#i guess that was more fun than villa but in the future i could see this becoming repetitive too eventually

[books-are-my-life-stuff]

This Battle Rally thing is...kinda fun, I think...?

[peonyslumber]

Pitseleh

S5|pre-villa| Suresh/MC | 1,130 words

Author’s note: Title idea from the song ‘Pitseleh’ by the artist Elliott Smith. This is my first fanfic written about a character from love island the game. So with that, I hope I did an exceptional job. Enjoy!

Sure, Suresh was busy with work, he’s always busy, but ever since that night he’s been closed off. Sometimes I look into his eyes and feel like he’s hiding something.

My head snapped to the direction that his phone was at. It buzzed on the nightstand, calling my name. He was too busy snoozing to have heard the notification. So I got up and reached to check to see if it’s his mum. His family and I got on well. I loved them. They loved me. One of these days we’d be a big happy family. I’ll officially be a part of them. But I haven’t found the right time to do it. It had to be right, everything had to be perfect. It had to be memorable. A day he and I would look back on and tell our future kids about. A love story one could do nothing but smile while hearing.

We were like that. Suresh was the one for me. And I was going to make sure that he knew that soon.

I did the pin and saw that it was actually from one of his mates.

I ignored it, and opened his phone. I smiled as his wallpaper was a picture of us. I checked his photos to see if I could send that picture to me. He was always better at taking pictures than I was. He was my professional photographer. But as I scrolled to find it, I came across something far more heart crushing.

The phone slipped out of my hands.

I guess the loud noise of his phone hitting the ground was enough to steer him awake. Tears began to well in my eyes, my lower lip began to quiver as I fell to the ground.

“Bua, is everything alright? Wha-“ his eyes darted to his phone on the ground, “It isn’t what it looks like. I-“ I interrupted him, stopping him from speaking.

I stood him, shoving the phone that had a picture of him in bed with another chick, “What is it then, Suresh?”

His face went pale.

The way I said his name stung. “It’s exactly what it looks like. So we have a fight, and you go running to somebody else?! After everything we’ve been through.” I felt the tears run down my face, to my neck and ears.

“Calm down, beautiful. I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

I wiped the tears away, “But it did, Suresh, and you can’t take it back. You can’t take what you did to us back! I have stayed by your side through thick and thin, and you threw it all away for a little fun. This isn’t funny. This isn’t a game. My heart isn’t meant to be played! This is why, why you will never have my heart ever again!”

He stayed silent. Not moving an inch. He didn't dare to interrupt.

“Look at what you did! Did it ever occur to you about how it would affect me? That one day the truth would come out. And that day, you’d lose me?” I shook my head, turning around, looking out the window.

“It was an honest mistake. You know I’d take it back if I could. She didn’t mean anything. It has always been you.”

I could see his reflection from the window. His nose sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that begged to escape.

Suresh was never the type to be able to speak how he felt, and when he did, it spoke volumes with his actions. He kept everything bottled up inside. I was always able to find what was wrong, how he felt, through the quirks that he did to hide how he was feeling. Today was no different, and he knew that. I knew everything I said, he could feel in his core. Behind his fierce exterior was a man on the verge of breaking down, but he'd tell not one soul that.

My nose flared, “It wasn’t me when you laid next to her. It wasn’t me you were snogging. It wasn’t me who you were flirting with at whatever place you two crossed. You can’t take it back. The damage has been done. I can’t even look at you anymore. I cannot stomach the thought of what you two did.”

I bit my lip, “I want you to leave. Suresh, I want you out. Today. Right now. Don’t come back. Don’t even come knocking at my door, or show up where I work with a bouquet of flowers and chocolate apologizing trying to win me back. Please don't. This isn’t like the other times. I can’t forget about it. I won’t forget about it. Pack your bags.” I opened his drawers and started throwing his clothes on the floor. Getting his suitcase from the closet and the clothes he had hung in our closet. Or should I say mine now.

I knew I was being reckless. But what can you do in this instance, but act anything but rational?

He stepped forward, “Bua, where am I going to stay? I want us to work this out. I want us to stay together. Just please listen to me.”

I turned around facing him, “So I can hear a bunch of lies? I know you enough, Suresh. Not only that, but I won’t have it. I don’t care where you stay. You’re no longer worth my worries anymore. Heck! Call that girl up. See if she’ll care enough to let you stay there. We’re done.” I pushed his clothes against his chest.

“If all your clothes can't fit in there because I know they won't. You can use a trash bag, you ought to be well established with them by now.” I shot him a glare. Folding my arms. I walked over to my keys.

“Lock up when you’re done taking your crap. I won’t be here, and I expect you to leave my life once I come back. I don’t want to see an ounce of anything of yours.” I closed the door, still holding the doorknob.

Furthermore, I opened it quickly, “Don’t forget to tell your family I love them. And tell them that their son messed everything up too.” I closed it shut. Sliding my body against the door. I placed my head between my knees.

It was hard to ask him to leave. It was hard to believe that he’d cheat. I didn’t need an excuse from him. And to think that I would’ve proposed to him. A hiccup came along with the silent sobs.

I sighed as I got up and gained the courage to walk away from the home we once shared. I can’t help but think about how lonely it’ll feel without his presence there.

[ravenadottir]

Which of the characters kept this thought in mind that Love Island is still a competition with 50k as prize money?

During my second playthrough, I somehow thought of Hunger Games where the protagonist pretends to be in love with the other one to increase their popularity and improve their chances of survival, with success. In a weird way, the same applies to Love Island, survive to win.

I don't accuse any of the characters of lying about their intentions like Henrik being on LI for only a good time or Hope trying to find a partner for life but yk 👀

Maybe some of them thought twice about pieing sb off bc it would damage their popularity among the audience or created drama on purpose bc that's what maybe the production team likes to see more of 🤷🏻‍♀️

see this is what i'm talking about when i say 'playing the game'. no shade just... love island is a game, with a cash prize, and the entrance for a quick way of getting famous without doing much.

players got offended when i said bobby was playing the game for the money and like, i applaud that storyline! i still think that was the intention behind the tweet and a later revelation would out him as a player of the game, so his name is on my list still. just because they chickened out doesn't mean it wasn't supposed to happen.

priya. she doesn't even hide the fact that money is a problem for her (on a rare occasion you catch her as your main female friend and she comments about the villa being the type of property she sells but could never buy). there's a hint of "ah, if only i had that money" and it's not farfetched to imagine it's part of the reason why she went for rahim. he was rather vulnerable, emotionally, and very impressionable. it was easy to convince him to pick her on day 3 even though she's not an option when you talk to him that afternoon. the game gives nods to hannah, mc and lottie, but priya knew how to play him and did it right. i think eventually she realized she wasn't going anywhere with that (because the tweet about her called her out on the gold digging thing) and decided to just go for who she wanted since the beginning, noah.

blake. like... duh. she admitted the convincing noah on his route, and i still don't buy she had genuine feelings for henrik or lucas, just giving away something she thought would make them choose her, nothing more.

shannon. maybe not about the money but definitely about the competition. you can't deny the girl was thirsty to prove something, we just didn't' know to whom or what, but she was in there to win and it felt like a matter of honor, more than a matter of money. (i guess we can say she always has to prove herself in her field of work but we can add the fact that some people might shame her because she's not thin). regardless she's there but not to find love.

marisol. i'm not saying it was the only reasoning behind it but like... she doesn't seem the type of girl that enjoys fame. there's a lot about her that lets it show she's not there just for the kicks of it. while some talk about experience, connections, friendships, having a fun summer, she is very emphatic about coming in and taking what she wants. that, to an extent, could be about the competition and the money.

graham. i don't care if he lost his head over marisol afterwards, he knew there was nothing there and persisted instead of doing the brave thing and breaking up. the only reason to stay with someone in the show, who you can't have a future with, is to win something. maybe he thought the other couples would eventually crumble and by a miraculous turn of events he and marisol would get the prize, since they weren't voted off by the public after stick or switch. there were worse couples there, but as soon as they left he and marisol were the first voted out.

rocco. he was trying to stay not to find someone. and it's like, the mixture of desperation and horniness is something truly remarkable in his route. it's obvious he was going behind his partner's back because he wanted to guarantee his spot. why else would he do that if he didn't have his mind in the game? "i hope i find someone suited for me later on" doesn't sound very rocco-esque. whether his mind changed i'm not so sure, because what was going on between him and marisol was paper thin, so like... maybe he liked her but his goal was still something other than love.

[mrsbsmooth]

Episode 32 - Script

Picking who to dump from the island (not that your choice matters whatsoever)

NARRATOR: I haven’t been this excited by a plan since the time I last upgraded my phone.

NARRATOR: I had important calls to make…

NARRATOR: Alright, I didn’t. I had cat videos to watch.

NARRATOR: But {0} has an important call to make now, so let’s get back to it!

Nicolas checks no one is in earshot, and leans towards you with a mischievous grin.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Here’s the cheeky plan I’ve been cooking up.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: It’s a game changer and it’s gonna be loads of fun.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: I’m listening.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: Well, we need to look fully compatible or we’re at risk tonight, right?

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: You saying we’re not fully compatible?

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: I think we’re compatible, I’m just not sure the others do.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: And that’s what matters now.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: Our matching jackets help, for sure.

NICOLAS_IDLE: But it might not be enough.

NICOLAS_SAD: We haven’t had as much time together as some other couples here.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: They’re obviously gonna seem closer.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: This is just a crafty way to level things up and give us a better shot.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: So, what’s your plan?

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: We keep exploring our connection with each other.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: We just tell the others it’s a bit stronger than it is.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Like, we tell them we’re catching deep feels…

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Can see a future together, all that jazz, yeah?

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: And can you see a future together with me?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: I like what I’ve seen so far, but it’s too early to know for sure.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: I want us to buy some more time together.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: That’s assuming you want more time with me?

I want ALL the time with you, sexy!

PLAYER_HAPPY: Course I want more time with you!

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: You’ve got great taste then, like I do. Another thing we’ve got in common.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Seriously, I think me and you could be a force to be reckoned with.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: You’ve certainly made an impact already.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: You’ve seen nothing yet, {0}.

I’ve had enough of you already

PLAYER_ANGRY: I think we’ve spent enough time together already.

NICOLAS_SURPRISED: Ouch, {0}! I did not expect you to say that.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: People usually say I’m pretty lovable.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Really?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Nah, but they usually find me entertaining at least. And sexy.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: And modest?

NICOLAS_IDLE: Nah, no one says that.

NICOLAS_SAD: But even if you’re not into old Niccy-chops you still need more time in the villa.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Even if just to explore things with some of my less attractive rivals.

Too early to answer that

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I’m not quite sure how I’m feeling about you yet.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: So you’re saying you want us to spend more time together?

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Your wish is my command.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: I’m gonna convince the new boys we’re melty about each other.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: If you do the same with the others, I reckon we’re golden.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: And if I can sow any seeds of doubt, I just might.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: I’m loving every second. Haven’t had this much fun in ages!

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: So, are you hopping on this sneaky train?

Hell yes! Let’s do it

PLAYER_HAPPY: Sounds like a plan to me! Like you say, we might need to buy more time together.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Yes, {0}! See how compatible we are!

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: And even if it doesn’t work, at least we’ll have fun trying.

No way I’m doing that

PLAYER_ANGRY: I’m not up for playing these games to stay in the villa.

NICOLAS_SAD: I get that.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: But I just think as one of the new couples, we might be at risk if we don’t make a play.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Even so, bit too sneaky a move for me.

NICOLAS_IDLE: Fair do’s. Just thought it might be a fun mission for us, but your call.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: It is a bit sneaky, but I guess I just want more time to explore things with you.

Let me think about it

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m not sure if it’s a good move or not. Let me think about it.

NICOLAS_IDLE: Course, think it over. No pressure.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: I know it seems a bit sneaky, but I’m happy to roll the dice to get more time with you.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: We do need to work out who we’re voting for though.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: I’ve got a shortlist.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: But want to chat to peeps more today to see which couples I’m buying.

PLAYER_IDLE: That might be a good idea. A lot’s changed over the last few days hasn’t it?

You notice Lulu and Suresh pulling Gabi away from Dana for a serious looking talk at the firepit.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: That looks deep. Wonder what that’s all about?

Dana catches your eye and motions to meet her at the sunloungers.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Guess you’re about to find out.

Nicolas flashes a playful grin and runs over to join the other new boys by the pool.

You wonder whether his plan will help you stay in the villa or not tonight.

Johnny checks no one is in earshot, and leans towards you with a mischievous grin.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Here’s my little plan. It’s a game changer and will be loads of fun.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: I’m listening.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: Well, we need to look fully compatible or we’re at risk tonight, right?

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: You saying we’re not fully compatible?

JOHNNY_SAD: I think we’re compatible, I’m just not sure the others do.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: And that’s what matters now.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Our matching outfits help, for sure.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: But it might not be enough.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: We haven’t had as much time together as some other couples here.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: They’re obviously gonna seem closer.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: This is just a fun way to level things up and give us a better shot.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: So, what’s your plan?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: We keep exploring our connection together.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: We just tell the others it’s a bit stronger than it is.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Like, we tell everyone we’re catching deep feelings. We can see a future together, all that stuff.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: And can you see a future together with me?

JOHNNY_HAPPY: I think so, but it’s too early to know for sure. I want us to get more time together.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Assuming you want more time with me that is?

I want ALL the time with you, sexy!

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Course I want more time with you, sexy.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: That’s so great to hear. Another thing we’ve got in common.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Seriously, I think me and you could be something special.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: You’ve certainly made an impact already.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Same with you, {0}.

I’ve had enough of you already

PLAYER_ANGRY: I think we’ve spent enough time together already.

JOHNNY_SURPRISED: Oh really? I didn’t expect you to say that.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: People usually say I’m pretty lovable.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Really?

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Usually. Or if not, entertaining at least. And cute.

PLAYER_IDLE: And modest?

JOHNNY_IDLE: Maybe not. But even if you’re not into me, you still need more time in the villa.

JOHNNY_SAD: Even if just to explore things with other people.

Too early to answer that

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m not quite sure how I’m feeling about you yet.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: I get that, early days. But that’s another argument to spend more time together.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Fingers crossed on that.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: I’m gonna chat to the new boys and tell them I’m all in with you.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: If you do the same with the others, I reckon we’re golden.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: And if I can stir up some drama, I just might.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: You’re enjoying this aren’t you?

JOHNNY_HAPPY: I’m loving every second. Haven’t had this much fun in ages!

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: So, are you hopping on this fun train?

Hell yes! Let’s do it

PLAYER_HAPPY: Sounds like a plan to me! Like you say, we might need to buy more time together.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Yes, {0}! See how compatible we are!

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: And even if it doesn’t work, at least we’ll have fun trying.

No way I’m doing that

PLAYER_ANGRY: I’m not up for playing these games to stay in the villa.

JOHNNY_SAD: I get that. I just think as one of the new couples, we might be at risk here.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: So, we should make a play.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Even so, bit too sneaky a move for me.

JOHNNY_IDLE: That’s fair. Just thought it might be a bit of fun, but your call.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: It is a bit sneaky, but I guess I just want more time to explore things with you.

Let me think about it

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I’m not sure if it’s a good move or not. Let me think about it.

JOHNNY_IDLE: 'Course, think it over. No pressure.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: I know it seems a bit sneaky.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: But I’m happy to try something to get more time with you.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: We do need to work out who we’re voting for though.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: I’ve got a shortlist, but want to chat to everyone more and see if I change my mind.

PLAYER_IDLE: That might be a good idea. A lot’s changed over the last few days hasn’t it?

You notice Lulu and Suresh pulling Gabi away from Dana for a serious looking talk at the firepit.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: That looks deep. Wonder what that’s all about?

Dana catches your eye and motions to meet her at the sunloungers.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Guess you’re about to find out.

Johnny flashes a playful grin and runs over to join the other new boys by the pool.

You wonder whether his plan will help you stay in the villa or not tonight.

Dana looks unusually worried as she watches Gabi, Suresh and Lulu’s intense looking talk at the firepit.

DANA_SERIOUS: Wish I could be a fly on that firepit.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: What do you think they’re talking about?

DANA_HAPPY: Probably what a hilarious, stunning hottie I am.

DANA_IDLE: Either that or Gabi and Suresh’s unfinished business.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: Lulu said the three of them needed a private chat.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: So, that’s got my alarm bells ringing.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Are you worried about Gabi and Suresh?

You notice Gabi lean closer to Suresh as they talk in hushed tones.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: Course I am! Look at her body language with him.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: I mean, I love that she’s got strong flirt game.

DANA_SERIOUS: But I prefer it when it's with people who aren’t her beefcake ex… And yours.

DANA_SERIOUS: You think there’s still feelings between Gabi and Suresh?

Looks like they’ve still got a connection

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I think there’s still a connection between them, or unfinished business at least.

DANA_SAD: Yeah, me too. I just wish I could explore things with Gabi without these complications.

DANA_SAD: I guess everything is getting complicated for us both.

I think that’s in the past

PLAYER_HAPPY: Gabi and Suresh are in the past. Don’t think there’s still feelings there.

DANA_IDLE: I hope you’re right, but it looks like there’s something between them to me.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: Guess I need to talk to her and see where her head’s at.

PLAYER_IDLE: Maybe you do.

I wish I knew

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I wish I knew the deal between those two. I’ve found out so much new info the last few days.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, your head must be spinning as much as mine.

DANA_SERIOUS: Especially with the dumping tonight.

DANA_IDLE: I think tonight’s forcing everyone to assess where they’re at with their partner.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I think you might be right about that.

Your eyes meet Nicolas as he walks past.

He gives you a playful wink, as though he’s hinting you should run with his scheme.

Your eyes meet Johnny as he walks past.

He gives you a playful wink, as though he’s hinting you should run with his scheme.

PLAYER_IDLE: He was just saying something similar.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: Interesting. Do you think you’re compatible?

Yes, we’re couple goals

PLAYER_HAPPY: I think we’re pretty compatible. Feels like there’s something there.

DANA_HAPPY: That’s cool. I don’t know him that well yet, but seems like a good guy.

DANA_IDLE: Happy you’ve found a connection.

DANA_SAD: Even if I hoped it might be me and you sharing a connection.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Things really went off the rails before Casa Amor, didn’t they?

DANA_SAD: They really did.

No, we’re not a good match

PLAYER_SAD: I don’t think me and him are very compatible.

DANA_SURPRISED: Really? I thought you two had pretty good chemistry.

DANA_SURPRISED: You’re even wearing matching outfits.

DANA_SAD: Guess you can never tell who you’re gonna vibe with.

Time will tell

PLAYER_IDLE: It’s too early to know if we’re a good match yet. We’re still figuring each other out.

DANA_IDLE: Yeah for sure. I thought I’d figured Gabi out, but not so sure now.

DANA_SAD: Guess time will tell for us both then. But feels like time might be running out.

DANA_SERIOUS: I’m really pranging about tonight. I’m not ready to leave the villa yet.

DANA_SAD: Feels like I’m just getting started.

DANA_SAD: I’d be so gutted if both of us don’t make it to the final.

PLAYER_IDLE: We don’t know what’s going to happen tonight.

DANA_IDLE: We don’t. And I’ve still got no idea who we’re going to vote for.

DANA_EMBARRASSED: It’ll be interesting if Gabi pushes to keep Suresh in the villa.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, it will.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Nicolas said he's got a couple of ideas for who's on his shortlist.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Johnny said he's got a couple of ideas for who's on his shortlist.

PLAYER_SAD: Didn’t say who though.

DANA_HAPPY: Ooh mysterious. Hopefully it’s not yours truly.

PLAYER_IDLE: He said he’s going to chat to more people and see how he’s feeling later.

DANA_IDLE: I’m gonna take some time alone to get my head straight, then I’ll do the same.

DANA_IDLE: Maybe you should too.

DANA_IDLE: You’ve got strong connections here.

DANA_IDLE: You should remind them that you deserve to stay in the villa.

Dana gives your shoulder a reassuring squeeze as she walks into the villa.

Your head whirls with thoughts of tonight’s dumping as you decide who you need to talk to first.

DAYBEDS: Arlo, Pete

You join Arlo and Pete on the bean bags who are laughing about something.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Mind if I join you guys?

ARLO_HAPPY: Sure, {0}. Pete’s just bantering about fish.

PLAYER_HAPPY: What about fish?

ARLO_EMBARRASSED: He’s always been scared of them.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Why?

PETE_SERIOUS: Their eyes creep me out. Started when I went snorkelling as a kid.

PETE_SERIOUS: Just after I put my mask on…

PETE_EMBARRASSED: I had some giant whiskered catfish staring at me like he wanted to eat me.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Maybe you’ll get sent on a snorkelling date?

ARLO_HAPPY: I hope so.

PETE_HAPPY: I’d suck it up to get a date with you, babe.

Arlo beams at Pete.

PLAYER_IDLE: You two hitting it off still then?

PETE_HAPPY: Big time. Feels like we’ve known each other way longer than we have.

ARLO_FLIRTY: We can banter about nothing for days.

PETE_FLIRTY: Wild chemistry from day one!

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re not worried about the dumping tonight then?

ARLO_SERIOUS: Nah, it’s obvious we’re a match. Right, {0}?

Yeah, you vibe together

PLAYER_HAPPY: You two clearly click. It’s obvious.

ARLO_HAPPY: Thanks, hun.

PETE_HAPPY: Yeah, glad it comes across.

I’m not buying it

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I’m not buying you two as a power couple. Feels a bit forced.

ARLO_ANGRY: You don’t know what you’re talking about.

ARLO_ANGRY: Nothing forced about us. Is there, Pete?

PETE_SERIOUS: Not at all. We’re legit. Sure you’ll change your mind on us soon.

ARLO_SURPRISED: Can’t believe you don’t think we’re compatible!

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: You asked, Arlo. Thought you’d appreciate me telling it straight.

ARLO_ANGRY: Well, I don’t.

Too early to tell

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m not sure yet, it’s only been a few days.

ARLO_FLIRTY: A few days is all it takes when you’re with the right person.

PETE_FLIRTY: Damn right.

PLAYER_IDLE: Do you think me and Nicolas are compatible?

PLAYER_IDLE: Do you think me and Johnny are compatible?

ARLO_SERIOUS: I was on the fence about you…

ARLO_ANGRY: But after hearing what you think about us, I’m gonna say no.

ARLO_IDLE: I’m kinda on the fence about you as a couple.

PETE_HAPPY: I think you might have something together.

You catch eyes with Nicolas who gives you a playful nod to remind you of his plan.

You catch eyes with Johnny who gives you a playful nod to remind you of his plan.

Sell your compatibility with your partner

PLAYER_HAPPY: We couldn’t be any more compatible than we are. We hit it off.

PETE_HAPPY: Good to hear your vibing. You look like a good couple to me.

ARLO_SURPRISED: You’ve actually got things in common then?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, for sure. Why?

ARLO_IDLE: Just doesn’t seem like you’re each other’s types to me.

Ignore your partner’s plan

PLAYER_IDLE: I guess time will tell about all this.

ARLO_IDLE: Yeah. Feels like he’s not exactly your type.

PETE_HAPPY: Either way, doesn’t really matter what your types are, does it?

PLAYER_SURPRISED: What do you mean?

PETE_HAPPY: Well, on paper Lulu’s way more my type than Arlo.

PETE_HAPPY: But we’re onto a good thing aren’t we?

ARLO_ANGRY: Err, I thought we were. But then again I thought I was your type. You said I was.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Got your foot in your mouth there, Pete?

ARLO_ANGRY: Or was me being your type a lie?

PETE_EMBARRASSED: You are my type. Just not quite as much as Lulu is.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Keep digging, Pete.

ARLO_ANGRY: So, what is it Lulu’s got that I don’t?

PETE_EMBARRASSED: Nothing.

ARLO_SERIOUS: No, go on.

PETE_EMBARRASSED: You really want to know?

ARLO_SERIOUS: Yeah, I do.

PETE_FLIRTY: She’s got that cute girl-next-door vibe.

ARLO_SURPRISED: Am I not the girl-next-door, then?

PETE_FLIRTY: I just like Lulu’s vibe is all. Plus she’s got an outrageous bod on her.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Know when to cut your losses, Pete.

PETE_SURPRISED: What? She asked.

PETE_FLIRTY: She’s just got those curves. She’s a head turner.

ARLO_FLIRTY: I’ve got a killer bod too, hun. Tell him, {0}.

Yeah, you do

PLAYER_FLIRTY: You’ve got a great body, Arlo. I know that.

ARLO_HAPPY: Thanks, {0}. I know it, too.

PETE_SERIOUS: Sounds like everyone knows it, so why the drama?

I prefer Lulu’s body

PLAYER_FLIRTY: I’m with Pete on this, Lulu’s figure is total goals.

ARLO_ANGRY: Yeah, whatever, {0}. Mine’s goals, too.

PETE_SERIOUS: So why the drama?

I’m not getting involved

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m not getting in the middle of you too.

ARLO_ANGRY: Sounds like he wants someone else in the middle of us.

PETE_FLIRTY: Now that’d be a hot threesome.

PETE_EMBARRASSED: Too soon?

ARLO_SERIOUS: Your eyes should be on me, and me only.

PETE_FLIRTY: They are.

PETE_HAPPY: Most of the time.

ARLO_SURPRISED: I can’t be dealing with you right now!

ARLO_ANGRY: And, you’re not my type either, just so you know.

PETE_HAPPY: Come on, don’t get aggy with me over nothing.

The other Islanders look over, noticing raised voices.

ARLO_ANGRY: Finding out your fella is into someone else isn’t nothing, is it?

PETE_SERIOUS: I didn’t say I was into her. Just that she’s got a cool vibe.

PETE_IDLE: And a great body.

ARLO_ANGRY: I’m done with this.

Arlo storms away from Pete.

The other Islanders pretend they haven’t been staring the whole time.

PETE_EMBARRASSED: Probably should’ve handled that better, shouldn’t I?

Pete follows Arlo into the villa.

POOL: Alfie, Meera

You join Alfie and Meera who happily shoot the breeze by the pool.

ALFIE_HAPPY: {0}, come join us.

PLAYER_HAPPY: What’s going on with you two?

MEERA_FLIRTY: Just persuading Alfie he should come to Leicester when we get out of here.

ALFIE_HAPPY: As long as I can bring Benji.

ALFIE_HAPPY: Think this is the most time I’ve been away from him.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I forgot about Benji.

MEERA_HAPPY: Aww yeah, can’t wait to meet Benji!

MEERA_FLIRTY: Dogs love me, so don’t be surprised if he wants to stay with me.

ALFIE_IDLE: Guess that means I’m staying in Leicester then.

MEERA_FLIRTY: Fine by me.

MEERA_HAPPY: I always kind of fall in love whenever I’m dog sitting.

ALFIE_IDLE: Same! Did I mention me and my old man foster dogs from a shelter near us?

ALFIE_IDLE: Help them get less nervous and scared so they’re more likely to be adopted.

ALFIE_HAPPY: He does the training and I basically just shower them with love.

PLAYER_HAPPY: That is sweet.

MEERA_HAPPY: I’m definitely getting involved in this doggy action when we get out of here.

MEERA_EMBARRASSED: Wait, that came out weird.

You all laugh when Meera realises what she’s said.

MEERA_FLIRTY: Although I do enjoy that position, too.

ALFIE_HAPPY: Who doesn’t!

It my fave position, too

PLAYER_FLIRTY: It’s my fave, too. It’s one thing Suresh got right in here.

ALFIE_HAPPY: In the quiz on day one you mean?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, feels like ages ago now.

It’s not my fave

PLAYER_FLIRTY: It’s not my fave position. Suresh got that wrong in the quiz.

ALFIE_HAPPY: Ah yeah, the one on day one, you mean?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, feels like ages ago now.

Change the subject

PLAYER_IDLE: Let's talk about something else.

ALFIE_IDLE: Sure.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: How are you two feeling about the dumping tonight?

ALFIE_IDLE: What dumping?

MEERA_HAPPY: Exactly, not even thinking about it. Just enjoying being reunited with Alf again.

ALFIE_IDLE: It’s a proper gift, innit? I reckon everyone can see how close we are already.

MEERA_EMBARRASSED: We’d be even closer if a certain fool hadn’t dumped me already.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, I did some serious grafting in Casa.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: Luckily it worked out, and you’re both still here. So really, I smashed it, right?

MEERA_HAPPY: You got lucky, boy. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.

You two are meant to be

PLAYER_HAPPY: You two are perfect for each other. Dream couple.

MEERA_HAPPY: Thanks, {0}. Glad it’s obvious we vibe.

MEERA_HAPPY: Even if it took Alfie a while to get there.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: You both know I’m not the most experienced with relationships.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: Probably explains some of my mistakes in here.

You two won’t last

PLAYER_ANGRY: Can’t see you two lasting long. If others feel the same you might be goners tonight.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: Wow, {0}.

MEERA_ANGRY: Forgot you were a relationship expert, {0}.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Just saying it how it is.

MEERA_ANGRY: Well, you’re just showing why Alfie made the right choice by coupling up with me.

MEERA_SERIOUS: And if he could go back in time, I’m certain he’d couple up with me this time.

He’d pick me again

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Alfie would pick me again for sure.

MEERA_ANGRY: Yeah, right. Think you’re deluding yourself, {0}.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Whatever, Meera.

Maybe he would pick you

PLAYER_IDLE: Yeah, maybe he would pick you this time.

MEERA_SERIOUS: Glad we agree on something then.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Let’s keep it calm, yeah?

MEERA_IDLE: Yeah, you’re right.

Who knows if you’ll work

PLAYER_IDLE: Who knows if you’re meant to be or not. Time will tell.

ALFIE_IDLE: I’m feeling confident in us.

MEERA_HAPPY: I’m feeling very confident in us. Excited for everything we’ve got in store together.

PLAYER_IDLE: Have you two worked out who you’re voting for yet?

ALFIE_SERIOUS: We haven’t even talked about it yet. Don’t want to vote for anyone to leave.

MEERA_SAD: It’s not a nice thing to have to do. At least everyone’s in the same boat though.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, think it’s causing a bit of tension.

MEERA_HAPPY: Some people are even wearing matching outfits to try to swing it their way.

ALFIE_HAPPY: That’s hilarious.

MEERA_EMBARRASSED: Bit desperate to me.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Whatever.

ALFIE_HAPPY: They do both look great in those outfits though, don’t they?

MEERA_IDLE: They do actually, in fairness.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Anyway, {0}, Meera and I should have that chat about tonight.

MEERA_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, guess we do.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I’ll leave you both to it then.

GYM: Finn, Kat

Kat rubs sunscreen into Finn’s back as he stands by the weights bench.

KAT_FLIRTY: Come join us, babe.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: We’ve been talking about everyone’s least favourite holiday destination.

KAT_SERIOUS: Casa Amor.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Why’s that?

KAT_HAPPY: ‘Cause that was our first proper test as a couple.

FINN_HAPPY: Apart from my excess baggage, my views on marriage…

FINN_EMBARRASSED: And nearly recoupling with Arlo.

KAT_ANGRY: Babe, you weren’t ever recoupling with anyone else.

KAT_ANGRY: You were just hogging the limelight as per.

FINN_HAPPY: I do that, don’t I?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Does that remind you of anyone else, Kat?

KAT_FLIRTY: Cheeky! But true. Probably one of the many reasons why we click, Finn baby.

FINN_IDLE: For sure.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: What were you saying about Casa Amor?

KAT_HAPPY: Basically that I was proper stressing about what Finn was up to.

KAT_EMBARRASSED: And if he’d get with someone else.

FINN_FLIRTY: Same way you could’ve.

FINN_FLIRTY: {0}, Kat was telling me the Casa boys were all over her.

Kat shoots you a cheeky look asking you to play along.

KAT_FLIRTY: All over me, weren’t they, {0}?

Yeah, the Casa boys were all over you

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, they were all grafting you hard, Kat.

KAT_HAPPY: Facts. Stayed faithful though. You’re welcome, Finn.

FINN_HAPPY: I didn’t have any doubts.

I remember you failing at flirting with them

PLAYER_HAPPY: I remember you being so rattled about Finn that you lost all your flirt game. Awkward.

KAT_EMBARRASSED: He doesn’t need to know that.

FINN_SURPRISED: So, you tried getting your flirt on then?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Tried and failed.

KAT_ANGRY: Only after seeing that postcard, if you wanna go there, Finn.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: No, let's not go there again.

Leave me out of it

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I’m staying out of this. What happens in Casa…

FINN_HAPPY: Wise words, {0}. Wise words.

KAT_SERIOUS: What matters is I passed a test with flying colours for the first time since GCSE chemistry.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Thought you said you got a D?

KAT_HAPPY: Exactly, smashed it.

KAT_IDLE: But anyway, we both got put to the test in Casa, and came through for each other.

KAT_HAPPY: That means something. Especially with us both being promised-skewers in the past.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Promised… skewers? Like chicken skewers?

KAT_HAPPY: Oh, I meant promiscuous, didn’t I?

FINN_HAPPY: Yeah, you did. And it does mean something, Kat.

Finn looks at you, suddenly much more serious.

FINN_SERIOUS: But, Kat, do you mind if I have a quick chat alone with {0} here.

KAT_SURPRISED: What about?

FINN_HAPPY: Ah, nothing important.

KAT_FLIRTY: If this is some juicy goss I'm not missing it.

FINN_IDLE: Nothing juicy.

KAT_SERIOUS: Finn, babe, you're more of a goss fiend than me!

FINN_SERIOUS: No goss, Kat.

KAT_SERIOUS: What do you want to talk to {0} about then?

FINN_IDLE: Football.

KAT_HAPPY: Bye.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Football?

Finn whispers to you, out of earshot of Kat.

FINN_SERIOUS: It’s actually really important. And it's not about football.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Why did you say that to Kat, then?

FINN_SERIOUS: You wouldn’t want to see Kat’s reaction to what I need to say.

FINN_SERIOUS: I’m not even sure how you’re going to react.

FINN_FLIRTY: But I’ve something I need to tell you.

*You better start spilling then!

PLAYER_HAPPY: We need to have this chat, Finn.

FINN_HAPPY: Really hoped you’d say that! Let’s head to the loungers.

I’m going to pass

PLAYER_IDLE: I’ll pass this time, Finn.

FINN_SERIOUS: It’s about what I wanted to say to you before Casa Amor.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Oh, that.

FINN_SERIOUS: It’s about what I said to you before Casa Amor.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Oh, that.

FINN_FLIRTY: I’ve wanted to tell you this so many times recently, and it’s been eating me up.

FINN_SERIOUS: I've tried to find the right moment since Casa.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: But too much has been going on.

FINN_SERIOUS: This could change everything for us both. Hear me out?

*I need to hear you out then!

PLAYER_HAPPY: Let’s go to the loungers then.

FINN_HAPPY: So happy you’ll hear me out.

I’m okay missing out on the tea

PLAYER_IDLE: Gonna pass on this one, Finn.

FINN_SAD: That’s a shame.

Finn casts you a final sad glance and returns to his work out.

You sit next to Finn on a sunlounger. He checks no one is in earshot.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: I’m intrigued about what you want to tell me that you don’t want Kat to hear.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, this is all a bit awkward.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Things aren’t good with you and Kat?

FINN_HAPPY: Nah, things are pretty sweet between us.

FINN_HAPPY: The feelings are definitely getting stronger.

FINN_IDLE: Particularly on her side.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: It’s not mutual?

FINN_EMBARRASSED: It is mutual. Just slightly more mutual on her side.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: That doesn’t make any sense.

FINN_SERIOUS: Well, things aren’t making much sense for me right now.

FINN_HAPPY: Kat’s an absolute worldie.

FINN_HAPPY: And she’s hilarious and clearly all in on me. And I am into her.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: So, what’s the problem?

FINN_EMBARRASSED: I’m also catching feelings for you, {0}.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Really? This is what you were going to tell me before Casa Amor?

FINN_FLIRTY: Indeed it was. I get you had too much drama going on to hear me out then.

FINN_HAPPY: But I’m chuffed we’re having this chat now.

FINN_FLIRTY: I know I hinted at this before we got whisked off to Casa.

FINN_FLIRTY: But we never really got to finish the chat.

FINN_HAPPY: And I never got to hear whether you feel the same or not.

FINN_IDLE: I feel like Casa changed a lot for me.

PLAYER_IDLE: A lot’s changed for me since Casa, too.

FINN_IDLE: Very true. You’ve got a new partner and there’s a whole new villa dynamic.

FINN_HAPPY: Being away in Casa was what I needed to get some space and perspective.

FINN_FLIRTY: And to be tested.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Sounds like Kat thinks you both sailed through that test.

FINN_SERIOUS: We did. And I was never gonna twist from Kat.

FINN_SERIOUS: But I knew my bigger test was coming up.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Meaning?

FINN_HAPPY: Sharing a villa with you again.

FINN_HAPPY: When I saw you at the recoupling I got goosebumps.

FINN_FLIRTY: And I realised I had stronger feelings for you than I thought.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Wow, okay.

FINN_HAPPY: I feel like so much has gone on recently.

FINN_HAPPY: It’s taken me by surprise how much I like you.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: What is it you like about me?

FINN_HAPPY: Well, it’s not even about your looks, which are lovely by the way.

FINN_HAPPY: You’re way out of my league.

FINN_HAPPY: But there’s just something indescribable and totally unique about you.

FINN_FLIRTY: The way you smile and laugh.

FINN_FLIRTY: And how that always brings a smile to my own face.

FINN_SERIOUS: How you’re not scared of keeping people on their toes.

FINN_FLIRTY: Or going after what you want.

FINN_HAPPY: How much life and vibes you bring to the villa. How you make me feel.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: And how do I make you feel?

FINN_HAPPY: Excited. Everytime we talk or make eye contact, I’m alive and present.

FINN_HAPPY: In the moment.

FINN_SERIOUS: I get bored of most people after a bit, but haven’t with you.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: I always… you know, get a bit nervous when I see you.

Finn stumbles slightly over his words, his voice less assured than usual.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: I’ve been fighting it for a while as I’m with Kat. And you’re with whatshisname.

FINN_SERIOUS: But… I need to finally, you know, open up about how I feel about you.

You look at Finn, who seems unusually boyish.

FINN_SERIOUS: The only thing that really matters is whether you have feelings for me too, {0}.

Yes, I’ve got feelings for you

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’m catching feelings for you too, Finn.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: There’s always been a spark between us and I was hoping you’d say all this.

FINN_HAPPY: I’m very glad I told you. And that you didn’t fully pie me off.

FINN_FLIRTY: I got nervous back then. I never get nervous.

No, I’m not interested in you

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I don’t feel the same, Finn.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: Ouch, okay. Thanks for letting me know.

FINN_SAD: Hope you didn’t mind me opening up to you.

FINN_SAD: I know we’re both coupled with other people.

FINN_SAD: Felt like I had to put it out there before things develop more with me and Kat.

I’m not sure right now

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m really not sure if I’ve got feelings for you or not.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: So much has happened here, my head’s all over the place.

FINN_FLIRTY: You and me both, {0}. It’s been a rollercoaster ride hasn’t it!

FINN_HAPPY: But I’m glad you’re not closed off to me.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: So, where does this leave you and Kat, then?

Finn looks away awkwardly, and seems unsure what to say.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: I need to work that out.

FINN_EMBARRASSED: And I hate myself for even admitting I’ve got feelings for you, too.

FINN_HAPPY: Kat’s a diamond, and she’s actually really sweet when you get past her front.

FINN_SERIOUS: And I really want to make sure I don’t hurt her.

FINN_IDLE: But at the same time, I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t tell you where my head’s at.

FINN_IDLE: How are you feeling about Nicolas?

FINN_IDLE: How are you feeling about Johnny?

I'm into him

PLAYER_HAPPY: I am into him. I'm enjoying being coupled with him.

FINN_HAPPY: He seems like an entertaining boy for sure.

FINN_FLIRTY: I guess you should think about which one of us you like most.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Who said it's just between you two?

FINN_FLIRTY: Keeping me on my toes, {0}. Like it!

FINN_IDLE: Fingers crossed for you both then.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Thanks, Finn.

I'm not that into him

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I'm not that into him if I'm being honest.

FINN_IDLE: That's interesting. Thought you two were vibing.

FINN_HAPPY: Good news for me potentially then.

FINN_SAD: Guess you've got high standards.

Time will tell

PLAYER_FLIRTY: It's early days for me and him.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Who knows what the future might hold.

FINN_FLIRTY: Hopefully it shows us together.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Like I say, who knows.

FINN_HAPPY: I hope you find the person you’re looking for, {0}.

FINN_SERIOUS: You deserve to find someone who treats you as special as you are.

Finn gives you a warm smile before leaving you alone on the loungers.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I guess we both need to have a think about what to do then.

FINN_SERIOUS: We do indeed.

Finn gives you a warm smile before leaving you alone on the loungers.

You stand by the pool in the cool evening air. A phone pings. It’s yours.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: I got a text!

The rest of the Islanders gather around. You read it out.

LITEXT: Islanders, it’s time to make your decision about which couple is the least compatible.

LITEXT: Please break off into your couples and prepare to cast your votes! {0}CoupleDown {1}MakeYourMindUp

DANA_SAD: This suddenly feels like a big deal.

GABI_SAD: Yeah, it feels proper important now.

LULU_IDLE: It’s gonna be harder to make this decision than we thought.

PETE_FLIRTY: Speak for yourself, Lulu. Think me and Arlo know who we’re voting for.

PETE_FLIRTY: Ain’t that right, Arlo?

Arlo shoots you an awkward look about your comment earlier.

ARLO_SERIOUS: Yeah, 100%.

KAT_IDLE: I think me and Finn should get through this test easily enough.

FINN_IDLE: Sure hope so. The villa would be boring without us wouldn’t it?

SURESH_HAPPY: I think you could say the same about me too, bro.

GABI_FLIRTY: Yeah, you’d defo be missed, Suresh.

Suresh notices Lulu looking at him.

SURESH_EMBARRASSED: Oh, and Lulu would be missed of course too.

PETE_HAPPY: Nice save, mate.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: I can’t imagine a power couple like me and {0} being voted off.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Isn’t that right, {0}?

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: I can’t imagine a strong couple like me and {0} being voted off.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Isn’t that right, {0}?

We’re a true power couple

PLAYER_HAPPY: We are the Queen and King of this villa without a doubt.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: And nobody is gonna knock these crowns off our heads.

Others are more compatible

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It seems to me that some of the other couples are probably more compatible than us.

NICOLAS_SURPRISED: What?! That’s just not possible.

JOHNNY_SURPRISED: Really? Not sure that’s possible.

I wouldn’t like to say

PLAYER_IDLE: It’s too hard to predict. Anything is possible at a dumping like this.

NICOLAS_SURPRISED: I’ve gotta disagree, {0}. Some things are a dead cert.

JOHNNY_SURPRISED: I’ve gotta disagree, {0}. Some things are practically guaranteed.

ALFIE_SAD: I really don’t like having to do this at all. I don’t want any of you to leave.

MEERA_HAPPY: It’s all good, Alf. We’re not going anywhere.

FINN_IDLE: So, I guess we should all split up and find a little private area to cast our votes.

KAT_FLIRTY: Maybe use that private area for a little something extra too?

FINN_FLIRTY: Well, if we’re going home, we might as well go out with a bang!

You shoot Finn a glance about your chat earlier. He awkwardly leaves with Kat.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Meera, do you mind if I have a quick chat with {0} first?

MEERA_SERIOUS: I guess. Have to make it quick though. Come find me when you’re done.

Meera eyes you as she kisses Alfie on the cheek.

The remaining Islanders disperse to various parts of the villa, leaving you and Alfie alone.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: What do you want to chat about, Alfie?

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I want to talk about who me and Meera think should be dumped.

ALFIE_SAD: I can’t really say that I’ve made my mind up yet.

ALFIE_SAD: And maybe I could sway Meera still.

ALFIE_IDLE: Maybe chatting with you will confirm my choice?

ALFIE_SAD: Also, with the dumping so close, this could be the last time we get to have a chat.

ALFIE_IDLE: So, do you want to come talk with me, {0}?

*Yeah, tell me about your choice

PLAYER_HAPPY: Let’s talk, Alfie!

ALFIE_HAPPY: Nice one. Follow me.

You walk with Alfie to the daybeds.

Nope, not interested

PLAYER_IDLE: No thanks, Alfie.

ALFIE_IDLE: Really? Don’t you want to hear about who Meera wants to dump?

ALFIE_IDLE: Chat with me, and you’ll find out.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Plus hearing your thoughts on the couples might help me make my mind up.

*Actually, let’s talk

PLAYER_HAPPY: Let’s talk, Alfie!

ALFIE_HAPPY: Nice one. Follow me.

You walk with Alfie to the daybeds.

Still not interested

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Alfie, I really don’t care.

ALFIE_SAD: Ok. No worries, {0}.

ALFIE_IDLE: I’ll see you at the firepit for the results.

You head over to the swing-seat to vote with Nicolas.

You head over to the swing-seat to vote with Johnny.

You sit down beside Alfie on the daybeds.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: This has to be the worst part of this whole thing.

ALFIE_SAD: Choosing friends over other friends.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: It’s like trying to pick your all time favourite England players.

ALFIE_IDLE: There’s just too many legends to choose from.

ALFIE_SAD: I really don’t want to do this, {0}.

PLAYER_SAD: It’s part of the game, Alfie. It has to be done.

ALFIE_IDLE: I know. I’m just trying to delay it.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I thought you were going to tell me about Meera’s choice?

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Of course, yeah.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: So, who does she want to dump?

ALFIE_SERIOUS: You probably won’t like the answer, but she wants to dump…

ALFIE_SERIOUS: You.

ALFIE_SAD: Obviously I'm not happy about it.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: We've been coupled up and we've got some history.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I really value you as a friend.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: What do you think of that?

I expected that

PLAYER_SERIOUS: That’s not exactly a surprise. Meera has definitely got it in for me.

PLAYER_ANGRY: Especially after that little bust up earlier.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, you might not have helped your case with that remark.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I’m not sure that her reasons for picking you are that snakey, though.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Meera has wanted to get rid of me since she returned from Casa Amor.

I didn’t expect that

PLAYER_SURPRISED: I know we’ve had our differences, but I didn’t think Meera would want me dumped!

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Especially after we had a nice chat earlier.

PLAYER_IDLE: And I told you both I thought you were a dream couple.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Yeah, she was pretty adamant about it too.

I can’t say I’m bothered

PLAYER_SERIOUS: She can try to dump whoever she wants, I can’t stop her.

PLAYER_IDLE: Besides, I’m not too fussed anyway. She’s not the only Islander voting.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: I guess she sees you as unwanted competition.

ALFIE_IDLE: To be clear though, {0}, I don’t agree with her.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: There’s no way I would want you to leave.

ALFIE_SAD: The thought of losing you really upsets me.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: But, Meera can be pretty persistent, so I'm not sure what to do.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You said that I might be able to sway yours and Meera’s decision.

ALFIE_IDLE: That’s true.

ALFIE_IDLE: Sway me, and maybe I’ll be able to sway Meera. It’s worth a shot.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: So, which couple do you think we should vote to dump instead then?

Kat and Finn

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You should vote to dump Kat and Finn.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: Kat and Finn? That would mean breaking up our epic bromance!

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Yeah, I know that’d be a hard one for you. Just not sure they’ve got a future.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: I know they’re chalk and cheese, but he’s my boy.

ALFIE_SAD: I couldn't imagine being in the villa without Finn.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I get that, but this is about compatibility as a couple.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: That is true.

Lulu and Suresh

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You should vote to dump Lulu and Suresh.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: Lulu and Suresh?

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You and Suresh have never seen eye to eye.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Plus, do you believe he’s turned over a new leaf?

ALFIE_IDLE: Can I see him as a faithful boyfriend to Lulu, you mean?

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Guess I’ve still got my doubts.

Gabi and Dana

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You should vote to dump Gabi and Dana.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: Gabi and Dana?

ALFIE_SURPRISED: I thought they seemed to vibe together.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Although there’s some weird thing with Suresh and Gabi still.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Surprised you’d want to dump Dana though.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: I guess we're supposed to leave any friendships to one side.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: This is about compatibility as a couple.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: That is true.

Arlo and Pete

PLAYER_SERIOUS: You should vote to dump Arlo and Pete.

ALFIE_SURPRISED: Arlo and Pete?

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Did you see their fall out earlier?

ALFIE_IDLE: How could I miss it? What was that about?

PLAYER_SERIOUS: About Lulu being more Pete’s type than Arlo is. He kept putting his foot in it.

ALFIE_EMBARRASSED: Yeah, he doesn't know when to keep quiet.

ALFIE_SAD: Much as I enjoy them both, I think you've got a point.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I'm not sure I see them being compatible long term.

It’s too hard to choose

PLAYER_SAD: Actually, it’s too difficult to pick someone. I just can’t.

ALFIE_SAD: You know exactly how I feel.

Alfie stands up from the daybeds.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: This is a tough situation, {0}.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It really is!

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I best go chat with Meera, can’t put it off any longer.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I'll definitely bear in mind your opinions though.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Thanks, Alfie.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: Anything else you want to say before I head off?

Guilt trip Alfie

PLAYER_SAD: Just that I'd be devastated if we got dumped tonight.

ALFIE_SAD: Me too.

PLAYER_SAD: I feel like my time in the villa is nowhere near done.

PLAYER_SAD: I'd be so sad if it ended prematurely.

PLAYER_SAD: I really want to get to the very end.

ALFIE_SAD: I know exactly what you mean.

ALFIE_SERIOUS: I want us to finish this experience together.

Leave it at that

PLAYER_IDLE: No, I'm good.

ALFIE_IDLE: Okay, no worries.

ALFIE_IDLE: I’ll see you at the firepit for the results.

ALFIE_IDLE: Good luck, {0}. I’ll really miss you if you don’t stay.

I’ll miss you too, Alfie

PLAYER_SAD: I’ll miss you too, Alfie.

ALFIE_IDLE: Well, let’s hope we can both stay then.

Good luck, Alfie

PLAYER_HAPPY: Good luck to you too, Alfie.

You head over to the swing-seat to vote with Nicolas.

You head over to the swing-seat to vote with Johnny.

Nicolas is waiting for you on the swing-seat. You sit down beside him.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Ready to get into it then?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Born ready.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Do you know which couple you want to vote out?

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: I’ve chatted with everyone today and I’ve narrowed it down to two couples.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Which two?

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: Alfie and Meera or Dana and Gabi.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Why?

NICOLAS_IDLE: Alfie and Meera are fine. They’re just a bit meh.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: They’re both nice and all. Just don’t see much chemistry between them.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: I can’t imagine them ripping off each other’s clothes on the plane home.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: We’re voting on compatibility. Not just sexual chemistry.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: If you don’t have that chemistry from the start, you’re never gonna last.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Tried it once.

NICOLAS_EMBARRASSED: Lasted a week.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Also, overheard you telling Meera you didn’t buy her and Alfie. That was hilarious.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: And telling her Alfie would pick you again?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Probably not the smartest thing, but love your style.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: But it also got me thinking he’s still got a crush on you.

NICOLAS_EMBARRASSED: Not great news for Meera.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Bit of an eavesdropper aren’t you?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Hard not to overhear that tea!

Nicolas laughs.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: And what about Dana and Gabi?

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: They’re both lively and fun. And Gabi brings all the triple ex drama.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Tempted to keep her in for that.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Triple ex drama?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: You, Gabi, Suresh: Triple ex. Never seen anything like it. Gives me life!

NICOLAS_HAPPY: What? You know I live for the drama.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: But, I think Gabi’s a bit too much of a live wire for Dana.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: And she’s still clearly into Suresh.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Who? Gabi or Dana?

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Gabi for sure!

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: Well, {0}. Which couple do you want to dump?

Kat and Finn

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Kat and Finn.

NICOLAS_SURPRISED: Aww, I actually weirdly think they might last. Not sure why. Like their vibe.

NICOLAS_IDLE: But you’ve known them longer than I have. You probably get them more than I do.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Finn and Kat then?

Lulu and Suresh

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Lulu and Suresh.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Yeah, good shout. Turn your ex into an ex-Islander. Makes sense.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: And one less alpha for me to outshine.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: Although I would miss Lulu. She’s a sweetheart.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: But happy for you to try to dump your ex.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: It’s get your own back time, {0}!

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Suresh and Lulu then?

Gabi and Dana

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I agree, it has to be Gabi and Dana.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page. Look at us being all compatible and everything.

NICOLAS_SAD: Still, will be sad to lose all the drama, but hey ho.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Understand why might want Gabi out of the villa, too.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Gabi and Dana then?

Arlo and Pete

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Arlo and Pete. Especially after their bust up earlier.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: Not sure. I see them as a couple that’ll love to fight and make up…

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: If you know what I mean.

NICOLAS_FLIRTY: But you’ve known Arlo longer than I have, so happy to go with your gut.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Arlo and Pete then?

Alfie and Meera

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I agree, it has to be Alfie and Meera.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page. Look at us being all compatible and everything.

NICOLAS_HAPPY: You’ve known Alfie from the start.

NICOLAS_SERIOUS: If you don’t buy him and Meera then you should listen to your gut.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Alfie and Meera then?

NICOLAS_HAPPY: Send the text, {0}.

Johnny is waiting for you on the swing-seat. You sit down beside him.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Ready to get into it then?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: I guess so.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Do you know which couple you want to vote out?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: I’ve chatted with everyone today and I’ve narrowed it down to two couples.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: Which two?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: Alfie and Meera or Dana and Gabi.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Why?

JOHNNY_IDLE: Alfie and Meera are fine.

JOHNNY_IDLE: They’re both nice and all. Just don’t see much chemistry between them.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: I can’t imagine them ripping off each other’s clothes every night.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: We’re voting on compatibility. Not just sexual chemistry.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: You need that chemistry from the start if you’re going to last. In my opinion.

JOHNNY_SURPRISED: Also, overheard you telling Meera you didn’t buy her and Alfie.

JOHNNY_EMBARRASSED: And telling her Alfie would pick you again. Maybe not the best timing, {0}.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: But it also got me thinking he’s still got a crush on you. Not great news for Meera.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Bit of an eavesdropper aren’t you?

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Hard not to overhear that tea spilling!

Johnny laughs.

PLAYER_SERIOUS: And what about Dana and Gabi?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: They’re both lively and fun. And the dynamic between you, Gabi and Suresh is tasty.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Tasty?

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Never seen anything like it. Gives me life!

JOHNNY_HAPPY: What? You know I live for the drama. Literally.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: But, I think Gabi’s a bit too complicated for Dana ultimately. And she’s still clearly into Suresh.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Who? Gabi or Dana?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: Gabi!

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: Well, {0}. Which couple do you want to dump?

Kat and Finn

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Kat and Finn.

JOHNNY_SURPRISED: Aww, I actually weirdly think they might last. Not sure why. They’re sweet together.

JOHNNY_IDLE: But you’ve known them longer than I have. You probably get them more than I do.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Finn and Kat then?

Lulu and Suresh

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Lulu and Suresh.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Yeah, good shout. Makes sense you’d want Suresh out of here.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: I would miss Lulu, though. She’s a sweetie. But happy for you to try to dump your ex.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Me too, {0}! Think you’re making the right call.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Suresh and Lulu then?

Gabi and Dana

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I agree, it has to be Gabi and Dana.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page. Look at how compatible we are.

JOHNNY_SAD: Still, will be sad to lose all the drama, though.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Understand why might want Gabi out of the villa, too.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Gabi and Dana then?

Arlo and Pete

PLAYER_SERIOUS: It has to be Arlo and Pete. Especially after their bust up earlier.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Not sure. I see them as a couple that’ll love to fight and make up, if you know what I mean.

JOHNNY_FLIRTY: Big passionate, whirlwind romance. But maybe it’ll be too much and burn out.

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: You’ve known Arlo longer than I have, so happy to go with your gut on this.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Arlo and Pete then?

Alfie and Meera

PLAYER_SERIOUS: I agree, it has to be Alfie and Meera.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: Glad we’re on the same page. Look at how compatible we are.

JOHNNY_HAPPY: You’ve known Alfie from the start. If you don’t buy him and Meera then you should listen to your gut.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re happy voting for Alfie and Meera then?

JOHNNY_SERIOUS: Send the text, {0}.

You take a look around the garden at the other couples talking in hushed tones.

You send the text and almost instantly your phone pings again.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: I got a text!

Everyone looks over at you.

LITEXT: Islanders, please gather around the firepit immediately.

LITEXT: The couple that has received the most votes from their fellow Islanders is about to be dumped from the villa. {0}TwoTicketsHome {1}Hometime

NARRATOR: Looks like {0} and Nicolas might be compatible after all.

NARRATOR: And I think we know who wears the trousers… {0}.

NARRATOR: Looks like {0} and Johnny might be compatible after all.

NARRATOR: And I think we know who wears the trousers… {0}.

Matching trousers... Or matching tops at least!

NARRATOR: But are the other Islanders buying that {0} and Nicolas are a match?

NARRATOR: But are the other Islanders buying that {0} and Johnny are a match?

NARRATOR: If not, {0} might have a flight to catch! Find out next time on Love Island!

[doomstypewriter]

The submersion | Intrulogical Mermaid AU

Future intrulogical.

Follow up on this animatic. | AO3

Words: 1728.

Summary: Remus has fun in his submarine. A giant barracuda disagrees.

CW: Dark humour, skeletal remains of a rat, drowning, deep ocean (if there's anything else do tell), death, sexual innuendo.

The submersion

It was cloudy.

And cold.

But that was to be expected when one’s in the middle of the Atlantic.

“Remus Prince, you dunce, how are you dressed like that?”

Remus turned around to see Ella Da Villa, the captain of the ship he was on, and an old friend. Her short afro was stuffed inside of a beanie, she held onto her sides through her huge puffer coat.

“I know you’d just rather I take it all off, but, honey, I need to at least wear something”.

She laughed.

“What you need is to make sure you don’t get drenched or--”

“First of all, I look amazing all wet. But if that’s what you’re so worried about, hey, I took care of that” he answered pointing at his green rain boots.

The crew looked at them in amusement as they moved the equipment, preparing everything for the submersion.

Ella took off one of her gloves and smacked Remus’ head with it.

“Ow! I thought you were against violence!”

“I never said that. But I am against animal abuse, that’s why I didn’t hit you hard. Now go and put on a coat, you dumbass”.

“Sure thing mommy, you know how to be commanding” he winked.

“It’s captain for you, now go!”

His boots squeaked against the flooring of the deck as he ran to get into the guts of the ship. He managed to hear Ella swearing under her breath.

“How did he even graduate? Going out in short sleeves…”

Ella was a funny one, Remus thought. It was easy to get under her skin, she also liked to play along which made it even better.

One of the people going up the metal stairs almost tripped against him, there wasn’t that much room, after all. Remus jumped over the railing and fell onto the lower level without a scratch.

“Oh my god! Are you okay?!” said someone.

A younger guy with spectacular hair held onto his forearm to check on him. Oh, this was the newbie.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have any lungs”.

“Wha…” he looked half perplexed and half horrified.

“You know, we all get it done since we’re going to end up sleeping with the fish anyway”.

He stood up quickly and mutely apologised. Remus enjoyed the view of his ass going upstairs as fast as possible. New meat was always hilarious.

When he entered the room his cupboard was already open. He liked to leave the sliding doors that way so he could see what was inside, otherwise, he’d forget about it. In a ship, that meant ending up with all of one’s clothes on the floor, but as long as Remus could see where they were he wouldn’t misplace anything. Object permanence was a bitch.

Messy floors did have an advantage, the coat on top of the pile was good enough to satisfy Ella and easy enough to grab quickly.

The backswing of the glove against his shoulder caught him off-guard.

“Ow! What did I do now?! This coat is fine!”

“The coat is fine, yes, but the new guy is shaking like a leaf. What did you tell him? He keeps saying stuff about drowning”.

“Hey, I’d never mention drowning when I’m about to get into a submarine”.

“Yes, that’d be very poor taste, sadly, you have it worse so you must have said something terrible. I expect you to fix this, or we’ll have to arrange you drowning”.

“You know I love choking on wet things”.

“Then your last moments will be pleasant. Consider me the best friend one could have”.

The new guy was holding onto the railing of the ship, staring at the water in concentration. Probably about to throw up or something.

“Hey!”

“Ah!” he screamed.

“Do you have a name?”

“Uh… yes… um…”

“Great! I have one too, it’s Remus” he introduced himself with half a bow.

“I’m Nathan… sorry… I’m just anxious… it’s the first time I go on one of those” he gestured at the submersible held by the crane of the ship.

“First times are always awkward, don’t worry”.

Finally, Nathan let out a laugh, it was a nervous one but it would suffice.

“You know what I said earlier was a joke, right?”

“Oh, yeah, it just caught me by surprise. You’re the head biologist here, right?”

“Yup. Guess you could say I’m the dom of this study”.

“Darn it, here I was expecting to be more active”.

Remus smiled in surprise. It was always nice when people had similar humour to his.

“Oh, you’ll have to be. I expect it”.

“You wouldn’t expect we could go for some coffee after we get into…” the date proposition vanished into a look of fear at the submersible.

Remus put a hand over his shoulders. The drowning jokes would have to wait until they were emerging.

“Don’t worry, my thicc ass has been there tons of times! It’s just a lot of water”.

“While it’s true he’s been there more than you, he’s overplaying his own ass. It’s kind of droopy” a heavily accented voice said

“Who are you calling droopy?”

They turned to see a tall blond woman smiling smugly. Erika Engström, oceanographer and the operator of the submersible.

“You, obviously, do you have water in your ears?”

“Not yet, but we’ll see if…”

Nathan held his breath.

“Nah, I don’t”.

“He either thinks you’re cute or he’s afraid the captain will throw him off-board if he keeps bullying you”, Erika told Nathan.

“I wasn’t bullying anyone”.

“Sorry to break it to you, but you’re always bullying people, you don’t know how else to flirt”.

“Then I would be flirting with everyone”.

“Aren’t you?”

“Okay, yeah”.

“Come on, I have to set up things. Give me a hand, rat skull”.

“At least give me a knife or something”.

“You can chew it through”.

One last look at Nathan before following her.

“Well, I’ll leave you to stress out, if I don’t help her we’ll dro…” oh right, no drowning jokes. “We’ll…”

“Flirt with me when we’re back at the surface”.

Remus smiled.

“Will do!”

-----

The light was beginning to fade out. The flickering of the few rays coming through a swirl of silvery fish would be their last glimpses at natural lighting for a while.

It was wonderful.

How the underwater landscape changed, morphing into something out of a nightmare. Never ceases to amaze him. People would say it was all just blue getting darker and darker, and it was! But it was also a thick fog from which anything could come out. He always looked forward to seeing the weirdest fish appear.

There wasn’t much room behind the giant acrylic viewport. Despite being stuck so closely together, Remus could feel a chill as the air within got cooled by the deep water. His coat lay forgotten at the back of his chair still.

Once the lights of the submersible switched on, a delicate dance of white dust shined just like it would on a sunny day. This was no room dust. But there was just as much beauty in seeing the marine snow surrounding them. Teensy tiny pieces of dead fish falling all around, making the nicest shapes.

“It’s so quiet” Nathan observed.

“Wait until you hear a whale. The first time I did I thought my skull would pop”.

“Which one?” Erika kept her eyes on the water, but he could see the reflection of a smile curving onto the surface of the acrylic.

“Well, the small one. I know you’d hate to have to scrape my brains off your console”.

“If you had any I would”.

“There would still be plenty of blood”.

The ship carried on with the descend, soon, they’d be at twenty thousand feet. Nathan leaned in.

“Hey, what did she mean by which one?” he said in a hushed voice.

“Oh! Right”

He pulled on the string of his necklace to get it from under his shirt. Remus held it in front of Nathan’s face.

It turned, revealing the empty sockets and the front of what used to be a snout.

“I have this rat skull as a necklace! Erika teases me because that’s how she copes with the fact that she hates it!”

“Anyone would hate it. You wear that thing everywhere. It’s creepy” Erika pointed out.

“Where did you get it?” Nathan asked.

In the dim light, Remus’s smile cast shadows, giving him a grim vibe.

“I used to have a pet rat. When it died it sucked, my brother and I buried it in the backyard. It was there until three years later when we got a heavy storm. The bones peeked through the mud. So I just yanked a bit on the spine and got it. The skull was already defleshed anyway, so, aside from cleaning it a bit, I didn’t have to do any of the work. I really like this necklace. I got into marine biology because I began looking at fish skulls and I wanted to see more”.

“That’s…” Nathan began to say.

Suddenly, the submersible turned violently.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know, I couldn’t take a good look”, said Erika.

Her frown told Remus something was seriously wrong.

“Guys, we’re picking up really weird signals from here. Are you all okay?” the sound of Ella’s voice through the radio distracted him from his train of thought.

“It’s all under control, but I am going to begin ascending” Erika replied.

“We haven’t taken all the samples”, Nathan said.

“We’ll have another chance. Right now I’m worried that---”

Erika did not have time to finish talking.

Its needle-like teeth loomed over the viewport. This creature was unlike anything he’d ever seen. Part of him felt excited at how terrifying it all was. Sadly, he had the feeling they were all about to die. This fish looked like a giant barracuda and an angry one.

The creature snapped its jaw closed, cracking the viewport.

Seemingly, it didn’t find it tasty enough and it swam away even moodier than before. The very least it could have done was eat them.

If you’re going to kill them might as well finish the job.

Remus’ body floated into the dark abyss as he struggled to breathe. Covering his ears tightly, he screamed in pain. The pressure was unlike anything.

Well, it had been fun.

<< Previous | Next >>

The continuation will feature Logan and another animatic!

Taglist: @lemonyscented , @emsiemaefander , @sunflower-avo-tea , @nadiestar , @amber-da-toon , @gabseliblack , @everythingisstardust

@trash-bastard , @under-the-blue-moonlight , @willowaudreykeyes

@queerly-a-hisssstory-momster​

@theyluna-womoon , @subterfugespecialist

[horrorslashergirl]

May I request another part of Another chance to start off?

Chromeskull x Reader- Another chance to start off Part 4

Authors Note: This oneshot that turned into a story. I almost forgot about it. Also adding some Jesse Childhood Ideas because why not? 

Warnings: 18+ because of childhood abuse and disturbing themes about little Jesse

Words: 1.7k

Part 1 here 

Part 2 here

Part 3 here

It's been two months and you still haven't heard anything from your so-called 'hero' other than the fact that he was on business as his assistant, Spann, called it. That left you to take care of your baby, but still no ability to go out of his place, save for the huge lawn around the palatial villa that you now resided in.

You didn't know anything about this man, and Spann refused to give you any details because it wasn't her place to spoke of such personal details, and according to her, it was his business to tell you, leaving you with tons of question about Jesse, at last, you knew his name.

Considering how much of a serious and sophisticated security system he had, you could only guess he was an important man. You took liberties when your little buddle of joy was sleeping to explore the villa. You agreed that his favorite colors were black, white, and accents of silver chrome and he definitely had an affiliation with skulls, and he had very expensive tastes in everything down from his cars to his clothes to the smallest things.

You were currently sitting on an armchair next to the crib of your baby waiting for your daughter to wake up and feed her.

--------------------------------------------------

Jesse Cromeans had a lot of issues and as big as his 6'7 tall frame he was a handful package; a bad temper, certain sadistic urges, a sassy attitude that made tons of enemies, not like any of them dared to go against him, but little people to probably none knew the whole story behind who he truly was.

One who was very observant could possibly tell that Jesse had mommy issues, considering his victims were all female, save for the brown-nosing males that were just collateral victims.

As a little boy, he was very shy, and his muteness didn't help him either. His family was always a mystery to most who knew him, but none dared to ask him about his relatives, not like in the present he had any. He didn't know his father, and he was always curious as a little boy about who his daddy was.

His mother, from the remaining memories, was a very beautiful woman, giving birth at a young age of twenties to little Jesse. His father didn't want to take the responsibility of raising a child, especially a disabled one, so he pretty much vanished after his mother gave birth to Jesse.

She was still young and clueless about raising a child, alas she took the responsibility and tried, for three years until she was diagnosed with bone cancer. Young mother at the flower of age with such a severe form of cancer was definitely a nightmare and it only persisted until Jesse was six and she died, leaving him to what he knew was the grandfather of his own daddy.

When Jesse asked his grandfather about his dad, the old man simply said that he shouldn't worry about dead bodies like that. His grandfather was a mortician, owning a funeral home company, that left Jesse with spending most of his time there, with the corpses. At first, he was just playing in the hallways, until he got curious and walked into a room, his brown innocent eyes widening at the scene.

That really scarred his mind, his grandfather on top of a dead woman's body...

It only turned worse when his legal guardian, his grandfather getting the full rights of raising Jesse, indulged the little boy into these activities; the first body being that of his own mother.

That not scarred his mind, it destroyed his psychical health.

That was the start of creating a beast, the beast he was today.

Probably that's why he was drawn to you; you were much younger than he was. What you didn't knew was that ever since you were brought to his place you have been monitored day and night. He loved to watch you nurture your baby, take care of the little human that was made of purity and innocence.

He kind of felt jealous in a way, because he wanted the same affection.

Definitely mommy issues.

Who could really blame him? He didn't exactly have a woman type to look up at, and girls were definitely a subject that was tough for him. In his teen years, girls were looking more up to the loud, obnoxious, and confident ones.

Since he started hitting puberty, he grew in height, and grew, and grew. He was a tall and lanky kind of guy, perhaps very awkward, but very intelligent, despite not getting credit for it.

With girls it was a different story, they didn't have the patience with him and his signing. His teenage years were full of nicknames because of his height, girls making fun of him, teasing him, but not in the cute kind way. He slowly started to realize why his grandfather had certain tastes in...women.

If they are dead, they cannot hurt you. Simple.

Still, from time to time he had that starving for affection, someone to be genuinely there for him.

He remembered after he finished high school...He left his hometown and after years of college and slowly but successfully starting his own business, he changed. The lanky and awkward guy bloomed into a ferocious and manipulative mastermind; pale skin by each year filled with more ink, muscles filling his lanky figure.

Jesse changed.

At first, it felt weird to have such control, but once he got that taste, he never wanted to let it go.

Back in the present days, Jesse didn't know what to think of you; he was probably pitying you, although that was highly unlike him. He pities none but seeing you watch over your offspring like a protective mother made his heartbeat in a way he didn't know it was possible.

He took a sip of his whiskey as he looked at the computer screen; tomorrow he will get back home to you and perhaps get to an arrangement, after all, you were wearing his family name.

------------------------------------------------------

It was morning, but you were awake for three hours, now you just finished feeding your daughter and she closed her eyes; after all, it was still the period of the baby that she needed more sleep than an adult, so you tucked her in, smiling at her angelic face.

You heard the door slightly open and turned around, expecting Spann, but you were surprised to see Jesse, your eyes quickly turning into a slight glare, getting in front of the baby's crib like a shielding mother lion.

Jesse found many things attractive on a female, but this was definitely something that triggered a more primal part of his male instincts. There was just something mesmerizing about a mother that protects her baby.

He pulled out his phone to type.

'We need to talk.' the electronic voice spoke, making you furrow your brows.

Despite wanting to give him a piece of your mind, you learned from your past relationship, if you could call it that, that yelling and throwing tantrums won't solve a problem, so you nodded, taking a glance at your baby, not exactly feeling like leaving.

'Spann will look over her while we discuss.' he spoke through the phone.

You followed him downstairs to his study, opening the door for you to enter then closing it to have privacy. You sat down on one of the armchairs in front of his desk, while he took his designated place behind the huge black desk.

'I know things have been inconvenient.'

You snorted at that.

"More like very chaotic. Look...I am very mad by this whole kidnapping-owning thing, but I also knew I should be grateful to you for saving me from my now dead abusive husband, which reminds me....You killed him...and it didn't look like it was your first time." you spoke in a firm voice.

Jesse smirked at that. Smart one...That's good.

'Then I should probably let you know everything.'

He began to explain everything, down from his facade chroming business to the real deal of the organization, everything about killing, snuff films, and piggies. It was like someone was telling you a horror story, leaving you shocked and disgusted.

"Great....so basically now I am involved in a mafia kind of thing." you sarcastically said, rubbing your forehead in exasperation.

'You can take it like that.' He waved it off, shrugging.

You sighed, then looked at him.

"What will happen to me?" you asked, pursing your lips into a thin line.

'Nothing. If I wanted you dead, you would have been from that night we meet.'

"That really relaxes me." you snorted, crossing your arms over your chest.

'I will protect you and your daughter.'

That surprised you. Why was he so willing to help a woman he barely knew and her baby? You tried to find an answer yourself but decided to ask him and his answer was ever more so intriguing you.

'No child deserves to grow without parents.'

He looked like he knew what he meant, perhaps he went through the same ordeal, without family, but it was too early to ask him such sensitive topics since you didn't know each other that good.

"So, you basically want me as your wife?" you asked in amusement, but his look showed that he was serious.

'I'm not forcing you. It's your choice.'

You huffed then decided.

"Probably too early...Can I, at last, get to know my future husband?" you asked, sassiness dripping from your voice, but behind it, it was sincerity.

Jesse was to say it, surprised by your words, and couldn't help but give you a toothy grin. He got up from his chair and walked towards you. You got up as well and were a little nervous when he was just inches away from you, his fingers typing on his phone.

'Tonight. Dinner. Spann will babysit your daughter. You need some quality time.'

You thought a little about it and decided that everyone deserved a chance to start off.

"Yes. I would like that."

Jesse smirked in victory and leaned down to kiss you, only for your index finger to press gently against his scarred lips.

"Don't push your luck." you said with a cheeky smile, making him chuckle silently.

Yes, indeed everyone deserved another chance to start off.

[colourfullsims]

An Overdue Update

Hey there! Long time no see.

It’s been quite a while since my last update (and several times that I’ve said I would update that fell through lol), but I think it’s finally the perfect time to tell you all what’s been going on behind the scenes. I’ve kept most of you all in the dark with no explanation for my hiatus for months now, but with the end of the year upon us, I want things out in the open before moving into 2021. I will warn you now, that this will be a long post, because there’s a lot of backstory I have to lay out to explain everything. There will also be some brief mentions of emotional manipulation and emotional abuse in the beginning of this post, which I will be content tagging for safety, so please skip over the first question if you would like to avoid this subject.

Now without further ado, I will be answering some frequently asked questions, starting with:

Q: Where did you go?

The short answer to this is that I took a very long, unwanted break from the community, but that answer doesn’t really suffice in explaining why. Typically, I like to keep things lighthearted and chill on this blog, because much of the reason why I play the Sims and do storytelling is for escapism. Things that happened this year took that away from me.

This spring, I broke up with my long term boyfriend of five years. With that separation came a lot of heartache, guilt, and stress for a variety of reasons. We’d been together since my days in undergrad and had shared so many intimate experiences together: graduations, moving out of state into our first “grown up” apartment, birthday trips to our favorite cities. We had inside jokes that I still find myself wanting to make with him, because after so much of our lives intertwined together, he’d essentially become my best friend. But things ended between us for good reason.

Despite the good that came out of that relationship, there was a fair amount of emotional manipulation/abuse that went on, early as the first few months of us being official. Sometimes it was subtle things: when we first started dating, I was in my final year of undergrad and doing all I could to bring up my gpa and buff up my resume, so that I could increase my chances of getting into my grad school of choice. Frequently, he would comment on my academic successes as if they would be the thing that would break us up. I remember presenting a paper on a panel, facing my fear of public speaking head on, and I was so proud of the work I’d put into it all, and then hours later coming back to my student apartment to tell him how it went, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Someday you’re gonna get too smart and leave me behind.” And that wouldn’t be the last time he said some iteration of that phrase to me, and every time it would feel like he was praying I would slow down so he wouldn’t feel I was outgrowing him. Even when I finally did get accepted to my dream school, my first thought after my excitement was that when I told him the news, he wouldn’t be happy for me. My decisions for my future became personal slights to him: I had to move from the midwest out to NYC to attend grad school, and even though I discouraged him from following me if he didn’t want to live in the city (which he 100% did not), he followed me anyway and hung that decision over my head like a giant reminder of some debt that I owed him. I regret not following my gut then and my failure to recognize the red flags, because I would go on to spend 3 more years after our move losing myself as he clutched onto me, in what I can only assume with the hope that if he held on tight enough, that I wouldn’t leave him behind. 

When I look at the more overt signs of my ex’s possessiveness, I realize I should have shared what was going on more with the people close to me: in the early stages on our relationship, he’d already done destructive things like slashing the tires of a guy I had been seeing earlier that same year, and punching a hole into the wall of my student apartment. He’d gone through all my messages on social media, my texts, my emails, all to find out about old crushes that he suspected I might still be in contact with. He even went as far as reading through my private journal, which I previously wrote in daily, but now I struggle to write in more than a few times a year, for fear of my privacy being invaded again. In the wake of realizing our relationship was failing, instead of ending things, I put my energy into hoping that he would do better, and I hid what was happening from my family and friends, to the point that I avoided their messages and phone calls. I isolated myself in increasing measures as time went on until I was too timid to do most things outside of my apartment without my ex-boyfriend by my side. The reason I stayed so long is because of these combined things: the sense of owing him my time after uprooting his life, the fact that I was both physically and mentally separated from my support systems, the feeling of familiarity that had grown from shared experiences and time, and largely, this overwhelming self imposed desire to not appear as though I had failed my relationship.

Largely, 2020 has been an absolute trash fire, but I can thank this year for one thing; putting me into a situation of such unrest that I could no longer ignore that I was not living the life I wanted or deserved.

After our breakup, I moved back to my parents’ place and stayed there while the remainder of my lease in New York ran out. When I originally left, I only brought back a small suitcase and backpack filled with essentials and valuable items that I couldn’t leave behind in my apartment, so I had to return again to retrieve my things, which, as you can imagine, was not fun. Not only was traveling during covid a nightmare, my ex was threatening to throw all my stuff out of our apartment, so I had to scramble to get a flight, a hotel, moving equipment, and a moving service arranged on the fly so I could retrieve everything (and when I got there, he had smashed one of my laptops). In summation, from our break up to finally moving out completely, this all happened over the span of mid-spring to the 1st of August.

Since then, I’ve been keeping myself sparse on the internet, partially because I needed the time to recover from the entire experience, and partially because frankly, I’ve been afraid of my ex monitoring any of my accounts to keep tabs on me. He was fully aware of this blog, and since in recent years it's been the only account I’ve kept up with, I was afraid of him trying to find out where I am and what I’ve been doing through here. I’ve only felt comfortable reblogging others content for the past few months.

So that’s where I’ve been. Which brings us to the next question:

Q: What happened to Love Island?

Over the past few months, I’ve received several asks and messages about whether or not I still planned on doing the Love Island challenge, as well as words of concern about my well being. I want to start by acknowledging all those messages by first apologizing to anyone I didn’t get back to: the majority of you got the sense that I was overwhelmed or burnt out, as most of us have been this year, and I really thank you for still having any interest in seeing me do any type of content after I essentially ghosted you all lol. I really appreciate all the well wishes too.

But I also received this:

Which, 1) I don’t know if this was either impeccable timing or horrible timing on your part, considering I planned on writing this update before this landed in my inbox.

And 2),

I don’t know if you were a reader or one of the participants selected for the challenge, but I’m sorry you’re disappointed about me not following through with the challenge. I was really excited to do it when I made the casting call, was ecstatic about the number of creators who submitted complex and diverse sims, and I had even completed the villa and started working on shooting the premiere. But as you can see from everything above, life happened. I wish this year had been more stable so that I could have done the challenge with no problem. 

But I’m not going to apologize for making the choices I needed to to preserve my mental health and safety.

That being said, it’s been so many months since I originally pitched the challenge; many of the creators who were selected are now inactive or have deactivated. And honestly, I didn’t know whether you all would even want the challenge at the point, I mean…? It’s winter time now, and Love Island was definitely more of a summer themed challenge lol.

As it stands, I don’t know if I will be picking up where I left off with the Love Island challenge. I certainly still have some interest in doing it; I built a whole set and had an entire schedule of challenges and dates planned for the project. But I don’t know if I can move forward with the original cast, or if I would have to do a new casting call to fill the spaces of inactive creators. So...I guess I would need feedback from you all. Would you want Love Island still?

Q: What are you planning to do now?

Right now, I’m doing whatever makes me happy. I’m in a much better place than I was about 6 months ago, and I don’t feel the same anxiety about posting as I did. For now, I might just post some casual gameplay until I know whether or not I’m moving forward with Love Island. I’m just happy to come back to do what I love.

So there you have it. 2020 kicked my ass in some really heart wrenching ways, and I needed some time to not worry about keeping up with content creation and just worry about taking care of me. Now that I’m a little more stable, I want to come back, even if it’s just simple stuff for now. To those of you who have stuck around waiting to see if I’d ever pick my projects back up, thank you so much, and I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting this long lol. For the time being, all I have to offer is a very long overdue Follower’s Gift: I will be hosting a giveaway for my followers this week, where I will be giving away $40 worth of sims content each to 3 followers. I’ll have more details about the giveaway tomorrow when the official post goes live.

If you made it this far thank you for reading this long mess, and I’ll see you all soon!

~Cam

[potscenarios]

Omg! So excited! May I please request how Sanada, Shiraishi, Atobe, Niou, and Kite would confess to their long time crush? Thank you and best of luck with the blog! ♥️ Love PoT so much, I miss the fandom :(

My very first request yay! I knew there are still people around!! Thank you so much for sending in something, sweetie! I hope to see you around ♥️

(Also I'm so sorry this turned out so long lol)

Sanada

Let’s face it, Yukimura and Yanagi are probably the ones who first noticed how different Sanada is whenever he’s around you, his crush. And since they judged that their friend’s crush has been going on long enough, they’re probably the ones who tries to get the ball rolling and hints at Sanada to just confess already.

Confessing is a big thing for this man, because he will only do so when he’s 99.99% sure that he wants to have a serious relationship with the other person.

Knowing his family background and his personality, of course he would get all traditional about the whole process (i.e. if you have an older brother, he would probably have tried to get his permission to 'court' you first before he actually does he's so precious omg)

He starts by inviting you out along with your friends and some of the tennis club members, so you won't feel awkward with him alone. It's also a good chance for him to get to know your friends more, which he will need to do when he becomes your boyfriend anyway. Sanada also knows he's not too good at talking so he wants you to get more comfortable around him in general. When your response is positive, then he starts to invite you out on real dates - just the two of you.

Throughout this whole process, only when he has verbally heard from you directly that you do enjoy having him around, he finally finds his courage and is convinced to take the next step. On the actual d-day itself, he's oddly out of it and you're probably going to misunderstand his silence as boredom or something like that, but when he finally, finally finds the opportunity to confess, it'll blow you away because of how unusually soft and sincere he looks.

"We have known each other for quite some time. This might sound unexpected to you, but I have found myself thinking of our future together on several occasions. I realize that all these time, I have been longing to stand by your side, not just as a friend, but as a partner. If you will... would you honor me with the title of your boyfriend?"

Shiraishi

Literally plans out everything for over a week down to a t. And by everything I mean everything.

Researches the best date spots (How far are they from your house? How busy will they be at the d-day? If it rains, are there any other alternative spots nearby?), the best restaurants to dine in (Are the food healthy? Will they adhere to your preferences? How many stars does the restaurant have? What's the best time to eat there?), the best possible place to confess (How atmospheric is it? Are there any risks of being interrupted? Is there any way he can reserve the place or something along the line?), the weather on that day (Sunny? Windy? Rain? Snow? Humid?), etc. Everything has to be perfect.

Shiraishi takes you to your most favorite places, opens the door for you and makes sure you're seated on your chair before going to sit on his own, politely rejects girls who swoons over him (which seems to always happen when you go out - one time you tell him he needs to stop looking like he just came out from a fashion magazine and he just laughs), and escorts you like the perfect textbook definition of a gentleman for the whole day.

Despite his research though, things can't always be a hundred percent perfect, so there are actually some parts / events of the date where Shiraishi isn't completely satisfied with, but you honestly don't notice because he had been so kind and accommodating, so of course a few mishaps here and there are tolerable (and they're probably mostly not his fault anyway)

He's composed when he finally confesses, but inwardly he's frantically freaking out and he's constantly trying to gauge your reactions because he will pull back as soon as you look uncomfortable - at the very least, if he’s rejected, he doesn't want to destroy your friendship.

"Hey, [Last_Name]. Do you think I'll make a good boyfriend? .... I'm glad that you think I would. Then... Do you think we'll make a good couple? I personally think we would. And honestly, I want to make that reality... What do you think?"

Atobe

He has the confidence and the means to make the most extravagant confession on Earth, so why should he hold back, right?

Due to being around him for quite long, though, you're most likely already used to his eccentrics, so you wouldn't think too much about it when he actually asks you to go somewhere with him, thinking that he just doing his usual 'this-ore-sama-will-show-you-his-prowess' antics.

He takes you to a newly built indoor 'garden', where a wide variety of plants are grown and cared for. Actually, ‘garden’ is an understatement. There are several 'greenhouses' that hosts different kinds of plants, apparently imported in from all over the world. Strange trees and flowers grows everywhere, the air is cooling and fresh because of all the plantations, and as you walk down the path surrounded by lush greens, you're very much awed and fascinated by everything.

But that's all nothing compared to the man-made waterfall he takes you to as your last destination. You can only stare in wonder as you watch the rushing water, not realizing that it's especially cold in this 'greenhouse' until Atobe gentlemanly drapes a shawl he prepared beforehand around you. He then takes you around the small forest around the waterfall and you both walk up the stairs to find that there's a modern looking restaurant that looks more like a villa, situated just at the right height and distance to have the perfect view of the waterfall and its surrounding area.

You'll find yourself sitting at the comfiest dining chair in your life, sipping the freshest orange juice, row upon row of your favorite foods coming out one after another. And just when you're finishing your dessert, all smiles and relaxed, and you thank him for the fun outing, that's when he confidently drops the question.

"Let me make this clear. Ore-sama doesn't just treat anyone this way. You're special. You're the only one who is good enough to stand equally beside me. Don't you agree? Of course, I'm only accepting nothing but 'Yes' as an answer."

It's only way later into your relationship when you realize that the place he took you to is owned and constructed by Atobe himself. When you ask your boyfriend about this fact, he finally admits (with a very proud smirk) that he built the whole thing just to confess to you lol

Niou

I personally think his confession wouldn't exactly be 'planned', in a sense.

He just has to tease you, his adorable crush, every chance he has. Just because he likes to see focus your attention to him and he thinks the angry / troubled look on your face is the cutest. But after a while it comes to the point that his pranks and teasing remarks are getting more and more frequent, and it’s getting too much to your liking. He doesn’t exactly take your verbal protest seriously, so you end up giving him the silent treatment, just to let him know that enough is enough.

Niou, who is already used to have you around and has taken your presence for granted, is suddenly left to his own thoughts because you're either running away from him upon seeing him, or isn't showing any reaction when he manages to catch up to you. Honestly you probably just want him to lessen his teasing, but the impact of your action is bigger than you think.

In the end, after a long lecture from Yagyuu (the lecture itself was boring but he was forced to sit seiza for a whole hour and his legs hurt like hell) and Yukimura's simple but straight-to-the-point comment ("Hm? Is [Last_Name] avoiding you lately, Niou? It's because you've been borderline mean to them, you know?"), he realizes that he has to make things right.

He's surprisingly gentle and serious when he asks you to have lunch with him one day, and you feel a little bad for making him feel so guilty, so you accept. It's already shocking that he hasn't done or said anything that's remotely playful all the while you're walking to the place you're supposed to have lunch in, but he's treating you so gentlemanly you almost suspect he switched places with Yagyuu.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you hate me, and I didn't think I would annoy you that much. I've reflected. I should have treated the person I love more preciously. I promise I'll be better! So don't hate me, yeah?"

“.... Niou? Did you just say..... ‘the person I love'?”

"Huh? .... Puri. I guess the cat's out of the bag, huh? ... That's right. I really like you. I find your teary face really adorable, but I still like it best when you smile. So will you go out with me? I promise I'll never let you cry from sadness."

Kite 

This scheming and calculating man!! Kite will only confess if he has already studied up your behavior and has determined that you do harbour interest in him as a love interest. From there, it’s a strategic battle for him to bring you two even closer.

He would subconsciously condition you to be more dependent or just overall be closer to him. I can actually see him create certain situations where you would have no choice but to accept his help, or for you to offer your help, being the kind soul that you are.

Like the time where he invites you to watch the tennis club practice, and it just so conveniently rains, and it just so happens that you lost your umbrella, and so when he offers you to walk you home, what can you do except comply? And if on your way he purposefully timed your walking pace so that the car on the street drives by a rather big puddle, resulting in him 'shielding' you and getting his uniform all wet, how could you not invite him into your abode so he can dry off first? If he doesn’t have the opportunity to be alone with you, trust me, he will create one.

It's not that he's doing all those things with ill intent in mind though, and he's definitely not trying to hurt you. His goal is to make you feel like you need him. It's just his way of getting you to fall in love with him lol

Surprisingly though, I think his actual confession would be pretty 'normal'. Okinawa generally has nice beaches, so he would take you to a nice and relaxing beach walk, finishing off with dinner on an outdoorsy type restaurant overlooking the sea, where you both can watch the sun set against the horizon with soft live music in the background. Overall, when the atmosphere is nice and solemn just shortly after the sun finally sets, that's when he finally speaks.

"[Last_Name]-san. You are a wonderful and intriguing person. To be honest, I didn't think you would still be sticking around after all this time, but as with many other times, you continue to surprise me. At first, I was merely curious about you, but soon enough you flawlessly turned my curiosity into attraction. This is troubling. I will have you take responsibility by going out with me."

[honey-girlie]

every kind of way (jake x mc)

rating: E (for the last chapter)

chapter: 1/3

word count: ~4k

summary: To say Eris has had a rough time in the villa so far was an understatement. She really didn’t need to go and complicate things further by fancying her closest mate, but then again, her brain rarely worked properly when Jake was around her. 

a/n: this is a short fic about coupling up with Jake. it’ll be three chapters long and will only cover day 11 and the night of day 12. this first chapter takes place on the morning of day 11

for the most part, it follows canon with the exceptions that my MC, Eris, has a much closer relationship with Jake, and she also makes it clear to Levi that she’s not interested in him. i also (briefly) included an explanation behind Jake’s cheating, which is entirely headcanon. otherwise, the story is basically the same as the game

anyway thanks for reading if you do!

[link to ao3]

x x x

i wanna love you in every kind of way - H.E.R.

“Oh, Christ.”

Eris stared deadpan at the telltale beep of her phone that resounded throughout the empty bedroom and interrupted whatever retort Levi was about to throw at her. 

After last night’s dumping and Lucy’s antics this morning, she wasn’t in the mood for challenges or dates or whatever it was they were going to be doing today. She wanted to relax, sleep in, hang out by the pool. One day of peace in the villa seemed like more of an impossible feat than she realized.

And on top of that, Levi has been trying to rekindle their relationship after Eris admitted that she wasn’t interested in him anymore. Her feelings hadn’t been that strong to begin with, but they’ve waned since the whole Cherrygate debacle. In recent days, she could now easily say she’s moved on. Levi, however, refused to give up. It was why he was currently sitting in bed with her, convincing her that he didn’t have feelings for Lucy, whatever she might say or do. 

Needless to say, Eris was having a shit morning. If the producers allowed them alcohol this early in the day, she’d be cradling an entire bottle of wine right now.

She huffed at the phone, hoping the stupid device knew that whatever text had been sent to her was not welcomed right now. Beside her, Levi appeared irritated. 

“I guess we’ll... talk later,” he grumbled.

Eris scratched her nose in an annoyed tick. She’d honestly rather not, but it was a conversation she knew needed to be had. 

“Sure. Later. But,” she interjected firmly, “I’ll say this one last time.” She looked Levi straight in the eye, keeping her tone gentle yet steady. By god, if they had to have this discussion again, she’d burn her hair off. “We might still be coupled up, but we’re not together and we haven’t been for a while. If you want to get back with Lucy or graft on another girl, I won’t stop you because honestly, I don’t care.”

Levi’s lips thinned as a sour expression formed on his face, but he kept quiet. Whether it was for the sake of the text or because her feelings had finally sunk in for him, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she was glad he chose silence.

Suppressing the urge to sigh, Eris dragged herself up and leaned over to snatch the phone from the table. She avoided looking in his direction as she shouted for the other Islanders to gather. 

“Guys! I got a text!”

They piled into the bedroom in a matter of seconds, some with breakfast still in their hands.

“Read it out, Eris!” Reese exclaimed. 

Tim took a bite of his toast before asking, “What do you reckon it is? Another challenge?”

“Oh, don’t talk with your mouth full, hun,” Jen tutted. Her expression, however, was still amused. “But I do hope we get treated for some dates.”

The two of them leered at each other, and Eris couldn’t help the pang of jealousy that hit her. That was what she wanted for herself, but it seemed like the one guy she did want in the villa didn’t want her back. 

Stuffing her bitterness down, Eris cleared her throat. 

“Alright, everyone ready?” she asked the group.

When they nodded, she lowered her gaze to the text and read it out loud. 

Islanders, tonight will be the last recoupling. The boys will be choosing their partners.

#thefinalcountdown #holdontight

Eris’ heart sank as she scanned the short missive again. Another recoupling? After they had one just last night? She knew for a while that she needed to find a better partner than Levi, but she thought she had more time. And of course the very last recoupling would be boy’s choice. She could very well be dumped from the villa tonight. 

She couldn’t stop her eyes from darting over to Jake, but she was surprised to see he was already staring back. He ducked his head immediately, looking oddly frustrated. In the next second, Jake bolted from the room without saying a word to anyone. 

Bemused and crestfallen, Eris sagged. She’s been having trouble reading him more than ever in the past few days, but him fleeing from her was very clearly a bad sign.

There were a few beats of silence that were shortly broken by Jen. Eris tuned it out as her mind reeled. She ignored the excited chatter of the room and flopped backwards onto the bed, resisting the urge to groan into the pillow. 

Shit morning indeed. 

x x x

Eris ambled through the villa alone, wondering how on earth she got herself into this situation. 

She had finished breakfast and conversed with the other Islanders in a daze, too worried about what tonight had in store for her. Since Levi wasn’t an option any longer, her thoughts were in shambles as she considered what else she could do. There was always the possibility of coupling up with Rohan as friends, but at this stage in the game, it wouldn’t be right. They both knew the attraction wasn’t there. They deserved better than that.

Eris didn’t care so much about winning. All she wanted was to find a future with someone on the show, and Rohan was not the boy to have that with. There was nobody else in the villa for her. 

Nobody but one, and he had barely looked at her all day.

She’s been dealing with the particular frustration that was Jake for what seemed like half her time there. At the very beginning it looked like he was into her, offering secret glances and smiles across the room that always seemed to verge on longing. They even coupled up for a bit. Those few days with Jake, being able to cuddle up with him in bed and find excuses to touch him in and out of challenges... 

Those days were undoubtedly the happiest she’s felt. To hear him say that he had wanted her to pick him too made Eris smile so wide, her cheeks hurt. 

But all of a sudden, things changed. Levi was grafting on her, and Jake backed off, insisting he didn’t want to stand in their way. Eris had never been so conflicted. On one hand, she couldn’t deny that Levi was attractive, and as a conceptual artist, she was also delighted to learn that they both shared a particular love for installation art. The way he chased after her was thrilling. It was nice being wanted by one of the most eligible Islanders on the show.

But with Jake, things were so... right. 

Early on, he confessed to Eris that he struggled to connect with the others, but she had no problem growing close to him. He started opening up to her after some gentle prodding on her part, then things just snapped into place for them. 

While they weren’t completely attached at the hip, Eris and Jake were damn close. He cracked wry jokes, often only for her ears and told at the most unexpected times. He spoke freely to her about his thoughts on the other Islanders and their couples. He allowed himself to be more selfish when he was with her instead of trying to maintain peace around the villa like he usually did. 

In the same vein, Eris was just as comfortable around him. She felt relaxed in his warm, easy presence, even when he wasn’t talking much. She enjoyed watching him do the most mundane things, like cook or take a swim in the pool. She forgot about trying, about keeping up appearances and making sure her face wasn’t sweaty or her makeup hadn’t smeared. 

Jake made her feel safe enough to rant to him and be quiet with him and be herself, unapologetically, around him.

What humbled her the most, however, was the fact that he opened up to her about his cheating past. 

Fittingly, he had told her about it the morning after the infamous mess that was Cherrygate. It had been early on in his adult life, barely past his 20s, and he’d been dating his then-girlfriend for almost two years. They met each other through a mutual friend, but they didn’t start dating until a few months later. Everyone had seen it coming. Everyone encouraged it too.

Things were fun in the beginning, but it didn’t take long for them both to realize they weren’t good for each other. Their constant arguments were never resolved, and their communication was never there. Jake suspected that they only stayed together for as long as they did because everyone expected it of them.

He was vague about the specifics of his infidelity. All Eris knew was that it started three months before the breakup with some girl who lived on the same street as him. When Jake found out his girlfriend had been cheating on him too, he confessed to his own affair, and they finally decided to split up. With so many mutual friends, the two of them saw each other occasionally, but they were mostly on good terms. Still, he admitted that even if they were both equally guilty parties, there were few things that hurt worse than being cheated on. 

Eris wasn’t exactly torn up about Levi kissing another girl. What did make her cry was knowing that Jake empathized with her enough to share something so private about his life. The other Islanders offered their comfort in their own ways, but Jake was the only one to hurt with her. The night Cherrygate occurred, he was there, wrapping a sturdy arm around her shoulders and telling her how strong she was, how much she didn’t deserve it. The morning after was no different. That was when he permanently cemented himself in her heart.

Eris had a stronger bond with Jake than with anyone else in the villa and even some of her friends back home. It came to the point where she had grown attuned to his emotions. From the subtle wrinkle in his forehead when he was troubled to the downturn of his lips when he was confused, it wasn’t difficult for her to figure out what he was feeling. Even her awareness of his physical presence had become second nature. Her ears could make out the timbre of his voice from the other side of the villa. Her eyes could recognize his silhouette in a darkened room.  

It was well-known that Jake was the most reserved Islander on the show. But she knew him. She knew him, and it was such a privilege that he allowed her. 

He was sweet. Funny. Self-assured. Romantic. Supportive. Considerate. And unquestionably the most beautiful man she’s ever laid eyes on. 

Jake was everything Eris wanted in a partner, and in a very short amount of time, she knew she was already starting to fall fast and hard for the quiet, cheeky chef. She had every intention of staying coupled up with him to see where they could go. 

So when Jake suggested to Eris that she and Levi had strong potential, she was more than a little upset. He didn’t fight for her or their couple, and it made Eris think that maybe he didn’t want her as much as she thought. 

He seemed so willing to let her go. And it hurt.

Eris wasn’t the type of person to internalize her feelings, but being humiliated like that on national television made her bite back her disappointment and put on a strong front instead. She had smiled tightly at Jake, then picked Levi for her date later that night, and when he kissed her, she didn’t fight it. She thought of the man she’d rather be kissing instead, but she didn’t fight it. Everything about it had felt off. His hands weren’t the same, his shoulders a touch too wide. 

Jake didn’t seem to mind any of it. That was the proverbial nail in the coffin that prompted her to choose Levi at the next coupling. Maybe it was the out Jake had been hoping for. After all, he didn’t look all too upset when he clapped along with everyone else at her decision. And he’s obviously been getting on well with Cherry. 

Eris couldn’t stop the small scowl that formed on her face. Fucking Cherry. That ugly, green-eyed monster of jealousy roared inside her whenever that girl so much as looked at Jake. But Eris would never compromise his happiness, and if Cherry made him happy, she’d suck it up.

With all of this drama happening, Eris was starting to wonder why she signed up for the show in the first place. She could’ve had failed relationships back home in Kent just as easily. She could’ve pined over yet another man who didn’t want her in the comfort of her own flat. 

She groaned and tugged at her hair. Mindlessly walking around the villa didn’t help much. Besides, Tim’s constant rapping could be heard wherever she went. It wasn’t like she could escape anywhere. 

Eris walked through the dressing room, her mind nowhere near concluded. But her tumultuous thoughts were interrupted at the sound of hurried footsteps behind her. 

She turned. A small gasp escaped her when she saw who it was. 

Jake strode right for her with a determination she’s never seen from him before. At first glance, he appeared cool and collected, but once she took in his crazed eyes, clenched jaw, and shaking hands, anticipation whirled in her stomach. 

“Jake?” 

“I’m sorry, Eris,” he breathed as he stopped a few feet from her. “I just — can I have a word?”

Her eyebrows knitted together. “Wha— Jake, what’s going on?”

“I have to...” He huffed and shook his head, clearly frustrated with himself. “There’s just something I need to tell you. Can we...?” He gestured to the doors of the roof terrace. 

It was clear that whatever it was he needed to say was big. Jake was rarely anything less than put together, and right now, he looked like he was on the precipice of a meltdown. 

Eris didn’t hesitate as she nodded. “Of course. Come on.”

They entered the terrace, luckily finding it empty. Jake took a seat, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. His clasped hands sporadically squeezed and loosened. Eris eyed him in concern as she joined him on the bench. 

“Are you alright?” she asked. She’s never seen anyone in the villa look half as nervous as he did right now.

“I’m fine,” he assured. “It’s just... I’ve been thinking all day about whether or not I should say this. And it’s like — if I say it, I might ruin a friendship, or worse. It could be really bad for the villa.”

Jake sighed heavily and hung his head. He almost sounded like he was talking to himself with his next words. 

“But if I don’t say it, maybe I miss a chance to finally be happy?”

Eris’ frown deepened, and she felt a fluttering in her chest, something she couldn’t name. 

Confused as ever, she caved in to the urge to touch him and placed a hand on his arm. “You’re kind of scaring me. What is this about?”

Jake quieted. He stared at her hand, resting gently on his warm skin, and his gaze softened. When he remained silent, Eris squeezed in encouragement. 

He exhaled quietly.

“Fuck it.”

His eyes flashed, and he whipped his head up to stare her down. She almost recoiled. 

“I want you,” Jake blurted, his voice hoarse. “I want to be with you so bad, Eris. From day one... it’s always been you.”

Her jaw dropped to the floor. 

For a moment, nothing else registered other than the words I want you.

I want you.

Jake wanted her? 

Her?

It was appropriate that Eris’ response was just as bewildered. “Huh?” she said stupidly. 

Jake ran a hand through his unruly hair as he shot up from his seat to pace around. “Look, I realize I left it so late, but it’s the last recoupling this evening and I just had to say something, even though I might’ve ruined everything I’ve tried to make in here. Plus, you had all this stuff going on with Levi and I didn’t want to piss you off or ruin our friendship, so I kept quiet about it. But I can’t anymore. I need to know, or it’ll kill me.”

He stopped pacing and took a deep breath. Visibly bracing himself, Jake turned to her, his face verging on desperation. 

“Eris,” he rasped, “is there any chance for me? Could — could something happen between us?”

Stunned, Eris leaned back on the bench with her mouth agape. 

Shock coursed through her for a few long beats as silence stretched between them, his confession hanging in the air. The longer she sat there, utterly dumbstruck, the more Jake’s face fell. It took her a bit, but her brain caught up as she finally absorbed what he had said. 

I want you.

It’s always been you.

Something between us.

The world around her spun, but once the words got through to her, it careened to a complete halt. Suddenly Jake was the only thing she could see. 

Her heart soared. 

A short, disbelieving laugh bubbled out of her as the reality of his confession kicked in, and Jake’s shoulders drooped, looking like she had just kicked him in the gut. 

God, he was so adorable. 

Eris stood up and neared him. “Jake,” she barely managed.

He sighed and put on a brave face, attempting a weak but sincere smile. “It’s alright. I just couldn’t —”

Unable to resist any longer, Eris surged towards him and flung her arms around his neck as she crashed her lips against his. Jake gasped and froze, but once he realized what was happening, she felt his whole body shudder. He engulfed her in his tight embrace and returned the kiss with a fervor that made her stomach swoop. 

Finally, she thought before her mind quieted, focusing only on the sensation of Jake’s presence surrounding her entirely. She knew him, but this... This was new territory she couldn’t wait to explore. 

He moaned into the kiss, his eager hands wandering from her hips to her back until one of them traveled up to tangle itself in her hair. Her heart skipped two beats before running right out of her chest. He pulled her as close as humanly possible then closer still, and as a result they stumbled onto the nearest wall. Jake pressed her up against it, slanting his lips over hers. Eris whimpered a sigh when their tongues grazed, and she couldn’t stop her knees from buckling a little at the electrifying sensation that chased up her spine. 

His hands left a fiery trail wherever they went. When his mouth lowered to the side of her neck Eris gasped, her head tilting back and her fingernails digging into his shoulders. Jake hissed in pleasure and doubled his efforts on her neck by sucking lightly on her pulse point. If not for his firm grip around her, she would have fallen over at how heavenly it felt. His responding, dark chuckle at her reaction would have done her in next. 

For what felt like hours, they remained entwined in each other. Her head was dizzy by the time their kisses and frantic touches slowed down into something soft, content. When they finally pulled apart, Jake rested his forehead on hers, and they exchanged goofy, joyous smiles as they caught their breath. Whatever doubts she’d been carrying had all but vanished as his fingertips pressed into the flesh of her waist. 

“Just to be clear,” he panted, “this means you fancy me too, right?”

Eris laughed. “Yeah. But I could show you again if you’re still not sure.”

His grin grew even wider, and he ducked in for another short kiss. “You have no idea how terrified I was you were going to say no,” he admitted against her lips. 

“It’s always been you too,” she whispered. “But I didn’t think you liked me like that anymore.”

He briefly closed his eyes, and when they opened, they were full of regret. “I’m sorry. I acted like an idiot when we had coupled up. I somehow thought I had messed up my chance when I learned that Levi was grafting on you.”

“So you pushed me away,” she said quietly. 

“I convinced myself you were happier with him, so I tried to move on too.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “Not my finest moment, I’m aware.”

Eris gave him an apologetic look as she brought a hand up to the side of his face, running her thumb over his thin stubble. “I’m sorry too. I should have been honest and said something to let you know how much I liked you, but I... I don’t know. I guess I felt too wounded.”

He nodded. “I definitely could have made things easier, but I understand. I just wish we hadn’t wasted so much time together here.”

A dry smile appeared on her face. If they had actually communicated properly, they wouldn’t have gone through so much bullshit. It was as amusing as it was infuriating. “We’re a pair of dummies, huh?”

He chuckled. “I heard this place will do that to you. It’s practically our job, right? To stir as much drama as possible.”

“Well, I think it’s safe to say we take the cake there.” Eris wrinkled her nose. “How do you suppose everyone else will react?”

“We should talk about that, actually,” Jake sighed as he loosened his hold on her. The air shifted on a more serious note. “I don’t know what the situation is between you and Levi, but we’re still coupled with different people. It wouldn’t be right to surprise them with this at the recoupling later.”

A sense of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. “I told Levi we weren’t together anymore,” she muttered. “But I still need to talk to him.”

“Yeah. And I need to break up with Cherry.”

As much as Eris hated the idea of having that conversation, he was right. They couldn’t spring this on their partners at the last second, even if a part of her thought they deserved it a little. Damn Jake and his kind heart, otherwise she would ignore everyone and spend the rest of her time in the villa with him. 

“This afternoon, then,” she agreed. “We’ll have to get it done before the recoupling.”

“Right. I just don’t want to be that kind of guy. I’ve made enough mistakes in here as it is.”

Eris nodded, and when she caught the remorse in his expression, she stood on her tiptoes to gently kiss him again, feeling him smile against her lips. They pulled away, and she grabbed his wrist to press one last kiss on his palm. His gaze was full of reverence, making her heart clench. 

Jake suggested they get going so that hopefully, Levi and Cherry would calm down by the time the recoupling started. With reluctance, she parted from him and wished him luck with his talk with Cherry. He squeezed her shoulder in thanks as he returned the sentiment, then they left the rooftop. 

Eris walked through the villa in search of Levi, her head held high but her stomach rioting with nerves. She couldn’t imagine the backlash she’d get from both the Islanders and the audience watching, but she didn’t care. 

For the future she was seeking outside the show with the man she wanted by her side, this was worth it.

[x0401x]

Q&A with the Archery Men

Translated compilation of the eleven-part Q&A from the official Twitter. Feel free to message me about any mistakes. Please consider supporting the creator by purchasing the novels here and here. (Raws || Index)

Question 1. What is your family structure?

I live with just my father. My mother passed away in a car accident when I was in sixth grade.

I live with my father and mother. My older brother lives by himself. Of course, Kuma is a precious family member too.

Grandma, Dad, Mom and Nee-chan! Eeeveryone is nice! I’m a grandma’s boy.

Dad, Mom and little sis! If I do say so myself, I think we’re a family of good-looking men and women. ★

Dad, Mom, two big sisters and our cat, Lucy. The height of my shoulders is close to my Dad’s.

Dad, Mom, Aniki. Dad and Aniki travel outside of the prefecture for work-related matters. I also currently live by myself in an apartment complex close to the shrine.

Father, mother, younger sister. There’s a bit of a gap between mine and my sister’s ages, so we have never played together that much...

Question 2. What’s a food (or drink) that you like?

Egg rolls. Not with sugar but salt! It’s gotta be salt!

Stir-fried water spinach. I’ve never come across a stir-fried water spinach that wasn’t delicious.

Cream stew! I kinda feel happy whenever I eat it.

Soy latte. ❤ Soy is good for health and soy latte is fashionable, huh?

Salted plum. It has a bactericidal effect for recovery from fatigue and is also all-purpose! I have it pickled at home.

Coffee. The ones you can drip yourself are good, but I also like canned coffee. Getting to enjoy the scent is kinda adult-like, isn’t it?

kyoani did you really have to romanize his name like that oh my god

Japanese-style food in general. Spending time with my grandfather might have had a big influence on this. I like takoyaki.

Question 3. Any foods (or drinks) that you hate?

Japanese ginger. That smell is just... I wonder if I’ll grow to like it when I become an adult...

Ratatouille. Lots of things I don’t like are mixed in it... What I don’t like is a secret.

Sukiyaki... Everyone likes it, but I once ate too much and ended up feeling sick...

Bitter gourd. I’m a bit bad at dealing with bitterness. Ah, but if it’s a bitter gourd chanpuru made by you, I’ll eat it. ❤

Chocolate. Can’t really eat sweet stuff...

Eggplant. The texture doesn’t go well no matter what...

I make sure not to hate anything.

Question 4. What are your hobbies?

Pottering. I also go play in the river with Seiya a lot during summer. Of course, Kuma comes too!

Watching soccer games. I like collecting data and coming up with tactics. Eh, why don’t I play it myself, you ask? Haha, because I’m more on the analytical side of it!

Bouldering and traditional drums! I like moving my body, and traditional drums have been on display at a festival in my hometown too!

I like gaming and mangas! But what I’m into right now is gathering frog merch. ❤ The girls give me lots of goods.

Gaming and reading. There’s a game I’m into now, and coming up with tactics is really fun. As for reading, anything goes, I guess... What d’you mean by “that’s unexpected”?

Visiting cafés and enjoying the shop’s coffee! I enjoy reading too. I also go hitch-hiking and there was a time I went on a journey.

I don’t have what could be called a hobby, so... let’s go with “meditating”.

Question 5. Any special abilities?

None in particular. Saying, “This is my talent!” is kinda embarrassing...

Creating smartphone apps. I also register my hit counts in my own self-made app. It’s pretty simple to make one, y’know?

Kendou! I was in the kendou club in middle school. But I don’t like hurting my opponents...

Hip-hop dancing! Cool, ain’t it? I’m also in the middle of studying many languages, not just English! Maybe because I sound good, I get compliments on my pronounciation.

Archery! Nothing other than that! Period!

Car driving. Parallel parking is a breeze too! But the roads and parking lots are large here, so I don’t do parallel parking that often...

None in particular. Aah, archery? I don’t want to attribute it to a category as narrow as “special abilities”.

Question 6. Are you a dog person or cat person?

Kuma! He’s the dog kept at Seiya’s place, and he’s cute and a good boy! I wanna cuddle with him!

Dog, I guess. My Kuma is more attached to Minato than to me, though... I can’t get in-between the two of them.

Dog! People tell me I’m like a golden retriever, so my affinity with them just goes up on its own!

I’m a kitty person. ❤ Of course, I’m talking about you!

Cat. Our Lucy is obviously the cutest thing in the world.

Can’t I be an owl person? In the past, after I took care of an owl that got injured, I became an owl person!

Dog. Japanese breeds are cool, aren’t they?

Question 7. Sea person? Mountains person?

Mountains. I used to often go insect hunting when I was a kid, and climbing trees is my specialty! Be it in spring, summer, fall or winter, there’s a lot to enjoy.

Mountains. When I was a child, I often went to play in them with Minato. I also quite like playing in the river.

Both! I can’t choose between either sea or mountains~. Except, the fact that there are bugs in the mountains and jellyfish in the sea is a bit...

Sea, I guess! I wanna walk on sandy dunes with you. ❤

Sea. Hey, don’t go making that “thought so~” face. I’m into hover boating.

Sea. Why, you ask? Because pretty women in swimsuits are there!

Mountains. My parents have a villa, you see. I’d often play there when I was little.

Question 8. If you could move through space and time, would you want to travel to the past or the future?

Future. I’m sometimes like, “I should’ve done this or that”, but rather than thinking about these things, I wanna move forward.

Past. The reason is a secret.

Future! I wanna try riding on flying cars! Also, maybe going to outer space!

To a happy future with you, I guess. ❤

Past. I’d become a warlord in the Warring States era! The warlord I admire is Date Masamune!

I live cherishing the present. That’s the most important.

Either. If I were to say it, I guess it’d be the future. I’m interested in space travel.

Question 9. What if you could use magic?

I could easily buy the stuff I want in limited-time sales. Last time, a 90%-off black wagyu fillet sold out before my eyes...

Controlling people’s minds. Haha, why’re you looking away?

I wanna try flying in the sky! If I do that, maybe I’d get to be friends with birds!

I don’t need magic. Like, it’s meaningless if you don’t make it happen with your own hands.

Not interested. It kinda feels like there’d be a catch, so I can’t trust it. For example, losing something important every time you use magic...

I’d be able to perfectly clean up the shrine’s grounds in an instant! We’re short-handed, so the cleaning takes up time... I wonder if someone couldn’t help out.

I wouldn’t rely on magic. It feels like I’d soon lose anything I get my hands on without effort.

Question 10. What’s something that made you happy lately?

I got to buy a good pork meat in a limited-time sale. But even though I made ginger pork with it, Dad said he was coming back late from work so he didn’t need it...

That I was able to safely enroll into high school. Eh, sounds like a lie, you say? It’s true.

I found a four-leaf clover! I gave it to Onee-chan!

That I met you. ❤ Hey, are you happy that you met me?

I went to the live show of a band I like. The lyrics that the vocalist writes pierce into your heart...

I got “winner” at the vending machine. I have strong luck, if I do say so myself! Guess I’ll try my hand at buying a lottery ticket or something if it goes on like that...

My sister drew a portrait of me. Of course, I keep it soundly in a safe place.

Question 11. What’s something that made you cry recently?

Tears came out when I was cutting the onions for the ginger pork. I was spacing out...

I don’t cry. If I have time to be crying, I make some effort to get strong instead.

I cried after watching a movie about animals! The child-raising struggles of that cheetah mom were so touching... *cries upon remembering it*

Out of happiness for meeting you. ❤ Speaking of which, why have you been giving me this cold look since earlier!?

I don’t cry.

You used to cry like a pipe in the past!

Shaddap! It’s in the past!

I haven’t ever since I became an adult. My tears have dried up... Just kidding!

I didn’t cry even when I was a child. I don’t even know what’s the kind of time that one should shed tears.

[morganrhodes]

Behind the Scenes of Falling Kingdoms

It’s been a minute, my friends! I don’t have any shiny news to share with you at this very moment, but I thought I’d check in and say “hi!” and share with you a little something that Falling Kingdoms fans might find interesting.......

The original ending of Gathering Darkness!!

I’m going to put a spoiler break here, since there are spoilers ahead! ***********

Some people ask if I knew exactly how the story was going to end as I started it. Nope! I sure didn’t! I learned a lot as I wrote each draft, about the world, the characters, the magic, the mythology. This is an excellent example of how the series could have gone in a VERY different direction halfway through the series than it actually did.

Oh, and this is obviously before any proofreading or copyedits, so it’s pretty raw, but I hope you enjoy this peek behind the scenes!

Note: in this original draft, Felix working against them from the get-go. He’s lucky he was so darn fun to write or he would have gotten the ax! Literally and figuratively! 😂

***

Original Last Chapter of the first draft of FALLING KINGDOMS #3: Gathering Darkness

They approached the gates set into the north face of the stone wall. It was almost amusing how much the compound resembled a very small and very poor version of the City of Gold. This was the City of Dirt.

           The chieftain had lived high enough here, though, compared to the majority of Paelsians. Thanks to the hefty wine tax on every bottle produced that had gone directly to him, this wasn’t surprising.

           But the chief was dead now. This Paelsia was an orphan, ruled by default by the King of Blood.

           Jonas didn’t waste any time. He shoved open the gates and went inside, a path he’d walked months ago when he’d been granted audience with the chief.

           “Is it true you were involved with the chief’s daughter?” Lysandra asked. “She danced with snakes, didn’t she?”

           “Very well, too.”

           “I’ll take that as a yes.”

           “Who told you that?”

           “Doesn’t matter anymore.”

           It must have been Brion. Jonas almost smiled at the memory. Laelia Basilius had been a shallow girl, but it hadn’t been completely unpleasant to work his way into her good graces—and her bed—so she’d introduce Jonas to her important and influential father.

           “She had her uses.”

           She gave him a sour look. “I wonder if she feels the same about you now.”

           “Last I heard, she thought we were betrothed.” At Lysandra’s look of shock, he laughed. “We’re not.”

           “Let’s hope your paths never cross again in case there’s a wedding to attend.”

           “That is definitely something to avoid at all costs. Besides, I’m not interested in her as part of my future. I have more important things to accomplish. Where do you think we should do it?” At her sharp look, he couldn’t help but grin. “The ritual.”

           He hadn’t been able to coax a smile from her today, which didn’t surprise him that much. It had been a difficult journey from Limeros as they tried very hard to beat Felix to this location. They hadn’t seen any sign of him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t close.

           Lysandra scanned the area. There were dirt paths leading off to a labyrinth of small cottages and Chief Basilius’s large villa in the center. “How about that clearing?”

           The clearing was the location of the chief’s bonfires, feasts, and nightly entertainment. When Jonas had been here last there had been several very beautiful topless dancers entertaining the chief.

           “Why are you grinning?” Lysandra asked.

           “Just dealing with a few memories.”

           “Deal with this.” She handed him her dagger. “I cleaned it especially for you.”

           “You’re not volunteering this time.”

           “You’re so good at making yourself bleed, why would I want to get in the way? Why? Do you want me to do it this time?”

           “No.” Jonas took the blade from her, found a spot on his forearm this time, and sliced. This was the fifth time he’d done this so it was a familiar pain.

           He crouched down and with the blood that welled from the cut, he drew the spiral symbol for air on the parched ground. “Let’s hope it works this time.”

           Lysandra gave him a tense look as a breeze picked up, circling around them in a whirlwind that made their breath catch. Jonas used a new piece of cloth to bind his wound, his gaze tracking around the area.

           “Jonas, over there.” Her voice was tight. She pointed at a spot where the bonfire had once been, now only a scorched circle in the center of the clearing.

           Something was there, the sunlight glinting off of it. A crystal.

           A moonstone.

           His chest tight, Jonas pulled another cloth out of his pocket and approached the crystal, bending over and picking it up without the surface of it touching his skin.

           “It didn’t bother Felix,” Lysandra said.

           “I’d rather not take any chances.”

           “That’s it, isn’t it?”

           “Unless there’s another crystal about to appear out of absolutely nowhere after I bleed on the ground, yes, this is it.”

           He wouldn’t risk this one. He had to get it somewhere safe until he could make contact with Cleo. She probably wondered where he’d disappeared after claiming the Earth crystal. He hadn’t realized he’d be dealing with a traitor like Felix.

           Still, one crystal was better than no crystals at all.

           Lysandra clutched his arm. “Jonas…”

           He glanced at her with surprise. “What?”

           “We have company.”

           He turned slowly, his heart sinking, to see that she was absolutely right. Of course, he expected to see that Felix had caught up to them.

           Felix was definitely there. But behind him were at least twenty guards in red uniforms.

           And King Gaius himself.

           “You were right, Felix,” the king said. “Here he is, the infamous Jonas Agallon, the murderer of my beloved wife and queen.”

           “Oh, your highness,” Jonas said, sounding a great deal more confident than he currently felt, “everyone knows that was a lie. Aron Lagaris killed your wife. He was your kingsliege, if I’m not mistaken, wasn’t he? Sounds like someone who took orders extremely well.”

           “I must admit, I’m not entirely sure what to do with you.” The king’s gaze shifted to Lysandra. “Or you. Shall I take you to my dungeon again and risk some last minute escape that disappoints a crowd thirsting for a show of blood? Or shall I kill you here and be done with it?”

           “Deal with me however you want,” Jonas said. “But let Lysandra go.”

           “Not a chance. She will die at your side, rebel.”

           “Sorry, Jonas,” Felix said, shrugging. “You gave me no choice.”

           “Really. No choice at all other than this?”

           “The cost of a raven to send a message from Limeros to Auranos was steep, but I believe it was worth it in the end. If I hadn’t, the king and his men never would have arrived in time.”

           “That would be a shame.”

           Jonas wasn’t sure what to do, how to maneuver his way out of this. He could handle a few guards, certainly, especially with Lysandra at his back. But twenty or more? And there was only one entrance into the compound unless they wanted to scale the twenty foot walls, and that entrance was currently blocked by a small army.

           “The crystal,” King Gaius said. “Hand it over.”

           “That’s not going to happen.”

           The king looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. There were dark circles under his eyes and his face showed signs of strain. He appeared much older than the last time Jonas saw him.

           “Felix,” he said.

           “Yes, your majesty.”

           “Where is the Earth crystal?”

           “I have it in a safe place.”

           “Why isn’t it here as we agreed?”

           “I want an assurance that you’ll pay me.”

           “Don’t insult me, boy. Of course I’ll pay you. You’ve delivered to me the means to claim two crystals and also apprehend Jonas Agallon, you will be paid very well indeed. Now tell me where the Earth crystal is.”

           Jonas eyed Lysandra. Her attention was totally focused on Felix. He knew that she liked the mercenary despite everything that had happened, that she thought she saw something more in him than Jonas did. Jonas had thought he’d seen a true friend in Felix, in the beginning. But he’d been fooled. He refused to be fooled again.

           “Can you use it?” Lysandra said to him under her breath.

           He glanced down at the piece of moonstone he’d wrapped in the protective cloth. There was a strange shadow within it, much like the Earth crystal. A strand of darkness that swirled around and around. “Felix couldn’t do more with the other crystal than the most minor magic. It won’t help us here today.”

           “Then we’re dead, simple as that.” She reached down to take his hand in hers, finally giving him a shaky grin although her eyes shone with emotion. “It’s been good to fight at your side, Jonas. It started a little rough between us, I know, but I mean that. You’ve become so important to me…I hope you know that.”

           “No, Lys. Don’t talk like that. We’re not giving up yet.”

           “Maybe I’m more of a realist than you are. There’s no way out of this.”

           “Let me make this very clear, Felix.” The king’s voice was brittle, angry and impatient. “Tell me where you hid the crystal and I won’t have to take you back to my dungeon and torture the information out of you.”

           Felix’s brows shot up. “You’d do that?”

           “Oh, yes. I would do that. Do not challenge me, boy. I have not had a pleasant week, to say the least. I came out here, leaving the sanctity and safety of the palace for this wasteland that I despise, so I could claim what you promised. I will not leave here with only one crystal in my possession.”

           He flicked a finger at a guard, who pointed his sword at Felix’s throat.

           “Huh,” Felix said. “Will you look at that, Agallon? I guess you were right after all.”

           “Idiot,” Jonas growled. “Nice of you to finally realize it.”

           “I do have a theory about the crystals, though.”

           Were they really having a conversation right now, moments before the king unleashed his guards to slaughter them all?

           “Oh? And what’s that?”

           “One crystal doesn’t work too well on its own. But two, on the other hand—” He fished into his pocket and pulled out the piece of obsidian. “That might work better.”

           King Gaius inhaled sharply at the sight of it. “You lied to me.”

           “Yeah, I really did. Jonas, catch.” Felix tossed the crystal at Jonas and he caught it in his bare left hand.

           “Damn it. Fine, I’ll try.” Jonas discarded the cloth so he could hold the piece of moonstone in his other hand. “All right, anything would be good here. Anything at all.”

           He had no idea what to do now to harness the magic. He was no sorcerer. He’d only started to believe in magic in recent weeks.

           However, there was that whispered rumor in his family that an ancestor had once been an exiled Watcher.

           Jonas gasped as something stabbed at him through his hands. “What—?”

           The crystals began to glow like hot coals. He tried to drop them when the burning pain intensified.

           “Jonas, what’s happening?” Lysandra gasped. “What are you doing?”

           “I don’t know. I’m not trying to do anything!”

           A band of light began to snake out of the crystal and wind around his arms, tightening like boa constrictors. The bands of light wrapped around his chest, his throat, swirling like a tornado all around him. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. There was only the searing pain and the sensation that he was being torn apart.

           He realized he was screaming a moment before the pain ceased.

           He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His body ached, as if he’d been struck by lightning and then mauled by a pack of wolves. He was surprised that blood didn’t drip from every part of his body.

           The crystals were gone. Someone must have taken them while he suffered. He pushed against the cracked ground to get back up to his feet, casting a worried look toward Lysandra. She stared at him with shock rather than the concern he expected for what he’d just endured.

           Then he glanced toward the guards, the king, and Felix.

           Instead of surging forward and killing him where he stood, each of them, one by one, sank to their knees until only King Gaius and Felix remained standing.

           “What are you doing, your majesty?” Felix growled, but he didn’t move his gaze away from Jonas. “Kneel.”

           Stunned, Jonas watched as the king did exactly that, lowering himself to his knees, his jaw tight, his expression one of utter and absolute shock.

           “What is going on here?” Jonas managed.

           “The crystals,” Lysandra said, her voice strained. “Jonas…your hands...”

           His hands? He looked down at his hands. On his left palm was what appeared to be the brand of a spiral. On the other, a circle within a circle.

           The symbols began to glow.

           “You’re a god now, Jonas,” Lysandra whispered. “The god of Earth and Air. And even the King of Blood kneels before you.”

**

Right? Verrrryyyy different indeed! I’m glad I didn’t go in this diection, but the idea of the poor winemaker’s son becoming the most powerful being in Mytica certainly did have its charms. ❤️

[winterisakillerwrites]

Enough

Title: Enough

One Shot: 1/1

Character: Tom Hiddleston/Sadie Collins (OFC)

Genre: romance/slight angst/realistic fluff

Rating: T

Summary: Sadie was everything Tom had always wanted; she was brilliant, funny, well read and, in his opinion, one of the most beautiful people he’d ever known. She held his attention like no one else in recent memory had. The only problem? She already belonged to someone else…  

Authors Notes/Warnings: This is for @just-the-hiddles 1k writing challenge, my dialogue prompt was “All I wanted was a happy ending”. This story took several twists and turns before ending up here. I hope you enjoy this @just-the-hiddles. A huge, huge, HUGE shout out to my writing partner in crime @redfoxwritesstuff, you have been an absolute godsend with this. I am eternally grateful for all your support and encouragement.

“All I wanted was a happy ending. Was that too much to ask for?”

The words fell softly from her trembling lips. She kept herself apart from him, hands wrapped protectively over her chest. Tom could see the shine of unshed tears in her eyes and felt his gut clench. Pain radiated off of her in waves and in that moment there was nothing Tom wanted more than to take away her pain. To fix everything. To see her smile again. Just once more.

Tom had always loved her smile; the way it lit her face and warmed any and everything around her. It had been one of the first things that had captured his attention nearly a year and a half before. He’d been dragged to yet another party (a way for him to meet people his manager assured him would benefit his career) and had found himself caught in another boring conversation when he’d allowed his gaze to wander around the room. She’d been standing near a bookcase, talking with a woman he’d recognized but couldn’t place. She’d been smiling and laughing at whatever her companion had said and Tom found himself unable to look away.

It had taken nearly fifteen minutes to work his way through to the room to reach her. He’d been stopped several times both by various actors he’d worked with in the past and by industry people who were interested in picking his brain regarding upcoming projects (had he ever considered this or that idea or was he looking forward to working with this actor/actress or this director). Tom has done his best to talk with them all (wouldn’t Luke and Michael be proud to see their continuing lectures on marketing oneself paying off), keeping a weathered eye on where she’d stood. The last thing he wanted was to risk losing sight of her and have her disappear right under his nose. Not when was so close.

Tom smiled as he finally extracted himself from conversation with a fellow RADA graduate he’d not seen in years but had gotten on with fairly well, wishing the man luck in his next endeavor; a period piece set to air on the BBC the following spring. Tom stole a quick glance toward the bookcase and was grateful to find her still there. Though her conversational partner had changed.

She was quite short, he’d noted. Shorter than he’d first thought. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a bun at the base of her skull, leaving the smooth skin of her neck and shoulders bare to his gaze. She’d dressed simply in a tea length dark blue dress. Nothing quite as flashy as he’d found to be common place at such gatherings but something that seemed to suit her perfectly.

“Excuse me,” he started, moving the last few feet towards her. Tom was exceedingly grateful to find her on her own; the companion he’d seen her with a few moments earlier had disappeared. “I don’t mean to be forward but I realize we’ve not been introduced and I wanted to remedy that. I’m Tom Hiddleston.”

He extended his hand toward her and felt a jolt of something when she took it gently in her own. Her hand was soft and warm. So small compared to his own.

“Sadie Collins. Very nice to meet you, Tom.”

And just as easily as that, Tom found himself completely lost.

They spent the rest of the evening simply talking. He’d learned she was a script editor for the BBC (she’d studied literature and film at Uni and had been lucky enough to catch the right person’s eye shortly after graduating) and had grown up not too far, incidentally, from where he himself had lived as a young boy. She was an only child and found his stories about his trials and tribulations as the middle child between two very different sisters hysterical. Sadie loved dogs (and cats and most mammals if she was being completely honest) and they talked at length about their mutual desire to own a dog of some sort once their lives were more settled. He talked about his recent experiences filming in the states and his upcoming projects. She talked about the latest show she’d been working on. Tom couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so utterly at ease around another person.

It wasn’t until Sadie mentioned the trip she’d taken a few months prior (a surprise anniversary gift from her boyfriend of two and a half years) that Tom felt the cloud he’d been standing on disappear. Of course she wasn’t single. Why would she be? She was a fascinating, brilliant, and charming woman. Any man would be out of their mind to let her get away. He silenced that small voice in his head roaring its displeasure. You can’t win them all, Hiddleston.

“Greece is absolutely lovely.” He’d found himself answering, hoping his smile hadn’t faltered. “Where exactly did you end up staying?”

She gushed about the tiny villa they’d stayed in and the days they’d spent exploring. Her boyfriend worked as a researcher for one of the university’s she’d liaised with through the BBC. They shared a love of exploring and history and it was abundantly clear to Tom she adored him. The way her face lit up as she talked about the history and the culture she’d immersed herself in during her trip was absolutely breathtaking.

He’d thrown out his own opinions and experiences and soon felt the disappointment in him tamper down. She might be taken but that didn’t mean the end of the world. Besides, with the way his career was shaping up, any sort of romantic relationship would unfortunately be forced onto the back burner. He simply wouldn’t have time to dedicate to building a meaningful something with another person.

That, in part, was why his last relationship had fallen apart. He had hardly been home in the last eight months and his ex couldn’t handle that. Especially knowing that it wasn’t (and couldn’t be) a one off thing. If he wanted to actually work in this industry, wanted to truly make a go of it, he had to keep himself out there and take any and every opportunity he could. So she’d handed him back her key to his flat, kissed him on the cheek and left. It had hurt, losing what he’d hoped would be a solid source of love and normalcy in the chaos he knew his life was diving into, but he’d understood. So he’d let her go.

“My god, it’s nearly midnight.” Sadie exclaimed, glancing at the watch on her wrist in disbelief. “I can’t believe it. I hadn’t planned on staying so late.”

Tom blinked in surprise. “Is it really?” He could have sworn it was much, much earlier. Surely they couldn’t have talked for hours. He let out a soft chuckle. “I guess it’s like they say, time flies when you’re having fun.” The words were lame and he’d known it but they’d left his mouth before he’d really processed them and there wasn’t anything he could do about it now.

Sadie laughed softly and shrugged. “I guess so. But that being said, I best be off. It was wonderful meeting you, Tom. I hope to do so again in future.”

He offered a small smile, ignoring the small jolt in his gut at the thought of her leaving. “I hope so as well.”

With a wave and a smile she was gone.

                                                           —

Tom had done his utmost to put that night behind him (and any lingering hope of what could have been had so many things been different), throwing himself in the maelstrom that his life was becoming. It was more difficult than he’d bargained for though. Sadie would creep into his thoughts seemingly at random throughout the day; he’d find himself studying lines and wondering what she was doing, sitting in a make-up chair and remembering the way her hazel eyes sparkled when she laughed, trying to squeeze in his daily run and replaying the stories she told him. It was utterly ridiculous. And there was little he could do to stop it.

If any noticed his distracted behavior, they had the good grace to never mention it. And that, Tom felt, was both a blessing and a curse. It meant maybe this…whatever it was…hadn’t been affecting his working life nearly as badly as he feared. It also meant that no one was there to really snap him out of it, save himself. And he managed, well enough. Jumping from project to project to promotion helped. Half the time he was too exhausted to do more than fall into whatever hotel bed he’d been assigned for the night, sleeping like the dead until he was roused by Luke or whatever poor sod was sent in his place. It wasn’t a maintainable pace by any stretch of the imagination, but he was young enough still and didn’t want to risk missing a single opportunity while he had the chance.

He spoke as often as he could with his mum and sisters, clinging to that small piece of normalcy and comfort they provided. He endured his mother’s quite vocal concern that he was burning the candle at both ends and could easily burn himself out in the process with as much grace as he was able. She’d had a point, of that he was most certainly aware. But, he’d assured her, this was only temporary. He would slow down as soon as he could. He told her that he knew his limits and he respected them. It was clear she didn’t quite believe him but she didn’t fight him on the matter. Not too much, anyway.

When he’d finally made it back home (he’d scored a brief two weeks completely free between projects and dear god it was desperately needed), Tom had all but cried in relief. It was wonderful being in his own space, to be able to see his friends and family. He’d filled a great deal of his time trying to squeeze in seeing everyone he could, something his mother chastised him for during the afternoon he’d taken to drive up to Suffolk to see her. “Not that I am not grateful to see you, darling. I just worry you’re doing too much. This is your rest time. You should actually try to spend it doing just that.” The time he didn’t spend sleeping or with friends and family was spent trying to finish all those little tasks that seemed to slip to the wayside.

He’d been out, finishing a quick round of shopping (yes, he could have people do it for him, and yes, it would make his life infinitely easier, but he’d needed the chance to feel as normal and grounded as possible) when he found himself staring at a very familiar face. He’d all but collided with her in his hurry to get out of the shop and on his way back home.

She stared up at him in bewildered annoyance before a spark of recognition flashed in her hazel eyes. The same eyes he’d seen all too often when he’d closed his eyes at night. Not that he would ever tell her so.

“Tom!” Sadie exclaimed, happily; her smile wide and bright. She moved, resettling the reusable shopping bag farther back on her shoulder. “How have you been?”

He returned her smile with a genuine one of his own. “Sadie, it’s wonderful to see you. I’ve been well. Busy but well. How are you?”

“Busy as well,” she answered with a laugh. “Though granted not quite as busy as you’ve seemed to be.”

Tom rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Yeah. It’s been a bit…”

“Insane?” She offered.

He laughed and nodded. “That would certainly be one way of putting it.” He adjusted the bag in his hand, consciously aware of the fact that he needed to get his perishable items home relatively soon. But doing so would mean leaving Sadie and leaving now was something he knew he absolutely did not want to do. “Things still going well at the Beeb?”

Sadie laughed and nodded, “Very well. I’ve got two series getting ready for production in the next few months which is exciting and terrifying all at once.”

“I can imagine.”

The glint of light off her hand as she brushed a stray lock of hair from her face caught his eye.

Her left hand.

Tom felt his gut clench as his eyes focused on her hand and the ring that rested on her finger. It was a lovely piece of jewelry, he had to admit. A thing gold band with a rather large diamond (he didn’t know enough about diamonds to guess its value other than it must have been worth quite a fair amount of money).

She was engaged. When had that happened? He’d known she was seeing someone (and had been for a while) but an engagement meant the relationship was serious. The small bit of hope he’d stubbornly clung to crumbled in that moment and he cursed himself for ever even entertaining the idea of having any sort of chance with her in the first place. She wasn’t his to claim. In reality he’d only known her a few handful of hours. How that could ever translate into anything more…Especially not with regards to the madness that was his life at the moment.

He cleared his throat and nodded softly towards her hand. “I see congratulations are in order.”

She looked at him in confusion for a few moments before her face cleared and she smiled brightly. “Thank you. It’s been about a month now and I’m still trying to wrap my head round it.” He watched as she unconsciously looked down at the ring on her hand before raising her eyes back to his.

Tom returned her smile (though the action felt strained). She seemed so happy though, and he couldn’t let himself do anything to jeopardize that. “Understandable. Have you set a date yet?”

Sadie shook her head. “Not formally, no. But we’ve been thinking sometime late next year or early the year after at the latest. Nothing over the top, though. Something small, intimate. Just us and family.”

He nodded, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Sounds wonderful.�� And he’d meant it. Silence fell between them and they stood, watching one another for several minutes before Tom cleared his throat. “I…I need to get this shopping home. It’s been wonderful seeing you again, Sadie. I hope I will get to do so again in future.”

“Well if you ever find yourself on a BBC production…” Sadie let the words hang between them, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Tom smiled warmly at her. “If I do, I will certainly look you up.”

She stepped to the side to let him pass, raising her hand and offering a quick wave. He nodded his head towards her, taking her in one last time before hurrying off down the busy pavements towards home.

                                                          —

Two days later found Tom sitting across from his agent, script in hand. It was still technically his holiday (he had two more days of freedom before delving back into the chaos of another long shoot) and when Michael called that morning his first instinct had been to switch the bloody device off and to let the man hang. But his damned curiosity had gotten the better of him.

He’d been sitting, nursing his coffee and reading through the newspaper before him when his mobile rang; Michael’s number scrolling across the screen. Tom groaned aloud, disgruntled at his peace being disrupted and curious as to what was so urgent that his agent couldn’t wait another few days. A part, it seemed. And one he’d fully believed Tom would jump at.

So far Michael had been correct. He’d only gotten through the first few pages but he was already hooked. He also didn’t miss that it was a modern take on a very familiar Shakespearian play. Tom sighed, knowing full well he had a type and just how well those around him seemed to know it. Still, judging by the length of the script and the bare details Michael had given him, the project appeared to be a lengthy one and Tom wasn’t sure how his schedule, as packed as it was rapidly becoming, was going  to be able to fit this in. He was getting up there in recognition (something he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around) but he didn’t quite think he had the clout to entertain the idea of getting this project to work around his schedule and not that of its producers.

“Well?” Michael sat across from him, hands folded on the desk top, eyes intent.

“It’s quite good…Very good, if I’m being honest…”

“Then why am I sensing a bit of hesitation?”

Tom scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d forgone shaving during his break and therefore had the makings of a fairly decent beard. It had itched something fierce coming in but he’d found it rather comforting now, mainly for the bit of anonymity it brought him. People who spotted him on the street still stared but now couldn’t quite seem to place him. It was wonderfully freeing to wander down the streets of central London left more or less to his own devices.

“I just…You know how packed my schedule is.” He paused, picking up the script and held it up towards Michael. “I love this, and you knew that I would, but how can I possibly fit this in…I’m booked very nearly solid for the next several months.”

Michael nodded. “Fair point, Tom. But they want you and they are willing to work with your schedule if that means getting you.”

“Seriously?” It didn’t make any sort of sense. Yes, he was doing rather well for himself, but there was a staggering difference between that and having a production company point blank that they were willing to work around your availability.

“Seriously.” Michael leant over the desk, smiling at his client. “So shall I ring them and say you’re in?”

Tom blinked, letting the idea slowly sink in. It was a fantastic part and he very much wanted the ability to work with it. After several moments he nodded. “Yes, please.”

                                                         —

Tom settled himself at the table set up for the day’s read-through. He’d made small talk with a few of the actors and the show’s director as they waited for everyone to trickle in. Catching up with familiar faces and introducing himself to those he’d not had the pleasure of knowing. For the last several months he (and Michael and Luke) had been in constant contact with the show’s producers, trying to nail time availability and start planning concrete rehearsal and filming schedules. It was grueling and the stress might certainly have done him in had he not been so excited to start.

Murmured conversations echoed all around him as he grabbed a water bottle that had been left at his place and twisted its cap off. A quick glance at his watch told him they had maybe five minutes before things were set to start. He glanced around the room, taking in a few familiar faces as the writing team settled into their respective places. At two minutes to the hour the door opened once more. Out of habit more than anything, Tom glanced up and felt everything around him freeze.

With her hair piled high on her head and a warm, royal blue cardigan wrapped around her shoulders, Sadie slipped into the room smiling warmly at various faces she recognized. He hadn’t he faintest idea she was at all involved in the project and felt idiotic for not realizing it sooner. She was a script editor for the BBC and had worked on similar projects (he was willing to admit, if only to himself, that he had looked up her work history online after their initial meeting; his innate curiosity winning out over his sense of propriety). It would make complete and total sense that she’d be involved in this.

It wasn’t until she’d settled between the director and the head writer that Sadie seemed to take note of him. The smile that had spread across her face was bright and Tom swore he could feel the warmth radiating from it. She mouthed a quick ‘hello’ which he returned in kind with a wide smile of his own. There was a brief flurry of introduction before they set to work on the first proper table read. They flew through the first few pages with ease, pausing occasionally to play with wording or with the timing of a pause or start of a line.

Tom had always enjoyed this process of a new production; getting to build off of his fellow actors and see the raw form of the story they were telling start to take shape. There were several kinks still to work out, as there tended to be this early in the game. Odd phrasings or scene placements that didn’t quite fit. Nothing they wouldn’t eventually sort out one way or another.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tom could see Sadie scribbling furiously away on her copy of the script, occasionally breaking to share an aside with the writer. He smiled at the obvious dedication she had for her work. It was yet another piece of the puzzle that was her and he was eager to learn all that he could. He did his utmost best to focus on the pages before him. The last thing he wanted was to be the one holding up their progress through the script. They made it through the next several pages before breaking for lunch.

Several people attempted to engage him in conversation and he’d done his best to remain polite while trying to slip through the throng and catch Sadie before she had a chance to disappear. True, she would most likely be back after lunch, he’d known that, but it hadn’t stopped the need to talk with her. By the time he’d extricated himself from the rehearsal room, Sadie was nowhere to be found. He cursed his own innate sense of politeness and headed through the hallway, hoping she’d not gone too far.

He caught up with her at the coffee cart in the lobby of the building. She was in the middle of her order, absently reaching into her purse for her wallet. Without thinking, he pulled his from his back pocket and took out a crumpled twenty pound note, handing it over to the woman running the cart. “A pour over as well, love,” he added. The fleeting worry that perhaps he’d overstepped his bounds hit him as soon as the words left his lips. Gods above, I sound like a complete arse.

Bewildered, Sadie turned around. Her confusion quickly melted into surprised amusement. “Tom?”

“Sadie.” He took the change handed back to him, dropping a few of the pound coins into the tip jar. “Sorry, I know I am intruding, I just…It’s wonderful to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you as well Tom.” She took the coffees, handing Tom his steaming mug, before turning back and grabbing the sandwich she’d ordered. “You didn’t have to buy my lunch though. I may not be rolling in coin like someone I know,” she shot him a knowing look, “but I can afford a coffee and a sandwich.”

Tom winced. God, he had overstepped.

Sadie tossed back her head and laughed. “Jesus, Tom, I was just messing with you. I’m not at all upset that a rather well off film star felt the need to buy me lunch.” She reached up and patted him lightly on the arm. Tom felt the familiar surge of electricity in her touch. “…Honestly, though, thank you. You really didn’t have to.”

A wave of relief flooded through him (the absolute last thing he’d wanted was to turn her off by acting like a prat) and he offered a small, but cheeky smile. “You can spot me next time then.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “You seem so certain there’ll be a next time.”

“Hopeful is more accurate,” he answered with a small shrug. “I figure I will be seeing a lot of you on this project, with your job and mine being what they are, and a friendly face is always a welcome sight on shoots.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, knowing he was letting his mouth run away with him once again. He was forever being lectured about it from both Michael and Luke (“My God, Tom, for once can you think before you open your mouth?”); what could be endearing also tended to be a logistical and PR nightmare in certain situations.

“Fair point,” she conceded, smiling as she shook her head. “But keep in mind, next time I am paying, Hiddleston.”

“Dully noted.”

                                                       —

As table reads turned into rehearsals and then into actual filming, Tom found himself lost once more in the insanity that was his chosen career. He was grateful for the lack of heavy, often stifling period costume. As fun as it could be to play dress up (his inner four year-old still giggled in delight that he was actually paid to do this), running around in several layers of leather and the like was not something he particularly enjoyed.

The modern setting of this particular story meant a much shorter jaunt in make-up and wardrobe and in a much freer feeling of movement. Alice, his costar, had been in full agreement. “Corsets are bloody murder,” she’d told him as they waited for the scene to be set on the first few days of filming. “They may look pretty but fuck if you have any real ability to move.”

Sadie had been on set most days over the last several months, running back and forth with updated copies of scripts and talking with the director and cast as needed. And Tom had done his best to try to pick her brain whenever she saw her on set. They’d taken to making coffee runs and, when they could, quick lunches (mostly whatever they could nick from the catering tents) and endless, endless talking. Sadie, he quickly found, was one of the easiest people to talk to. She was brilliant and quick on her feet and willing to match him word for word in whatever debate they ended up in. It was easy for Tom to forget he hadn’t known her forever, that they hadn’t been friends for ages.

In a way her engagement (it still tugged at his heart to think the word and of just what it meant) had been a blessing in disguise. Tom had wanted her from the moment they’d met (there was no point in denying it to himself anymore) and had she been free and he’d made a move….would he be sitting here now, across from her talking about the latest books they’d read (she tended to lead him in that category as his life had been far too chaotic to allow him time to truly lose himself in a book that wasn’t work related). Or would it have burnt out just as quickly as it started and have left him never knowing just how amazing a person she truly was. It didn’t bear thinking. And honestly what good would thinking about all the ‘what ifs’ and ‘what fors’ do him? Things were as they were and he couldn’t change them even had he wanted to. He accepted it, was grateful for the small pieces he was able to have. The warmth of her friendship was worth any lingering want.

                                                       —

“What are you doing for the holidays?” Sadie asked, bringing her takeaway coffee cup to her lips and blowing softly before taking a cautious sip. It was a week before filming was set to break for the winter holidays. She and Tom taken to hiding in his makeshift trailer between takes most days that week as they’d been finishing most of the exterior scenes.

It had been an absolutely blustery day and despite the fact they’d broken for lunch nearly twenty minutes before, Tom still felt half frozen. He’d kept the parka he’d been given by the wardrobe department on and cranked the tiny space heater he’d found in his trailer as high as he’d dared, and still he was shivering intermittently. His only saving grace was the idea that after today the majority of the exterior shots would be complete. And thank god for that.

Tom chuckled and rubbed his hands up and down the insides of crossed arms, hoping a bit of friction would stop the shivering. “My eldest sister and her husband are flying in from India. We’re all heading up to my mum’s for Christmas. I haven’t had a Christmas at home in the last few years, with my life being what it’s been, and I am so, so glad I’m able to this year.” He paused and took a sip of his own coffee, wincing as it burned his mouth and throat. “And you?”

She smiled warmly at him. “Andy and I are heading up to Edinburgh to visit his family.”

“Very nice.” Tom paused and took another sip of his coffee. “When are you heading up?”

Sadie placed her cup beside her on the trailer floor. The small table beside her had been taken over by pages of script and other various bits and bobs Tom had collected in the past few weeks of filming and was virtually unusable as a table. “Friday afternoon. He’s got a late class at the university and we’re heading up after.”

Tom nodded in understanding. “I’m heading to mum’s Saturday morning. My scenes should be wrapped up by then and I’m hoping if I leave early enough I can beat a fair bit of the traffic.”

“Good luck with that,” Sadie laughed, shaking her head. “We’re taking the train.” She laughed at the face Tom made. “Yes, I know it’ll be crowded but it’s infinitely easier than driving the whole way. Andy’s brother is set to collect us from the station and take us to his parents.”

A knock sounded on the trailer door followed by the familiar voice of Hanna, one of the PA’s on set. “Five minutes, Tom!”

“Alright!” he called back, glancing instinctively towards the door. He turned his attention back to Sadie and felt the familiar pool of disappointment in his gut as she smiled at him and pushed herself to her feet.

He watched as she gathered her bag and her nearly empty coffee cup and headed towards the trailer door. “I’ll let you get back to work. If I don’t see you before we break, happy Christmas Tom.”

“Happy Christmas.” He took two steps towards her and pulled her into a quick hug. “Take care of yourself alright?”

“Always.” She shrugged into her coat and slipped out into the windy afternoon.

Tom sighed as he heard the door click closed behind her. He settled himself onto the narrow and far too short couch and closed his eyes, wanting to enjoy his last few moments of warmth before having to surrender himself to the mercy of the bitter cold. He had just managed to get warm enough to doze off when another knock sounded on the door. With a groan, Tom flipped off the space heater and headed out of the trailer, following Hanna back towards set.

                                                         —

Tom settled himself onto the couch the following Friday evening, a cup of hot chocolate in one hand, and sighed. His bag was packed and waiting by the door in the front hall. Part of him had been tempted to say ‘fuck it’ and drive up that night, but the sudden hit of his own exhaustion steadied his hand. The absolute last thing he’d wanted was to end up wrapping his car around a tree because he’d nodded off at the wheel. Best to try to call it an early night and leave first thing in the morning like he’d originally planned.

He took a small sip of the steaming chocolate and let its warmth flood through him. He bent forward, grabbing the remote for the television he hardly ever used and turned it on. Several journeys through the channels later he settled on a Christmas special for one of the newer BBC dramas. He hadn’t a clue what was happening in the program but the background noise was a lovely distraction to the silence of the house.

Tom had just about dozed off when a buzz sounded from the front hall. He sat up, blinking fuzzily as his brain tried to place the noise and its meaning. The front gate. Right. He pushed himself to his feet, placing the now empty mug on the edge of the table, and stumbled towards the hall and the gate security panel. He pressed the button which cued up the camera and blinked for several seconds as his brain attempted to process just why Sadie was standing at his front gate. Shouldn’t she be on a train to Edinburgh?

Knowing none of his questions could possibly be answered by simply standing there like a dolt, he pressed the intercom button and waved her in. A few moments later her hesitant knock came on his front door. Tom pulled it open quickly and found her shuffling from foot to foot, a lost look in her eyes. “Sadie, darling, are you alright?”

She took a deep breath and shook her head. “Can…Can I come in?”

“Of course,” he assured her. “Of course you can.” He stepped quickly aside and allowed her to slip quietly past him and into the hall. “Would you like a cup of tea? Coffee? I’ve hot chocolate if you’d rather?”

She flashed him a small smile which didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Tea would be lovely.”

He ushered her into the living room before darting into the kitchen and setting the kettle to boil. He pulled a tin of Earl Grey and a mug from the cabinet and placed them both on the counter near the kettle. Once the kettle boiled, he set to brewing the tea. He padded towards the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk and adding a splash to the steaming amber liquid. He carried the mug back into the living room and offered it to her without a word.

Sadie took it with a soft murmur of thanks and held in between her hands. She’d settled on the couch, shoes on the floor and her legs curled beneath her. He settled himself into the arm chair opposite.

After several minutes of silence, Tom leant forward resting his elbows on his knees. “What’s happened?”

Sadie took a deep breath, her fingers curled around the mug. “I’m sorry for just showing up here…I just…I was walking and I looked up and I was here…I know you’ve probably got things you need to be doing. I’m sorry…” She pushed herself to her feet and placed the undrunk tea onto the table. “I should leave you be.”

“Don’t,” Tom started, jumping to his feet. “Please, somethings obviously wrong. Sadie, you are my friend. You came to me. Please let me help if I can.”

She nodded and sat back down on the couch, wrapping her arms around her middle. It was several minutes before she spoke again. “He left.”

Tom blinked in confusion. “Who left? Andy? You mean he left for Edinburgh without you? Why?”

Sadie shook her head. “No…Well yes, he did leave for Edinburgh. But no, he’s left me. He was gone when I got back to the flat this evening. I called, thinking maybe I’d gotten the times wrong. And he…” She paused and took a deep breath before carrying on, her voice cracking slightly as she did so. “He said he can’t do this anymore…That he’s been thinking about it for a while now. Told me he’s not ready for this kind of commitment; that he hadn’t been sure when he proposed but went on with it anyway…He said he was so sorry but he couldn’t keep going on with this, with us. God, Tom, he just…Four fucking years and he just…”

“Oh Sadie.”

She blinked up at him with glassy eyes. “All I wanted was a happy ending. Was that too much to ask for?”

He took Sadie’s cold hands into his own, rubbing them; hoping to infuse some of his warmth into her. She offered him a tremulous smile and he felt his heart break at the sight. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, squeezing her hands gently. It wasn’t all he’d wanted to say. Not even close. But he couldn’t see any way of saying what he wanted desperately to say that wouldn’t frighten or overwhelm her. And scaring her was the absolute last thing he wanted to do.

“I just…Why wasn’t I enough?” The words were whispered, clearly not intended for his ears. But he heard them all the same.

Tom wasn’t a violent person by nature but Christ, he wanted nothing more than to rip the asshole who’d broken her heart to shreds. To tear him limb from limb for the audacity to be so careless with such a wonderful, loving heart. To string Sadie along, make her promises, build a life with her, and then rip all away because he ‘wasn’t ready’.

The rational part of his brain knew it was better that Andy had ended it before he and Sadie actually married. That even though Sadie was hurt (and it was so clear that she was blindsided by this), she would recover from this much easier than if she’d actually tied their lives together in the legally binding sense. But rational was far from Tom’s state of mind at the moment. He fought to keep his hands from shaking as they held onto hers.

“You are enough,” he heard himself growl. He felt Sadie’s hands tense in his and he cursed his emotional response. God, she didn’t need this now. Tom cleared his throat, hoping to calm himself enough to speak rationally. To express himself in a way that wouldn’t scare her. “Sadie,” he started again, his voice even, “you are enough. And if he can’t see that then it’s his loss. If he can’t look at you and know for certain that you are what he wants then it’s no one’s fault but his own.”

She blinked up at him. “Tom, I…”

Tom smiled softly at her as he brought her hands to his lips, kissing them gently before releasing them. He took a deep breath. “You might not feel it right now. But Sadie, to me you are enough. You’ve always been. You are smart and you are capable. You are brilliant and funny and warm. You are so many wonderful, amazing things.” He clasped his hands before him in his lap and smiled warmly at her. “You’ve become such an important part of my life. So much more than I will ever be able to say. And I know this is too soon and probably too much, and I probably shouldn’t be saying this at all but I want you to know…I want you to understand, that you are someone’s first choice. You are my first choice, hands down. Every. Single. Time.” She opened her mouth to speak and he held up a hand to silence her. “Wait, please.”

Confusion shone in her bright eyes as she stared at him in silence. After several moments she nodded silently.

“I want to know that you, just as you are, are enough.” He smiled softly at her before rushing on. “You are more than enough. And I don’t say this to force you into returning my feelings or to pressure you into something I know you are in no way ready for. I say this because I want you to know that no matter what you choose, you have me in your corner. I will love you as a friend or as more. That choice is yours and you have all the time in the world to decide what it is you want. Sadie, you have become one of my dearest friends. I value your opinion and your candor above all others. You are my friend and if that is all you need of me then I will gladly accept it. That would be enough for me.”

Tom watched the emotional swirl across her face. Confusion, uncertainty, disbelief, and just a fraction of hope. He took another slow breath and waited, knowing that whatever happened next, good or ill, he would bear and gladly if it meant she could have a moment’s peace. That would be enough.

[ravenadottir]

how do you think the islanders high school prom nights went?

oh nooooo! don’t make me suffer thinking about proms!

ok, um, let’s see.

((edit: it became a bible, as per usual...))

bobby. i can imagine cupcake being nervous to ask a girl to go with him to prom, rehearsing his “promposal” several times in the mirror, and joking about something related to proms that would light up the mood. i picture him with a really cute and shy girl that had her eye on him during chemistry class. and yes, i think he used the chemistry hook to ask her to be his date. he probably did weird worm dances, got the stage for ‘paisley cuddle’ for a three songs, was elected ‘class clown’ and got a good night kiss in front of her house when dropping her off, afterwards.

carl. i don’t want to sound too mean, but if carl went to his prom, he didn’t go with someone. he was too awkward and didn’t pick up the courage to invite the girl of his dreams. he had the corsage bought, but deep down he knew he couldn’t ask her. i must add here, he had a close friend that ended up spending the party with him because they were that connected. carl didn’t have fun, didn’t find the meaning of friendship and danced with his friend. he was too worried about uni applications and his future, and couldn’t wait to run for the hills. his entire high school experience sucked, and his prom wasn’t different. maybe one liberating song that set him free was “gives you hell”, where he didn’t feel like holding back and really let all the weird alien moves out. after that, he left. for good. this is why i think when he tells the story to mc she’ll find a way to throw a prom just for him, with his friends from the villa, where he’ll be picked up in a limo and dance awkwardly, but freely, with true friends. 

chelsea. this girl had fun on her prom, had a really cute guy taking her, the most gorgeous corsage she put together herself and gave it to her date the day before, so he could bring it when picking her up. chelsea had a close group of friends in school and danced the night away. if i know my bra well i think she was in charge of the decor, and you can bet your ass she talked her way into making everything pink-toned. all the blush and millennial pink you can imagine, down to the punch and the tablecloths. she organized everything related to the decor while bonding with a different person in charge of the rest. i can only imagine she had tons of fun at the night of the prom, being taken there in a pink limo. if her date didn’t do it, she would do it for herself, don’t at me!

gary. gary went to this prom, but i don’t reckon he took a girl. at that point of his life he was still “villain” looking, like he said, and i don’t think he had enough confidence to ask someone to go with him. what i do believe is that dicky was there with him, with a six pack and a playlist on his car that would be “infinitely better than whatever those fucking nerds are playing in there, mate!”. they would go in but not stay too long. i don’t think gary was a class clown or a sportist, despite of him playing football early on. he must’ve left that aside while focusing on robotics, so he was pretty much invisible. at least i think he defined himself in those terms. but they would drive somewhere gary adores, like the mountain, to watch the shipyard, have the beers, the music from the car radio and just talk and make fun of the popular kids that listen to ed sheeran. they would stay up all night, making plans for the future, since gary has his forklift license and is more than ready to start working. “cheers, mate.” besides the usual arctic monkeys, i think the song that best illustrates his prom is “mr. brightside” by ‘the killers’. “you know you’re gonna have to come back later for the car right, rennell?” “yeah...” “i’ll come with, you pussy. no need to be so sad.” dicky completed, pouting and draping an arm on gary’s shoulder as they walked home, ties untied, jackets and shirts open.

henrik. this kid couldn’t wait to wear those suspenders, beige pants and white shirt. he definitely had matching boutonniere with the corsage he got for his date, and his hair down. because whenever he hits the dancefloor, he lets his locks down and everyone knows that means the party is about to start. it wasn’t difficult for him to invite the girl he likes and she didn’t even blink before saying ‘yes’. i think he drove there, his friends on the back, singing along to "heroes” a cover by ‘the wallflowers’. i see henrik laughing while spinning a girl in place, catching her, goofing around with his friends while having the time of their lives. he already knew what he wanted to be, and everything was planned out. he drove everyone home and had his first night out with the girl he took to the prom.

kassam. i think kassam did his best to follow the protocol and asked a girl to go with him, got her a cute corsage and planned out the limo bit with his close friends. but i think it truly hit him that everything was going down when he put his jacket on, at the store. he saw himself on the mirror and realized what prom was, to him. it wasn’t just a party he would probably get laid after. i think he partied extremely hard that night, took some stuff, lost control, danced like an absolute asshole and probably ruined the night for a couple of people. it wasn’t smooth or tranquil like he thought it could be, and i really think he regrets lots of things he did that night. except for one. he decided to be the life of the party in different ways.

lottie. her “year 12 formal” was probably the first time lottie had real fun in her high school experience. like priya said before, i think lottie had some control issues and that stops her from seeing the full picture. ending your school experience usually opens your eyes for bigger things, and that’s where i think she really enjoyed herself for a long time. of course she wore a black dress and black and white corsage, if any. probably the first time she dyed her hair, not only a couple of streaks. high heels and black lipstick but just as gorgeous as she is today. maybe not the same level of confidence as today, but she was on the right path, i’m guessing.

lucas. i wanted to say lucas was the prom king, but that didn’t happen. he definitely didn’t know what to do while having a girl linking arms with him. he always felt like an outcast because of his previous experiences in school. always moving away, never staying too long to truly bond with his peers. so prom wasn’t exactly a fun time for him. it was though, the moment he realized he could do anything he wanted, not only conform to what his dad expected from him. the moment he realized that was possible the punch tasted different, the music became more fun, the dance moves weren’t so rehearsed and awkward, and he could truly appreciate what that night represented. i do think lucas wasn’t as smooth as he is today, so you can expect very boring tuxedo+shoes+tie combo, and not a lot of jazz going on with his ride. the whole point of getting a limo is to share it with your friends, but if you’re there for only a few months, then i don’t think there’s a bond strong enough to make you sing along to songs while picking up a girl. truth is, school wasn’t the best time for lucas, and just like carl, i don’t believe his prom was either.

marisol. she had to conform to a dress even though she wanted to rock a suit. at that point marisol already knew damn well who she was, but she couldn’t come out yet. i don’t think she had a very open relationship with her parents, and had to hide it for a while. what i do think though is that she took a girl, and changed into a suit at the dance. her closest friends knew about it and supported her, helping her hide her secret until the time was right. but that didn’t happen that night. she gave her date her corsage, and danced the night away with all of them. i even think her first sexual experience with a girl happened that night. awkwardly but very fully loving experience.

noah. i really think noah had a long term girlfriend by the time he graduated from high school, and she was the lucky girl he took to prom as his date. he asked her in the most traditional way, getting to her by the lockers, after class, possibly proceeding to take her to the library, finding the aisle with his and hers favorite books, then asking her there. the whole shebang of corsage and tuxedo, but no fancy limo bit or big gestures. just what he could afford. his dad took them to the dance and they entered the room being greeted by his closest friends. i do think noah was somewhat popular among the boys, because of his swimming, and the girls because he was so sweet and caring, besides hot! definitely popular enough to get some votes for prom king, but not quite there. i also believe the night of the prom could’ve been the first time he had sex. i could be wrong, but in my head, teen noah would’ve waited for a night as such, knowing what it means to him and to his girlfriend. not a lot of dancing but a lot of talking and watching as his crazier friends would let go and pull off moves no one should.

priya. it wasn’t the most fun she had in her life, that’s for sure. she mentioned a couple of times about her life in school and how hard it was to fit in. i don’t think big things happened for her back then. she tried her best to conform and become friends with people but it wasn’t in her, and eventually, those friendships would crumble. she probably had a date, a boy who asked her, and a couple of close friends, but didn’t feel like that was the fantasy prom she pictured for herself. i can see her wearing something discreet, because the priya we know and love blossomed later in life. besides, it was 2007/2008. emo phases were ending, but the alternative hairstyles were still here. if she had one of those or not, it’s up for debate. but her family doesn’t seem the kind to forbid her from having a haircut of her choice, so… you know what that means for her fashion choices back then! she did have a good time after a while at the dance, but it took her too long to realize it only depended on her. i think she danced, but didn’t really let the beast out. “not the greatest party i’ve been to, and definitely not my hottest look. but i guess no one’s prom is perfect.”

[nedrasnielsen]

So here’s the story… Remember it has fish in it, so there’s always fish tales to go with any fish story. You’ll have to figure out what’s true or false. Yet again it could all be true. You decide.

We left Friday, July 3rd. We were due for a little R&R. Time to get out of the office and off the road for awhile. Well we did have a bit of a drive to get there.  216 miles. Not any further than Lake Powell is from us, but it takes twice as long to get there.

When we were almost there, we caught our first surprise. It wasn’t a very pretty site. All of a sudden the traffic come to a dead stop.  It was on a curve and I could see traffic stopped in both direction. Being in my line of work I figured ROAD CONSTRUCTION… Boy was I ever wrong. It was someone parked part way in the road and part way on a drive approach. Then I could see the fiery blaze. He was trying to get it out of the line of traffic and further off the road without catching the grass on fire. I couldn’t imagine our boat going up in flames. And I’m pretty sure the first thing I would have done was disconnect my rig from the boat. But he didn’t. The flames started at the back. Then worked their way forward. Everyone got out of the vehicle okay including the dogs. But it’s all still sad.

  So after a little rubber necking as we drove by we were off to the the gorge again. ALMOST THERE…!

I did convince Hank we needed to eat before we hit the water. We stopped at this cute little place in Manila UT. The name of it was the THE GORGE…. food was really good. As far as the service. It was a little on the slow side. They tried to justify it with the fact they had just had a big table come in. I found out on Monday the service is just slow. It was pretty good service even with it being slower than snail dung.

Finally we hit the water about 3pm. Now that was nice. But poor Hank had to work his but off. I’ve never fished for Mac before and it’s a whole new story. I had no idea how to rig the pole or anything. That’s were my knight in shining armor comes in as always. He just went to setting up my pole and getting all of my stuff fixed up. I knew all he really wanted was to get his own pole in the water. But I always come first. And that’s only one reason why I love him so much.

Photo by Maria Pop on Pexels.com

Photo by Berendey_Ivanov / Andrey_Kobysnyn on Pexels.com

Now we’re both rigged up and fishing … Well guess who catches the first fish? If you said me, you’d be dead wrong. Hank always out fishes me. And he has done this before and has a good idea of what’s going on. Me I’m like a newborn fresh out of the fire. Oh I know how to fish. I know how to fish for normal things anyway. Mac , not so much. Boy did I ever get a schooling.

As you see we’re talking about big fish. That’s not a little cooler.  As far as Hank was concerned these were little fish. He wanted about a thirty pounder.(or more) Most of what we caught were only ten pounders at best. Mine on the other hand were about 3 pounders. And after reeling in 10 pounds of sinker and pop gear I was tired. My arms hurt. I’m not as tough as I used to be. And I can’t give away trade secrets…. I’d be in big trouble for that. I like keeping my husband on my good side. I will tell you he makes a lot of his own gear.  Some of this stuff he makes costs over forty dollars for one to buy. And it gives him something else to do besides reloading ammo in the winter. I can’t say he was disappointed but he wasn’t thrilled either.

The other great thing about this trip was it was just us. No kids, no family,  no friends, no nobody. It was so nice to just spend one on one time. To reconnect a little. We have a lot of time alone at home. He’s out on the tractor working on our place, or I’m doing paper work or something. We try hard to keep close to each other but it doesn’t always happen. We lead busy lives and we try not to let life get in our way. Yet sometimes it does.  AND THAT’S LIFE !!!!

Flaming Gorge is such a beautiful place. One thing that made it even more beautiful was the place we stayed. THE VILLA….. Let me tell ya a little about the THE VILLA. It’s owned by a sweet gentleman by the name of Dirk. And Dirk is no push over. He wanted his info up front and was willing to answer all of my questions when I called for details on his little place in Manila. The price was right and I wouldn’t have to switch rooms for our stay for any reason. Remember this was July 4th weekend.  I’d done my research online before I had even called. Now this was a fishing trip, not a hang out in the room trip. And Dirk’s add catered to fisherman. Plenty of room to park a boat and he gave a free bag of ice each day you stayed. And I didn’t think we would be spending much time in the room anyway. So when the comments said the rooms were dated I really didn’t give a care. All other comments were quit favorable. Others had said that the rooms were very clean. And that was pretty much all I was looking for this trip. But when we got there…… OMG. Clean rooms was an understatement. I don’t think I’d ever been in a motel room ( and that’s from one end of the US to the other) that could compare to the cleanliness of this room. And so every morning we would go in and say HI to Dirk. He would make sure we got our bag of ice, and that everything was satisfactory with our room. And would ask if there was anything else he could do or us. And of course there was always fishing stories exchanged and great advise about the local waters he knew so well.  I had thought if we had come up for a more girly trip I would have wanted to stay somewhere more ROMANTIC… But after staying at THE VILLA. I would never stay anywhere else up there. THANK YOU DIRK for such an amazing atmosphere. We loved it and we’ll be back.

We did take some time a make a few business contacts and drop off a few cards . But not a lot. After all it was 4th of July weekend.

So we fished till late Sunday. We caught a fair amount of fish. And we had a great time. And on the way we did a little site sein’ .We had fun and got a chance to work on our personal connection. It was a great trip all and all.

OH WAIT I FORGOT TO SHOW AND TELL ABOUT MY GREAT CATCH WITH THE SILVER FISH……. OKAY LET ME GO SMOKE A SMOKE AND CHECK ON MY HUSBAND AND I’LL SHOW AND TELL YA ALL ABOUT IT.

……… Okay I’m back. Now for the rest of the story. Like I said we were fishing for BIG FISH. Not the normal lake trout or what have you. So I’m holding on to my pole cause that’s what ya do. There’s no rest in this game. And we’re trolling along…. And all of a sudden my drag runs out. I’m thinking ok I’m snagged again. You know how they call some girls Hagatha. Well you can call me Snagatha. I’m really good at it. But then I get some give. OK well maybe it’s not a snag. So now I’m trying to real in and I can’t. It won’t real in !!!!! Hank reals his line in a and comes over to help me. He can’t real it in either. So here we are thinkin’ its a big fish. I’m pretty excited and so is Hank. That was the purpose of this trip was for me to catch a big fish and it looks like it’s going to happen.  I’m trying to reel in with all my might. It’s just not working so we both know that’s it’s dead weight coming off the bottom. And this is what these big fish do. It takes more power than what me or the reel have. Hank grabs a towel and starts pulling it in. I real as fast as I can… Sometimes it’s not fast enough. I’m thinking I don’t want to loose this fish…

Hank keeps pulling and I can tell there’s a lot of weight there. I keep reeling. After a few minutes of all this. Here’s my fish being pulled into the boat. I’m thinking this is a strange looking fish. But then I get a closer look and I realize just how big of a catch I got. I’ve just reeled in $50.00 worth of downrigger supplies. Including the catch and release gear to go with it.  Dead weight off the bottom. Am I disappointed …. Oh hell no. He’ll use it in the future for sure. Am I disappointed I didn’t catch a big fish. If I was it would mean I missed the whole point about this trip. Spending time with you’re significant other is priceless.

Hope you all had a fantastic forth of July….  Stay and safe and remember all the fantastic thigs you can do for each other.

Lots of love…..

couple more photos of a fantastic area.

Flaming Gorge ! Fishing Trip. Reconnect. So here's the story... Remember it has fish in it, so there's always fish tales to go with any fish story.

[fyeah-redvelvet]

[TRANS] Allure July Issue - Joy

What do you think about most these days? Am I doing well right now? I have these thoughts often. I think I tend to think about my future self a bit more. Also, ‘I hope people like our upcoming summer album’. 

What is summer to you? It feels like everything is alive! A season filled with energy!

What color would you compare it to if you could? Green. I like the nature, so I like the natural green you can only see during the summer. 

Do you have a summer memory? When I was younger, I remember playing in the river in front of my house with my siblings. I acted as their guardian so I would wash them up afterwards. I liked taking care of my siblings when I was younger.

What’s your favorite summer fruit? Watermelon and kiwi. I like eating them raw rather than in salads.

How was the house you filmed in today? Would you like to live in it? I’ve wanted to live in a house close to nature. Because I wanted a space where my dog, Haetnim, can run around freely. I like that this house has a yard.

If this house could become your dorm, and you had to be in charge of one thing, what would it be? I don’t even clean my own room though? (laughs) Hmm, I want to be in charge of the garden.

When do you feel like your members are family? When I feel that our relationship has gotten stronger after a difficult schedule. I think I get that feeling when we say encouraging words to one another. We know one another well enough that we can tell when someone is having a hard time without them saying so. 

With the release of your new album coming up, what excites you the most? It’s an album that’s bright and exciting and gets more addicting the more you listen to it. I’ve really curious about peoples’ reactions to the song. I like it, but it’s quite a new genre upon first listen. I’m worried and excited at the same time about peoples’ reactions.

Do you have a non-title song that you like? I like the song ‘My Dear’. It’s very lovely and makes you feel better when you listen to it. 

As you promote as Red Velvet’s Joy, what has changed about human Park Sooyoung? Joy works harder to be more positive and give off bright energy. I end up putting all the energy I have into Joy, and so Park Sooyoung is more reserved and filled with thoughts. I guess she’s a deeper person? I like to meditate as well. However, as an artist, I try to focus on my brighter appearance. 

Do you have a life ‘keyword’ you try not to forget? Let’s not bother anybody else.  (t/n: the meaning behind this is a little deeper. it’s more along the lines of: if i do something, let’s do it without harming/bothering anybody else, not getting in the way of someone else)

If you had one summer day to yourself, and you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? I went to Danang in the past, and I really liked the pool villa there. As soon as I saw it, I thought of my family. If I were given free time, I’d like to go there with my family and Haetnim to relax. 

I’ll give you time to show off Haetnim.  First, she’s so kind and gentle. And smart. I think her personality is similar to mine. When she does her own thing, she does it quietly without bothering anybody else. And she reads my mind first to comfort me. So whenever I’m with Haetnim, I feel comforted. 

What was Joy’s biggest recent happiness?  Going on a walk with Haetnim. Usually, we go on walks around my house, but when I’m busy my mom brings her over to me and we take a walk. When my mom sees me after a while, she gets all happy. That side of her breaks my heart a little.

If Red Velvet had a new reality program, what would you like to do in it? I want to be given a mission or do a bunch of games. Recently, I played the mafia game on a variety program, and it was really fun. I think it’d be fun to play such things with my members. Rather than going somewhere, I think it’d be more fun to just play around comfortably. 

Is there a member that’s good with games? It depends on the game, but overall Irene unnie.

Your vocal parts have increased. How do you try to express yourself? I want to change my vocal tone freely depending on the song’s atmosphere or its lyrics. If you listen carefully to our songs, you can actually tell that my voice is slightly different. So I try to express myself hoping that my voice becomes the theme of the song.

Is there a part that you had that sticks with you until now? Rather than my parts, I tend to like our songs as a whole. The one that comes to mind right now is ‘Hear The Sea’. When I sing that song, it reminds me of summer-related things starting from its lyrics and so on. Like I’m in a Japanese animation? It’s refreshing yet dreamy at the same time.

Which Red Velvet song has your favorite lyrics? We have a song called ‘You Better Know’. I think those lyrics really touched my heart.

If you didn’t become a singer and fulfilled your childhood dream of being a teacher, what would you have taught? I have a friend who dreamed to be a teacher with me, and she actually became one. But when I listen to her stories, I think I did a good job of becoming a singer (laughs). 

Are you interested in beauty a lot?  I am. I think that a person can last long if they have various images rather than sticking to one. There are times when makeup plays a big part in those various images being expressed. I believe that beauty has spread from simply physical beauty to inner beauty as well, so I try to pay attention to that as well. On regular days, I prefer to walk around as my natural self. I don’t wear makeup a lot, and I try to focus on my inside. I try to take care of myself rather than just my physical self.

Is there a photoshoot you want to try? What would it be like to film me in my everyday life without being dolled up? I’m curious about how the results would look myself. 

You’ve self-agreed that you have weak stamina among the members. Is there anything that’s helped you out these days? Recently, I started an exercise called ballet fitness. There were a lot of muscles I’ve been using incorrectly, and I thought that I had good posture, but I was wrong. I’m feeling that myself and working on muscle training. It’s difficult now because I’m trying to strengthen my stamina, but I continue to do it because I believe it’ll help. Sometimes I don’t want to go, but after I finish, I feel like I’ve lived a plentiful day. 

You said you wanted to be born as a puppy your next life. I’m curious as to what breed you’d be. I want to be born as a maltese, Haetnim’s breed, and have endless conversations with her. What she’s thinking, what she’s feeling, I want to hear her stories correctly.

trans credit: jinhee @ fyeah-redvelvet! original source: SCAN by SGSGOM @ TWITTER please take out with credits!

[tabithacarlisle]

*OFF THE RECORD : Part 7.......by jo ( @tabithacarlisle ;) *Catch up on OFF THE RECORD’s previous chapters parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 here at the OTR Masterlist OTR Part 7 Notes & Disclaimers: Pixelberry Studios owns these characters, not me! I just have fun playing with them :) Pairings: Drake x Liam  (mentions: Liam x MC (Tabitha) | Maxwell x MC | Drake x MC | discussions of Liam x Drake x MC x Maxwell (!!) Warnings: 18+ NS*W, 🍋, SMUT, erotica, polyamory, marital angst, some swearing

*Author’s Note: any time you see text underlined, it’s a link to screenshots from Pixelberry’s Choices TRR scenes, or other chapters referenced from *OTR- click them!! :)

OTR Part 7: ........

“These plans look fantastic, Drake! I do...” he paused to flip through the stack of blueprints “...recall, Tabitha mentioning she wanted that land by the river on her estate to be used to build a private cottage for us in future. Is there, any... particular reason why the two of you seem in such a rush to build it now?”

“Do you remember that, um... thing I told you about?”

Liam still looked confused

“You know... you... me.... and Tabitha... the three of us....?”

The realization could clearly be seen on Liam’s face by how it at once turned from inquisitive to annoyed. Drake could read him like a book. “Oh... oh you mean that ‘thing’ I that I told both you and Tabitha that I was definitely not comfortable with partaking in and refused to do with both of you? That thing?”

“She needs this, we— we could make this work.”

“And, what, pray tell, makes you think that?”

“She wants Maxwell in on it now.”

“...what?!”

“You, me, Carlisle.... and—“ Drake blinked hard before exhaling sharply “Maxwell.”

“And this, this is what she wants? And you’re OK with it too??!”

“Listen, Your wife? is an insatiable minx. This is what she needs. This is what-- what we all need. All of us. You’re the one who said we need better communication to make this new situation work between the four of us, right? Think of it as a ... a team building exercise. Look, I wasn’t cool with Maxwell joining in at first, but she has a way of making people agree to things that they wouldn’t normally want anything to do with.”

Liam let his head fall into his hands propped up by his elbows on the desk and sighed audibly. “Yes, she does... and so do you.” He ran a hand through his hair and lifted his reading glasses off to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to hurt her, or you. Quite frankly, I’m still unsure about how I’ll react to seeing you together with her. And now Maxwell?... for fucks’ sake.”

Drake chuckled “Exactly.” 

“Jesus, Drake... You really think this would be the best course of action for all of us?”

“Listen, we give it a shot. One time. If you aren’t into it, it‘d be the last time ever, and we could move on. Someone once told me, ‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

“Let me guess who?”

“Yup. And, she also told me to remind you how good building that private cabin would be for the economy to create more jobs in Valtoria. Carlisle said she wants it built by all Valtorian contractors and workers. Better for PR that way.”

Liam’s mood perked up. He couldn’t help but beam with pride. “I do admit, I am so proud of her. I’m continually impressed by my wife’s political savvy. It’s hard to believe sometimes she wasn’t born to this life rather than us having plucked her out of waitressing at that dive bar in New York, isn’t it?”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t ever underestimate Carlisle. ... Any-ways, so... if this project is a ‘go’ - I’ve gotta leave for Valtoria this afternoon. We already have appointments to field bids from ‘bout half a dozen different contractors out there. I was thinking... maybe you and me? We could go together, stay at the manor on the estate, have some alone time this weekend?...”

Liam sighed. “You make it sound so tempting. But, I can’t. I have plans tonight.”

“Your meetings with the ambassadors aren’t happening ‘till next week though! C’mon, Lee...”

“It’s not just that. It’s been, too long, since I last spent the night with Tabitha. I wanted to surprise her with a mini-break on Sardinia. We have reservations at Al Vecchio’s for dinner tonight and I’ve rented a private villa for the two of us to spend the weekend there together.”

“Ooh, smooth. Al Vecchio’s?” Drake let out a low whistle “Y’know she likes cheap Italian food too, right?”

Liam frowned incredulously, “What makes you think that?”

Busted. “Oh— um...” He winced and scratched at the back of his neck “...never mind?”

“Right... anyway, this restaurant worked best with our security needs this time, and I want the best for her.”

“So you’re leaving tonight?”

“Yes, we have the private jet ready to go. Tabitha and I will be back by Monday in time for our State visit with the German Prime Minister.”

“Well, I’m gonna miss you. At least let me give you a proper send off...” Drake’s muscle memory easily found Liam’s belt buckle as he pried it loose and cupped Liam’s bulge through his trousers with the other hand. Liam gasped for breath & closed his eyes in a reluctant grimace, pushing drake’s hands away as he readjusted his belt

“What?”

“Drake— we can’t. I can’t, rather. It’s been, nearly two weeks since I last slept with her. I need to make sure I can keep my endurance up for tonight.”

Drake scoffed and grabbed Liam by the belt-loops to pull him closer, their hips now flush against each other’s. “‘Endurance’? Fuck that, Lee. I’ve seen you go four or five times in one night.”

Liam put his head down slightly and closed his eyes, chuckling softly and trying not to blush before he met Drake’s eyes again. “You know I’m getting older.”

“Never. Not to me.”

Liam, touched by the flattery, placed his hand over Drake’s chest. “Come, now. Let me give you, a proper send off instead.”

Liam held Drake’s shoulder, kissing him hard and fastening his hand at the base of Drake’s neck. Their lips remained locked as Liam reached a hand down to push the small red button under the edge of his desk. The locks on the door to the office could be heard remotely latching from across the room. They were safe now. Drake reached up to cup Liam’s face in his calloused hands to deepen the kiss, only to be denied entry when Liam pushed him down into the leather executive desk chair.

“Oof!”

Liam lowered himself onto his knees and unzipped Drake’s pants, pulling down the elastic of his boxer briefs just enough to free his cock and balls. The shaft was almost fully erect. He looked up into Drake’s eyes hungrily while twisting one hand up and down the shaft and stroking the balls with his fingers splayed in the other, until Drake’s manhood was fully prepped. Drake tangled his fingers in Liam’s hair and groaned, closing his eyes and arching his neck back against the mahogany leather headrest. He soon felt that familiar tongue tracing the underside and sucking at the tip of his cock with his favorite mouth. It felt like home.

Drake moaned again, just a bit too audibly this time so that Liam had to lift his head. He put a finger to his lips and shushed at Drake like a school headmaster. Drake opened his eyes, and frowning hissed back at Liam “What?! Bash knows already!”

“One can never be too careful...” Liam whispered back. He winked at him and set back to work again, this time slowly easing Drake’s fully erect shaft into his mouth and deep down his throat one time, pulling back to look into Drake’s eyes as he let the tip loll around his lips and lightly stubbled cheeks before engulfing his dick again.

Drake leaned forward, bracing the back of Liam’s head and neck with his large palms. He thrusted his hips up in time to Liam’s mouth machinations, trying desperately to keep from moaning too loud. Drake bit his lip and growled under his breath, feeling his nut-sac clench in anticipation. Before he could verbally warn Liam, Drake’s release came. He shuddered, opening his eyes long enough to make sure his thick cum got deposited entirely into Liam’s eager mouth, and tapping the visible outline of his cock’s head softly on the inside of Liam’s cheek in his mouth; all the better to not leave a trace on him.

Liam swallowed softly and smiled with closed lips. Still on his knees, he opened a bottom desk drawer to find the small bottle of mint mouthwash that had been left there from their past sessions in the office. He gargled briefly before spitting into a small cup, as Drake methodically finished cleaning himself up, then readjusted his pants to tuck his shirt back in. It was clear this was a routine they had followed many times before; there was no time for ‘pillow talk’ or cuddling.

Drake did notice Liam getting up from the floor with a visible hard on bulging beneath his pants.

“Ouch, Liam? are you seriously that desperate to keep your title as the ‘Edging King?’ That’s gotta be painful. You should just let me help you out this time.”

“I told you, I have to save it for my Queen. I’ll be fine, trust me.” He rubbed Drake’s shoulder before hugging him close. “It’s only for the weekend. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“You two have fun then, and you’d better fuck her so senseless that she can barely walk when she gets back home.”

“Drake! Have you gone completely mad? She’s pregnant, I can’t just—“

“Oh, believe me, Carlisle can take it. Those pregnancy hormones of hers are a gift.” Drake winked suggestively at him as he rolled up the cabin blueprints left on Liam’s desk, walking backwards back out the door, whistling with a slight spring in his step as he left down the hall.

Liam sat back down at his desk. Drake had left one copy of the cabin plans with an empty signature field. He exhaled loudly, and taking an expensive looking fountain pen put his signature on the line above his name and title, and stamped the Royal Cordonian seal at the bottom of the blueprints. .......

Click Here to Read On >>>> OTR Part 8

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