bf is unnamed) | characters are aged up to 18 ! | blue lock happened much much later here | profanity | a bit heavy in narration | minimal proofread

in which: rin was never ready, so he watches you go with your boyfriend, wishfully thinking it was him instead.

💭 thank you for the request @/saetorinrin (unaffectionate)!

best friends are supposed to knock some sense into you, that's what they're for. 

fortunately for you, your best friend of twelve years, itoshi rin, has always been quite good at it. right now, you're hoping he'll at least be kind while doing so.

“i don't know why you keep on going back to him. he looks like a fucking bull reincarnate, and he treats you like what? yeah, like a pup he dogs around.” 

that’s wishful thinking, though. none of rin's words are known for their kindness.

you've known since a tender age of ten that both itoshi brothers have a knack for colorful insults — or rather, they insist it's a form of descriptive artistry. moments like these make you wish you could smack your younger self for befriending your teal-eyed neighbors. you really should have avoided them like the plague from the very first glare they shot your way.

if you did, you wouldn't find yourself sitting on a swing in the park near both of your houses, while rin spends the past few minutes expressing his displeasure about you getting back with your ex.

but what’s done is done. growing up with them wasn't all bad, except for that messy fiasco between sae and rin that left you caught in the middle, trying to mend their broken bond.

in the end, you chose rin’s side. for what reason? that's a reminiscence best saved for another day.

right now, your priority lies in letting rin hear a piece of your mind for his way of describing your ex — or boyfriend? actually, you're not sure anymore.

“you’re being mean, rin.”

“and you’re being stupid, y/n.”

“you won’t get it.”

“won’t get what? that you’re being treated like absolute shit?”

that’s it. he pushed enough buttons now. you stood up from the swing to face the 6-foot tall man in front of you. 

“you won't get it because you’ve never loved anyone before! and you sure as hell have never been fucking loved!”

rin, before this moment, was sure he's accustomed to pain. 

but now, he realized he wasn't.

realizing what you've just said to your best friend, your eyes widen, and you immediately reach out to touch his arm, frustration turning into regret. you didn't mean that — god, you really didn't.

“rin, i... i didn't mean—”

“save it.”

you were right about the latter. but the former? rin wants nothing but to let you know otherwise. if only you goddamn knew. but that's just it for rin too — wishful thinking.

because you're not done loving your boyfriend, and he knows he's merely using that as an excuse. if honesty were to intervene, he wouldn't be ready to let you know.

how many years does one need to be ready to confess to their best friend of more than a decade anyway? he doesn't want to find out.

rin heard your whispered apology, and his heart sank. he watched as you lowered your gaze to the grass beneath your feet, the weight of regret palpable in the air.

“come on, it’s getting dark. let’s go home,” he suggested, voice tinged with concern.

“actually, he’s picking me up here. mom knows already.”

of course. of course, he's picking you up blocks away from your house. is that how things work now? if it were up to rin, he'd personally ask your mom to take you out on a monday evening. you know, like a respectful person would do?

yet again. if it was him. another wishful thinking.

“where the hell is he, then? i am not leaving you here,” rin stated, his frustration once again seeping through his words.

“he's just a little late —”

“or ditching you again?” 

“rin, please. just leave. i don't want to start again,” you pleaded, the exhaustion evident in your voice.

“fine.”

every step rin took away from you felt like chains dragging along, pulling him back with reluctance and impending regret. but he knew he had to leave. 

he didn't have a place to stay here, not in this park, and certainly not in your heart.

it had been a week since you got back together with your ex, and in that time, rin hadn't uttered a single word to you. his silence was a constant presence, weighing heavily on the air between you. in the past, you found solace in his silence, finding comfort in the unspoken understanding that existed between you. but now, it felt suffocating, as if every attempt to say his name would only add to the tension.

you didn't blame rin for giving you the silent treatment. after all, the hurtful words you had spoken had cut deep.

rin had been harsh, yes, but you knew it came from a place of concern. he was your best friend, and looking out for each other was what you do. deep down, you couldn't deny that there was some truth in what he had said about your boyfriend. there had been moments when he treated you poorly, but that was normal, right? every relationship had its ups and downs, and this was just one of them. and perhaps, in rin's eyes, you were being stupid, but when weren't you, in his opinion?

still, you should have known better. you shouldn't have said what you did. not when you know yourself that he’s been loved. even if it was hidden and unspoken, it still counted, didn't it?

but despite the silent treatment, rin never failed to walk you home. even when he was wearing his sweaty jersey after a rigorous practice, he would be there outside your classroom, waiting for you. walking behind you, not saying a word, but his presence was felt. occasionally, he would walk beside you, especially when you were about to reach the busy side of the neighborhood.

every single day of the past week, he had walked you home.

and even back then starting from the days of school, rin never lets you walk alone in the dark.

today, however, you had to tell him that you wouldn't be walking with him. you had a date with your boyfriend, and he was waiting for you outside the school.

grabbing your bag and heading towards the door, you caught a glimpse of rin's duffel bag and his back. he was waiting for you again. rushing over to him, you spoke up.

“rin, i won’t be able to walk with you today. we’re going out. he’s waiting for me outside.”

rin simply looked at you, then nodded. he turned his back to you, but you could swear there was something he wanted to say.

that was the thing with itoshi rin. he never spoke when you needed him to.

rin was right. he had always been right. and you, well, you were just fucking stupid.

as you reminisced about the earlier screaming match with your now ex-boyfriend, tears threatened to well up in your eyes.

i’m such a fucking idiot.

you had known deep down that you had settled, but you never expected him to stoop so low. part of you wanted to say good riddance, but the truth was that time spent with a person would always leave a mark, whether you wanted it or not.

it was past 9 pm, and that prick had the audacity to drop you four blocks away from your own house. you wanted to scream at him, to demand basic human decency, to drop you off at your doorstep. but another part of you, fueled by the remnants of pride, refused to beg for the bare minimum again. so, despite your nervousness about walking alone in the dark, you slammed the car door in his face and decided to walk the rest of the way on your own.

it had only been five minutes of walking when you felt the first raindrops fall on your forehead. the realization of what was about to happen made you want to scream at whoever was watching from above. how dare they make you this unlucky?

great. just great.

the drizzle quickly escalated into a full-blown rain, showing no signs of stopping any time soon. a few blocks ahead, you spotted the park where you and rin used to hang out. 

even in your darkest times, he’s still in your mind. it’s funny as it is ironic.

if only you had stayed content with loving your best friend from afar, maybe you wouldn't be feeling this hurt, right? 

maybe you wouldn't have ended up looking for love in all the wrong places when the only place you truly wanted it to blossom had been right beside you all along.

exactly ten minutes before rin’s usual bedtime, his phone rang, your name shown on the screen. and for some reason, he could feel his heart leap out of his chest from how fast it was beating.

something was wrong.

without wasting a second, rin answered your call on the second ring.

“hello?” he said, anticipation heavy on his heart. he needed to hear your voice.

but anticipation was immediately replaced by seething anger and heightened worry as he heard your sniffs on the other end of the line.

“where are you?” 

“rin... i know you're mad at me, but i didn't know who else to call–”

“it's raining. where the hell are you?” rin's voice grew heavy with indescribable anger, each word dripping with his overwhelming emotions.

“he dropped me off near the school, but i'm here by the park now. i–”

"stay where you are. i'm coming. don't end the call. i need to know you're safe." or else i will fucking lose it. 

it’s these times that rin was glad he’s an athlete. within five minutes, he arrived at the park, his strides quick and determined. he would have reached you even faster if it weren't for the umbrella he was holding and the sound of your sniffs and sobs on the other end of the line, causing his heart to sink and his steps to falter.

he doesn't even let a goddamn mosquito come close to you, but that asshole had the audacity to make you cry? how dare he.

the rain had lessened compared to its earlier downpour, it was now more of a drizzle. but if you had been here before calling him, that meant you had been standing under the rain for almost an hour. with that realization, rin thinks your ex should watch his back from now on; he would never know when a ball might come flying straight at him — accidentally, of course.

as rin reached the park, his eyes scanned the area, searching desperately for you. and there, in one of the benches, he saw you. your head was tucked into your knees, one hand hugging them tightly while the other clutched the phone to your ear.

he swore, he fucking swore, he could feel his heart pounding in his throat at the sight of you.

ever since you entered rin's life, you taught him a lot of things. you taught him everything about how life was better when you had someone to lean on. 

but most of all, everything rin knew about love, he knew from you. 

and when he realized he loved you but couldn't let you know, the love he knew became intertwined with all the pain he learned.

this is hurting him. you, you were hurting him.

maybe you were right all along.

“you're right, y/n,” rin whispered into the phone, his voice barely audible as he stood a few feet away from you, the umbrella slipping from his grasp. he still had his phone pressed to his ear.

rin couldn't hear anything but the pounding of his own heartbeat and the soft pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the ground.

how many damn years does it take to work up the courage to spill your guts to your best friend of more than a decade? rin found out that sometimes, all it takes is one look at them in pain to make you throw caution to the wind. screw all the timing and planning.

“rin…” you called out, looking around to locate him.

locked in a gaze, time seemed to stand still as rin's eyes traced the contours of your face. your eyes, red-rimmed and soaked from the rain, revealed what you had endured. your drenched clothes and disheveled hair painted a picture of you running around in this rain. he couldn't help but think that you looked like a wounded soul, stripped of your own heart.

“you're right,” he repeated once more, and he was certain you could hear him, judging by the look of confusion on your face.

it wasn't a “now or never” moment for rin. 

it was a now or never love another soul ever again moment. because to rin, it will always be you and him in the end. and that’s no wishful thinking, but a promise he made to himself.

there will be no after you, but just you. that was it for itoshi rin. 

so he has to let you know. the hell with what happens next.

“about last week, you’re right about that. i would never get it,” he paused, taking a deep breath, “i would never get how someone could ever treat you this bad by someone who claims to love you. because i have loved you since we were kids, and i would rather die than leave you out here alone in the pouring rain.”

if this was what you called love, then maybe you taught him wrong. 

rin could see how your eyes widened at what he said. and right then and there, he prepared himself for the worst.

it’s happening.

rin ended the call. he couldn't bear to hear your immediate response, fearing the rejection he had long braced himself for. with the umbrella in hand, he made his way towards you, his eyes focused on the wet ground, avoiding direct contact with your gaze.

you can reject him later. he needs to get you home first.

“come on, let’s go,” was the only thing rin said. he placed the umbrella over your head, shielding you from the rain while he stood exposed, allowing the droplets to soak him further.

you gazed up at him, seeking his eyes, “can you look at me, rin?” 

and see the look of pity in your eyes? even at these moments, you’re cruel to him. 

“i don’t want to.”

undeterred, you persisted, “why?”

because i’m about to lose you.

“i made peace with it a long time ago,” rin admitted, “let's just go. you're going to get sick.”

“say it again.”

your gaze held unwavering, demanding more from him. there was a longing in your eyes, a hunger for honesty. you craved his words, his confession – you need rin to speak now or else you will never know peace.

“no.”

“then i’m not going anywhere. say it agai —”

“fine! i have loved you since we were kids and i have loved you ever since i'm yet to even know what it was i was feeling for you! now, please, let’s go!”

silence enveloped the park. but rin could hear his own heart beating in rhythm with the soft pitt patts of the rain.

this was it then? twelve damn years. all those years, now dissipating like raindrops lost in the drain.

the rain continued to pour, serving as a backdrop to the delicate dance of emotions unfolding between you. each droplet seemed to echo the passage of time, washing away the years of looking at you in a lovelorn gaze.

rin knew where this was headed. he may not have watched many romance movies, but confessions like these – he had seen them before. this was yet another addition to the countless stories of shattered dreams lost to the rain.

but then as fate would have it, it will always intervene.

and so, as if a radiant sun had broken through the stormy clouds, a smile bloomed on your face, casting away the shadows of doubt in rin's mind.

“i’ve been waiting for those words my whole life, itoshi rin.”

rainbows really do appear after the pouring rain.

but only for a fleeting grace of moment in the sky.

“but i can’t, rin. not now. i’m too hurt to love you freely.”

the confession escaped your lips, heavy with the weight of past heartbreak and lingering pain. and to rin, it felt as if the rainbows had faded, leaving behind a somber reminder of the scars etched deep within.

it would be a lie not to admit that he was disheartened, but nonetheless, rin understood. 

but rin was no saint; he can be selfish. he wants to be selfish for you. so there he knelt, bringing himself eye to eye with you, his hands gently cupping your cheeks. 

“i’ll wait. i can wait,” it’s not a lie that the younger itoshi had a penchant for being selfish as he is selfless. 

but he has waited for you for as long as he has learned to kick a ball. so what's a little more?

“are you sure?” the question escaped your lips, a plea for reassurance.

if it means it’s you and him in the end after all, then he’s nothing but definite.

rin's hands on your cheeks tightened gently, his voice a gentle murmur that danced along the edges of your heart, “take all the time you need. by the time you're done, i'll make sure to make you mine.”

the raindrops, cascading around you like tears from the heavens, seemed to pause in reverence as rin's words hung in the air.

as the rain began to subside, rin leaned closer, his forehead gently pressing against yours. your eyes closed, feeling his breath mingling with yours, you hear him softly sighed against your lips.

“i’ll treat you so good, y/n. so good. fuck, you have no idea.”

sure, you’re the first person itoshi rin has ever loved. but he can show you. better than your shitty ex ever could.

if there’s anyone who can most definitely show you what love was truly like, it will be him.

for a few precious moments, time seemed to stand still as both of you remained in that intimate embrace, rin's hands tenderly cradling your face, and your gaze locked in the depths of his teal eyes.

“let’s go home?” rin asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

“only if you’ll walk with me.”

rin's lips curled into a small, affectionate smile at your hushed response. he reached out, extending his hand toward you, a silent invitation. “i've been doing that for the past years.”

and he’ll continue to do it. 

few years from now, he will make sure he’s the man you’re walking with. be that on the way home, or down the aisle.

because to itoshi rin, it will always be you and him.

note. no thoughts, just pure vibes here. just kidding! here's the first request in my milestone event, and i enjoyed writing this despite it being shitty as an outcome. thanks for reaching this far!

💭 back to: milestone event

[restlesspalate]

Open to all

Location: civic centre

Dominic looked around the Civic Centre, standing in line to register his offerings to the auction, that now was dressed to the nines like its attendees. He’d been to many charity events such as this in his old life, he thought to himself as he felt an old spark of something settle in his stomach.

An understated matte black gift bag hung from his right index finger while he fought the urge to play with the Dunhill Rollagas vintage lighter than sat in his slacks pocket. Hopefully the money his items garners would go to a good cause. “Would be good to one day cater an event like this.” He whispered beneath his breath.

Moments later, he had left the head of the line and was walking casually towards the bar in search of the good liquor when someone jostled his shoulder.

[thickskcll]

✧  𓂅  open  starter  ,  straton  gas  &  convenience  !

the  reapers  had  to  be  fucking  with  her  .  as  grateful  as  isa  was  to  earn  her  prospect  spot  ,  sometimes  their  requests  felt  like  hazing  .  as  she  stood  in  front  of  the  humming  fridges  of  the  straton  gas  station  on  a  reaper  requested  drink  run  ,  she  was  sure  someone  was  fucking  with  her  .  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  throatcoat  .  being  sent  on  any  errand  was  stressful  enough  when  it  came  from  a  reaper  .  isa  was  a  recovering  overachiever  .  the  thought  of  getting  something  wrong  made  her  start  fidgeting  .  “  they  have  to  be  fucking  with  me  .  ”  she  reiterated  out  loud  ,  her  hands  searching  her  pockets  for  her  beloved  penjamin  when  tragedy  struck  :  penjamin  was  missing  .  “  fuck  !  ”  she  exclaimed  ,  she  wasn't  an  addict  .  she  could  stop  at  any  time  .  frantically  ,  she  patted  her  jacket  and  jeans  for  any  sign  of  it  ,  opened  and  closed  the  refrigerator  ,  and  even  made  a  loop  around  the  aisles  only  to  end  up  back  where  she  started  ,  only  now  there  was  a  frame  where  she  once  stood  .  “  have  you  seen  penjamin  ⸺   a  pen  ,  a  vape  pen  .  it's  purple  and  black  ,  has  a  little  spider  web  sticker  on  it  ?  i  swear  i  had  it  when  it  came  in  and  now  i  can't  find  it  anywhere  .  ”  she  took  a  step  toward  them  holding  her  jacket  pocket  out  .  “  can  you  stick  your  hand  in  there  and  see  if  it's  there  .  maybe  i'm  just  missing  it  .  ”  again  .  she's  not  an  addict  ,  she  can  stop  at  any  time  .  this  was  completely  normal  behavior  .

[soledcds]

✧  𓂅  open  starter  ,  kathy  mendez's  charity  gala  !

santos'  charm  didn't  come  from  subtlety  .  it  didn't  even  come  from  effort  .  the  most  charming  thing  about  him  ,  it  seemed  ,  was  being  unapologetically  oblivious  to  a  point  that  it  became  endearing  .  a  feat  that  found  him  without  trying  as  he  stood  in  the  buffet  line  amongst  caviar  coated  dishes  ,  truffle  pasta  names  that  felt  like  cotton  in  his  and  a  variety  of  wines  that  had  been  fermenting  for  longer  than  he'd  been  alive  ,  asking  if  maybe  (  just  maybe  )  they  had  some  doritos  .  he  walked  away  with  a  pity  pack  of  fritos  (  plain  )  in  one  palm  and  a  champagne  glass  in  the  other  .  his  worn  leather  jacket  contrasting  against  deep  purple  button  down  and  dress  pants  made  him  recognizable  through  the  crowd  he  walked  through  .  taking  an  empty  seat  beside  the  face  he's  sure  he's  scene  in  a  magazine  somewhere  ,  he  holds  out  his  small  bag  of  fritos  in  an  offering  .  “  the  only  real  food  i  could  find  ,  so  we'll  have  to  ration  .  ”  he  sighed  .  “  i  now  know  what  morrissey  felt  when  he  wrote  heaven  knows  i'm  miserable  now  .  ”  he  took  one  sip  of  his  champagne  and  let  the  bubbly  liquid  spill  right  back  into  the  glass,  setting  it  down  and  pushing  it  away  .  “  don't  drink  that  by  the  way  .  ”

[levandright]

im a very introverted person who takes a long while to get close n comfortable with people, but when im really close i turn into the weirdest, and most spontaneous person ever. i generally have a hard time trusting others due to issues from the past, and don't easily forgive ppl if they did me wrong. i tend to not take care of myself properly, and forget to eat properly. my love languages are quality time and physical touch.

‎im an aries, my ideal type is someone who can match my energy and shares the same interest, opinions and values on important things. someone who's kind and respectful to everyone but not touchy with people except close friends.

‎i love love childhood friends to lovers and trouples similar to that! im on the aromantic spectrum (demiromantic) so i need to know/been friends with the person before feelings develop. i love winter, and my fav hobbies are: reading, playing games, painting and dancing!

‎enha or dream <3 and a playlist for me! (thank you in advance pooks, hope your day is well 💜)

FINDING YOUR MATCH...

MATCH FOUND! your first match is... MARK LEE

MARK'S first impression of you was that you were the shy and quiet type, but that quickly changed after knowing you for a few months. your slow transition of shy, and introverted to loud, and spontaneous was quite the surprise if you asked him. he found it quite cute how you showed your true personality as you got to know each other more though!

MARK noticed that you seemed to hide things when you first met, but when you guys finally got together and told him how you had a hard time trusting people because of your past he's understanding about it! he makes it known that whatever you tell him will be kept between you two only.

MARK worries how you don't take yourself well, he will make you promise to him that you'll start eating better, and start treating yourself better in general. makes sure he takes the time to message you on his free time, and breaks to check up on you even in his hectic schedules!

MARK will always make sure he has time for you even with all the comebacks, and promotions on his way. when you guys are out on dates, he always has his hands holding your hands. but oftentimes, you guys will be just at home laying in bed cuddling, and basking in each other's presence while watching a show or movie.

MARK loves to go out on walks with you during winter, and drink hot chocolate together <3 cuddling in your bedroom while you rewatch classic christmas movies.

MARK loves watching you when you're painting, your focused expression being so cute to his eyes. he would love to hear you talk about your favorite books, and maybe he'll give it a read too when he's interested in the story(totally not to talk about it with you) will teach you the steps of some of their songs when you ask him too. will be so so patient when you struggle with a certain step, and would break the steps down in an easier way for you to get it <3

MATCH FOUND! your second match is... PARK JONGSEONG

JAY is such a gentleman, always always has you as one of his top priorities. when he's back home, not busy with tours, promotions, and back to back comebacks he's at your apartment cooking for the both of you. SPOILS you to heaven and back (get it? chase atlantic heaven and back? sorry i'll stop-), sometimes you worry how much money he spends on you... books you've been wanting to read, painting materials you ran out of and the list goes onnnnn.

JAY asks you to teach him how to paint! he loves watching you paint, but he loves it even more if he can join you <3 he wouldn't be as good as you, but he'd do his best to try and paint you! you always praise him for trying his best, and he LOVES it. enjoys going out on picnic dates where you can both paint!

JAY would teach you how to play the guitar if you showed interest in learning it! is a good teacher. probably gets distracted when you're focused on playing the guitar with your eyebrows furrowing, and your adorable focused look. he'll randomly kiss your cheek sometimes which breaks your focus, and turn you into a huge blushing mess once you realize what he did.

your custom playlist made by yours truly <3

✮ lev notes : first matchup for my moot honeychocos <3 hope you love this oomf, had a fun time thinking of your match hehe. i will note that i will write at least 2 matches in reqs with two or more groups but the 2nd matchup will have less content than the first one. ✮ want to find your own match? apply here! curious about other matches?

[glxtter]

"me, on the road to reform? i could never." secretly she wishes she could be on the road to reform. she doesn't want to be a party girl forever but she feels like she made her bed and now she has to lie in it. when he mentions kimmy not liking them getting shitfaced, she shrugs. the party girl in her didn't care. "who cares what kimmy thinks. fuck kimmy, i came here to have fun."

"maybe  you're  on  the  road  to  reform.  who  am  i  to  judge?"  vinnie  knows  her  a  little  better  than  that,  but  he's  always  been  a  bit  of  tease.  "are  you  offering?  that's  so  sweet,"  he  says,  shooting  her  a  grin.  "oh,  you  were  serious  about  the  night  being  young.  kimmy  wouldn't  like  us  getting  shitfaced  during  her  night  of  honor."  neither  would  his  manager,  not  that  either  of  those  facts  had  stopped  him  before.  if  anything,  his  words  so  clearly  contradict  his  actions.  thankfully,  her  drink  of  choice  doesn't  taste  too  bad,  which  means  emptying  the  glass  in  one  go  isn't  too  much  of  a  difficulty.

[boramssi]

baekwha wonderland outfit check !

Boram costuma passar os dias vestida de forma mais formal, raramente aposta em decotes ou roupas justas, e está quase sempre sobre saltos elegantes. Naquele dia, no entanto, se permitiu algo diferente, ainda que fiel ao seu estilo. Escolheu peças mais ajustadas ao corpo, com um decote discreto que adicionava um toque de ousadia, sem jamais comprometer a classe que lhe é natural. E nos pés, trocou os saltos por um par de tênis, abraçando o conforto com leveza que a ocasião pede.

[vanityrift]

🗝️ open to everyone. ⏰ 12:22am @ 12welve.

🪐 : her capacity for clubs has a finite limit & tonight's full attendance is truly putting that to the test. deep breath in, deep breath out. it's fine. it's fun. it's— 〝 i need out. 〞 is what spills out of her mouth. nory blinks, like she's surprised by her own revelation, then pushes herself away from the booth. she's already fumbling around her pockets, winded relief at the outline of her lucky lighter. 〝 m' gonna go smoke, is what i mean. 〞 she doesn't bother with invitations, simply begins to make her way through the sea of people.

[knightdaisy]

daisy feels rather silly for suggesting that she got a mocktail for herself when she wasn't even sure they had mocktails at this event. it hadn't occurred to her that they wouldn't but she figures she's the only one who's going to be partaking in the offer if they do have them. " do you think i should try something else? i don't even know if they serve mocktails. " she lets out a nervous laugh.

❛   i   think   you're   onto   something   because   that   just   wasn't   cutting   it   anymore   .   not   that   it   ever   was   but   —   ❜   he   shrugs   ,   catching   sight   of   the   booth   he   should've   went   to   a   long   time   ago   instead   of   torturing   himself   with   beer   this entire time .   ❛   you   think   the   light   is   serving   mocktails   right   now   ?   i   mean   ,   i'm   sure   you're   not   the   only   one   that's   going   nonalcoholic   for   the   night   , they've gotta have something to suit everybody's tastes .   ❜

[velgroverp]

event 001 — the vanishing.

velgrove, when you said goodnight to your loved ones, your companions, to the moon and stars, this is not what you expected to wake up to, did you?

the rooster crows, and crows, and crows. it crows to wake up all the residents in velgrove who will hear it cry — the sun is gone. what had ended as a regular summer night, has now transformed into the growing silhouette of a nightmare. in all of velgrove and as far as the eye can see stretched past the sea, the forest cliffs, the mountains, and even the pathways out of velgrove, the sun has completely disappeared leaving in its wake, a black endless sky. darkness clouds the small town like wretched sickness, like a deep impenetrable fog, smoke filled with frightening hunger. it's easy to sense, how the forest has gone silent. how domesticated animals are restless. and how the only things that keep the town illuminated are the street lamps when they're not flickering, struggling to keep themselves alive. an emergency town meeting is held at town hall where the mayor announces all children and elderly to stay home. or to find refuge at the lakehouse library where seemingly impossible, the lake emits a soft glow illuminating the space and offering warmth and comfort in this time of trouble. in it's reflection is what seems to be the sun. there is not enough space for everyone at the lakehouse library, nor can everyone afford to abandon their homes - their livelihoods. for those individuals, the mayor has implemented a buddy system to ensure that no resident is ever left alone in the darkness. whether they keep to the same partner or not does not matter. no one should be traveling alone. when night time comes, the mayor's fear only strengthens as the moon fails to rise as well only showing itself in the lake's reflection much like the sun. that night, the elders that gather at the lakehouse spread rumors and stories of old. — it has been believed that the sun and moon would go missing every five years. but for the past fifty years, this occurrence had come to a stop. some believe it had to do with the passing of the founder. others believe it has to do with the land. though no one is in agreement, one thing is clear - there is something to fear out there.

hello little grovelings, and welcome to our first official event!

in roleplay time, this event will span two weeks. out of character, this event will be open for the remainder of the month to allow you ample time to get in event threads and for event interactions meaning it will officially end on june 30th. after june 30th, no new threads should be started.

event interactions!

BUDDY SYSTEM — the mayor has ordered a buddy system be implemented for any individuals who are not currently taking refuge at the lakeside to ensure that no one is ever left alone for any extended period of time. does your muse find someone? do they get assigned? or do they forego the entire system at the mayor's behest? or simply because they have no choice for the sake of their work?

LAKEHOUSE REFUGE — depending on where your muse lives, maybe they've been forced to head to the lakehouse for the time being. or maybe they bunk in with someone else who has the extra space. maybe they don't have the extra space but are willing to put your muse up until they figure out a plan or something changes. does your muse volunteer to take care of the folks lining up at the lakehouse?

electricity has affected nearly every location in velgrove with the exception of the lakeside and town center.

thistle forest - electricity only works in the morning hours.

the fields - electricity only works in the evening hours.

the beach shore - electricity has completely cut out.

uptown - electricity goes in and out through the days at odd intervals.

downtown - electricity has completely cut out.

HALLUCINATIONS — with the disappearance of the sun and moon, a blanket of darkness has surrounded all of velgrove. under its cover, residents have become defenseless against the hallucinations that have begun to take shape throughout town. they come in forms of inhuman shadows, voices, and even people. the most susceptible to come face to face with a hallucination are those traveling alone. if your muse does not acknowledge the hallucination, they will be okay. if your muse chooses to interact with a hallucination - knowingly or not, they will end up at the doctor's under the symptoms of a coma known as the witch's illness - comas induced from hallucinations after experiencing an oddity in velgrove. your muse will exist in a dream state believing they are okay until the effects of the hallucination wear off or until they gain lucidness within their dream and awake themselves.

please tag all your threads and event related posts with "event 001: the vanishing".

special prompts!

there will be two special prompts available for this event — these prompts will be horror/psychological horror based. prompts are not explicit in detail but trigger warnings have been applied. if you would like to enter to be picked for the prompt, please reply below with your muse. if you have an extra benefit and would like to use it, please message main! entry for special prompts will be open until saturday, 6/14 @ 11.59pm.

if you are selected for these prompts, they will be delivered to you through your submit box. if a response is not posted within a week of receiving the prompt, the prompt will be made public and be up for grabs by whichever member claims it first.

first prompt — this will be a recurring dream that haunts your muse throughout the two weeks that the sun and moon have disappeared. trigger warnings include: depictions of suicide

second prompt — this will be a canon moment in your muse's timeline in relation to the event. trigger warnings include: disappearances

[princejaya]

Where: Outside When: Mid-afternoon, Day 1 of Hurricane Jac Who: @ofreardcns

Obsidian was, by all accounts, a completely safe place in a hurricane. There were runes cut into the door frames, the windows, the magical energy radiating off of them in ways that made it clear it was protective. This building would weather any storm, and Jaya’s panic-buying of food from his move into a new town meant his fridge was well-stocked. He was fine.

That didn’t stop him from pacing the main seating area, relabeling and sorting the whole cabinet of herbs and mixers, and checking every single entrance and exit to make sure he’d boarded them properly, trying to keep himself busy enough to push his thoughts away. He was safe.

Who wasn’t safe was Farrah. She was terrified of storms when they were small, dragging her blankets into his room when their parents had denied her entry to their bed, keeping him awake with her sniffling and crying she clearly thought he couldn’t hear. Some nights, it would get so bad that he’d have to pretend to roll over carelessly and drop a stuffed animal off of his bed so she’d have something to wrap herself around to finally get some sleep.

She was much better about it now that they were grown, of course, but she still flinched at thunder, and she’d never been in a hurricane. He wanted her to be driven to the safety of Dubai after the horrors of a night or two in whatever hotel was nearest to the airport and a business class ticket, not to be lost and terrified in the biggest storm she’d ever lived through.

Sort the glasses behind the bar. Finish unpacking his suitcase. Stare out the window as the storm continued to build. The thoughts weren’t going away. He had to go look for her.

The spells he usually used for blocking the effects of weather were meant for preserving ingredients, but they worked well enough in a pinch. His skin felt tingly as the rain and wind seemed to simply roll off and around him, but that was much more preferable than getting soaked to the bone and chilled by the winds.

At least the stadium wasn’t too far. He’d checked his town map thrice before he left the lounge, making sure he had the right direction and the quickest paths. He kept his eye out for street names, familiar landmarks that had been written out on the map, anything to make sure he was going in the right direction as the storm continued to pick up.

He was already deeply regretting his decision to hold off on buying one in his first week in this town. A few had already sped by, heading for the same place he was. He wasn't in the habit of jealousy, not when he was well aware of how blessed he was to be born into the wealth he'd had, but he did allow himself a moment to mutter a curse (may your socks eternally feel damp) at the back of a car that had taken the turn too quickly and nearly splashed him with one of those dirt puddles that seemed to be a local specialty of Port Leiry's.

A light from behind him made it clear another car was approaching, probably going the same way as all the rest. Jaya stepped aside, out of splashing range in case this was yet another speeder looking to get a mundane curse put on them.

[phonetutorials]

@chaosmultiverse (continued from here!)

[As a security guard, Ralph was entrusted with keeping a diligent eye on the pizzeria and its guests. He'd played mediator to a number of fights among children in the interest of safety, but there were some children he'd been warned about "interfering" with...namely, those of his boss, William Afton.]

[Despite this warning, Ralph had witnessed so much bullying from Afton's oldest that his paternal instincts took over. He'd probably get in trouble later, but that was better than just abandoning a helpless child -- Ralph just couldn't do that in good conscience. It broke his heart to see any child in distress, especially at the hands of a family member. If he could be certain he wouldn't get fired for it, he'd love to give Michael a long-winded lecture about his actions...]

[For now, though, he'd settle for housing Evan in one of the pizzeria's offices ( an act that he'd advised against in his own training tapes ) and playing therapist.]

❝ Well, in my experience...there are plenty of "big boys," even grown-ups, that still have nightmares. It's nothing to be ashamed of. ❞ [Ralph smiled reassuringly, hoping that the word of a grown-up would overrule the word of a big brother.] ❝ I'm not really, uh, meant to say this...but I think you're right. Your brother tries awfully hard to scare you, doesn't he? ❞

❝ As for my own nightmares, well... ❞ [Ralph laughed weakly; yeah, this was one answer he didn't have prepared. He got nightmares a bit too frequently for his taste, and a lot of them...may or may not have involved the pizzeria. He'd noticed how fearful Evan was of the animatronics already -- he definitely didn't want to make that worse. It was best to not mention Freddy's.] ❝ Well...a lot of them seem sort of silly on the surface, y'know? I once had a nightmare that Jaws was trying to get me, heh...but it's real scary in the moment. It feels so...real. ❞ [He cleared his throat, redirecting his attention to Evan.]

❝ How 'bout you, kiddo? I've heard that it helps to talk about them. Wanna give it a shot? ❞

[autohalo]

ᯓ      open      starter      —      unlimited      replies      ｡  ᯓ      5:18      P.M.      ＠      santuary      church      ｡

i   shouldn't   be   here.   it's   all   kiwoo   can   think,   overlooking   what   may   as   well   be   a   sea   of   ghosts.   a   mirror   of   his   prior   thoughts;   they   shouldn't   be   here   either.   curiosity   lead   him   to   this   point,   but   self   preservation   threatens   to   spin   him   on   his   heels.   as   he   goes   to   make   the   turn,   he   is   nearly   nose   -   to   -   nose   with   a   familiar   face.   his   heart   leaps.   ❝   jesus,   scared   me.   ❞   he   presses   a   hand   to   his   chest,   willing   his   heart   to   stay   put.