#let me ride you to BYOB!!

[wholoveseggs]

I don't know if you've talked about this before, but what style of music do you think Elijah would like best?

I LOVE this question, and I have so much to say. I have two answers: one is what he probably listens to based on show canon, and the other is what I want him to like because I think it’s hot.

First, canonically: Elijah is absolutely a fan of classical and jazz. We see him playing the piano like the refined gentleman he is..Someone who has spent centuries honing his craft. I imagine him being a fan of the greats: Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy for classical, and Duke Ellington or Miles Davis when it comes to jazz. It fits his old-world charm, his sense of elegance, and his love for structure and tradition.

But what I want him to secretly love? METAL

Picture this: it’s middle part menace Elijah in TVD Season 2. He’s sitting in a dark room, wearing one of his perfectly tailored dark suits, sipping some ridiculously expensive bourbon... with a goth girl (me) perched in his lap. And what’s playing in the background? Classic heavy metal or death metal. (This is my ultimate Elijah fantasy ~lol)

I feel like he’d have a preference for 90s/00s stuff (my favorite, hehe) Disturbed, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, maybe even a little System of a Down or Slipknot. The angrier and more intense, the better.

I also think Elijah would have a deep appreciation for the classics. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. Their groundbreaking artistry and the way they shaped modern music would resonate with him, especially given his centuries of witnessing cultural evolution firsthand.

But 80s metal? Oh no. He’d probably find it far too disingenuous, with all the flashy hair and over-the-top theatrics.

This version of Elijah makes so much sense to me, especially in Season 2. This is a man who spent decades hunting Klaus. He’s angry. He’s violent. That calm and collected demeanor we see? That’s just the surface. Deep down, Elijah is full of rage, grief, and a relentless drive for justice.

And that’s why I think he’d relate to metal. It’s raw, it’s angry, it’s aggressive, but it’s also cathartic. The technical precision of bands like Tool or Metallica would appeal to his love of structure and mastery, while the sheer chaos of Slipknot or System of a Down would let him connect with the storm raging inside him.

I find something so hot about the idea of this super-refined, 1000+ year-old man who exudes elegance and control, secretly loving aggressive, chaotic music. It’s the perfect contradiction.

Here is my fantasy metal playlist for a goth girl who wants to ride Elijah (me):

Land of Confusion - Disturbed

Schism - Tool

The Hand that Feeds - Nine Inch Nails

Closer - Nine Inch Nails

BYOB - System of a Down

Whisper - Evanescence

Crawling - Linkin Park

🥵

[tatsumessy]

Graduation Confessions - {Katsuki Bakugou}

���hey idiot, you going to the graduation party?” you turned around confused wondering why Bakugou was talking to you. “uh yeah I was going to go. why what’s up?” he grumbled something sticking his hands in his pockets before turning away slightly. “just wondering if ya wanted a ride or something. I only have shitty hair and kirishima in my car.” you smiled at his statement.

“if you don’t mind.” he shook his head no and you followed him outside towards his car where the other two were waiting. after some brief arguing then the conversation ending with bakugou yelling, you ended up in the passenger seat with kirishima and kaminari in the back seat. the venue was a karaoke bar with BYOB, when you arrived everyone was already one shot in and mineta was singing miley cyrus while trying to swing from the light fixture.

the only spots available were at the end of the booth next to the door so bakugou and you were forced to sit next to each other. you sat with your legs crossed while he leaned back against the booth backing and had his legs spread open ultimately squishing you between him and ojiro. both of you had gotten a drink somehow and were now just siting in silence watching everyone have fun.

“have you decided which agency you’re gonna go to?” he asked out of the blue and at first it was difficult to hear him but you understood. “yeah, edgeshot offered me a side kick position at his agency. what about you?” “I can’t become the number one hero if i’m working under some old hag who’s just going to get in my way.” you covered your mouth laughing at his response, that sounded like him and you shouldn’t have expected less.

for the most part of the night you and him talked about the future and reminiscing on the past couple years at UA. after a couple hours passed you decided that you needed air, all of your class being stuffed into a medium sized room and then constantly moving around while also being drunk generates a bunch of unwanted heat. walking outside the cold air was a relief as it blew against your skin, you leaned against one of the buildings pillars and stared up at the sky watching the scenery. the door behind you opened up with a loud creaking noise and when you turned to see who it was you saw that it was bakugou.

“let me guess. kaminari is too drunk to see reason and tried to kiss you.” he scoffed not wanting to admit that it was true. he rolled his eyes leaning against the pillar as well staring infront of him, he occasionally glanced over at you and in that moment every little detail and feature he never paid attention too became noticeable. he was staring so much you thought something was wrong with your face.

“what is it?” you asked him covering your face just in case there was some food in your teeth. “nothing.” he mumbled staring out infront of him. “damn it’s getting cold.” you say softly with a dreading expression, you also didn’t want to go back into the room just to get hot all over again. “hay bakugou…could we sit in your car for a few minutes?” “ehh? why? if you’re cold go ba-” he couldn’t finish his sentence with seeing your pouting expression, he sighed in annoyance and pulled out his keys unlocking the car.

you opened the passenger side door and got in rubbing your hands together as he turned the car on. “my gosh it just got cold all of a sudden” you say trying to break the awkward silence, “it’s been cold your dumbass just didn’t realize it. are ya still cold?” you shook your head no, you reached your hand out clasping both of your hands over his right hand feeling how warm it was. “oh my gosh is this because of your quirk…? are your hands always this warm? and…sweaty-”

you watch as the tips of his ears grow pink and you smile at him not wanting to make him uncomfortable. “sorry…” you pull your hands away your face flushed slightly as you both looked away from each other. after a few moments you decided to speak up, “i guess this is the right time to do this- I don’t know when it started but i’ve had a crush on you for as long as i can remember.” you sat there staring at the side of his face for a moment before speaking again.

“I don’t expect you to like me back…i don’t think we’ve actually had a conversation until tonight.” you sigh not seeing any reaction from him. he just stares at you with an unreadable expression, that was until his face even under the night glow brightened up from embarrassment. “you idiot.” he covered his face a bit annoyed for the way his. oft isn’t cooperating the way he wants. “don’t tell me-” “shut up you idiot!” he yelled looking away from you.

“katsuki…” you slowly slid your hand into his and without looking at you he interlocked your fingers and held your hand tightly. he looked over at you seeing the smile on your face, he rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat just pulling out his phone to keep himself distracted from the fact that he was holding his crushes hand right now. yeah it was true the both of you hadn’t really spoken much in the years of being at UA. but the small interaction that you both did have seemed to do much of the both of you were sitting in his car like blushing idiots.

after a while you both decided to go back inside, you’re walking up to the door and he pulls it open waiting for you to walk through. you stand there still holding his hand but stop pulling him back a little. he closed the door and you turned infront of him, looking up at him you gently grab his cheek and pull him down pressing a kiss on his lips. he hesitated for a moment shocked at the action but he quickly kissed back holding the back of your head as your mouth parted allowing him to deepen the kiss. your mouths molded together perfectly as he pushed you against the wall shielding your head with his hand not caring for any pain.

“katsu-” you try to speak and catch your breath but all he did was capture your lips in another fated kiss not wanting this moment to end. you knew the both of you were drinking but you thought you both had the same amount of drinks…he was definitely intoxicated which if you were in your right mind should’ve told you to stop. “katsuki-” he pulled away staring down at you. he dropped his head onto your shoulder letting out a frustrated sigh.

“you smell good.” he mumbled into your shoulder as his arms wrapped around your waist and he leaned against you not wanting to stand up straight. he was more afraid of you seeing his blushing face than your whole class coming out and catching the both of you like this. “you’re cute when you’re drunk.” “shut up idiot”

comments and and repost are appreciated lovelies

[quinloki]

Birthday Request Event v2024

Gift Details ♥ Reader Style: afab Character: Sabo Vibe: NSFW Consensual AU: Vampire AU Prompt: Bath/Shower/Hot spring (Writer's Choice) Gift Giver: @possiblyelven

Summary: Your lover is a vampire, and the contrary bastard has a mirror-lined shower.

Content Notes: mirror sex, vampire has no reflection, dirty talk from Sabo like he was born to do it, vampire strength, compulsion, mdni

This birthday party is 18+, consensual unless explicitly stated otherwise, and BYOB

You stood in the shower, unsure of where to look. The walls were mirrored, of all the terrible things, and even the stone work at your feet seemed to give you away. Even with water cascading over you, warm enough to be comfortable, cool enough not to steam the reflective mirrors, you could see entirely too well.

You felt him step up behind you before his hands were against your skin, lips pressing quavering and barely restrained kisses into the back of your neck and along your shoulders. The mirrors didn’t give him away like they did you, but the water made his golden curls cling to his face and neck.

“I… don’t know where to look.” You sigh as his hands move along your hips.

“Close your eyes, then.” He offers, before turning you to face him. His smile is devious and kind at the same time, clear blue eyes putting you at ease. “Or keep them on me. I will behold your beauty in mirrors wise enough to reflect only the most deserving, and you can honor me by keeping your eyes on me.”

He leans in, kissing you sweetly as the water flowed over you both. “Only me.”

“Only you.” You promise, eyes moving from his to his lips. “Sabo, please.”

Hands that are hot against the small of your back twitch, moving down to the curve of your ass and squeezing, eliciting a moan from you before he leans in and steals another kiss. His tongue was between your lips, hungry and thirsty, the harried space between you ensorcelled in water, making the entire affair messier than usual.

Sabo lifts you easily, the unnatural strength of his perfect for moments even as gentle as these. You seemed to float in the reflection of the mirrors, your breasts pressed against Sabo’s unseen chest. The grip of his hands in the meat of your thighs was the only indication you weren’t floating under your own power.

“Another time,” he grins, stiff cock already teasing your entrance, “and I want to put the mirror right between our legs.” He lets you sink down a little, teasing just the tip of his cock into you. “I want to watch your pussy, flushed and dripping, spread open around me.”

“Haaaa, fuh-fuck. Don’t say it like that,” you whine, hiding your face in the crook of his neck. Held like this there weren’t many places to look. Nuzzled into him gave him access to your neck, and he didn’t leave the opportunity to pass him by.

Sharp fangs, and the euphoria that always followed the sting, sink into you as he pushes deep into your pussy. Your gasp of surprise is a bright cry of pleasure at the stimulation and it’s all you have in you to hold onto him. The bite is brief, a loving lick over the small wounds as he makes you ride him easily.

The slap of skin is wet from the shower and the frantic start has you panting into his shoulder.

“So noisy already?” He coos knowingly, licking against your neck again as he thrusts up into you. “Seeing the water mingle with your pleasure and drip onto the tiles is quite the treat.”

“I’m not dripping!” You cry. He was going to kill you with embarrassment one day.

“Oh?” Sabo pulls out of you, turning you around with such ease it almost makes your head spin. Your back is against his chest, and he’s holding your thighs, keeping you spread and purposefully on display for the mirrors. “Watch, sweet flower.” He says the words in a way that brokers no descent and you watch as he pushes his twitching cock back inside you.

“Sabo, please!” You cry, heart pounding in your head as he fills you back up.

“It’s not the best angle, but you do take me so well, don’t you.” He holds you steady, pushing up into as water cascades down his back and leaves your view of yourself unobstructed. His eyes flash, and the light is the only thing that reflects off the mirrors.

“Touch yourself,” he commands and your hand is moving toward your clit before you’ve fully registered it.

“Cheater,” you gasp. Your fingers feel almost foreign against the sensitive bundle of nerves, sending thrills through you. “Stop - Ahhh-fuck - commanding me like that!”

“Ah, but you love it.” He purrs in your ear, tongue teasing the curve of it. “Look, there’s no water, and yet-.”

“Don’t say it!” You cry. Your legs are shivering and you can feel pleasure rising inside you. With the clear view from the mirrors you swear the only thing you can hear dripping on the stone tiles is your own pleasure, despite the shower running behind you.

“Please, please, I’m going to cum, Sabo, please!”

“Look at me.” The edges of a command help you look up at him, and his eyes drink in your expression. Desperate and needy, and so close. “By the stars. I just want to press you against the mirror and fuck you until you drool down the glass, too blissed out of your sweet little mind to care.”

You try to protest, but nothing except a desperate keening cry escapes your lips. Sabo picks up the pace.

“Cum.” He commands, but there’s no magic to it. There was none stopping you from it either, but the way you waited, relentlessly begging for his permission in all the ways you could think of.

Pleasure shatters your face, still tilted back so he can watch you fall apart. He could enjoy the reflection, but there was something far more decadent about seeing it so up close. Especially as your body was compelled to continue teasing your clit even as your conscious thoughts were getting lost to pleasure.

A devious grin splits Sabo’s face as he steps toward the mirrored wall, pressing your fevered skin against the cold glass. You barely gasp from the temperature difference as Sabo continues thrusting into your dripping and trembling pussy.

“Since we’re here, my sweetest flower, let's see if I can’t make my earlier idea a reality.”

[jerzwriter]

A Bronx Valentine

Book: Crimes of Passion Pairing: Trystan Thorne x Carolina Rose (F!MC) Words: 900 Rating: Teen Summary: It's their first Valentine's Day as a couple, and Trystan and Carolina have plans to spend it in a very traditional manner... until they don't. A/N: I have a few notes at the end, but I will be participating in @choicesfebruary2024 Eros/Philia

Dinner had been delightful. Ruby’s recommendation was exactly what Trystan and Carolina had desired. Cozy. Candle-lit. Off-the-beaten path and not too crowded, even on Valentine’s Day. It was BYOB, so Trystan saw to it that the wine game was top-tier, and the food rivaled any place Michelin would quickly grant three stars.

The only thing that could rival the restaurant was the company, which was quite evident as Trystan stared at Carolina in rapt attention. Lovingly caressing her hand as she regaled him with stories of her past. He wanted to know absolutely everything about this vision who was foolish enough to love him, and he would have gladly listened to her all night.   

Just before the coffee was served, Carolina kicked off a shoe. With the floral brocade tablecloth providing cover, Trystan visibly shuddered as his girlfriend's stockinged foot trailed up and down his calf. They seemed to know exactly where the night was headed, but Carolina had one more story to tell. With his interest more than piqued, Trystan had enough, all but jumping from his seat to wave down the waiter for the check.

Their anticipation was palpable on the taxi ride home, and they all but hopped out of the car the moment it came to a stop. Bolting up the stairs, their laughter filled the air as they stumbled into her room, Carolina knocking things over as she clumsily felt around for the light.

"I can't believe we're going to do this," she chuckled. "I only meant it as a joke."

"Are you kidding?" Trystan beamed so brightly that there was almost no need for that light. He grabbed two glittery pens and some paper from Carolina's stash and rushed to take a seat at her side. "This is inspired! It's brilliant! I'm distraught that I haven’t heard of it before!"

"Yeah," she winked seductively, caressing his cheek with a smile. "But if you had, you wouldn't be doing it for the first time with me."

"Yes, and while this is a very unique of losing our virginity together, and I, for one, cannot wait! Now! Let's get to it!"

Carolina grabbed a sheet of paper from Trystan’s hand with a raised brow. “Do you think this is enough?”

“Hardly!” He gasped, pulling an entire memo cube from beside him. “We are going to be here a long time."

Carolina scooted down to the floor to write atop her coffee table, and Trystan quickly followed.

“Raul!” Carolina hollered as she wrote the name down. “Definitely, Raul!”

Trystan knit his brows. “I don’t think you ever told me about him?”

“Of course I did!” Carolina insisted. “He was the jerk who insisted being demiro was not a thing and just kept pushing and pushing no matter how uncomfortable I became.”

“Asshole,” Trystan mumbled.

“Precisely! Granted, I happily dumped a pitcher of Sangria over his head on our last date... quite satisfying, but... this adds a certain... je n’est ce quoi. Who is your first victim?”

“Augustine, for starters. He was the jackass that went to the tabloids about our relationship before I had even come out at bi."

“Prick!” Carolina exclaimed.

“... and then there was Alicia....”

Carolina looked up from her writing, “I don’t think I remember her story?”

“Fake pregnancy extortion scheme.”

“Dear God!” Carolina laughed. “You have a much more storied dating history than I do!”

Trystan looked up at her with a playful smirk. “I was simply the bigger whore, dear.”

Carolina burst into giggles. “This is entirely too much fun!”

“Inspired!!! Oh," he said, grabbing a sheet of glittery red heart stickers. "Do you think we should put some of these on?"

"I can't see why not! I think it would be a lovely touch and in the spirit of the occasion!"

"Ah!" Trystan grinned. "The Bronx is the best place in the world.”

“In fairness, I don’t think the Bronx Zoo is the only place that lets you name a giant cockroach after an ex for Valentine’s Day, but they really do make a big deal of it.”

Trystan shook his head in amazement as he pulled out his phone. “I can’t believe this tradition hasn’t made its way to Drakovia!” Then, after a few clicks, he let out a gasp. “OH...MY... GOD!”

“What is it?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist and peering over his shoulder.

“The San Antonio Zoo lets you name a giant roach after an ex... then they feed it to another animal in the zoo!”

“No!” Carolina said with a gentle laugh. “Absolutely not. Even if it is a giant roach, I’m not supporting animal cruelty.”

“But it’s a ROACH Carolina, and it’s going to be dinner for the other animals anyway.”

“Perhaps,” she shrugged. “But it’s not going to be at my suggestion. I’ll stick with just naming a roach that's a Bronx native, just like me!"

“You’re no fun,” he pouted.

“Really?” She teased. “We'll see what you have to say about that after this little activity is over.”

Trystan’s eyes lit up as a lightbulb went on in his head. With another gasp and a quick clap of his hands, he reached for a stack of paper. Carolina tried to remember if she had ever seen the man this enthusiastic.

“Are you that excited about our post-Roach naming activities?”

“Always,” he winked. “But I just thought of something! I can name roaches after my siblings, too!”

“Oh, God!"

“And parents... I can name them after my parents! Not to mention, you've never even met my cousins.”

Carolina put her tiny stack of names to the side and grabbed her pen.

“Babe, do you want to tell me some of their names so I can help you? This looks like it might take a while, and as much fun as this is... I really have other things I’d like to get to.”

Trystan leaned over and gave Carolina a long, lingering kiss. "Of course, my love, but it must be said... this is the best foreplay I’ve ever had.”

A/N2: When I saw this, I knew exactly what I had to do! I could absolutely see these two doing this - and having entirely too much fun doing so! I'd like to thank The Bronx Zoo for the inspiration!

@choicesficwriterscreations Tagging others separately.

[jisungshotfirst]

top 10 title tracks of 2023

in which i am a nerd and rant about music<3

10. BYOB - Billlie

this is just the cutest little city pop song! it's simple and catchy and it was a real change to hear such soft voices from billlie! softer title tracks always stand out to me because they are often so so pretty and delicate and byob is so so pretty and delicate! and the lyrics... i have claimed this as an aromantic anthem, it's ours. not relating to your friends having crushes .... billlie i see u

9. Break the Brake - Xdinary Heroes

this song is just straight vibes... the loudest rock we've gotten from xdinary and I appreciate it SO much. the verses r so clean and the falsetto.. its harmonically so interesting so the noise of the chorus feels properly cathartic and doesn't feel like a loss which can sometimes happen in scream-esc choruses. It's arranged SO well to balance all these things and be stimulating while also being so emotive. AND JUNHAN WITH THOSE CRUNCHY NOTES IN HIS SOLO. the dissonance.. its so brain-sratchy

8. In Bloom - Zerobaseone

zebi brainrot is so real friends.. be careful. this song is so beautiful! i think its a perfect example of the song marrying the concept and mv and members tones so well. from literally the first minute of zb1 i was so excited about their concept of mixing natural imagery like flowers with glitchy technology imagery and i hoped the music would match... AND IT DID! its so lyrical while being crunchy and energetic. SUCH a slayful debut

7. #menow - Fromis_9

this song is sooooo pretty. epitome of a soft bop. it's a classic fromis sound but with this sense of maturity and humility that makes it so engaging and emotional. it demands to be taken seriously but still is so fun! the vocal production is next level.. the effect on their voices in the chorus so they're used like instruments... one of favourite techniques ever. i LOVE when the vocals truly feel like part of the arrangement and not just sitting on top and this song truly does that

6. Spicy - Aespa

the absolute cunt aespa serve in this song... who let them. anyone who knows me knows i'm obsessed with everything moonshine has ever made.. and so when i heard they were doing an aespa title... i went crazy. and i am so right for it. THE BASS IS INSANE?? it puts all other synth basses to shame with how in your face it is. and the crispy snare? idk how to describe this song other than cunty because she genuinely does not care about being clean or palatable... like she is In Your Face with sound. and aespa literally ate that up... they are so fun and cheeky and confident! i'm sorry this is the kind of song that only a group of baddies could handle and aespa stepped up

5. Sugar Rush Ride - TXT

txt doing disco... like you already have me at that. it's sooooo groovy and although the anti-chorus was surprising.. i'm not mad at it! I'm so happy they went into it full force with the whisper vocals and the choreo switching mood, it rly helped the genre change make sense. and the DISCOOO at the end.. bop central. the lyrics and choreo and vibes overall r just so beautiful.. what can i say i love songs about gay sex i mean forbidden love...

4. Groovy - Cravity

the funky bop of all funky bops... literally funk pop goodness! there is so much movement in this track theres so many different rhythms happening and the blend together sooo well. the dance break is perfect.. literally everything you want from a dance break with the continuation of the same sounds but a new tone to it and new rhythmic focuses. and the choreo for it literally hits ever beat you want it to and stretches out the time between them perfectlyyyy. but ultimately it is on here because it is a feel-good happy fun bop.. and she excels at it! vity makes me so happy and they are so good at making songs that make you happy

3. Galileo - Kep1er

cutest song of the year! it is so groovy and fun and danceable. it is sooo feel-good it literally makes me smile every time. thank you hiyyih for putting aegyo in a song<3 where is her nobel peace prize. this is the kind of song where you truly can't hear the music theory going on because it just does exactly what you want it to do! any tension chords are resolved perfectly where you want them to. it's the perfect example of chords from minor keys borrowed to make a song that sounds so major and happy. there is absolutely nothing i would change about this song it is sooo perfect. absolutely filled to the brim with joy

2. ROAR - The Boyz

...like literally hello? this song came out of nowhere for me i did NOT expect to be as impressed as i was like my life changed after this song. firstly the whistle.. hot and sexy and catchy. carrying it through as a motif, chopping it up, creating variations, translating it to a singable vocal line... all of that is SO impressive to be able to pull off. crunchy track underneath.. beautiful. but what is most impressive to me about this song is the topline. the vocals are literally insane.. chanhee and hyunjae have my favourite tbz voices and u are crazy if u don't agree that they r the main characters of this song. some of those chorus lines are So high and they can sing them in a way that sounds so effortless. and the backing vocals... the Incredibly high harmony in the choruses makes me want to scream (it's jacob i think.. jail). and there is just voices Everywhere.. everywhere theres little 'ahs' hidden around and it not only fits the songs sexy concept in such a natural way but it just fills up every bit of space in the song. and the lyrics... once again i love a song about ..*checks notes* forbidden love.. that is damned by heaven... definitely not about gay sex tho .. definitely not..

1. Chill Kill - Red Velvet

second moonshine on the list .. no one is suprised. i think this song has complimented red velvet's two sides of creepy and feel-good the most successfully. the tone shift from the verses to the chorus is so obvious... but seamless. and what does it is the harmony! the chords are perfect... it seems redundant to talk about rv vocals but they rly just make the song. and the outro... blending both vocal parts of the chorus together.. it sounds epic. it adds to both the happy and creepy by sounding like a group of friends together.. but also cult-y with all that creepiness still lingering. singing 'forget about your sorrow' with the happiest voices like the verses weren't filled with creepy minor sounds... literally gaslighting queens. this song is terrifying and also the most joyful (hi sooyoung 😘) experience to listen to.... only the dream team of moonshine cazziopeia and red velvet can manage that. and it's no surprise this dream team gets my no.1 spot!

thank you for reading if you got this far ! pls share your favs with me and if we share any i'd love to hear what you think! happy new year everyone I truly hope it treats you well<3 and here's to more bops in the new year!!!

[beautiful-and-terrible]

dazed ‘n‘ confused (part 3)

A/N: 3500 fuckin’ words y’all lmaooo i am so stupidly invested in this dumbass and his hot neighbor.

Ship: Rodrick Heffley x OFC

Warnings: underage drinking / drug usage, dubious consent (both parties inebriated), swearing, etc.

---

Nicole shouldn’t have worried so much about what to wear. When she showed up in Rodrick’s garage, his friends Ben and Chris were there, both dressed in ripped jeans and flannel shirts paired over band t-shirts. By comparison, Nicole’s black skater skirt and combat boots felt almost fancy.

“Hey, I’m Ben,” the dark-haired one holding a red electric guitar came up to her and gave her a fist bump. She almost laughed, not having fist-bumped anyone since she was 13. “Nicole,” she replied, smiling.

“I’m Chris!” the blonde called over, waving, before turning back to adjusting his microphone and checking the settings on their audio.

Rodrick seemed to appreciate her style, at least. He came through the garage door, carrying a four-pack of Monster energy and whistled, giving her a quick up-and-down glance, “Hey, groupie.”

Nicole punched his arm as he walked by. “I came here to listen to you play, so… play.”

“Your wish is my command,” Rodrick said with a dramatic bow.

Nicole found a relatively comfortable spot as far from the speakers as she could get - this wasn’t a concert, but loud speakers could still be painful after an extended period of time. The clack of Rodrick’s drumsticks alerted her, and before she knew it there was a blast of noise and a blur of limbs.

Honestly, he wasn’t bad, Nicole thought to herself after they had played a few songs. He could use a little more control, but what musician didn’t get caught up in their music? Glancing outside, Nicole saw that it was finally growing dark out. The sky had turned a soft purple, and she could see a few fireflies flashing in the cooling grass. She checked the time on her phone - 9:15.

“Hey, do you guys know Caitlin?” she asked the group. They turned to look at her.

“Caitlin Irving or Caitlin Peters?” Ben asked, taking an impressive gulp of Monster before burping loudly. The boys fell into fits of laughter. Nicole couldn’t help laughing, too.

“I don’t know her last name, she works at Starbucks, though.”

“Ohhhhhh, Caitlin! Yeah, we know her. Why?”

“She invited me to a party tonight, but I don’t really know anyone but her. Would you guys wanna be my plus-three?”

Ben and Chris high-fived each other, and Rodrick saluted her with his drumstick, whacking himself in the head in the process. Nicole hid a laugh behind her hand, not wanting to embarrass him. “For sure, Nikky. As long as there's drinks, we’ll be there,” Chris said. 

“C’mon, we can take my van,” Rodrick said, shoving his drumsticks in his back pocket and running inside to grab his keys. The other boys started down the driveway toward the white van, garishly painted with the band's name on the side in bold, black letters.

When Rodrick returned, Nicole gave him a smug look. “I thought it needed repairs?”

Rodrick stopped walking mid-stride, looking like a puppet caught on its strings. “Uh. Yeah. Well. My dad helped, when you were over at your house. Getting ready. It’s fine now. He’s the best mechanic I know.”

“Uh-huh. You sure you didn’t just… want to ride home with me from work?”

Rodrick scoffed. “You wish.” But as he rounded the front of the car to the drivers side, you caught the scarlet color of his cheeks against his tan skin. As if he could be any more endearing, he even offered Nicole shotgun. Chris grumbled the entire time, but begrudgingly gave you the seat he had worked so hard to acquire. 

“First stop - Capital. Ben has a fake, so we can BYOB,” Rodrick said, practically peeling out of the driveway. Nicole clutched the seat for dear life, heart stuck in her throat.

“Are you sure this thing is secure?” she squeaked, feeling the seat shaking a little in its bolts.

“No one has been ejected yet, Nikky,” Rodrick laughed.

“Go-go gadget get me the fuck out of here,” Nicole groaned, planting her feet on the floor to try and stop herself from flying forward as Rodrick squealed to a stop in front of a seedy looking liquor store.

Ben barely avoided taking the sliding door off its tracks when he opened the door. Chris lit a cigarette in the back, the acrid scent wafting to the front of the van. Nicole didn’t mind the smell much - honestly it reminded her of her Grandmother's house - but she hoped the smell didn’t linger on her clothes. That would be hard to explain to her mom. Speaking of, she sent off a quick text to her parents telling them that she’d be back late. Luckily, Nicole had always been the responsible type, so her parents trusted her to make good decisions and as a result, let her have free reign of her life (especially now that she was 18).

Ben returned after a few minutes, carrying a 24 pack of Natty Light and lighting his own cigarette.

“You have the address?” Rodrick asked, and you showed him Caitlins text.

“Yo, that's in Heather Hill’s neighborhood. Maybe we can tee-pee her house later,” Rodrick said, already zooming off again.

“Heather Hills?”

“Major bitch,” Chris called from the back of the van. Rodrick shrugged. “She’s not a bitch she’s just… not very nice.”

Nicole laughed, “You don’t have to defend the honor of all women by not calling her a bitch. If she’s a bitch, I believe you.”

Rodrick looked at you out of the corner of his eye, thinking briefly.

“Yeah, she’s a stone-cold bitch. She ran over my foot once. With her car.” 

Nicole grimaced in sympathy.

“Last year, we played at her Sweet Sixteen party, and Rodrick broke her ice sculpture bust. It was awesome,” Ben said.

“Oh, so you aren’t always perfect?” Nicole teased. Rodrick flipped her off.

Soon, they pulled up in front of Caitlin’s house. Nicole could already hear loud music from outside the house, and there were rainbow strobe lights flashing in the windows. Swallowing her nervousness, she followed Rodrick, Chris and Ben up the front walkway.

As they walked in the house, Nicole was hit by the fragrant, herbal smell of weed. From far away, the music had seemed loud, but coming in the house the music seemed to vibrate her ribcage - it was something with a repetitive bass, stuff Nicole didn’t normally listen to but she enjoyed it nonetheless. She followed Rodrick further into the house, trying to find the kitchen, weaving between people dancing and couples making out.

There were people surrounding an island in the center of the kitchen, decorated with colorful bottles of liquor and sodas to mix with. Nicole spotted Caitlin talking to a tall black guy, drinking out of a red solo cup. Nicole gave her a wave, and Caitlin excitedly came over to greet her.

“Hey! I’m so glad you made it.”

“Yeah, me too. I haven’t actually ever been to a high school party.”

Caitlin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Well, you’re gonna have one hell of a first high school party experience, girly. Let's get you a drink.”

Caitlin turned to the kitchen island and poured about four shots of rum and filled the rest with coke in a red solo cup. Nicole took a sip. She could barely tell it was spiked, so she took a few more chugs and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. 

“Do you wanna dance?” Caitlin asked, and Nicole nodded before following her back to the living room. Already, the rum was making her limbs feel looser and her brain fuzzy. She finished the rest of it in one go, enjoying the feeling of her nervousness and insecurities fading away. Nicole had never been unpopular, per say, but she tended to stay to herself and only had a few close friends at her old school, anyway. It was refreshing to feel included, and she couldn’t help feeling that this was the way her teenage years were supposed to be - loud and exciting and living moment to moment.

As they danced, Nicole swaying in place and occasionally spinning around, she couldn’t help but feeling a little awkward. Caitlin was actually a really good dancer - she knew how to move her body in all the right ways so they hit on beat with the music. Nicole envied her easy grace, but was quickly relieved when Caitlin accidentally bumped into someone, causing them to spill their drink. Nicole stifled a laugh, not at Caitlin’s expense, just at the irony of the timing. At least Nicole wasn’t the only clutz. 

They had been dancing for only a few minutes before Nicole felt a hand on her waist, making her jump slightly.

“Hey, the guys and I are gonna smoke some weed in the backyard. Do you wanna come?” Rodrick said. His voice was almost in her ear, close enough that she could hear him over the blaring music, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. 

She turned around to face him - in the dim light of the house, he looked much more appealing than usual - she hadn’t even noticed he had put eyeliner on, but it made the dark of his eyes look even more obsidian. Nicole nodded, giving a thumbs up, and pulled Caitlin along with her.

“I need you for moral support,” Nicole said, making Caitlin laugh.

“Have you ever smoked weed before?” Caitlin asked.

“Nope.”

Caitlin raised her eyebrows and pulled her closer as they walked to whisper in her ear.

“Okay, take a small hit the first time, don’t try to impress anyone. But breathe it fully into your lungs - I like to start by pulling it into my mouth first, and then inhaling fully. And if you cough, don’t worry, almost everyone does their first time.”

Nicole gave her a grateful look as they approached the circle of people sitting on lawn chairs in the backyard. Ben and Chris were already there, with two other girls Nicole didn’t know. However, there seemed to only be two more lawn chairs available to sit on.

Nicole was about to plop down on the grass before Caitlin grabbed her hand.

“You should sit on Rodrick’s lap,” she whispered, and Nicole almost choked on her drink.

“What?” 

“Dude, he’s totally into you - I don’t know what your sitch is, but I think he’s probably a little nervous about making the first move. Just do it, and if he asks, say ‘sorry, there weren’t enough seats and I don’t wanna get bug bites from the grass.”

Nicole stared at her, mouth agape. The alcohol in her brain was telling her it might not be the worst idea ever. And you know what? Fuck it. You’re only young once. Nicole made up her mind, and squeezing Caitlin’s hand, she walked over to where Rodrick was sitting before primly making herself comfortable on his thigh.

She felt him tense beneath her immediately, before his hand came up to her waist to steady her. Before he had the chance to say anything about it, the joint was passed to him, and he took an impressive hit, the cherry glowing red at the end for several seconds. Nicole watched him with interest, hoping she wouldn’t mess up too badly and embarrass herself. 

Rodrick looked up at her as he exhaled the smoke, holding the joint out to her. Not paying attention, and entranced by the eye contact they were holding, she reached out to take the joint without looking and promptly burned her hand on it.

“Fucker,” she hissed, shaking her hand to try and get rid of the pain. Rodrick just laughed.

“Do you want help?” Rodrick asked, before taking another hit of the joint. He reached up behind Nicole’s head, threading his fingers through her hair, before pulling her down close to his face, their lips inches apart. Nicole instinctively opened her mouth, half from surprise and half in anticipation of being kissed. But Rodrick simply blew a steady stream of smoke into her mouth, - their lips didn’t make contact. Belatedly, Nicole realized she was supposed to be inhaling, so she did quickly, trying to hold the smoke in her lungs for as long as possible. 

Somebody wolf-whistled in the group. Nicole was pretty sure it was Caitlin.

Eventually, she ended up coughing it out, Rodrick rubbing her back but still laughing.

“You’re a green at the green, huh?” Rodrick asked, and Nicole rolled her eyes.

“That obvious?”

“Yeah, but it’s cute. I’m glad you’re having your first high with me,” Rodrick said, smiling sweetly. Nicole’s stomach fluttered. Already, she could tell that this wasn’t alcohol she was feeling anymore - the buzz she had been feeling earlier was replaced by something much slower and velvety, like the world was moving through maple syrup.

“Dude,” Nicole said after a minute, realizing she had been staring at nothing. Rodrick looked at her. She looked at him. They both started cracking up laughing.

“What are we laughing at?” Nicole hiccuped through her laughter.

“No idea,” Rodrick said, wiping his eyes free of tears of mirth.

“Rodrick, pass the J,” Ben called out, breaking the two of them from their trance. Without thinking about it, Nicole leaned back onto Rodrick’s chest, enjoying the warmth of his body. It wasn’t a cold night, per say, but Nicole was only wearing a skirt and a t-shirt, and she had always had poor circulation. She shivered involuntarily.

“Do you want my flannel?” Rodrick asked, already taking it off. Nicole sat up, ruffling his hair playfully.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you just want to show off your arms,” Nicole said, slipping on the warm blue flannel and resting her hand on Rodrick’s exposed arm, once again in a cut-off tank top. Rodrick gave her a funny look.

“What do you mean?”

Nicole suddenly found herself tongue tied. “Uh. I mean. You just wear a lot of tank tops.”

Rodrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else. Nicole leaned back against him again, feeling simultaneously self-conscious and exhilarated. They had never touched for this long before. She wasn’t sure exactly what was happening between them, but she liked the direction it was going. Even though they hadn’t known each other long, Nicole felt more comfortable with Rodrick than she did anyone else - even though most of the time she had known him, he had been a nuisance to her. Well… maybe not a complete nuisance.

It was funny to think that only a few days ago, Rodrick was just an annoyance she dealt with at her job and admired from afar, and now she was sitting on his lap, wearing his flannel. She leaned her head back, looking at the stars. She hadn’t noticed that Caitlin had left, but suddenly she appeared over her line of vision, grinning.

“Do you want a beer?” she asked, holding a cold can over Nicole’s forehead. Nicole reached out to take it, sitting up before cracking it open. She wasn’t in the habit of enjoying beer for the flavor, so she’d rather get drunk off it quickly. It tasted like wet cardboard, but Nicole managed to chug it down.

“Damn, girl, where’d you learn to drink like that?” Chris asked, laughing as Nicole belched loudly. 

“Years of rigorous practice and intense concentration, young padawan,” Nicole replied.

“Do you wanna shotgun one with me?” Chris asked, half-joking, but Nicole was feeling overly confident from the buzz she was feeling and readily stepped up to the challenge.

“Whoever spits it out owes the other ten bucks.”

“Fuckin’ deal,” Chris grinned, Ben cheering him on as he threw a beer toward Nicole. She (surprisingly) caught it.

“Wait, gimme one,” Rodrick said, making grabby hands in Ben’s direction, who threw him a beer.

“On three, okay?” Ben counted. They all started to crack open their beers, Nicole with her house keys, Rodrick with his car keys, and Chris with his pen knife.

“One.. twoooooo…. Three!” Ben yelled, and they all tipped their heads back, drinking from the hole in the side of the can. Nicole’s eyes watered, but she was too competitive to back down now. Foam spilled out of the side of her mouth, but she kept drinking. She could hear people chanting her name as she finally threw the beer can down on the ground, raising her hands in victory. Both Rodrick and Chris were covered in beer foam, but Nicole somehow stayed relatively clean, minus the beer she wiped off her face.

“Ten motherfucking bucks, Chris,” Nicole slurred slightly, grinning at him as he pulled out a crumpled bill from his pocket and threw it at her. 

“Rodrick, how the fuck did you lose, dude? You were the one who taught me how to shotgun,” Ben said, causing Nicole to throw her head back in laughter, before letting out another massive burp that lasted for several seconds. The whole group dissolved into laughter. 

Eventually, the joint got finished, and people started to move back inside. However, Rodrick and Nicole stayed outside, talking about whatever came into their heads.

“Were you ever into Greek mythology as a kid?” Nicole asked, watching Rodrick’s eyes go comically large.

“Does Percy Jackson count?”

Nicole pretended to consider it deeply for a moment, before shaking her head. Rodrick pouted. 

“I only got into Greek mythology because of Percy Jackson. So, I think it still counts.

“Fine. But do you know shit about the constellations they’re associated with?”

Rodrick pointed at the sky, at a random cluster of stars.

“For sure - that's Dingus Humongus, he was a Greek hero with the fattest ass known to man.”

“Sounds like my kinda guy,” Nicole replied, sticking her tongue out as Rodrick squawked in indignation.

“Besides a fat ass, what do you look for in a guy? Not, like, that I care. Just. Wondering.”

“Very good English, Rodrick,” Nicole laughed, “I guess my type is… someone kind. And funny. Someone who tries to be cool and is actually a huge dork. And musical, that's always a plus,” she said, feeling very bold as she looked directly at him. It took Rodrick a moment, but eventually his mouth formed a small “oh” as he realized who she was talking about. His eyes flicked down to her lips. Then he frowned, “I am not a dork.”

Nicole rolled her eyes, “And I’m totally not waiting for you to kiss me right now.”

Nicole watched as the color slowly rose in Rodrick’s cheeks, turning them rosy pink, visible even in the shadow-drenched backyard. Nicole decided to pull yet another risky move, and adjusted herself on Rodrick’s lap so that she was facing him, her thighs on top of his arms around his neck. For such a seemingly confident boy, Rodrick seemed more nervous than she had ever seen him, even when he asked her to come to band practice earlier. Hell, he hadn’t even been that nervous to shotgun the joint into her mouth.

“Sorry, I just… I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. I don’t wanna be bad at it,” he confessed. Just as Nicole thought she couldn’t be any more endeared by this boy. She slid her hands into his hair, thick and soft. She leaned in and gently nosed at his jawline, placing small kisses against his warm skin. Right at his jugular, he smelled like cologne and nighttime and boy, the right mix of clean and sexy. Seemingly gaining his courage, he grabbed Nicole by the back of her head and brought her up to his lips.

It was soft, at first, merely a press of skin to skin, but the two gradually deepened the kiss, moving against each other like they were made for it. Nicole felt like her heart might beat out of her chest - or maybe she was just that high.

Feeling emboldened by Rodrick’s enthusiasm, she slipped her tongue between his lips, gently tangling their tongues together. He let out a low moan, and Nicole could’ve blacked out from how turned on she was by that simple sound. The warmth of his body against hers and the slickness of their mouths together caused a rush of liquid heat to form between Nicole’s legs. Goddamn, he was good at this. Nicole wasn’t sure how many girls Rodrick had kissed before this, but if he was a rookie at this she was damn impressed.

Rodrick’s hands, which had been resting on her waist, slowly moved down her ass and under her skirt, causing Nicole to gasp as he started to knead and grab at her cheeks - not hard, but enough to get her even more hot and bothered than she thought possible.

“Is this okay?” Rodrick asked, his voice low and rough. 

“Yeah, I’m good,” Nicole replied, running her fingers through his hair and scratching her nails down his neck. She felt him shiver beneath her, sending a heady rush of power to her stomach and lower. He pulled her closer to him by her ass, so that their crotches pressed together. Nicole was taken aback by the sensation of his bulge pressed against her, but didn’t pull back, instead grinding down on him.

“Are there still people out here?” Rodrick asked shakily. Nicole pulled back and looked over her shoulder - the backyard was empty, thank god.

“No, just us,” Nicole said, turning back and bringing her lips to his ear, biting and licking the sensitive flesh. Rodrick whimpered, grinding up to meet her, and Nicole almost lost it then and there.

The alcohol and weed in her system were slowing her reactions, but also kept her from thinking too much about what she was doing - all she could think about was how much she wanted this. Sober, this might’ve never happened - she was too nervous about what he would think if she ever made a move, constantly overthinking her every word and action. This dumb boy, who rode with her to work, who stayed to the end of her shift and bought her slushies, had wiggled his way into her every thought and every beat of her heart. She knew she was fucked.

She only wished it was literally.

Nicole opened her eyes briefly to catch Rodrick’s gaze, and out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed the red-and-blue flash of police lights. Rodrick caught sight of the lights at the same time.

“Oh, fuck.”

[adelindschade]

If you peeped out some of my personal vents, you’d know there is a guy at work who was charged with domestic violence & sexual assault - and whoop - both the victim and offender are still at work, no consequences because they settled out of court. 

I don’t fuck with him and before it all came to light, I’ve only went out twice where he invited himself to the group gathering - and each time he got drunk off his ass, wanted to fight someone, and ended up demanding someone let him crash of their place. Which they did. He pulled that stunt on me and I declined. He opted for another girls’ place. 

I’m hosting a bonfire last night. Not a party. A bonfire. No booze unless you bring your own. No drugs obviously because I don’t smoke and it ain’t my house - its the place I’m dog sitting at & who’s owners are super generous with their outdoor space. 

The stipulations were clear: BYOB; No drugs except vapes - and outside only; music is optional but keep it low because I got old folks next door and it’s a Sunday; and no Frankie or Tessa. (*Tessa being an unvaccinated coworker who got COVID twice - different variants - for her partying lifestyle. I also warned those who can’t handle their liquor and plan to drink needed to find rides because I’m not babysitting or hosting overnights; they need to be out by 10:30.) 

No one showed. I don’t mind. I work two jobs + dog sitting. I need sleep and I capped it at 10PM. The pup and I had a blast doing nothing in a mosquito free zone. No stress, little clean up - literal heaven. Went to bed by 9 and got a good solid 8 hours of sleep. 

But I bet your ass when I clock in today it’s going to be buzzing with “why’d you say so-and-so can’t go?” “Why’d you single out this person?” “That doesn’t sound like a fun party...” 

Dude, it’s a bonefire with s’mores. It was optional. That was the only highlight. I’m not having any liabilities at a house that’s not even mine. I’m not taking advantage of the people who paid me a generous amount to watch their house + dog. If you can’t have fun without drugs, or drinking excessively, then find somewhere else. I refuse to be held hostage and have to handle more messes than usual. 

Especially with ppl who can’t hold their drink and insist on having the guy who’s known to push boundaries because he can’t keep his shit straight. No way am I hosting him at this place! 

[royalbloodedbastards]

chatzy // tipsy painting

DATE: Thursday, April 30, 2020 CHARACTERS: Kieran and Alec ABOUT: Kieran and Alec crash a tipsy painting event.

Alec half slid down the ladder from the loft in their scramble to open the door, flinging it open wide and spreading their arms in welcome. "Hey! Come on in!" they exclaimed, stepping to the side to give Kieran room to enter, then turning around completely to saunter over and hop up to sit on one of the card tables. "So I know hanging out on Thursdays was going to replace Tuesday movie nights, but we didn't say specifically it was also going to be a movie night, so I figured we could go out and do something fun instead of staying in?"

Kieran stepped into the cabin and shut the door behind him. He knew to come with zero expectations and was glad that Alec's suggestion proved that he was right to do so. "What sort of fun do you have in mind?"

"There's a tipsy painting night at a university and my friend said it'd be chill if we crashed it and they're already heading that way anyway so they can give us a ride?" All the words came out in a rush– Alec's excitement at the prospect was evident from their smile, fast words, and how they could barely sit still on the table. "I can lend you a shirt too so you don't mess up your clothes?" They gave him an expectant look.

"Ah," Kieran uttered in reply, thoroughly amused at Alec's enthusiasm. "Funny that you've phrased both statements as questions when your heart already seems dedicated to an answer." He nodded. "That sounds like an excellent plan and I would appreciate some loaned apparel. Thank you."

Alec laughed and hopped off the table to retrieve the shirt they had in mind, one that was on the verge between 'well worn' and 'threadbare'. "If you didn't want to then I'd be okay with staying here. Heartbroken, totally devastated, but okay with it." They presented the shirt to him. "But you agreed, so my heart is intact! Is this shirt okay? I have some others in better shape if you want, but I was gonna cut this one up tomorrow anyway."

"This is just fine, thank you." Kieran accepted the shirt with a smile. He laid the shirt on the table and start unbuttoning the one he was wearing. "So is this going to be any particular style of painting? Watercolor? Abstract expressionism? Bob Ross?"

"Bob Ross I think? I'm pretty sure there's a video to follow along if you want, but they let you do your own thing." Alec hopped up to sit on their kitchen counter now, grabbing an apple to snack on while they waited. "No way I can follow along fast enough so I'm just gonna go nuts with some colours."

Kieran laid his own shirt on the table and pulled Alec's over his head. He couldn't help but notice the way it smelled as the fabric caught on his face before falling flatly onto his torso. "All the best artists are rule-breakers," Kieran pointed out. "I'm interested to see what you'll create." He wandered over to the kitchen counter so he could lean up against it.

Alec smiled down at him, pressing a hand to their cheek for a moment. "It fits!" well, their brain supplied as an end to the sentence, but they brushed that to the side. "Not that that's surprising. Do you paint? Is it one of your artistic talents?"

"I do not paint," Kieran confessed sadly. "But I imagine the principles of composition, color, movement, et cetera all still apply, even though the medium and canvas have changed." He shot a cocky smirk up at Alec. "I'm confident that I'll be able to adapt my skills with ease."

"I bet you will!" Alec clapped a hand on his shoulder with a grin, then slid off the counter to stand beside him. "We should get going to meet my friend at their car. Wouldn't want to miss the chance to make your masterpiece!"

"Surely," Kieran agreed. "Does your friend live here in New Athens?" he asked as he started for the door.

"Mhm!" Alec tossed their apple core away and grabbed their coat as they followed Kieran out. "I don't know any Americans outside of camp. It's nice of them to give a ride, eh? They're not even going to the paint night, just to do work, so try not to get too attached." They laughed.

Kieran snorted. "Not once have I tried to attach myself onto anybody. All of my friendships are fortunate accidents," he admitted as he stepped onto the grass. Kieran gestured for Alec to lead the way once they were out of the cabin. "Happy accidents, I should specify."

Alec kept up a near-constant stream of chatter from the moment they stepped into the car until they came to a stop outside of the university, broken up by moments of silence where they were distracted by something whizzing by outside the window. They waved at the car until their friend was out of sight, then turned to Kieran and exhaled. "Oh, man, I felt like a golden retriever. It's been so long since I was in a car my brain short-circuited on the thrill."

"I wouldn't have pegged you for somebody stimulated by car rides." Kieran laughed and took in their surroundings. "Do you know which building we're meant to go to?"

Alec closed their eyes for a second, then started walking. "I think this way! They said there should be a sign outside, and this feels like the right direction."

Kieran followed Alec along the path. "Lucky guess?"

Alec wiggled their fingers at him. "Intuition." They came to a stop beside a handwritten sign with an arrow. "Here we go!"

"Powerful inituition," Kieran remarked as he pulled open the door for Alec. "After you."

Alec pressed a hand to their heart and entered the building. “Thanks! What a gentleman.” They spotted another sign and followed the path until it opened up into a room where a number of strangers milled about, chatting with glasses of wine in hand. Alec motioned towards two free easels. “After you? Just look like a student.” They flashed a grin at him.

"Fettered and unrested?" Kieran joked. He moved toward the free easels, looking about the room. "This isn't a BYOB function, is it?"

Alec scanned the room then pointed between a few easels. “Looks like they got some sorta bar set up o’er there! Wanna head? I could go for some wine to get the creativity going.”

"Absolutely," Kieran agreed, heading to the bar. He tried not to be too judgmental about the selection of wines as he grabbed a glass for both himself and Alec. "What type of wine do you typically prefer?" Kieran asked as he poured himself a dry red.

Alec was pleased to recognize two of the brands as ones they could drink. “I like red!” they chirped. “And the one you’re pouring is vegan, so I like that even more.”

"Ah," Kieran smiled, holding the bottle up by his face. "I can assure you that I very intentionally selected this wine for that exact reason." He filled up the cup beside his, stopping just shy of the rim. "Just say when," Kieran joked as he put the much-emptier bottle back on the table.

Alec laughed and took the cup carefully. “Are we gonna bankrupt this paint night?” They held out their glass towards him. “We gotta cheers here so I can take a sip and not spill this on my way back.”

Kieran waved a hand as he picked up his glass. "I'll leave a tip with the porter." He clinked his wine glass against Alec's with a santé and took a big sip.

Alec repeated Kieran’s cheers back to him and cupped the glass like a goblet as they took a long enough sip that they weren’t in danger of spilling it. Around them people were beginning to return to their easels, still chatting, and the woman Alec assumed was the coordinator began pulling a video up on the projector screen. “Looks like our clue to put our painter’s hats on!” Alec took another sip as they headed back towards the available easels. “I’m gonna start from the top and paint down so I can see how it changes as I get more tipsy.”

Kieran laughed at the idea. "I'm sure that will be... Compositionally interesting." He stood by his easel and took another big sip of wine before setting the glass down. "I'll follow the video to some extent. I'll do an interpretation. Depart whenever I feel that the instructions have become inhibiting."

“It’s gonna be great,” Alec agreed, choosing to take it fully as a compliment. “Are you still chill with chatting or do you wanna get in the flow of painting?” They took another sip of their wine and examined one of their paintbrushes.

Kieran snorted. "Believe it or not, the appeal of this event was not the opportunity to replicate one of Mr. Ross's master works. I would be happy to keep chatting. Unless of course, you don't want me to interrupt your own flow, which I would completely understand."

Alec laughed and lowered their wine to start mixing some paint colours. “My flow can stand some chatter. What was the appeal?”

Kieran gestured vaguely in the air. "You know..." He furrowed his brow. "The social nature, the... Invitation." He felt a strange heat rising in his neck. Weird. "And the alcohol, of course." He picked up his glass of wine and took another big sip. "Why, what was yours?"

Alec picked up their paintbrush and drew a line across the top of their canvas. They turned to give him a wide smile. “I wanted to spend time with you.”

Kieran scrunched his lips to the side to hide his smile. He turned away from Alec as he picked up his brush then set his glass down. Kieran took a step back to consider his whole easel before looking up at the video projected on the screen. "So I was right," Kieran remarked as a Bob Ross video started playing. He smirked at Alec, wiggling his fingers as they did before. "Intuition."

Alec threw back their head and laughed. “You got me beat!” They wiggled their fingers back, a couple drops of paint dropping onto their already battered sneakers as the paintbrush shook. “I’m some excited to see all the trees people paint,” they sighed, genuinely thrilled. “Something about looking at nature on a canvas is so relaxing. And nature off a canvas! But the colours are brighter in paint.”

Kieran started on his easel, following along with the video. He looked down at the colors beside him then over at Alec's. They were the same. Kieran furrowed his brows, wondering why he expected them to be different. "What color are the trees where you're from?"

Alec paused their sequence of horizontal lines and cocked their head to the side. “Same as here, why?”

Kieran exhaled a laugh. "Sorry, I should have been more specific with my phrasing." He shook his head, but still didn't rephrase his question. As he painted a long brown stroke on his canvas, Kieran muttered. "They used to be white." He lifted his brush and considered the brown line before relaxing his arm and looking at Alec. "In Maine, there was a birding trail I liked to hike through. Where I would spend the majority of my time, if I'm being candid. The trees were long and bare. Their barks were white. And then in the fall, when all the leaves would turn, the sky would light up like a pimpernel. Just a fiery orange."

Kieran shrugged and resumed painting. "Not that the colors don't turn around here. But it just looked different," he muttered. "Against the white."

Alec hung onto each word, nodding along slowly and trying to picture the trees in their head as Kieran described them. “That sounds right beautiful,” they breathed as he returned to his painting. “I wish I could see that. The trees back home are kinda sad, to be honest? Short and stubby like. The ocean’s where the beauty is, and the shores and houses. Everything’s designed to be colourful to brighten up the gloom.” They added a vibrant streak of yellow across the blues they had layered along the top of the canvas.

Kieran watched as Alec painted a streak of yellow across their canvas. "Hm," he muttered as he looked back at his own. "Maybe I should do the same then." Kieran dipped his brush into the red and painted a big scarlet line beside the brown.

Alec glanced over at Kieran’s canvas and beamed. “Good plan! Join me off book.” They looked back at their own canvas. “But I’m not following the video at all, by the way,” they laughed, realizing how mismatched their canvas was to the one on the screen. “Just painting some lines, filling some background space.”

"I've noticed," Kieran laughed as he glanced over at Alec's canvas. "Perhaps I'll land somewhere between you and Mr. Ross. Where structure meets whim." Kieran looked back at the video and started recreating the strokes on his own canvas, making some bright red trees in the foreground. "Or at least where structure meets red wine," he laughed.

“Who knows! What if I was just that terrible at taking direction?” Alec painted a third of the way down their canvas, mainly blues with the odd splash of yellow or green, then picked up a tiny brush and began meticulously drawing a pattern in white paint overtop. They had their glass in their other hand the entire time, pausing to take sips here and there. “I love how you keeping calling him Mr. Ross. He sounds like an art teacher- I guess he is, eh? But I mean like a high school art teacher, like from Degrassi or something.”

"Degrassi," Kieran laughed. "Were there teachers in that show? All I remember is when Drake got shot and when the pregnant girl hit her head on a rock." Kieran took another sip of wine. "For a high school drama, the learning seemed secondary."

“I’ve never actually seen Degrassi,” Alec blurted out in confession. “It’s just what I think of when I imagine high schools. Drake got shot?”

"Famously," he chuckled. "His character became wheelchair bound. It was quite the shocker for a teen show, and I promise that I am not as much of a fan as I am probably coming across as right now." He dropped his head and laughed. "I wouldn't have retained that memory if he hadn't later gone on to become Drake."

Alec shook their head and smiled fondly at him. “I can’t believe I’m in the company of the number one Degrassi fan. It’s an honour.”

Chuckling, Kieran shook his head in surrender. "Alright, alright." He resumed painting, rushing a bit now to catch up to the video. "I'll accept that because it truly is an honor to be graced by my presence."

Alec had to catch their breath from laughing again so they could take another sip of wine. “I couldn’t agree more.” They returned to their tiny patterns across the dark blue part of their painting. “I’ll get the next glasses of wine when you’re done yours! Then you can keep up with the video.”

Deciding to skip the next part of the painting, unsatisfied with the way the mountain looked in the video, Kieran resumed drinking. "That would be lovely." He looked down at his cup and tilted his head back and forth a few times before deciding to go for it, downing the rest of the wine in one big gulp. He covered his mouth and burped quietly before setting the glass down beside Alec with a smile. "Thank you."

Alec, upon seeing Kieran down the rest of his drink, quickly followed suit. They made a face and shook their head like a dog shaking off water at the taste of it all at once. “Jeez, I’m bad at drinking.” They scooped Kieran’s glass up and smiled back, lifting both glasses in cheers and tapping them to each other before turning to scurry back to the bar. Fortunately, someone had opened a new bottle of the red they were drinking, and Alec refilled both glasses to the top. They slowly made their way back. “Delivery?”

"Ah, the porter," Kieran joked as he took back his glass. "I suppose I'll just leave my tip with you then," he suggested as he held up his glass to cheers Alec.

Alec tapped their glass against Kieran’s, spilling only a couple drops. “Paying me for my company now?” They grinned.

Kieran took a sip of wine before setting down his glass. "It's funny. I've paid people to rid myself of their presence, but never paid somebody to stay. Perhaps you could be the first."

“You have?” Alec tilted their head to the side and laughed. “I’d be honoured. Except not actually, obviously.”

Kieran laughed as he resumed painting. "Unfortunately, I have not. I was just being facetious. I think my general rudeness and impatience for social niceties is enough to drive people away. Not that I'm complaining."

Alec blinked at him. “I’ve never thought you were rude or impatient?” They lowered their paintbrush and took an absentminded sip of wine. “Not even when we first met.”

Kieran smiled a bit as he dipped his brush in the paint. "That's very kind. A minority opinion." He turned to Alec and smiled fully. "But thank you."

Alec beamed back and pressed one hand to their cheek, leaving a smudge of yellow paint behind when they dropped it a few moments later. “It’s true! I think you’re...” they searched for the right words. “Super charming.”

Kieran's smile twisted into a crooked little grin. He turned back toward his easel, but his mind had fallen off the painting. Super charming, he echoed in his head. I am a son of Aphrodite. Kieran laid down his brush just a second after picking it up and tapped his own cheek with his finger. "You have some paint."

Alec added a couple spirals in the middle of the canvas, deciding they were tipsy enough to fill in the middle third. They blinked when Kieran spoke and started rubbing the wrong cheek. “Am I getting it?” Now there was a smudge of blue on their other side.

"Yeah," Kieran smirked. He shook his head and chuckled, looking back at his easel. He picked up his brush, looked up at the projector, then sighed. "Okay, sorry, no." He laid down his brush and gestured for Alec to come closer. "You've actually made it worse."

Alec laughed and put their brush down to step closer. “You coulda got me there.” They pointed to their cheek with the yellow, an inch above it. “Here? Sorry to make you miss the teachings of Mr. Ross.”

"Mr. Ross's teachings are like publicly funded fireworks. You've seen one, you've seen them all." Kieran held Alec's chin with one hand and used his thumb to swipe away the yellow. He wiped the paint off on his shirt before switching to the other cheek.

Alec closed their eyes when Kieran took their chin and laughed. “You’ve really got a way with words, that’s exactly what they’re like. But still fun every time!” Unconsciously, they leaned into his brief touch to their cheek. “If it’s gonna keep going this way I’m sure glad I wore painting clothes. First my shoes, now my face. I’ll be blue top to bottom in an hour.”

Kieran laughed, swapping his hands to wipe away the paint on their other cheek. "Better blue on the outside than on the inside." He gave them a pat on their chest once he was finished and wiped his fingers dry on his shirt. "Though this shirt can only sop up so much paint. So if you're blue from head to toe," Kieran shrugged. "You're on your own."

Alec made sure to wipe their hands on their own shirt to avoid smearing more paint on their face, at least for the time being. They smiled at him. “I’ll try and avoid it then.” Picking up their glass of wine again, they returned to their spirals, drifting towards a warmer colour palette now.

Kieran glanced back up at the video. The landscape was much more populated now than Kieran's was. He decided to just pick up where Bob was and painted a red river running through the scene. "Hm. Maybe I should have opted for a different color," Kieran chuckled as he painted another red stroke onto his canvas. "It looks like I've turned my still-life into a war crime."

Alec put their paintbrush down for a break and picked up their wine glass, taking a couple steps over to stand beside Kieran. They grinned at him and swished the wine around in what they hoped was a pretentious manner, resting their chin on one hand as they examined his painting. “A modern-day Guernica,” they announced the way they imagined art critics to speak. “A vivid portrayal of war and the violence of deforestation.”

Stepping aside to let Alec asses his easel, Kieran took another sip of wine. He almost spat back into the cup after snorting at their appraisal. "Cubism? Oh, no, no, no. I was going more for a Motherwell or Cy Twombly vibe." He looked around the room to make sure nobody was watching before picking up the small cup of red paint and splashing it onto his canvas. He slammed the empty cup down and gestured to the painting with aplomb. "There. Now do you see my vision?"

Alec laughed. “I meant in subject not style, but sure.” As Kieran tossed the paint onto the canvas Alec gave an ‘ooh’ of appreciation and tapped their fingers against their glass in an odd sort of clap. “Clear as water! It’s a masterpiece. Your chef-d’oeuvre.”

"Thank you, thank you," Kieran rolled his hand and gave a regal bow. "The bidding will start at one million. Euro." He lifted his wine glass to take another sip.

“I can give you...” Alec went through their pockets with one hand. “Five dollars, a twenty-sided die and half a fortune teller?”

Kieran just smirked over at Alec. "I'll just subtract the total from what I'm paying you for your company."

“An artist and a businessman? Incredible!” Alec considered their glass of wine, then downed another part of it. “Is this the final product? You’re making me want to throw paint on my canvas.”

"Finality is a construct," Kieran quipped. "But please, don't let my decisions influence your masterpiece. Do what feels right in your soul."

Alec squinted at their canvas. "The final third is for the final third glass of wine," they decided. "If the paint pouring spirit takes me I'll do it." They bumped his shoulder with theirs lightly then moved back to in front of their own easel.

"Alright," Kieran nodded, mentally preparing himself for a third glass of wine. He took a moment to reassess his canvas. The splatter of paint was interesting, but now the whole canvas was overwhelmingly red. Kieran wondered if he should try to salvage it or just stop there. Rather than decide, he just swirled his brush in the little cup of water and looked over to see what Alec would do.

Alec continued adding colours to the swirls in the middle section until their wine glass was empty, which only took a minute or two. They took a step back and nodded to themself, pleased with how the assortment of colours was coming along, then looked over at Kieran. "Gathering inspiration?" they asked brightly.

"Letting the ideas marinate," Kieran confirmed. He picked up his glass and took a long sip to catch up with Alec. "Are we meant to bring these back home once they're complete?"

"Letting them pickle?" Alec suggested instead, holding up their empty glass. "If we want! If you like it. We could swap paintings!" They laughed. "Or put them both up in the Tyche cabin, your apartment seems much more, uh, curated? Than mine."

Kieran snorted. "Yes, I don't think my angsty, red portrait would feature very nicely in our living room." Kieran took the last sip of his wine then held out his hand toward Alec. "May I?"

Alec laughed. "Maybe not." They looked at his hand, then at his face. "Are you asking for my glass or my hand?"

Kieran smirked. "Your glass? For your final third?"

Alec handed their glass over to him and gave him their best look of disappointment. It was ruined by how they couldn't stop smiling for more than a few seconds. "I'm crestfallen."

Kieran rolled his eyes as he passed Alec. "I'm sure you'll recover." He looked through the bottles at the bar, but most had seemed to be poured out, save for a different brand of red and a half empty bottle of white. Kieran looked around to make sure nobody was looking at him before ditching their cups at the table and bringing the bottle of red back over to their easels. "I wanted to confirm with you that this is in fact a vegan wine," Kieran explained, holding the bottle out toward Alec. "If you would do the honor of assessing it."

Alec took the bottle and examined it, then pulled out their phone to Google it. They frowned and shook their head. "Aw man, no, it's not. Was there anything else left at the table?"

Kieran nodded his head. "Indeed there was. If you'll excuse me." He pranced back over to the table to swap the bottles, returning with the half full white. "How about this?"

Alec only had to look at it long enough to figure out what the brand name was. "Oh! Yeah! That's vegan." They blinked at him. "But it's white, are you okay with that?"

"Pfft," Kieran scoffed before taking a big swig straight from the bottle. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand then pressed the bottle to Alec's chest. "I'm white. Are you okay with that?"

Alec laughed hard enough that they had to grasp the bottle with both hands to make sure they wouldn't drop it. "You're some secret party animal, eh?" They followed his lead and drank straight from the bottle, only noticing their glasses were missing when they went to refill them. They didn't ask. "I think I can manage."

Kieran snorted. "Good. And I'm not sure why you would think it's a secret, I'm very obviously a beast of the party. Do you not very fondly recall our Pixar movie night from a few weeks ago? Rollicking." He clapped his hands and loudly repeated, "Rolicking!"

Alec almost wheezed they were laughing so hard. "Lord liftin', I'm stunned either of us remember that night!" They held the bottle out to him. "But yeah, a right fond memory. Just like this one! Like this one's gonna be."

"I remember everything, Master Masters." Kieran tapped his temple before taking the bottle from Alec. "Like a proverbial pachyderm." He took another sip of wine then wearily muttered, "Some men would tremble before the memories stored in this hippocampus."

Alec understood maybe half of the words coming out of Kieran's mouth. "Should we be headin' her once this bottle's done?" They picked up one of the cups of paint and drizzled it along the bottom third of their canvas. "Make a break for it 'fore they notice we drank half the free wine?"

Kieran leaned in toward Alec and loudly whispered, "As far as I'm concerned, my painting has achieved its maximum potential for pathos. If you feel like your painting is similarly complete, we can always grab the easels and the wine and make a run for it."

Alec broke into a lopsided grin. "We've reached the crime part of the night, eh? Are you planning to take your easel with you?"

Kieran held up a hand. "Sorry, I misspoke. Just the canvas. I would never steal an easel when art departments are already so criminally underfunded. But yes," he nodded. "We have indeed reached that part of the night. That is, if you agree that it's a good idea. If you don't, then I'm absolutely just kidding, I would never do that sort of thing."

Alec just held a finger up to their lips and put their coat back on. They held out a hand. "I'll tuck it in my jacket here, got an inside pocket. They'll be none the wiser on our way out the door."

Kieran passed the bottle to Alec before lifting his easel up off the canvas. "Oh, that is still wet. That is very wet." He stepped back as a drip of red fell off the edge and onto the floor. "Okay, new plan, I'm just gonna run," he hissed. Without waiting for a response, Kieran pranced toward the door that they entered through and pushed on straight outside.

Alec dissolved into laughter and shoved the wine into their inside pocket, grabbing their own unfinished painting and bolting after him. As they caught up they slowed down, but kept to a brisk pace. They grinned over at him and slung an arm around his shoulders once they were outside and heading away from the building. "I'd say that was a success! We unlocked some hidden talents."

Kieran grabbed Alec's wrist, letting his arm hang off of theirs. "Yes! I never knew you were such an artist, I'm very impressed with your lack of inhibition on the canvas. I applaud you." Kieran let go of Alec's wrist for just a moment to give tiny butterfly finger claps before grabbing on again. "I for one have learned that I have very little patience for still life paintings and that April is still a very cold month."

"Just call me A-lack of inhibition Masters." Alec grinned at him. "Want t'find somewhere to perch and send 'er?" They tapped the outline of the bottle in their jacket with their spare hand. "Or are you rarin' to call a cab back toward camp?"

Kieran thrust a hand in no specific direction. "Let's send her! Onward, A-lack!" He pulled them toward a light post in the distance, assuming there would be seating there. There was not, but there was a concrete planter that Kieran walked right up to and sat down on. "Let us."

Alec followed along easily and sat beside him, dropping their arm from his shoulders on the way so they could could their canvas with both hands. They propped it up against the canvas and crossed their legs. "5 star accomondans," they remarked. "Accomadatons. Accommodations." They gave a satisfied nod once they got the word right. "Right comfy." Pulling the bottle of wine out of the inside of their jacket, they scooted their position around so they were sitting facing him and held it out. "Your wine, monsieur?"

Kieran wrapped his arms around himself as Alec got settled, rubbing his forearms to create friction. "Ah, merci," he responded as he took the wine from Alec. He held it up to the light to see how much was left. "Alas, drunk all and left no friendly drop to help me after," he moaned. He took a tiny sip and held the bottle back out toward Alec. "The rest is yours, friend."

Alec pressed a hand to their cheek as they watched him, smiling. Their face felt warm to touch. "Can't say we didn't get our money's worth, eh?" they joked as they took the bottle back. They lifted it up and down a couple times to judge the amount left, then tilted their head back to drain the rest. Placing the bottle down carefully on the ground beside their canvas, they whistled a couple notes of a random song and settled into a position leaning their elbows on their knees. They returned to smiling at him. "Fun first Thursday! Next time we can hang out without gettin' drunk, unless that hurts your party animal spirit."

Kieran pulled his legs up into a cross and turned to face Alec. "My party spirit animal never wavers in its strength. Rather, it simply descends to a frequency undetectable to most when I'm sober." Kieran shook his head with a laugh. "But no worries, I'm sure you'll learn how to hear it in due time. It's always there. Singing."

Alec laughed and ran a hand through their hair to mess it up. "You betcha I'll figure out how to tune into that frequency. A constant singing party animal, like a radio show. How's it feel to be so cool?"

"Oh, poppycock," Kieran scoffed with a shooing hand. "I'm nothing of the sort. You're cool, what with your inverted suspension and high elevations. I am, however, cold," Kieran confessed with a grin as he started to shiver. "So maybe we could find a warmer place?"

"I think you're cool!" Alec exclaimed earnestly, reaching forward to take both of Kieran's hands. "I think you're really cool. But also cold, yes." They smiled and squeezed his hands before letting go. Glancing around, they tried to figure out where somewhere warmer could be, already shrugging out of their jacket. "Y'wanna head back or look around for somewhere? Wear this for now." They held out their coat for him. "I'm way warm enough. And hey, matches with the shirt! 'Cause it's mine, I mean."

Kieran bowed his head as he accepted the jacket. "Thank you. For both your generosity and your curatorial eye." He slipped the jacket on and did a little turn. "Eh?" He mimicked Alec's accent poorly. "Head her out and slap 'em in the galleys, eh?"

Alec clapped for him as he turned. "A new wave in fashion!" It took them a few seconds to clue in to the fact he was making fun of them. "Hey!" they laughed, not even bothering to try and sound offended. "That's a right good impression. You'd fit right in on the Cape."

"Ah, you flatter me," Kieran dismissed. "And I thank you for it." He stepped forward to sling his arm around Alec as they did earlier and gestured forward on the path. "Let's onward to warmer sands. Wherever they may be, I have no preference."

Alec picked up their canvas and bottle. "How's about we wander 'til a cab strolls by? Drives by. Walking'll warm us up anyways." They leaned into Kieran and tucked the empty bottle back inside their jacket. "Let us onward."

Kieran walked along the path, taking in their surroundings. After a moment of silent contemplation, Kieran spoke again, his voice much softer and calmer now. "You know, I never knew there was a university so close to New Athens."

Alec took his wrist the way he had theirs earlier. They hummed as he spoke. "It's cool, eh?" They glanced at him to see his expression and try and judge what he was thinking. "Easy commute."

"Easy commute," Kieran repeated. He looked over at the campus buildings beside them for a moment, before looking at Alec. "Thank you," Kieran said with a smile. "This was a lovely idea."

Alec smiled back at him fondly. "I thought it'd be a fun time to get outta camp, get some new scenery."

"Yes, well, you thought correctly." Kieran looked ahead and dropped the arm he was holding around Alec so he could sprint forward. Leaping up, he grabbed onto a light pole and swing around it, his other arm flung out dramatically. "Ma n'atu sole, cchiu' bello, oi ne'!" Kieran belted in his best feigned operatic baritone. "'O sole mio, sta 'nfronte a te!"

Alec watched him swinging around the lamp post singing opera and felt a pleasant warmth spread through their chest, coupled with the desire to press their hands to their cheeks which they made no effort to resist. "Holy mackerel," they whispered to themself in tipsy delight before jogging forward to catch up with him. He's so cute. "A rising star! A new talent sweeping the nation!" They spread their arms wide, canvas still clutched in one hand. Even with just a t-shirt, they didn't feel the post-sunset chill in the air. "Encore! Encore!"

"Oh, stop! Stop!" Kieran feigned joyous weeping, his hand clutched over his heart. "Oh, alright! 'O sole, 'o sole mio!" Kieran continued, rounding out the end of the chorus. "Sta 'nfronte a te! Sta 'nfronte a te!" Kieran sustained his last note as he jumped off the light pole and held his hands out to Alec, gripping the sides of their face with dramatic urgency.

Alec smiled so widely at him between his hands that their eyes closed. They rested their free hand on his forearm. "A voice like none I've heard before!" they continued with their over-exaggerated tone of awe. "And such a rare roadside performance!"

"You are much too kind, truly!" Kieran relaxed his grip on Alec's face, letting his hands rest on their cheeks. For a moment, he just stood there quietly, not knowing what to say but not wanting to move. Then, he let his hands fall to Alec's shoulders and shrugged. "I suppose the hidden talents just continue to be unlocked."

Alec dropped their hand when Kieran moved his, grasping onto the front of the jacket he was wearing. “They do, eh? I find out more about you every time.” Their smile softened as they watched him. “Can’t wait to see what I learn next.”

Kieran smiled. "You and I both." His eyes flickered to the road, which was still empty as before. "I have not noticed any taxis, I must say."

Alec blinked and let go of the jacket. They looked to the road as though expecting a cab to appear if they checked. “Huh, yeah. Should I call one?”

Kieran held up a hand. "Allow me. You've already done quite the job arranging this evening thus far. I would be glad to extend some sort of effort to even out the playing field." Kieran pulled out his phone to order an Uber.

Now that going home was an immediate prospect, Alec could feel some of the haze clear from their head. A pleasant warmth was still settled through their chest and they watched Kieran order the Uber, holding onto their own arms. “Look at me, a right organizer.”

Kieran went through the motions and ordered an Uber. "Alright, looks like Gregory is just... Eighteen minutes away?" Kieran shook his head. "Preposterous. We'll have succumbed to hypothermia by then." He gave Alec a mournful glance. "I can already hear the Celine Dion."

Alec laughed and put their arm around Kieran again, rubbing the side of his shoulder in an attempt to warm him up. “I’ll give you space on my floating door.”

"Your generosity truly is limitless." Kieran gestured down at the curb. "Shall we take a seat?" He didn't wait for an answer before sitting down on the curb, pulling his knees into his chest.

Alec sat as well and stretched their legs into the street, tilting their head back to see if they could make out any stars past the glow of the streetlights. Soon growing bored of that, they leaned back on their hands and looked over at Kieran. “Did I end up smudging any more paint on my face?”

Kieran looked over at Alec and smiled. "You did, yes. You've made yourself into art."

Alec touched their painting, then purposefully put a dot in the middle of each of their cheeks. “Finishing touch.” They tapped Kieran’s chin to smear a small circle of orange on it and grinned. “Perfect.”

Kieran gasped when Alec marked his chin. "What?" He laughed and went to wipe the dot away with his hand, but paused. "Alright... Fine. But if you're going to harlequinize me, at least make it complete." He turned toward Alec and gestured toward his cheeks. "Master artist, here's your canvas."

Alec turned to face him as well and considered their painting, deciding to stick with orange after a moment of thought. They wiped one of their hands on their shirt and used that to hold Kieran’s chin steady as they drew a spiralling pattern on each of his cheeks. It didn’t seem complete, so they added a tiny heart on the tip of his nose. “Perfect!”

Kieran sat still with his eyes closed. He laughed as he felt Alec drawing on his cheeks. "Why does this seem more elaborate than the one you gave yourself?" Once they were finished Kieran opened his eyes and smiled. "Am I museum-worthy?"

“‘Cause I can see you!” Alec chirped, wiping their other hand on the shirt Kieran was wearing. “Yep, for sure. You’re gonna have to stand next to my other painting the whole time, it’s a matching set.”

Kieran snorted. He pulled out his phone and checked his reflection in the dark screen. "I appreciate your color consistency." He smiled over at Alec, his eyes flickering over the patterns on their face. "May I return the favor?"

Alec slid their canvas towards him and closed their eyes, leaning forward. “Yeah! Make me art!”

Kieran dipped his fingers in the wet paint and started recreating the patterns on Alec's face. A swirl on the left cheek, a swirl on the right. Kieran took Alec's chin in his hand and made a dot just below their lip with his thumb. "And..." Kieran eyes trailed up looking for the tip of their nose, but got caught somewhere on their lips. 

 A moment later, Kieran's lips were against Alec's. Then a moment later, they weren't. 

"There." Kieran made a small dot on Alec's nose and dropped his hands. He smiled. "Now we match."

Alec barely had time to realize Kieran had kissed them before it was over, and they found themself leaning forward to follow it. They caught themself and leaned back again, blinking their eyes open and touching their lips absently. Huh. The warmth in their chest was spreading to their fingertips.

Within a couple seconds they snapped out of it and smiled back at him, cheeks hot. “We do, eh?” They cleared their throat. “I’ll have to stand on the other side of the painting to balance out the set.”

"Ah, like that Gotye song," Kieran joked. His heart was firing rapidly in his chest but his mind felt like it was suspended in air, floating freely somewhere above him. "Hopefully sans all the angst."

Alec wondered if it would be okay for them to take Kieran’s hands again, like they did early. They traced a few lines on their leg instead. “I’m A-OK with the most angst being drinking white instead of red.”

"Good," Kieran smiled. His gaze fell to watch Alec trace lines on their leg. Subconsciously, Kieran started painting small spirals into the concrete behind him.

Alec lifted their head as lights came around the bend, and they squinted to make out the shape of the car. It seemed a fair assumption that it was their Uber, so Alec climbed to their feet and picked up their canvas. They held out a hand to help Kieran up with a smile. “Ready to go?”

Kieran took Alec's hand and pulled himself up to a stand. "Ready as I've always been," he smiled.

[brokendave]

the stars, the moon, and the constellations - c.b

A/N: ok i’m actually proud of this one? so pls be nice but also constructive cristism is always appreciated. i tried to play around with the tenses and i’m pretty sure i like effed it up but thats ok. 

Summary: idk i guess pre-relationship fluff? kinda 

Word Count: 1.8k

Her fingertips were sweating, hovering over the keyboard of her phone debating what words would be the best ones to write down and hit send with. His words seemed like utter gibberish to the untrained eye but she was not untrained. She was well versed in the language of drunk Colby.

When her phone went off at 3 am, she knew it was because he was out of beer at some lame house party in downtown L.A. Maybe at one of his friends houses who invented more people that his house would allow so she pictured Colby sitting on the couch, squished up between Sam and maybe Corey or maybe Jake with dried beer on his pants and an empty cup in one hand, her name on his phone in the other.

Maybe the ‘friend’ hadn’t supplied enough or maybe it was BYOB and Colby had let too many people mooch off of him like usual so now he was out for himself earlier than he wanted.

He wasn’t texting her for her to bring him more and he wasn’t texting her to complain. Instead, as his mind cleared up from the lack of alcohol clouding it, he texted her to tell her how pretty he was picturing her to look tucked under her comforter and nightstand lamp illuminating her face.

She liked drunk Colby and more importantly, the drunk texts that Colby would send to her. She thought too long and too hard about her responses, trying to get the best one out of him and she didn’t have to worry about feeling embarrassed about it the next morning because there was a 50/50 shot that he wouldn’t remember it anyway.

Sometimes he’d tell her that he missed her and wished that she was there, which she knew wasn’t true but she let it be for a few moments, anyway. If she was there, she’d be stuffed in a corner somewhere with beads of sweat wetting her baby hairs that framed her face. Her eyes scanning the room for a mingling Colby, dancing from one person to another, wanting to see and talk to everyone.

Sometimes he would tell her that he wanted to come over when he left, crash on her side of the bed because it was furthest from the window and he didn’t want to be woken up but he wanted to be woken up to her.

Sometimes he would even tell her that he was in love with her but that wasn’t him that was the Captian.

Sometimes when it was really late at night and the entire world was sleeping except for the two of you and he let you sleep in his bed, put the fan in exactly the right way and let the music hum softly in the background, you’d believe him.

She asked him if he had a ride home and he said he rode his bike and she laughed to herself and he told her that maybe he’d call her and put her on speaker as he rode the three blocks to his apartment but she said no.

“Just text me in the morning,” she said.

And he said, “okay.”

“Drink lots of water and take an Advil,” she said.

And he said, “okay.”

Her fingers weren’t sweating anymore and she locked her phone and went to bed because the faster she went to sleep, the faster he would be sober and she secretly hoped that he would invite her over to take care of him in the morning.

She woke up to a photo of a glass of water and Advil with a winky face attached to it and she sends a smiley face back.

He says: what r u doin later

She says: nothin

He says: come over ?

And she does. She puts her hair in sweet curls that frame her face and brings out the best of her well-worn highlights and she puts pink eyeshadow on her eyes and she makes her lashes look longer and she wears a dress, one that goes down just above her knees. She likes to look sweet and innocent for him. He likes that she looks sweet and innocent. Like maybe he could make her bad.

He meets her outside his complex, telling her to get into his old Toyota Corolla that was barely surviving on its last leg but he loved that car so she loved it too and she sits in the front seat, listening to his music as they drive.

“Where are we going?” She asks, watching the trees flash by her and noticing how quickly the sun was going down now and how the sky that was blue when she arrived was now a shade of orange and it was turning deeper and deeper into a red.

“You’ll see,” he says, a sneaky grin on his face. He holds her hand in between their seats and rubs the back of her hand with his thumb, sometimes tapping it against her to the beat of the music. The sky was black by the time they got there.

In true Colby nature, it was an abandoned building with trespassing signs posted on the metal wire fencing that surrounded the building but it was a small building and he promises that it’s never patrolled.

The metal scrapes against the cement as he pushes open the gate and ladies first, he gestures her inside. He’s quick at closing the gate and he puts his hand on her lower back and whispers in her ear. “I wanna take you to the roof.”

“The roof looks like it’s going to cave in,” she comments.

“I promise you, it won’t.” She lets him take her to the roof. He guides her through the worn-down building with all its windows boarded up and decorated with people’s art. It was beautiful art, really. She was in awe of it.

He told her to watch her step as she passes through broken glass and garbage that was left over by the artists. How can someone make something so beautiful but leave the Earth looking so gross?

“You’ll have to climb up there. Think you can?” Colby asks her, pointing upward to the roof entrance.

She nods. “Don’t look up my dress,” she warns as she grabs the wooden post that she uses to lift herself up and she scales the wall carefully until she can reach the hole to the roof and she knows that as she pulls herself onto the roof, that he was looking up her dress.

She waits for him and looks up at the stars, the moon, and the many constellations that looked down on her and she wondered if they knew how she felt in that moment: terrified that the roof was going to fall under her dirty white sneakers and happy that she was with Colby and all the butterflies that swarmed inside of her stomach when he looked at her. She wondered if they felt her heart pounding when he grabbed her hand and walked her to the part of the roof that was slanted just a little bit.

He sits first and then pulls her down next to him so close that their knees are touching and the point of contact is on fire. He leaves little burns wherever he touches her and she traces them at night when she misses him.

He’s like fire: passionate and bright and if you’re not careful, he’ll swallow you whole and she’s like air: curious and intelligent but not smart enough to tread lightly around the big, encompassing flame that was him.

As they talk, she doesn’t ask him what are we or call him her boyfriend or insinuate anything of the sort. Instead, she grabs his hand and places it in her lap, his palm facing upward like she’s going to do a palm reading and it says that he loves her. She draws a heart with her index finger in his open palm and then pauses and then draws a question marks and waits for his answer.

The tip of her finger is resting in his palm and it’s sweating, just like it was last night as she pondered over the right words to say and this time, she’s saying no words at all but it means the most. He feels it, her heart and her question mark but he’s looking at her and she’s looking at his hand as if she was willing the answer out of it. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me.

He closes his hand in a tight fist with her question inside of it and she looks at him. His eyes are big and blue and deep, like the ocean. They’re drowning out the fire and she breathes a sigh of relief.

They’re looking at each other. His fire and her air mixing and creating air so hot that could fill a balloon and take them so far in the sky that everything below them becomes so small and minute and nothing else exists except for them and the many constellations. They’ll be so close to them that they have to feel her heart beating, right? Maybe his answer is written in them.

They’re too far to touch but he’s not so she reaches out a hand and touches his cheek just barely with her fingertips and there’s that burn so hot she can barely stand it and he does that same but the heat is broken up by the metal of his rings and maybe the answer is written in the stars but they’re also written in between the cracks of his chapped lips as they pressed against yours.

They’re saying I love you and I want you and I need you all at the same time and when his tongue slips into your mouth, it’s saying love me, want me, and need me.

And she does. She loves him and wants him and needs him so she tries as hard as she can to tell him as she bites his lower lips playfully and the small laugh that escapes his mouth says: good.

She thinks: the stars have to know. They have to be able to feel this love that radiating off of my skin. It has to be loud enough for the whole world to hear, right?

She feels it, the love, in her bones and in her veins that are pumping all the blood and love right into her heart and making it swell. When he pulls away from her, both their lips are swollen and pink and he looks at her like he loves her.

He takes her hand and puts it on his lap, her palm facing up like he’s going to do a palm reading and it says she loves him. He draws a heart with his index finger in her open palm and then pauses and then draws a yes.

[footstepsofaprairiegirl-blog]

If anyone knows me, they know that I am a very budget traveller, I have slept many nights at the airport just to save on that final night of accommodations, skipped many meals, and usually take the most inconvenient forms of transportation, if it means saving a buck or two, and I think that’s why my trip to LA was so special, because for once, I did the complete opposite.

We had intentions of having a very slow first night in LA, check into our AIRBNB and then head to the iconic Santa Monica Pier to watch a sunset before turning in early, but those plans quickly changed when we hopped into a share Uber and had the absolute pleasure of meeting a local woman named Veronica. Veronica is aspiring to become a travel guide for the area, so we couldn’t have had better luck, she emailed me a very detailed itinerary of what we should try and see during our 4 night adventure.

Kyle and I hopped out at the pier and excitement took over, I am like a child in such a way that when I am excited I just take off, immediately immersing myself into the chaos of the pier with my eyes glued to the sunset that was unfolding in front of us, we took pictures and splashed around until our toes were cold and the sky was dark. We wanted to take Veronica’s advice and head to Cha Cha Chicken, but decided to hop on a bar stool at Bubba Gump Shrimp first, and man oh man am I glad we did. We started with the idea that we were just going to grab some cocktails, but the smells quickly forced our brains to be distracted by the original plan. We needed shrimp and we needed it now, we ended up ordering a half pound of shrimp, half classic garlic and half cajun spiced - a bit spicy, resulting in extra fast cocktail inhalation and a bit of a buzz after settling our bill.

We made our way just down the road toward Venice and hopped out at Cha Cha Chicken, a menu was posted up on the board, and we ordered through a window, I got vegetarian empanadas based on the workers recommendation, and since Cha Cha Chicken doesn’t serve booze, Kyle ran to the liquor store to take advantage of the BYOB rule. Thank goodness for the tall Heineken he brought back because my empanada was so spicy I was sweating, but the food was so good and the atmosphere was so fun, I felt like I was ocean side in Tulum, Mexico, not in busy Los Angeles.

Next on the list was a 100 year old bar called The Townhouse, it was highly recommended due to the history, so we were a little surprised upon arrival as it was very small, a large bar taking up most the space and just one pool table, there was staircase at the back that led to the basement but security told us we weren’t permitted. We gave the place a chance and ordered up at the bar, Kyle getting himself a nice cocktail and myself a tall can of PBR, and started chatting with the bartender. Turns out, The Townhouse was operated as a grocery store upstairs, but an elevator away was a hidden speakeasy and a brothel, and we were in luck, because that night hosted in the basement, was a Burlesque show that everyone was welcome to attend. The show being later in the evening, we had some time to kill before hand so we drank and played pool, and met a cute local girl who was self celebrating her success.

Midnight struck and we moved to the basement, still dark, but much more spacious, you could see the history in the walls and the decor, it’s a beautiful place, and we were so glad we decided to check it out. The show was a highlight for me as I loved watching Christina Aguilera’s Burlesque movie growing up. The host came out dressed like Jabba The Hut and really set the mood for a comical and fun show to watch, we stuck around until around 2 a.m. but I was so tired from the days travel and adventure it was time to head home.

The next day was very food and drink orientated, in order to fulfill Kyle’s nerdy needs, we started with a trip to the California Science Center so we could see The Endeavor - the fifth and final orbiter build for NASA’s Space Shuttle program. It was interesting to see the detail put into building and designing the space shuttle, each tile has been numbered, and every part serving a purpose on it’s 25 missions through space until it officially retired June 1, 2011. The Center was packed with children and school groups so after a quick and hilariously fun flight simulation that Kyle and I went on, we headed toward downtown LA.

Our first stop was Little Tokyo, the largest of only 3 official Japantowns located throughout the United States, Little Tokyo is a Japanese American district filled with shopping, culture, and best of all, my favorite food, sushi. We enjoyed a California crunch roll, and walked around and checked out the funky shops and unique statues and structures.

Next, we headed to Upstairs at Ace Hotel for very expensive, but delicious cocktails, - this is one complaint I would have against this trip, is that our Canadian Dollar is so bad right now, we were paying up to $20 CAD a drink; I didn’t care though. The hotel and rooftop bar were very spectacular, like something you would see on the show Gossip Girl, we were spoiled with wonderful views, a pool and hot-tub that anyone is welcome to enjoy, and very cozy and comfortable seating scattered around the roof for both group, or more private occasions. If it weren’t for our grumbling stomachs, we could have stayed all night.

We decided to let our guts point our hearts in the direction of our next stop, at Clayton’s Public House, it was just a few blocks from The Ace Hotel, and it was another pub with beautiful decor, amazing cocktails, and an amazing ambiance. We had a few beer and ate an Impossible Burger - America’s popular vegetarian patty, and it was to die for; except nothing died to make it so delicious, so I guess that’s not the right term! Basically, we had came here just to kill time until we went to Clifton’s - another stop recommended by Veronica - but I ended up loving Clayton’s Public house so much and would definitely recommend it for the food, drinks and service!

Our final stop of the night made our jaws drop, a beautiful, huge space filled with fake cedar trees rising up to the 5 floors, taxidermy forest animals such as lions and buffalo, and a casual 250 pound meteorite used as decor at one of the many bars filling Clifton’s Cafeteria. Being that Clifton’s Cafeteria is the largest public cafeteria in the world, there was so much to see, our eyes were trying to look everywhere at once and our smiles beaming as we turned every corner. Our best find of the night, was when we pushed against a mirror, and it opened, revealing a dark staircase, and at the top was a Tiki bar!

In the Tiki bar, most of the seats were taken, but we found an empty table that was close to a party of three, since they looked friendly, we popped down beside them, and as it turned out, we had the best seat in the house. The three strangers, Val, Taylor and Mac, were literally tiki experts, they knew everything about the decor, how to dress, and most importantly - what to drink. We spent the duration of the evening trying their recommendations that included typical things like coconut and pineapple cocktails, and some wild ones that included flaming shot glasses and edible flowers. We could have stayed at Clifton’s Cafeteria with the trio all night, but we needed our beauty sleep for our big day to follow.

We knew as soon as we planned the trip, that we wanted to go to an amusement park, a Disney park was the first, and obvious choice, but we had so many questions, were we too old, was it worth the money, are the rides even fun for an adult? We tried to google the answers but we didn’t have much luck, and felt very unsure about what park to choose, we decided that since all the locals were so helpful, we would ask them; unanimously, Disneyland was the place to be.

We were excited -uncertain, but really childishly excited, I tried to imagine what the park would be like, I pictured roller-coasters, a drop of doom, ferris wheels, - that sort of stuff, so when we got on our very first ride, we were in for a shock; It’s A Small World, the ride I vow to never go on again. The song still rings in my ears sometimes, the creepy dolls that were swaying back and forth are now imbedded in my brain, “what have we gotten ourselves into?” It crushed our spirits a little, we were worried that all the other attractions would be slow and weird too, but faith was quickly restored as we started going on other rides, like Hyperspace Mountain, my favourite ride of the day, a rollercoaster that races through the complete darkness, engulfed with green screen visuals that made it appear we were flying through the solar system. Although not fast and scary, like Hyperspace Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones Adventure were amazing as well,  they were interactive and exciting rides, very elaborate and visual, making you feel like you were part of the film, my head was on a swivel the entire time, and Kyle thought we were going to run into a boulder during the Indiana Jones ride, giving us a good laugh. The highlight of Disneyland was the shows they put on once the sun goes down, fireworks and lasers filled the night sky and bounded off buildings as characters danced, acted, and swung off the side of pirate ships, mimicking stories and films, it was beyond our expectations, and I would go back again just to watch the two performances.

Our last day in LA was a bit slower since we were up till 3 am stuffing our faces with pizza and beer after walking 40,000 steps around Disneyland. We went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Griffith Observatory, and to relax at the beach before heading to Grain Whisky bar to meet up with Taylor, our new friend from the Tiki Bar, we ate a 70 dollar charcuterie board and tried some of Taylor’s delicious cocktail creations, before heading home to pack, and rest up for our flight home.

I cannot emphasize enough how amazing it was visiting Los Angeles, it was exhilarating to have the “screw it” mentality when it came to spending, we did everything we wanted and more without checking our bank accounts once, we ate everything delicious, and tried new and exciting cocktails, and made new friends.

Money comes and goes, but the memories from this trip will last a lifetime.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #189

“why are the children all marching into the desert to die?”

What does your trick-or-treat bag or pail look like? Pretty sure mine was usually just a plastic orange pumpkin. How old will you turn on your next birthday? 23, wow-ie. What are your plans to celebrate? Dinner with the fam, and I don't think I could possibly pass a birthday without getting a tattoo. :') Which X Factor audition(s) was/were your favorite? Don't watch it. Were you a straight A student in spelling and grammar? Yes. Were you a straight A student in math? No, I got Bs sometimes. Were you abused or do you know anyone who was abused? I know people who were. What is the name of your favorite coffee shop in your town? N/A What is fall weather usually like where you live? Usually warmish and breezy, but sometimes super cold. Do you think you have an accent? Very slightly. Do you use plastic, wooden, or wire hangers? Plastic. What is your favorite shade of yellow? Pastel. Are there any shades of blue that you don’t like? If so, which ones? No. Are you afraid of getting yelled at? YES YES YES YES I WILL CRY PLEASE DON'T Who has the best-decorated house in your town? *shrugs* What is your favorite part of Halloween? Dressing up. Is there a cemetery in your backyard? No. Did you decorate a pumpkin this year? No. ;_; What are some fall activities you would do with your kids? If I actually wanted them, take them on a hay ride (spooky one if they're older and want to), decorate pumpkins together, obviously go trick-or-treating, let 'em play in leaf piles. Have you ever seen a fox? Yes. What color are the squirrels where you live? Brown. Is there anything about Halloween you find offensive? Um no. What do the trees look like where you live? There's basically a shitload of pine trees, some dogwoods in spring (which fucking stink, btw), and then there's other trees idk the name of. Did you like field trips when you were a kid? YESSSSSSSSSSSS Do you find museums boring or interesting? Interesting! What was your school’s rival team’s mascot? Uhhhhh idr. What are three issues you are passionate about? Gay rights, gun control, and immigration. Would you ever wear a shirt with your country’s flag on it? I mean if I had to? What’s a medicine that makes you sleepy? Klonopin, back when I had to take two a day. I was just barely able to function at all on three. Do you like bath bombs? Never used one, but sure. What was your favorite girl group when you were growing up? Pussycat Dolls lmaoooooooo Do you like Disney movies? Only heathens don't. In what type of area was your first sexual encounter? A house. What do you occupy your time with on flights? Listen to my iPod. Do you ever realize how ridiculous you’re being yet continue on anyway? Sometimes in anxiety-type situations. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property? No. Have you ever been punched? No. What do you usually order from Olive Garden?
 Spicy shrimp fritas oh my gaaaaaaaaaaaah How do you like your steak cooked?
 Medium well. How do you feel about bats? I'm love them. Is anyone in your family artistic? Me. Have you ever suspected anyone of cheating on you? No. Are you emo/gothic/punk? I AM the Thicc Goth GF in my head. I'm just too poor and lazy for the wardrobe. :^) Would you date someone 20 years older than you? Nooooooooooo that's way too big a difference for me. What is your father’s middle name? John. What was the last food you got a random craving for? Sour gummy worms lmao. What is something you enjoy doing, but aren’t good at? Singing, sometimes. Name some healthy foods that you enjoy eating. Strawberries, apples, peaches, corn, cucumbers, green beans, bananas... What is your favorite Studio Ghibli film? Don't think I've watched any. If your best friend was a fictional character, who would he/she be? Why? This requires too much thinking. What was the last song you listened to? Does it mean anything to you? Ninja Sex Party's cover of "Africa" is on now. No. What flavor was the last cupcake you ate? Chocolate. When was the last time you complimented a stranger? Idk. Do you know how to text without looking? Not well. What about typing without looking? Yup. Have you ever thrown rocks at a girl/guy’s window? No. When was the last time you bought a bathing suit? Like, a year back? Do you like eggnog? NOOOOOOOOOOO. How often do you see your mother? Every day. When was the last time your living room furniture was rearranged? Long time ago. When you were little, did you like watching Cartoon Network, Disney or Nickelodeon more? Disney. When is the last time that you experienced rejection–literal or imagined? By no means /serious/ rejection, but I suppose it fits the definition. Asked the tat/piercing parlor I go to about working there at the desk (the place isn't busy and I'm v comfortable there, so I think I easily could), but they let me know they currently didn't need anyone. When you are feeling down are you more likely to cheer yourself up by shopping, eating, or drinking? I've gotten loads better about it, but eating. Do you think there will be a time when our current age of rapid innovation comes to a standstill? What do you think is the limit of human technological advancement? No, honestly. It may stall, but I don't see it stopping any time soon. In hindsight, what was the most misguided/unhelpful assignment you had to do in school or college? Uhhhh idk. On any blogs or social media you may have, do you try to maintain a certain aesthetic or persona? Is this consistent across platforms or just specific to one? Not really. My less-appropriate sense of humor comes out more on Tumblr, and in some areas I type in all lowercase because I find it more aesthetically pleasing. Is there an artist or celebrity whom you admire for their craft but take issue with their personality or politics? Marilyn Manson, very easily. He's talented and unapologetically unique as all hell, but I do noooot like him as a person from what I know. What is the last party or event you were invited to but declined? Why? Are there certain events that you might be invited to which you are likely to decline? An old friend's Thanksgiving-ish friends party. I was tempted, but it was explicitly stated to BYOB and weed and I just didn't want to be in an environment where there was lots of drinking and smoking something that's still illegal in the state. I was already uncomfortable enough last time I went to a party at her house and there was so much smoking. You were also supposed to bring a piece of Thanksgiving food to contribute, but I can't cook and I didn't wanna bother Mom about it. For the last question, it's just about a "never" situation where I'm invited to a real event besides family birthday parties or meet-ups with Dad and his wife. Off the top of my head, I'd never go to a club if I was invited. Imagine your life three years from now as if things have gone perfectly, better than you would typically predict. What do you see? Living with a happy Sara in the mountains, very successful in photography and thus financially stable (or hopefully a bit beyond that), excelling in school, back to my healthy weight, my mental health is great and I'm on way fewer meds, Sara's able to breed snakes and write as a real career, COVER ME IN TATS BITCH, more piercings, a treatment/medication for hypotonia has been discovered, my niece and nephew have met Sara and been taught our relationship is not wrong (I doubt it though :x), I'm happy, it'd be nice to write with more people, I have at least one poem published, Teddy, Venus, Kaiju, Roman, Mitsu (now totally comfortable being held), and Sara's babies are still alive and kickin', Venus and Crowley have had a clutch, Sara's PMDD is under control, Dad's stopped smoking, Mom is in a healthy, fulfilling relationship, both Mom and Sara are at the weights they aim for, Nicole is with a guy she truly loves and he reciprocates properly, Mom has been treated for depression and has forgiven Dad... Man, lots of things. This question really made me look forward to creating this future. What about your personality makes you good at your job? Alternatively, why do you find yourself uniquely suited for or drawn to your ideal career path? No job, so I'll just respond to the second. Photography is pretty surprising as it requires serious communication, which y'all know isn't my forte in the least. However, I'm so passionate about it and feel knowledgeable enough on it to be confident. Plus I just love showing how beautiful the world is capable of being. Do you find it valuable or important to respect those in positions of authority simply because of their position? Does this vary based on what that position is? Nope. I'm not gonna respect an absolute asshole just because you're of a high position. It doesn't vary to me, either. Do you find that you often desire and/or enjoy sex? If not, why not and how do you negotiate those feelings with your partner? If so, what is it that you enjoy about it in particular? I'd say I desire it to a normal degree, and yeah, I enjoy it. Why, #1, it's such a passionate and intimate way to communicate how much you love and trust your partner. Then I mean it feels good so. How many times have you seriously injured yourself? Idk. Seriously... three? When was the last time you were a passenger in a car and sat in the back? In the back, idk. Did you attend Sunday School as a child? Yes. Are/were you in the school band, and if so, what instrument did you play? Yes, flute. What is the best thing you’ve ever bought at a thrift shop? This cool crashed ship lamp! It's beside my bed. Have you ever ordered an unusual drink at a bar? No. What is your favorite thing about summer? Swimming. That's it. When was the last time you went to your local library? Whew, years. Can you do a proper cartwheel? No. Have you ever been pulled aside by security at the airport? No. Are you a fast-thinker or a slow-thinker? Slow. If you were to donate to charity today, what would you donate to? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or The Trevor Project. What is your favorite card game and when was the last time you played it? Magic: The Gathering and not since my PS3 broke (I had the Duel of the Planeswalkers store game on there and I WANT IT BACK). Who was the last person you cuddled with? Sara. Did you ever go to summer camp when you were younger? No. What is your favorite seasonal candy? (only available at certain times) Gingerbread men!! Are there any television shows you own in entirety on DVD or VHS? Meerkat Manor. How far away from your house is the nearest gas station? Like, two minutes. Do you know anyone who is fluent in a second-tongue? Yeah. What is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen and who did you watch it with? The Rite, but only because the whole "raped and impregnated by a demon" shtick is a fuck to the no from me. Watched it with my younger sis years ago. When was the last time you had a bubble bath? A looooooooong time ago, I don't like baths. What was the last strong scent you smelled? Poop. Good job, Bentley. What did you buy the last time you went shopping for new clothes? A bra, I think? How did you discover your favorite band? Mom's CDs. When I was getting into my rock and metal love, I went through them and listened to albums with cool covers or bands I knew she loved, and the first happened to be Ozzy. :') Does the weather affect your mood? If so, in what ways? Yes. I have a greater tendency to feel down when it's real cloudy and sometimes rainy. If it's really hot, I'm in a worse/cranky mood. When are you most likely to be bored? Late afternoon/evening. What was the last big decision you made? Hmmm. Going back to school, maybe? Where was the last place you traveled to, and what did you do while there? Illinois. Hang out with my bby. :') What is your favorite thing to go shopping for? Clothes at Hot Topic ahhhhh. What was the last thing you received in the mail? Something for VR. What is one of your wildest dreams or ambitions? Become a well-known photographer. When was the last time you performed in front of a group of people? Years ago for dance. Who was the last person to upset you? How about the last person to cheer you up? Mom; Sara. Is there anything or anyone you’re trying to get over or let go of? No. What was the subject of your last phone conversation? Uhhh something short with Ma that I don't remember. How close do you have to be with someone before you’ll consider them a friend? I have to feel decently comfortable around them. How do you feel when a mostly unheard of band (or tv show, movie, etc.) that you love suddenly starts to gain popularity? I'm happy for them! I just hope they don't change. When was the last time you listened to new music? Uhhh recently. Do you think it is strange when a couple says “we are pregnant” rather than “I am pregnant” or “my girlfriend is pregnant”? No, I actually prefer it. You're in that shit together. Do you ever feel like you were born in the wrong era? What decade would you most like to have grown up in? No. I'm good with the '90s. What was your most memorable concert experience? Only been to one. :| But Alice was great. If you have any, are you close with your sibling(s)? Has it always been that way? Not very, and no, at least with my younger sister. We were pretty close. Do you require “closure” after things like break-ups or do you move on easily? I. Need. Closure. How long does it take for someone to earn your trust? Good luck. Do you like peanut butter? Yesssss. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school? Do/did you prefer wearing it than regular clothes? In middle school. Hell no. What’s the last thing you got really excited over? Going to Sara's. Is there a genre of movie that you just can’t watch? Action-y. What was the last song to give you nostalgia? "Holiday" by Green Day. Do you have a certain color grape you like the most? Purple. What’s your signature thing you do when drinking that will make your friends say, “Alright, they’re drunk”? N/A Have you ever been on a hot air balloon? No. What’s your definition of weird? I try to keep the mindset that "weird" doesn't exist as I'm not one to talk about things being so, yet I'm hypocritical about it and do find some things, ex. fetishes, extremely weird. Do you use shaving cream? For my legs. When was the last time you cleaned your room? Is your room clean? I dusted my whole room a while back. I need to vacuum baaadly, but ours is broken. ;-; Have you ever personally known any girl who shaved their head? Yes. Have you ever known anyone who committed suicide? Sadly. Have you ever tried to commit suicide? Yes. Have you ever coughed up blood? No. How do you wish you could die? Surrounded by family and painless. Do you have any apps on your Facebook? If so, what? No. What kind of mouse pad do you have? Don't have one. What color is your mouse? Pink. Do you know any who might be anorexic? Do you know anyone who has bulimia? Maybe? Did you ever want a pony when you were little? Idr. What’s your favorite dessert food? Ice cream. What is the closest thing to you right now that is alive? My dog. Do you exercise? I'm starting to again. Do you dislike writing school essays? Not if it's a subject I like. Are you a very open-minded person? Yes. Are you modest? I believe I am. Do you skate? No. Are you in a band? No. If you were to make it big with your own band, what would its name be? *shrugs* It depends on the members. Would you rather a friend come over to your house or you go over there? I go over there. Have you ever had rabies? No. Do you know anyone who ever had to get a rabies shot? Idk. Have you ever gone hunting? No, never would. Ever eaten deer? Duck? Squirrel? How about lamb? No. Have you ever received a note in your locker? I think once from Aaron?

[quinloki]

Birthday Request Event

"It's my birthday and I'll write what I want to \o/"

Gift Details ♥ Reader: cisfem!Reader dom! Character: Benn Beckman Kink: #2 Praise Kink #4 Orgasm Denial Prompt: #9 "Fuck, you feel so good." Gift Giver: @anon-germany

Summary: Just how good can Beckman be for you?

Content Notes: praise kink, pet names, a little tiny bit of orgasm denial, vaginal sex, chest hair.

This birthday party is 18+, consensual unless explicitly stated otherwise, and BYOB

You rubbed your wet slit against his stiff shaft, biting your lower lip a little as your hands traveled over your own body. Beckman shifted a little under you, wrists over his head, tied to the headboard of the bed he was laid out on.

Sure, he could easily break the ropes, but he was being good. Beckman liked being good for you, he enjoyed letting you take the reigns as often as you wanted, it was a nice change of pace from his usual concerns.

And it was so easy to be good for you – most of the time.

You shifted forward, kissing a trail along his chest, letting your hands wander over his torso. You’d been pleasing yourself against him and teasing his skin for nearly an hour. He hadn’t uttered a word of complaint the entire time, but you could see the small marks of frustration starting to show. You weren’t trying to punish him by any stretch, but you did suddenly want to tease him a little bit.

“I wonder,” you muse, licking against his neck and kissing along the line of his jaw. “How good can you be for me tonight?”

Beckman grins. “How good do you want me to be, love?”

There’s a devious hum in your throat and an impish smile as you kiss him, running your fingers through his chest hair and leaving small red lines behind with your nails. He hums approvingly into the kiss, the leather strap creaking a little as his arms and body flex against the pleasure.

“No cumming until I say,” You command, smiling as only the briefest flicker of a frown ghosts over his lips before he smiles.

“Really going to make me work for it, huh?”

“I know you like it when I build that anticipation for you.” You purr, lining the head of his cock with your soaking entrance. “The longer the journey, the better the reward.”

“Hell to heaven is certainly far enough.” He grumbles a little, grunting against the pleasure as you slowly work him into your hot, tight, throbbing cunt. He starts thinking about all of the paperwork he has left to do, trying to distract himself enough to maintain control.

Thoughts did him little good as he couldn’t peel his eyes away from you. Watching you take him in so well was almost enough to push him over to edge on its own, the soft moans that rolled in your chest and melted into the air made his fingers flex.

“Mmm, fuck Beck, you feel so good.”

Times like these made him want to snap the leather straps with a little haki and fuck you into the mattress until you were begging him in tongues to stop.

And he would, next time you asked him to.

“That’s all you, sweetheart.”

You licked your lips as you took all of him in, thighs and clit pushed against the man beneath you. “You always fill me up so perfectly, babe.”

Beckman hums, lifting his hips a little and eliciting a sweet gasp from you. You flex your thighs, tightening inside and out and pulling a grunt from him in return before you slowly start to ride him. “Don’t get bratty with me.” You admonish him gently. “You know you like being my good boy.”

“Your good boy that you’ve been teasing for the last hour.” He says, grin on his face.

“I bet your soooooo close.” You tease, grinding into him as you ride him, making pleasure pool and coil inside and bringing yourself close. “I wonder, if you can control yourself – ahmmm – through me cumming on your cock, hmm?”

To his credit, he only looks a little alarmed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

You shake your head, fingers teasing your nipples as you ride him. “N-not at all.” You gasp. You can feel your thighs starting to tremble already. It’s not surprising, you’d been teasing your clit against his shaft for a long time before you finally took him in. “Don-don’t cum.” You command, face breaking under the building pleasure.

“You can do it,” you smile, a moan breaking your train of thought for a moment. “Sk-skilled sea d-dog like you, can ma-manage, right?”

“I’m a skilled pirate, not a god!” Beckmann nearly barks, white-knuckled, trying to push into you to bring you over the edge faster.

“Haa, haaannngh, fuck – could’ve fooled me.” You gasp. Beckman flinches, his cheeks going red. “You’re cer-certainly divine to me.”

Your body tightens and the orgasm overtakes you. Pleasure makes your muscles tense inside and out, and you grind into Beckman as he bucks into you. You manage to breathe in after the initial rush and start riding him more forcefully.

“Cum for me, my little god.” You tease, and hear him swear before his body tenses. You can feel the hot rush inside you, and watching him writhe under you in relief and release is almost enough to pull you into a second orgasm.

You ride out the pleasure, slowing a little when he starts to twitch from overstimulation. “Does this mean I can start calling you Kami-sama on deck?”

“Absolutely not.” He growls, snapping free from the leather straps and pulling you into a hug.

Check out the event - requests are accepted until 7/31/2023 EST

[g-q-status]

You don’t wanna miss this one! So get your tickets 🎫 ASAP! Pull up on us! @savagelyfestyleandco @dj4oz #Repost @dj4oz ・・・ Aye mayne say mayne I promise “We☝🏾1” with this one!! Definitely gone be a lit situation with the the big dawg @paulwallbaby putting on for the city!! S/O to the homie @thetylerskrabanek @gqcdtg for letting me be part of this!! You know Ima do my thing! 🤘🏾town pull up! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Lit SITUATION 🚨ATTENTION! ATTENTION!🚨 They Said We Couldn’t Do It, So We Did It. We Are Bringing The People’s Champ, @paulwallbaby, To Dayton, TX. 🎃HIP HOP HALLOWEEN 👻 📆October 26th. 🎫Entry: $25 📍7141 HWY 90, Dayton TX @rancho5estrellas 🐂 Bull-riding: 7pm-10pm 🎙Performances: 10pm-2am 🧟‍♂️Costume Contest: 11:30pm 🥃Buy A Table=BYOB ❗️832-782-0330 For Reservations❗️ https://www.instagram.com/p/BpPdEZyHh78/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=epy5fvt57wfc

[somanyfandomssss]

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Sooooo y’all Sept. 15th @jadajada.0 & I will be having a kickback. There will be Alcohol🍾, Jell-O shots🥃, and lots of Mary Jane🍃🍃🍃. Yes Marijuana is legal so this kickback is 4/20 friendly! Come out, show love bring allllll the good vibes 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾 Slide in me or @jadajada.0 dm’s for the location!! Love y’all! 🖤 Let’s get lit! 😘🤙🏾 • • • • • This kickback is free entry!! If y’all need help getting there from Philly lmk! Jada will be providing rides for a small fee! (Rides will stop after a certain time) Or you can catch the train from 30th st station to Baltimore and we can pick you up from there! It’s about to be lit! // #ItsAParty #KickBack #Alcohol #ItsLegal #420Friendly #Fun #Shots #Dm #Baltimore #Philly #JelloShots #BYOB #TurnUp #Lit #BestFriend https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSRpRZAgsv4YaJ5RL3XnGSTi9e1I9URjAD9uI0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=71ncf3mjsqku

[lvfit-blog]

Maui Travel Guide

I live in a really beautiful place. Southern California has nice beaches, stellar hikes, eclectic neighborhoods and palm tree lined streets. So it takes something spectacular for me to be in awe. While in Maui, I found myself stopping to look around and comment on the beauty at least 15 times per day. And I am not exaggerating. The beaches, the plants, the palm trees, the sunsets - everything is gorgeous. 

I went to Maui about three years ago, but we spent most of the time at the resort (if you’ve been to the Four Seasons Wailea, you understand why). So this time we made a point to get out and explore more and it made for the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. The gym at the Four Seasons is perfect if you want to use equipment without leaving the gorgeous surroundings, so I had no problem getting my fitness on (had to with all those fish tacos, glasses of rose, and dessert every single night ya feel me?). The cardio equipment is in an open air part of the gym and there’s a sundeck with TRX, medicine balls, pull up bars, mats, foam rollers and bands, so it’s the perfect spot to squeeze in a morning workout. I used the gym almost every day, we went to a yoga class, and did a workout on the beach!

RESTAURANTS

Morimoto at the Andaz Hotel: This hotel is a really beautiful location for the restaurant. As you walk down the staircase at night, you pass multiple infinity pools that glisten in the moonlight. There’s a sleek sushi bar, indoor seating, an outdoor bar and an outdoor terrace. We sat on the terrace with curved, upholstered seating (super romantic and comfy) and a view of the ocean and pool. 

I drank sake (I don’t remember which one), and we started with the hamachi tacos, which were delicious - a crunchy shell with the perfect amount of hamachi and avocado inside. Then we ate  the sea urchin carbonara (a little heavy for my taste), braised black cod (insanely delicious), shishito peppers, seafood toban yaki (also ridiculously good - so much lobster, crab and yummy scallops), and a full plate of sushi. This was definitely one of the best meals of the entire vacation. (appetizers range from $16-$30, main courses from $35-$62)

Coconuts: One of my friends read about Coconuts prior to our trip. It turns out that it’s a chain restaurant and there’s one in DTLA now! Trust me, I’ll be checking it out. They’re known for their fish tacos that include slaw with coconut milk. Two tacos come in an order and they’re massive - don’t let the pictures on the wall fool you. The flavors are delicious and each taco includes 17 different ingredients including the fresh fish of the day, cheese, tomatoes, coconut milk coleslaw and mango salsa. I want to go back just for these tacos. Plus, they have beer on tap - my rec is the Bikini Blonde. ($12.75 for an order of fish tacos, around $5 for a beer)

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice: I’ve been to Hawaii four times, but for some reason I was still under the impression shave ice was the same as a sno cone. I was wrong. Hawaiian Shave Ice is so creamy and soft. Ululani’s signature way is to put a layer of ice cream on the bottom and then the shave ice on top. I went with macadamia nut ice cream to get super Hawaiian and chose strawberry, pineapple and coconut flavors on the shave ice. It was honestly one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted in my entire 31 years of living. Again, I am not exaggerating. And I love food. Especially dessert. (around $7/$8 for a medium)

Monkey Pod: Monkey Pod is one of those places that you keep hearing about when you’re in the area, but aren’t quite sure what to think. Every time we asked a local or someone working in the hotel where to go for dinner outside of the Four Seasons, they said Monkey Pod. But they also told us it was a little like a sports bar, so we weren’t sure what to think. Finally on the last night, after hitting all the restaurants on our list, we decided to try it out. It was super casual with a fun bar and cute outdoor patio (where we sat). We ordered the lobster pizza to share as an appetizer (pretty good, although I’m a red sauce person, so it wouldn’t be my first choice), and I got the fish tacos (see a pattern yet?). I will order fish tacos anywhere they are offered, especially in Hawaii. The tacos were great - the mahi mahi was blackened and full of flavor and they were topped with a spicy salsa, avocado and jalepenos. YUM. They’re known for their strawberry pie, so you know we had to test it out. It had a filling that was similar to cheese cake, but less dense - the strawberries on top were to die for. (pizza -$27, fish tacos, $24)

BEACHES

Makena State Park: 

Big Beach: This is my favorite beach I’ve been to in Hawaii so far. Just like it sounds, it was huge, with sand the color of that macaroni and cheese Crayola crayon, and water so clear and turquoise that you can see to the bottom even when you’re in five feet of water. The waves were gnarly and there were tons of locals surfing and skimboarding. There’s usually a Jaws food truck in the parking lot selling fish tacos and burritos. I tried the fish burrito for a change - it was really fresh and the salsas were full of flavor. Should’ve gone for the tacos though. 

If you walk to one edge of the beach, there’s a rock you can climb over to get to Little Beach. Little Beach is a nude beach with LOTS of interesting scenery if you know what I mean.

Turtle Beach in Paia: We went to Paia Town our first full day in Maui. It’s a cutie little eclectic hippy town with lots of shops and restaurants. I recommend stopping by just to walk around and get a Shaved Ice at Ululani’s. If you go right past the town, there’s a beach with tons of locals and their little kids surfing and some massive turtles. It’s definitely worth seeing and spending some time on the beach. 

OTHER: 

Snorkel with Kai Kanani Sailing: We researched several different snorkel excursions and we chose this one because we wanted to be around other people (there were about 25 of us on the boat) and be on a nice catamaran. The excursion took us to Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. Molokini had super rough water, so it was difficult to see anything, much less snorkel. We took a boat ride to Turtle Town expecting to see turtles, but there were only three on a nearby beach. Overall, we were a little disappointed in the lack of visibility and the lack of turtles, but the boat was great. The staff was super friendly and knowledgable and the food was pretty good. They provided snacks throughout the trip and a lunch after Turtle Town. I also like the fact that it was BYOB - we brought some champagne (literally the only group that took them up on the booze offer) and had some drinks - post snorkel of course. (around $200 per person)

Nap in a Hammock: This might sound simple, but I was in Hawaii 10 days (5 in Kona and 5 in Maui) and didn’t get in a hammock until the last day. They are everywhere, and are perfect to lounge around with a book or nap in the sun. (FREE)

[fabuloussisterofsin]

Hana Chapter Three is Up!

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14258097/chapters/33106503

Summary:Things are getting heated. Shinsuke and Missy are getting close, closer than they both know they should. Tensions are high as a night with friends turns into a flirt fest and denial of their feelings.

Please comment, like, reblog, and leave Kudos! 

Hana: The Vibe 

Missy smiled and made her way over to Shinsuke. "Hey Shin!" She said excitedly. She opened her arms to give him a hug. "How was your filmed promo today?" She asked him.

He hugged her close. "Promo go okay!" He said. "How are you today?"

Missy smiled up at him, she realized she was still clinging to him. "I'm doing okay! Excited for all of our days off tomorrow!" She moved hair from his face. "Hey do you like video games? Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity?"

"I like video games!" He said, arm still around her shoulder. "Never play that other game.

Missy could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to silence it. He was her friend and that was it, but it seemed her heart had different ideas. "Would you like to come to my place and play some video games? Maybe invite the group too? Or just us?" She asked feeling familiar butterflies, butterflies like when she had her first kiss kind of butterflies. She pushed them down.

"Yeah! We invite friends, sound like fun." He said with a smile.

Her heart skipped a beat, his smile gosh his smile was enough to light a up a room. "I'll text them then!" She texted the group chats. "Game night and drinks at my place! BYOB, but pizza will be provided! CAH and Video Games for all!" Missy looked over to Shinsuke. "I have a favor to ask. Could you come over before they get there and help me set up and stuff?" She asked him. "You don't have to." She stated. Missy thought of what Becky had said to her. She wasn't going to fall for him, but she was starting to show the signs, it scared her.

"Sure I help. Let me change out of gear." He said before he half arm hugged her and walked off to the locker room.

"See yah!" She smiled brightly at him and went to go change from gear too. She sighed and felt the pangs of love beginning to blossom.

Shin was looking forward to a little alone time with her. He was beginning to feel something. Something he wasn't sure he had really felt before. Missy got dressed and looked at herself in the mirror. She did her make up and fussed with her hair. She wanted to text Shin a picture of herself. So she did, she took a selfie and asked. "Do I look halfway decent?" She sent a laughing face. He sent her back a sticker of a broadly smiling face. "You look great! I'm waiting outside for you!"

Missy laughed and finished up her look. She hopped out the door and looked for him. "Alright lets get this party star..." She stopped mid sentence and saw him. He was wearing a leather jacket and she could feel the heat rising from her toes to her face. "Started."

He had his leather jacket on and a white t-shirt with dark jeans. "What the matter Hana?"

"Nothing." She said her face blazing with blush. "I Uh..just think I heard my knee pop or something." She lied and the quirked a half smile at him. "You wanna follow me in your car?" She asked him. "Or do you want to hitch a ride?"

"I follow you." He said, adjusting his jacket around his shoulders.

Shin and Missy left the building and she waited for him in her deep blue Chevy Traverse. Once h caught up with her they drove ot her complex. She got out of the car and headed for the door. "Almost lost you on the Highway!" She laughed. Missy tended to speed.

"You speed racer!" He smiled. "There's speed limit you know!"

“Yeah and I was going like five over." She laughed poking fun at him as she fumbled with her keys which were on an Eevee lanyard and had a collection cute little key chains. She opened the door and flipped the lights on. "Welcome to my humble abode." She said to him. Her home looking like a beautiful remake of a well off colonial home, blue and white pervading the space, with dark and simplistic furniture and brightly colored kitchen supplies.

"Nice place." He complemented, looking around.

"Thanks I worked on it really hard." She said as she set her purse down. She flicked the living room lights on and a 54 inch Tv was nestled in a dark wood entertainment center with a large bright blue suede couch. "And this is my living room." She said excitedly. Off to the side was a case filled with Missy's Achievements all the way from Her wrestling days in high school and her NXT titles.

He walked over to look at her titles. He needed a case like this at home, honestly. He felt proud of her, of her achievements.

Missy blushed. “Oh don't look at those." She said walking over to him. There was a picture of her in High school hoisting the belt in pigtails and braces. "I really shouldn't display them so prominently." She said feeling embarrassed.

"Good to know where you came from." He said. "You accomplish a lot."

“Thanks, by as impressive as you.” She said grabbing controllers and games.” You know I tried out for NJPW.”

"Yeah? You came to Japan?" He asked.

“Briefly.” She Said. “I didn’t make it I was in college.” She replied. “I got my shoulder separated by another girl.”

He grimaced. "Mmmm never fun injury."

“Yeah. But I made it through college and then the circuits until I tried out for WWE.” She smiled. “And I got into NXT just after you left.”

He turned to smile at her. "Lucky we needed up on the same bus and you fall asleep on me!"

Missy laughed. “Yeah lucky indeed!” She said. “Shin, help me move the coffee table?” She asked.

He moved her coffee table and looked around. "What else can I do?"

Missy looked at him. “Well we should move the couch a bit.” She thought out loud. Missy tried to push her couch. She fell forwards and laughed into the couch. “I’m special.”

He flounced down in the couch beside her and turned to look at her. "You are special. Special like..." He closed his eyes, thinking for an appropriate word. "Special, like unique."

Missy laughed. “Thanks you’re unique too.” She said rolling over half on top of him. She smiled up at him; the butterflies fluttering in her belly. Her heart was pounding as she placed her hand on Shinsuke’s chest.

He felt a strange warm feeling radiating in his chest. He smoothed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

“Your heart is beating like wild.” She commented getting closer to him. “Why is your heart beating so fast.?”

He smiled. ”The vibes." He replied.

Missy laughed. “Well what kinda vibes.” She said inching closer to him. Her own heart hammering in her chest. She moved his hand to her chest so he could feel her heart.

He flexed his fingers over her chest, the familiar touch thrilling him. "Good vibes. Exciting."

Missy almost held her breath. She was so happy to have him close. “Yeah, exciting.” She breathed. She got her face closer to his.

He breathed deep, trying to calm himself as she came closer.

Missy moved to kiss him. This was the first time the thought had crossed her mind. “Shinsuke.” She whispered moving his hand to her breast.

Shin was being pulled to her, like a magnet. Her breast was soft and firm under his hand. His breathing was shallow, their lips inches from each other when there was a knock on her door. "Fuck." He breathed with a chuckle.

Missy popped up and off the couch in a flash she fixed her self and fought off the heat rising to her cheeks. She felt like she was bowl of jello and not quite sure which was up. She ran to the door. “Hi Kev, Sami and Becky!” She smiled for them. Becky raised her eyebrow at Missy. “Hi shin.” She said knowingly. Missy smiled. “Okay let’s get this party started!” She Said.

Shin got to his feet and took off his jacket, moving the couch to wear Missy had wanted it.

“Okay so I’ve got lots of games and also Cards against humanity and pizza is coming what do we wanna do first?” She asked the group. Becky opted for video games.

Shin settled back into the couch, his arms spread across the back of it. Becky sat beside him under his arm and when he wasn't looking, she stuck her tongue out at Missy.

Missy rolled her eyes. She felt a a twist in her gut. Was she jealous? No she couldn’t be. She was though. She hopped on the couch and snuggled up against Shinsuke. “Well what do we want to play? I’ve got all kinds of games, I’ve got fighting games. Hell I’ve got 2k18!” She suggested.  She looked at Becky and stuck her tongue out back at her. Becky snuggled in close Shin and he looked from one girl to the other then at Sami who was staring daggers at him.

Missy glared at Becky. “Shin wanna play 2k18 with me?” She asked him. “We could all play I have enough controllers!” She said excitedly. "Sure!" He replied.

Missy got up and grabbed hima controller. “Which one?” She asked holding out a dark blue and black one. “And kev and Sami is you wanna play you can join in. Maybe we could do a tournament?”

He reached for the black controller and the guys joined in. Becky leaned against Shin. "Alright, we all guys or girls?" She asked.

“Guys!” Missy said. She flipped through and chose Shinsuke. “Well I’m gonna be Shin.” She spoke making a face at Becky.

Becky chose Stone Cold, Sami and Kevin chose each other, and Shin chose Finn Balor.

The match started and Missy got super into the game. She went right after Becky’s character. A sign and signal to her. “Ohhh Shit Kinshasa!” She said excitedly as she fought Becky.

Shin teamed up with the guys to start trying to throw people over the top rope. Missy got put in the corner by the AI controlling Roman who started to wail on Shinsuke.

"Missy you get me beat up!" Shinsuke said.

“I’m trying not to!” She laughed as she threw Roman over the rope. “There I beat him.” She said sticking her tongue out at Shinsuke. “Ha ha!” She cried out as she threw out Bobby Roode. She went back after Becky and punched Becky out of the ring. “Damn it Missy!” She said.

Shin was locked into combat with Sami.

Missy fought Kevin and threw him out. “Ha Gotcha Kevin!” She smiled. “You’re way too good at this game.” He teased.

Shinsuke managed to throw Sami out. It was down to he and Missy. He turned to her and smiled. "Come on!"

Missy got a dumbfounded look on her face and she turned beat red. “Yeah okay I’m so gonna beat you.” She challenged him.

They battled and eventually Missy tossed him out of the ring.

“Whooooo! I win!” She Said. “Beat cha!” She laughed hugging Shinsuke. She paused a moment their faces close.

He gave her a sly look and booped his forehead against hers before he turned away. "Lets go again!"

“Alright! You’re on!” She smiled at him and bopped his forehead, with her finger. Becky smiled and rolled her eyes. The doorbell rang. “That must be the pizza someone wanna sign for it.”

Shin leaned back against the couch, looking around the room expectantly.

“I’ll get it.” Becky said getting up. Key and sami opted to watch and drink beer. “Alright this time I’m going to beeee Roman!” She chose Roman. Shin picked himself. "I beat you this time!"

“Yeah we shall see!” She smiled and elbowed him. “I’m gonna beat yoooooouuu!” She smiled, Becky laughed “you two are adorable.”

"She going to be mad when I beat her!" Shin grinned. Kevin and Sami started drinking the beer they brought and eating pizza.

Missy smiled. “There is no way you’re gonna beat me!” She laughed as she Superman punched him. “Soo.” Becky said to the boys. “They’re an item soon I do believe.”

"Yeah I think so." Kevin said. "Is that why you were cozying up to him, Bexs?" Sami asked, his face and neck a little redder than usual.

“Yeah I’ve been noticing that missy like never stops talking about shin. What about on your end boys.” She asked. Back over at the gaming center shin had just Kinshasa’d Missy’s character.

"Shin's pretty quiet. Ya know? He's a pretty private guy."

Becky sighed. “Well they need to get together.” She said to them. “Shit! No there is no way I’m gonna let you beat.” Missy said to Shin.

"I going to beat you!" He smiled, their characters grappling.

Missy stuck out her tongue and concentrated. “Nooooo way.” She exclaimed trying to reverse.

He rolled her up for a pin and she couldn't kick out fast enough. "Yeaoh!" He said, holding his hands up in the air before he turned to her with a sly smile. "I beat you." He said slowly.

Missy looked shocked. “Damn it!” She said to him and looked at his sly smile. She playfully pushed him. “I do think you could actually beat me though.” She laughed. Becky smiled. “Fight fight fight!” She laughed.

Shin stood up and did his hand motions. "Come on!" He knew how she looked at him whenever he did it in the ring.

Missy bit her lip. Flustered in every sense of the word. “Well I Uh um eh hmph!” She Said to him. Becky laughed. “Ooohhh someone’s all worked up!” Becky teased.

Seeing how far he could push her he.stretched upwards, deliberately exposing part I his lower belly.

“I am not!” She protested angrily. “I’m not at all!” She peaked at his lower belly. “Yes you are!” Becky said. “Isn’t she Kev and Sami?”

"Be nice to her." Shin said crossing the room and pulling her to his side.

Missy blushed hard and moved out from under shin’s arm and stormed out of the apartment to her balcony. Muttering to herself.

Shin held his hands up at them. "Enough enough!" He walked out on the balcony with her. "Sorry Missy-chan."

“No it’s fine.” She said looking out at the stars. “I just needed some air.” She lied. She was only upset because the comments were hitting so close to home for her.

He leaned his back against the banister. "We tease them back. Sami like Becky, you know."

Missy smiled. “Huh now that’s a pairing I wouldn’t have noticed.” She laughed. “I’m all for it.” She smiled at him. She walked over and gave Shin a hug. “I just really did need some air.” She hugged him tight.

He hugged her tight and before he could stop himself he kissed the top of her head.

Missy froze in his arms. He kissed the top of her head. She was as stiff as a board unsure of what to do.

He just held her close. "You sure you okay? You are tense." “Ummm Yeah.” She said to him. “I’m..I’m fine.” She relaxed her body but her mind was racing. She could feel that warmth and that desire growing in her heart. It was trying to break free.

He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "Loosen up hana. Relax!"

Missy looked up at him, her eyes shining. She looked up at him with a look in her eyes that she had never given him before. One that told him everything.

He ran his hand through her hair and brought it to rest on her shoulder.

She kept looking at him her heart almost bursting, she wanted to kiss him but she couldn’t. Instead she buried her face in his neck.

His hand was on her lower back, rubbing a soft slow circle there. He had this curious feeling like he was home. The closest he had come to that feeling since he left Japan.

For the first time since she was a child, missy felt safe. She felt safe and calm in his arms. She nuzzled his neck. “Don’t let go.” She whispered.

"I don't want to. Ever." He admitted.

She hugged him tight and let out a relieved sob.

"No cry hana!" He said, pulling back to look at her. He held her upper arms gently. "What wrong”

“For the first time in my life, I feel safe, and that I belong somewhere, for the first time in my life, I’m happy.” She said looking up at him.

He gave her a small smile. "I glad, hana. You belong right here. You safe with us."

She hugged him tight. I belong with you. She thought. “Yeah, just whatever you are whatever you end up being I’m happy that you’re in my life.”

He nodded. "I happy you in my life too. He said, brushing his hand through her hair. Missy nuzzled him and then started to laugh. Sami, kevin and BEcky were all eating chips and drinking watching them.

Shin made a face and held open his arms. "What you all looking at?" He taunted.

“It’s cuuuute.” Becky said. Missy laughed. “We’re just...were just friends.” She said the lie tasting bitter on her tongue.

He nodded. "She need comforting. Because you are mean!" He said. "You want someone to pick on? Sami like you Becky!" Becky blushed and missy laughed. “Ha not so funny now!” She laughed before they headed inside. Missy popped on a movie and sat on the couch. Kevin took an individuals section and missy made Sami and Becky sit together. Shin smiled at the two. "There! Now you couple!"

Missy laughed and sat down next to Shinsuke. The took up their normal bus ride cuddle positions. “See not so funny now.”

"Yeah! We pick on you little while! When you two get married?" "This is awkward." Kevin said, taking a swig of his beer.

“Then bring your wife next time.” Missy said. “Poor woman.” She fist bumped Shinsuke. “Listen y’all can leave if you like.”

Becky and Sami got up at the same time. They looked at each other than down at Shin and Missy. "I'll see you later Missy. Sorry." "Come on Bex, I'll go catch a cab with you." "Yeah, I'm going to. Later guys." Kevin added.

“By guys sorry this was disaster!” She said to them. “We can try again later, or never again.” She said to them.

Shin pouted a little. "Sorry Sami, shouldn't have told on you." Sami looked at. "Well you don't say it, but you like her."

Missy blushed. “And she likes you, but you two are stubborn.” Becky shook her head. “I’ll see you the day after tomorrow for training. No hard feelings.” She Said Missy.

When the room was clear Shin sighed. "That went terrible."

“Yeah...I guess we won’t be having game nights anymore.” She Said. “I feel like a real shit heel.” She Said standing up and walking away from him into the kitchen.

"That was me, not you." He said. "I am a jerk. " “You’re by a jerk.” She said grabbing a piece of pizza. “I think tempers were hot tonight She said munching. “I’ll brb.” She Said as she went and put her pjs on. A pair short shorts and a tank top. “Okay I’m back.” Her hair was down and around her shoulders.

He tried not to look to hard at her as he ate his piece of pizza. "I should leave too."

Missy pouted. “Come on stay the night play some more games with me.” She munched. “Bff sleep over.” She suggested.

"Yeah, make things worse." He said. "They really tease you if they find out I stayed."

“No one has to know.” She shrugged. “Our little secret.” She suggested.

He nodded. "Okay." He was halfway interested in the movie she had put in. "Watch movie with me?"

“Yeah.” She said sitting down and cuddling with him and it wasn’t long before she was passed out on his lap.

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