#long text jumpscare

[t34-mt]

northern winter uniform of GA soldiers, explanation on the history behind it under ->

21-06-23 edit:

Since GA is the first and last war altuyur had, well maanuls and kyhuines didn't know how to even battle properly. Many things related to that age have a sort of clumsy beginning, and so do uniforms. Firstly they used modified versions of the decorative armor that were originally used in theatrical plays, religious performances, and even sports. The modified versions had fewer metal pieces, and no decorations, but were completely inconvenient as they were not thought out for battle. Combined with the crazy temperature recorded in the battlegrounds (mostly in the southern desert) armors were just terrible! a literal oven. So quickly they abandoned the armor to just tissue, but uniforms stand out so much from how their clothing normally looks that looking back at them, it just feels alien to them. lifeless even. an example of an early armored uniform can be found here.

Now back to the northern uniform, when a small part of the north joined the red troupes by believing in their aggressive propaganda campaigns. They then had to make special uniforms for the recruits and soldiers, as in the north there are seasons when the temperatures get quite low. Much like what you have in western/central Europe, which makes the far north of altuyur stand out as the rest is hot with only 2 distinct seasons.

When making the northern winter uniforms they based it on already existing pieces of clothing (in this case basic northern winter hunting clothes with some pieces taken from dancing garments), but striping them off from any decoration, simplifying them to the bare minimum. Moving the ventilation holes to the side of the torso to protect the opperculums more, tho it makes them quite uncomfortable but recruits and soldiers just get used to it. The most "unique" thing about the uniforms is the patch on the arm with the person's name, and yet that piece is easily rippable, in case the owner dies so they can just rip it off and recycle it for new naive recruits that aren't even aware someone died in these clothes before.

They lack any creativity to them, for maanuls as well as a kyhuine these are soulless, as they highly value the art of crafting. There's no passion, no real purpose but a nonsensical war in these uniforms. Nothing to make them truly worthy in their culture. These are just morbid for them to look at during the silver age.

The maanul featured in this drawing is Qua'tuli, which easily translates to "one'whisker". He's a northeast maanul which explains his dark pelt, he has a singular whisker with a mole and is born without tahofahs which is a birth defect and also means he can't smell anything. Like many young influenceable people, he was tricked to join the red troupes thinking it would make him a hero for his people forever, that the war would just last a week, that they'll easily reach kaar'kchir in a week. And that after his service he will be granted special permissions (ex: being able to build his own fisherman's house, building permissions is a law that appeared in GA to force people to join the ranks). Although he started his service in the west as he was living there. When the north joined the war his division was then sent to the north.

here's a silly drawing to show the 3 layers

Fun fact, Monmartre and Qua'tuli meet as young recruits in the west. Enjoy monmartre that caught a cold.

[wizards1977]

Ok while toxic divorced old man yaoi is in the public consciousness I just wanna posit that Gandalf x Saruman goes craaaaazyyy as exes in my gay opinion

and those movie exclusive scenes

[twinkpriest]

Omg.... Please share your headcanons about the goth kids

>:3c mwahahaha i hope youre ready anon (cracks knuckles)

also i need share credit bc all of these were jointly created in my bf @lilachawk and i's dms <3

general:

their group chat is called "the cavern of darkness", they named it that in middle school and never changed it. any time they refer to it in verbal speech they just call is "the cavern"

they do secret santa every year. they draw names from michael's plastic viking helmet

they all definitely have their non-goth-music guilty pleasures but the main one they all have in common is lady gaga. her 2009 vma performance won their respect

they're still decent friends with stan and get invited to his birthday party every year. sometimes they go sometimes they don't

michael:

november scorpio

i'm gonna ignore how all of the houses in town are laid out because i firmly believe he has an attic bedroom. every wall/ceiling surface is covered in posters and stuff. full bookshelves, lots of tchotchkes, old concert ticket stubs, that kinda stuff. maximalism baby!!

gay gay homosexual gay

has a long haired black cat named bella (short for belladonna). rescued her from a snowstorm

him saying his parents were separated in raisins was just him being #edgy & his parents shown in gk3 are his actual parents. they never got divorced. he was raised interfaith jewish and buddhist. 

he has ehlers-danlos. i always give him ring splints in my drawings. the cane is actually needed sometimes

drives his dad's old camaro. the engine is really loud and it holds up like shit in the wintertime but he’s secretly really fond of the car

got a part time job at the only respectable record store in town junior year

pete:

water sign. pisces or cancer

only child of a single father who does construction work. his dad doesn't quite understand the goth thing but he's supportive

bi king. had a normie girlfriend in highschool. not for long, but it was still a very weird experience for everyone involved

super into comics, esp indie stuff. dream job is definitely to be a comic book artist

if the shirt+bolo tie wasn't a giveaway, he's lowkey into western vibes/influences. he probably has one of those old dramatically fringed suede jackets that he found in a local goodwill

really puts the Y in diy, probably the best & most creative out of the 4 of them when it comes to altering clothes and making accessories and shit

bites his nails/picks his skin

has a pet rat named boris

a little transmasc pilled if u ask me....

henrietta:

probably a virgo

mean lesbian <3

she stays designated driver for most of high school but later on, her and michael kinda divvy up friend group driving responsibilities. she is still the default though, because when michael drives she’s an intense backseat driver

she drives her mom's horrible subaru most of the time but she 100% would be the person to save up and buy a hearse as her daily car

is always the first to hear about local shows. she just knows people

i looooove the recurring thing in fics where she is the one to dye pete's hair. she does the sally’s run & dyes/trims his hair and in exchange he fixes rips in her clothes or superglues the soles back onto her shoes or something like that 

loves those new age crystal incense dragon hippie stores you see in malls. secretly likes the cool fairy statues they sell in them

firkle:

april aries

SUPER into vulture culture. has too many bones and not enough space for them

likes harsh noise music. calms him down

sends the strangest, most esoteric memes in the group chat and the rest of them have no idea where he finds them or what they mean

sorry i have like nothing else for firkle he kinda eludes me

[somethingwittyandweird]

What's your favorite game you played this year?

You've activated my “review of my year in gaming” trap card! I was already going to make this post in some form or another, you've just given me the perfect launching point. So, the first thing you should know about asking me for favorites: I never give just one. How could I, when it's been such a banger year of games? (Heads up, this one's going to go long.)

I loved Tears of the Kingdom to death, and it took home my most hours played on Switch. It is a shining example of what devs can do with an extra few months to polish a game. There were so many remarkable moments that testified to how much care and ideas the devs were able to put in. I loved how it used the time since the first game to develop familiar places and characters, adding depth (no pun intended) and also making sure every familiar location had some new twist. The story was a much stronger followup to BotW, and I think this overall has my new favorite ending sequence of anything in the series (I'd love to make a full post sometime about how the final Ganondorf battles just keep getting more spectacular with each new title). I am so, so, so, so normal about this incarnation of Princess Zelda. 

Also in my favorites this year is Fire Emblem Engage, which hit at just the right time to scratch my strategy itch. As a long time FE fan it’s not a surprise I enjoyed this one- though it lost the political intrigue of its predecessor in favor of a more traditional/tropey story, I still had a lot of fun with all its gimmicks and gameplay innovations. Also it is hands-down the most visually appealing game in the franchise, a title previously held by the series’ GBA entries which are masterworks from the peak era of beautiful sprite art. From the incredible crit animations to the spectacle of super attacks to the battle maps which are so beautifully detailed that the game lets you free roam around them after a battle just to appreciate them better. 

I finished the Link’s Awakening remake this year! It was a charming trip back to an older era of Zelda design philosophy and I found it fascinating to compare the ways where the classic puzzles and challenges differ from what the game would be like if it were made today, as well as the places where modern technology allowed for better QoL changes that weren’t in the original. I really enjoyed the music as well, which I find to be a standout among the series still.

Here at the end of the year, I have to give a shout out to Sea of Stars. It has everything you want in an indie darling- very pretty pixel art, very nice music, turn-based battles with timed hits I joke, but Sea of Stars does a great job balancing evoking/paying homage to icons like Chrono Trigger and bringing new gameplay to the JRPG formula. I like its pared-down take on JRPG combat which revamps skills/mana into a much more dynamic resource that’s constantly being spent and regenerated, and I’m a known sucker for character combo attacks which this game has in spades. The later parts of its story are told with a lot of heart, and again I am a known sucker for certain character archetypes. Surprisingly also, I think the movement and exploration is absolutely a standout- not something that’s typically emphasized in the genre. But this game constantly has you hopping across stepping stones, balancing on tightropes, climbing walls and ledges… the emphasis on interesting traversal and verticality is a strength few games like it can boast. 

Before my final pick, I’m including a special section for all the games I didn't play myself but watched my friends play and still want to praise: Hi-Fi Rush, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Mario Bros Wonder, Pizza Tower, the Minish Cap Switch rerelease, and more all came out this year and all of them have brought killer music, excellent gameplay, and stunning visuals that I’ve enjoyed to no end. Anyone considering to pick up any of them would find a quality product without a doubt.

With all that said: I think ultimately it has to be Tunic in the end. Underneath its premise of a Zelda/Souls-like adventure game there is a wealth of secrets that goes as far down as you have the courage to delve. It’s a game built to evoke nostalgia for games that you didn’t understand yet, posing as a game that you watched an older sibling play or a game you could only find a poorly-translated foreign copy of. It obscures everything and teaches you its secrets through context, exploration, and discovering in-game pages of the manual (remember manuals?). It’s a game made for lovers of secrets and puzzles, full of hidden paths and trophies that reward inquisitiveness and observation (and taking paper notes). It was when I saw that it not only has a conlang, but that it gives you the hints you need to fully translate it, that I knew I had to get it myself. It spurred me to screenshot every in-game piece of menu text, then spend evenings cross-referencing it to identify phonemes and construct a key.

The rush I got on completing that key is one of two moments I knew this game was absolutely special. The second standout moment is when the game teaches you its hugest secret, and then invites you to prove your mastery of it by presenting you a huge, multi-part puzzle. But, Tunic does the same thing that one of my other all-time favorites, Outer Wilds, does so well: powerups via knowledge, “unlocking” abilities that you always had, you just didn’t know that you did. The pieces to this puzzle are hidden in plain sight; it’s only when the game tells you what you’re looking for that your understanding shifts, everything clicks, and your eyes are opened to the path you have to follow. I don’t say it lightly, but I consider Tunic to be a one-of-a-kind title, and one that delivers completely on its unique vision. 

In case that brick of text doesn’t make it clear, I love this game. 

I love all of these games.

It's a fine time to be alive.

[eatsless]

i took a poo today and it looked FUCKED i had to google pics online and now my search history is also FUCKED

[enniewritesathing]

lightly working and 'drafting' in Blender and I had to make a new rip for John...

it will make a huge difference visual wise, even if it's a small tweak. like he looks really [redacted] and it's very spooky.

which will make a thing extra cool but spooky as well

[alpinelogy]

not me idling for too long and getting logged out of an internal system for a programme i am applying to, only to be greeted by the fucking oracle logo out of all things on the timed out screen

[knifegremliin]

it's funny when you've been on a medication for so long and talk about it so frequently that you just. know how to spell it without double checking. like yeah that's my methylphenidate. i don't need to look at the bottle or search it up to know how to spell it. she's my longtime friend.

[sleepyjim2]

i wanna go home -guy that is already home technically

[so-you-melted-22]

Reading a fanfic and why is just randomly an entire explanation of Biedermeier in there

[z-marble]

Things online that often lead to a Jumpscare

Maze Games

Spot the Difference Games

Any picture of a normal looking room with text asking you what's wrong with it

Ghost Videos

Videos labeled stuff like "REAL [X] CAUGHT ON CAMERA!!!!"

Videos that are potato quality CCTV footage

Videos of innocent stuff like cute puppies or babies, sometimes might end with a zombie screaming at your face

Camera panning across a landscape

Any video that features a mirror in it (A spoooky ghost might spawn in it!)

Any videos that are taken out in the woods at night (Think like Blair Witch Project)

Flash Games based on Tetris, Mario or Pac-Man

ANYTHING labeled "Look really careful" "Study this image"

Optical Illusions

The "When you see it, you'll shit bricks" meme (Sometimes)

Videos showing a "Subliminal Message" in a normal thing

Subliminal Messages found in a song (Usually with it slowed down then played backwards)

Magic Eye Tests (Rarely)

Any "Photo" of a long hallway (Bonus if it's a dark hallway)

Early-mid 2000s Flash games

Stare at the dot for [X] seconds

Crudely done Stick Figure animations (Rarely)

Websites that take longer then usually to load (As if some kinda of script is starting to run)

Any video that claim to capture a ghost of a celebrity like Micheal Jackson or Elvis

Anything by Liquid Generation

Stuff used for Jumpscares:

The Girl from the Exorcist

The Demon from the Exorcist

The Photo of the pale girl with the black eyes with her mouth open

Audio clip of Homer Simpson's Scream

Photos of angry Monkeys

The Zombie from that Coffee Ad/Ghost Car video

Spooky Skeletons

The Ghosts from the Fatal Frame Games

The Melting Face guy from Raiders of the lost Ark

The Library Ghost from Ghostbusters

A close up of "The Scream" Painting

Ghost Face from Scream

Demons from DOOM (Like from promo stuff)

Large Marge from Peewee's big adventure

Monsters from Dungeons & Dragons art books

Chucky from Child's Play

The Doll from Trilogy of Terror

Photos of Lions/Tigers roaring

Anything I should add?

[im-smart-i-swear]

so. sorry i just had a Moment

[moineauz]

જ⁀ 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔 , various !

synopsis: his voice lines about you as his beloved partner

including: veritas, jing yuan, blade

side comments: dw i promise i'm working on the house of musica requests... i just wanted to do this for fun! also this is the first time I've written for jing yuan which is kinda funny. i liked writing for blade again. originally i had welt and aventurine in the mix but i wanted to post this hahaha.

extra: gn reader, angsty and fluffy moments, mentions of marriage, aventurine jumpscare later favourites: blade word count: roughly 2,085+

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎

WHO ARE THEY? I "So you're asking about my significant other? Are you shocked that I have a significant other? At the very least consider your question."

FIRST MEETINGS? "I met Professor ( Name ) when they barged into my lecture, they said they were 'lost'. Since then we had several heated debates academically. Have I lost in these debates? Several times yes, consequently making debating with them all the more... interesting. Especially considering that Professor ( Name ) has a well-rounded vault of knowledge in most subjects of academic and social relevance. Finally, a conversation worth my time.

GREETINGS? "Professor ( Name ) considers a good greeting the highest attribute. A curt smile and a cup of coffee suffice, thankfully they know when to remain silent. However, there are instances when they will talk relentlessly. Initially, I used my headpiece around them. Nevertheless, their conversations do occasionally convey subtle insightfulness and definite meaning. Gradually I have come to share some liking towards their rather pleasant 'small talk'."

PARTINGS? "A small kiss on the cheek: be it on my skin or the headpiece, that is all. However, I... have always preferred it on the skin."

ABOUT US: ART "Outside of ( Name's ) academic career, they share a peculiar fondness for art. Be it painting or sculptures they could very well get lost in a museum. When they discovered my fondness for sculptures and anatomy, they were... oddly quiet; tracing their hands over my sculptures- or my face to be exact. ( Name's ) admiration is always shown in silence, one of the greatest forms of praise.

ABOUT US: TRUE APPEARANCES "I have questioned how ( Name ) has perceived our relationship. Considering that we are both colleagues, it can lead to speculation amongst other *sighs* inappropriate comments. Hence, I prefer to keep our relationship known only to those who need to. I believe them to be devout and... undoubtedly caring. I hope my attitude towards them conveys a similar message.

CHAT: WORK "Although we teach different subjects, we occasionally mark or review the work of our students. You may call it a 'second opinion'. Thus, their opinion is one that I trust."

CHAT: SERVICE "( Name's ) actions can initially appear simple-minded. However, underneath simplicity, lies thoughtfulness beyond comparison in both work... and at our residence.

PASTIMES DONE TOGETHER? "Film is not an art I deliberately take part in or seek out for leisure. However, ( Name ) was quite adamant and passionate about film. Thus, we've watched a myriad amount of films and TV shows together, both acclaimed and disdained. I have my own varying opinions. I must admit, after a long bath, a film in bed is quite soothing. Considering that ( Name ) similarly enjoys the pleasure of a bath, our nighttime routine is undoubtedly satisfying."

ARGUMENTS: "One must always think before they speak for there is a price to pay. ( Name's ) silence is decisive, deliberate and painful; burning right through your chest. Debates are loud, quarrels are bitterly silent."

SOMETHING TO SHARE: "Solitude is the greatest gift to civilization and self: introspection enlarges the expanse of the mind. However, the pursuit of knowledge is not only found in discovery and text. It is through experience alone. I have found much knowledge in solitude and an equal amount through genuine companionship. Hence, I share my deepest revere. "

WHO ARE THEY? II "My lover. That is who they are to me and all you need to know."

EXTRA: AVENTURINE'S OPINION "I met Ratio's lover when I visited for business matters. But, all that went out of the door! I saw a lovely individual by his desk and thought, 'Who is this?' Ratio never, and I mean never, allows anyone to screw his desk up. Yet, here they were, seated at the edge of his desk toying with his stupid chalk greeting me with a bright smile. We immediately hit off. I suppose Ratio does have some luck in him, but then again, ( Name ) was the one who first asked him out. Less to do with luck, and more to do with destiny. In my opinion, destiny is not something I fully believe in, however, when I watch Ratio and ( Name ), it's difficult to imagine a universe where they aren't together."

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍

WHO ARE THEY? I "You are looking for Commander ( Name )? Sadly they're on a business trip, however, I'd be happy to answer in their place."

FIRST MEETINGS? "( Name ) is an interesting soul. I've heard of their praised skills in combat and decisive thinking. Many assume I met them on the battlefield. Yet, I met them over a coincidental cup of tea."

GREETINGS? “I find it amusing how our everyday greetings have evolved. At first it was a salute. However, I find that a kiss on the cheek is a much more efficient way of greeting and brightening up the mundane tasks *sighs* of work.”

PARTINGS? “Why bid farewell when one hasn’t said hello? Partings have always been bitter. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that all things lead back from whence they came.”

ABOUT US: AGE “Time for long life species is fickle and plainly slow. Despite that, ( Name ) has constantly made time— less daunting and more fun. ( Name’s ) life span… is a touch shorter than that of myself. Hence, they have brought forth a new value in every passing year to which I cherish. This year I plan on doing something special for their birthday— though, don’t tell them that.”

ABOUT US: SILENCE "As much as ( Name ) glows in social settings, they equally enjoy stillness, if not more. There never is any obligation to fill the void when we're together. It is as natural of an act as breathing.

CHAT: PRODUCTIVITY "( Name ) likes to be on task. I, however, don't always find leisure in such activities. ( Name ) quote, 'holds me accountable'. Of course, there are moments in which I can distract them."

CHAT: FELINES "They are quite fond of Mimi. Unfortunately, Mimi is rather... aggressive when around ( Name ) and has been for a considerable amount of time. One time ( Name ) was attempting to bargain with Mimi for her favour. *Chuckles* What a sight.

PASTIMES DONE TOGETHER? "Master Diviner Fu Xuan would frown upon it... but I suppose napping on the Seat of Divine Foresight is considered a 'pastime' when done regularly enough."

ARGUMENTS: "I do not attempt to quell the frustrations of my dearest. It is not often they disclose them to me and it does pain me to be the cause of their anger. Nevertheless, if it means the two of us will grow closer, then I will gladly offer myself to the brute force of my dearest. Of course, the swelling of regret still stains the heart."

SOMETHING TO SHARE: I've lived one life yet many all at once. Companions scattered amongst the universe and enemies whose names I've gradually forgotten. Yet, underneath the breath of my dearest, I'm simply a man in his spouse's embrace. Nothing else matters."

WHO ARE THEY? II "My most loving spouse."

EXTRA: FU XUAN'S OPINION "When Commander ( Name ) came into the Seat of Divine Foresight to help the General... he grew all the more 'lazy'. A part of me feels sympathetic towards Commander ( Name ), imagine having your own spouse bully you into doing your work? Alas, it's not my business to speak about their marital life. Besides, the two go hand in hand, like a puzzle piece clicking together. Both can do well without, but when joined together, they are a force to be reckoned with."

𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐄

WHO ARE THEY? I "Their weapon may be thin, but it pierces holes even in the most... stubborn of enemies."

FIRST MEETINGS? "Elio's script is always followed. However, ( Name ) is a detail I did not anticipate or was foretold. My body met the tip of their spear before I saw their face."

GREETINGS? "Over time ( Name ) has grown close to the Stellaron Hunters- especially Kafka. Their presence is imminent despite not being a Stellaron Hunter themselves. ( Name ) smiles whenever we meet, it has always been more than enough."

PARTINGS? "My promised end will come, yet an absurd inkling of regret remains."

ABOUT US: THE BLADE "( Name ) believes the blade to be a form of art. They had said, 'The blade dances in air with undisturbed poise and precision, a kind of mercy not known to themselves.' I asked them why they chose a spear then. They replied, 'Because I could never dare replicate it's beauty.'"

ABOUT US: WOUNDS "( Name ) never wanted to be a traveller, rather, they opted to string fabrics together with a needle and thread. Perhaps that is where their skills come from."

CHAT: MIDNIGHT "The mara is like a ghost. Yet, ( Name ) is a fool. They embrace the ghost I can't seem to remember other than its bottomless spite and fear."

CHAT: SCARS "Their hands never 'keep to themselves'. ( Name ) prefers to trace their hands over surfaces and make shapes. They tend to draw stars... so many stars."

PASTIMES DONE TOGETHER? "When there are no missions, we sleep in silence. Under the guise of sleep and their warmth, immortality does not follow me."

ARGUMENTS: "When all is said and done, silence remains."

SOMTHING TO SHARE: "If there is life after death, then I wish to meet them in the same manner, again and again with that smile and spear."

WHO ARE THEY II? "The person who taught me how to breathe and pressed their lips against my skin."

EXTRA: KAFKA'S OPINION "Blade will never admit it. But, ( Name ) cares for Blade and Blade does too. The pair will never put a name to the push and pull between them. I caught Bladie once; staring out into the open universe searching for something with a spark of life that doesn't belong to a dead body. I wonder if ( Name ) put that there."

masterlist.

[neverendingford]

.

[parme-san]

forgot the trials and tribulations of having obey me installed

[xneens]

wasted summer - two

series masterlist

after being pushed away by your friends, you continue to indulge rafe’s company.

Your eyes twitched as the sunlight hit them, your nose scrunching slightly at the disturbance from such a peaceful sleep. You pulled the covers over your head, turning away from the intrusion, and rolled over closer to the middle of the bed, only to hit someone.

Groggily, you open an eye, seeing Rafe’s sleeping body next to you. Disbelief woke you up a little–the last time you had slept in the same bed as Rafe was four years ago when Rose wanted to quarantine you both, keeping you from getting the rest of your families sick of the flu.

Half-asleep, you groaned, stretching slightly, your hand smacking Rafe’s naked chest not so soft. The blond grunted, stirring in his sleep. Before you could roll out of his way, he moved, his arm wrapping around your waist, tugging you closer to him.

Memories from last night came sprinting back to you as his cologne infiltrated your nostrils, the cheap vodka you kept taking shots of, the disgusting whiskey Rafe gave you, the tennis bracelet–that still hung on your wrist–and the kiss. You shut your eyes tightly, willing the sight before you to disappear.

When you open them, Rafe is still there. Regret washes over you, though the hangover overshadows it, the amount of alcohol from last night hitting you like a truck. Slowly and carefully, you lift Rafe’s arm off your waist, only for him to tighten it, pulling you up against his body. You huff, glaring at the blond. He was possessive even in his sleep.

Trying again, you pry his arm away, rolling off the bed before he could retaliate and pull you back. You glance at the pool of clothes on the floor, then back at Rafe’s closet. Making an executive decision–and not wanting to re-wear the clothes from last night like a slut–you steal a tee from Rafe’s dresser and a pair of boxers. They were comically oversized, but they beat the bikini top he had ripped off.

You swiped your phone and keys from the floor before sneaking out of the room, closing the door quietly behind you. John B stands across the hallway, a jumpscare, and you nearly shriek at the sight, heart hammering at the thought of being caught.

He raises a brow, taking in your disheveled appearance. “You okay? We didn’t see you last night when the party ended.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I was too drunk to drive home so I just passed out in the guest bedroom.” you lied, gesturing to Rafe’s room. Thank God John B hasn’t been in Tanneyhill long enough to know that room was not a guest room.

He nodded, and from what you could read, he didn’t suspect a thing. “That’s good. Sarah looked at your location and saw you were still here so she pulled your car up when everyone left.”

Rubbing your temples, you try to soothe the pounding in your head. Your friend was talking at a normal decibel but to you, he was practically screaming. Rafe had selective hearing when it came to others, but you were paranoid he’d wake up and blow your cover. “I had a lot of shots last night.”

“I know, I have a video of you taking three shots in a row.”John B chuckled, giving you a knowing look. “You coming to the housewarming party today?”

“What party?” you asked, mumbling the two saddest words in the English language.

“JJ’s dad is … taking a little ‘vacation.’” John B. uses air quotes at the word, making a face. “So he’s throwing a party to celebrate. He said he’d text you about it yesterday.”

Brows furrowed, you check your phone, ignoring the texts from your mom and looking through your last conversation with JJ. Nothing. He had left you on read for three days. “I didn’t get a text.”

John B tilted his head in confusion before shrugging. “He must’ve forgotten, he was pissed drunk last night. Anyways, Kie wants the group there at noon to set things up.”

You nod, mentally bristling at the thought of your friend planning out a party for the guy you liked only to be disgusted at yourself for it. JJ and Kiara are friends, and have been for way longer than you did with either, of course she would be at his house.

Gritting your teeth, you tuck your phone into the waistband of the boxers. “Okay, I’ll be there. I gotta head home and change. See you then.”

You didn’t give him the chance to respond, climbing down the stairs quickly, desperate to be alone with your thoughts. Exiting the Cameron’s mansion, you briskly walked to your car, got in, and turned it on. As you pulled out of the driveway, you saw Rafe walk onto his balcony, still shirtless. Your eyes meet his and you quickly look away, face red as you slam your foot on the gas.

Sleeping with him was a bad decision, something so stupid you were surprised you made it, even while drunk. Yes, he was hot, yes, he was nice to you despite being a raging douchebag to everyone else, yes, he was good with his tongue, yes, he had a big cock …

You shook your head, blaming your hangover for the stray thoughts, deciding to ignore the situation. Yes, ignoring it and pretending it never happened was the best course of action. Rafe would probably do the same, maybe give a few teasing remarks but surely he’d let it go.

As you lie to yourself, you pull up to your house. With a quick look at the dock, you saw the yacht bobbing on the water, and your dad sitting on the top deck of the vehicle with Ward Cameron, most likely talking about another business venture. You shut your car door quietly, speeding inside so you wouldn’t have to greet either man while hungover.

You shower, throw up a little, and get dressed, grabbing a tote bag that cost half a thousand, shoving a bottle of sunscreen, ibuprofen, and sunglasses along with a large water bottle. Feeling a wave of nausea, you sit on the bed, willing it to go away while simultaneously cursing out your past self for nearly getting alcohol poisoning again. Your phone buzzed, and a text from one of your Kook friends lit up the screen. A party at the beach.

Texting them back, you tell her you won’t be able to make it, set on helping Kie set up JJ’s housewarming instead. Reluctantly, you headed out and drove to the Maybank property, steeling yourself for another day of pining for the shaggy-haired blond. You pulled up to the house, about to shut your car off when you glanced at the window.

Your heart dropped at the sight, watching JJ give Kie a piggyback ride around the kitchen while she laughed, a huge grin plastered on her face. Without hesitating, you put the car in reverse and back out, tires screeching on the cement as you turn the vehicle around. Despite the pep talk on the way over, you just couldn’t find it in yourself to put up with the torment, not today.

You consider driving back home, watching some shitty reality TV, and moping, but not wanting to throw a pity party, you decide to go to the one on the beach. As you put the car in park, you text Kiara, making up an excuse about your hangover–which isn’t a total lie–and tell her you can’t make it today or tonight, hoping she hadn’t seen you speed out of JJ’s driveway.

Not waiting for a response, you turned your phone off, and got out, grabbing your bag with you. You spotted Topper at the top of the sand dune along with the rest of your friend group. You walked over to where a few people surrounded the cooler of drinks, greeting some of your friends.

After your dad hired JJ to work on the yacht and keep maintenance on the family’s boats, you had gotten closer to him, and after a few weeks, he introduced you to the rest of the Pogues. You had pulled away from your Kook friends, blowing them off to spend beach days with the Pogues instead, and you never had once regretted it. However, as you saw your friends give you surprised, but welcoming, smiles, you felt the guilt bubble up in your stomach.

Of course, some opposed the Pogues–Topper, Kelce, especially after you had ditched them to hang out with the Pogues–but most of your Kook friends didn’t give a shit. It made you feel just a little worse at how you treated them when your group of girls greeted you with hugs, expressing their surprise you had come.

Anaya gave you her drink, a Smirnoff, excitement in her eyes. “You came! You told me you were going to help someone set up for a housewarming party.”

You take a sip, your headache protesting at the action, but you ignore it, needing something to take the edge off. “Yeah, I decided to skip that.”

“As you should.” she grinned, pulling you closer to where everyone was standing, grabbing herself another drink. “I barely saw you at the party last night. I went out and looked for you where your other friends were but Sarah said she hadn’t seen you in a while.”

Unable to stop your train of thought from wandering back to Rafe, how he had made you cum with his tongue, you blush. “I, uh, wasn’t feeling that good from the shots. I kind of just hid in a guest room and tried to recover.”

Another girlfriend of yours, Eleanor, joined the conversation, linking her arms with yours. The redhead sighed happily. “You missed out on Topper choking on a jello shot and Mason giving him the Heimlich. It flew out and landed on a bitch’s head.”

You snort at that, walking to where everybody is, taking off your top, and tossing it on a nearby blanket along with your bag. Kelce shouted for everyone to gather around the small campfire he had started, a beer in his hands. 

“Today, we celebrate the day I was born.” he starts dramatically, clearly already buzzed. Some chuckled at his theatrics. “We shall get drunks off our asses, throw up in the ocean, and fish.”

“Fish?” you speak up, raising a brow teasingly at the man.

“Yes, Kook princess. Fish.” Kelce replied, grinning proudly, drawing out another round of laughter from the large group. “Us men will conquer the ocean and bring home big aquatic creatures for you. To me! 

You roll your eyes at his response but you can’t help but smile as you raise your drink along with the others before downing all of it. Your brain screamed at you, head throbbing as you threw the can into the garbage bag. The group disperses a little, heading towards their spot on the beach.

Walking towards one of the coolers, you kneel down in front of it, searching through the ice and cold seltzers for a bottle of water. You hadn’t even been looking for more than five seconds when one appeared in your face, a hand holding it out to you.

Looking up, you saw the hand is connected to the man whose room you snuck out of. You bit your lip, eyes briefly drifting to his shirtless body, his vibrant blue shorts matching his eyes. Reluctantly, you take the bottled water, take off the cap, and take a sip.

“Thanks,” you murmured, standing back up.

Rafe smirked, gesturing to your bikini top and his shorts. “We match.”

His shorts and your bikini were the same shade of blue, like a little joke from the universe, reminding you of your night together. You scratch the nape of your neck, nodding. “Yeah.”

“Hungover?” Rafe asked, arching a brow. He looked good, really good with the sun shining down on him and his toned abs. “Or did you hit your head when you rolled off my bed?”

Heat crept into your cheeks, and you looked down, clearing your throat. While he was smug and smiling, you were miserable and awkward—you were never awkward with Rafe. “Hungover.”

Rafe studied you for a moment, and you couldn’t help but look away, staring at your friends mingling. “You know, I didn’t expect you to be here. I thought you’d be off with your other friends.”

You couldn’t stop from making a face at that, crossing your arms. You heard Rafe’s quiet chuckle, knowing he was enjoying tormenting you just a little bit. “Thought I’d treat myself today and not worsen my headache.”

“Right, that whole Maybank and Kiara thing.” Rafe scoffed, causing you to raise a brow at that. You hadn’t remembered telling him about it, but you wouldn’t be surprised if you spilled out the information while wasted. “Good choice, you know, distancing yourself from them.”

“I’m not distancing myself,” you say too quickly. When he gives you a look, you shake your head. “No, it’s not like that. I just thought I’d hang out with my other friends today.”

“Your better friends,” replied Rafe causing you to smack his arm. He throws back his head, laughing. “I’m just kidding.”

“You’re a dick.” you bit your lip, trying to hold back a smile. This was better than the awkward half-hearted answers and small talk. Of course, Rafe wouldn’t bring up the night before.

“You seemed to like my dick when you came all over it last night.”

Never mind.

Ignoring a questioning look from Topper who was walking past, you take another sip of water, hoping to cool the heat on your face. “Rafe …

“I’m just messing with you.” the blond chuckled, eyeing your lips as they wrapped around the water bottle. He runs a hand across his buzzcut, glancing out at the ocean. “For whatever it’s worth, I hope I was a good distraction. Keep your thoughts away from the help.”

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes at that. “Yeah. It was fun. Thanks for keeping me distracted.”

Without hesitating, Rafe wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you against him, grinning. His hand hovers right over your breast, fingers barely brushing against your clothed nipple. “That’s what friends do, right? Don’t think your little boyfriend got that message, though.”

Ignoring another dig about JJ–you weren’t that eager to defend the Pogue after watching him with Kie left a bitter taste in your mouth–you wrap an arm around his torso, leaning against him. “Thanks.”

For a few moments, you both watch as Kelce steers his newly bought sailboat right onto shore, wincing when he drags it a few inches onto the dry sand. You had no clue who took his boating license, but it definitely wasn’t him.

With a shake of his head, Rafe turned his attention away from his friend back to you. “Kelce wants to take the guys out to go fishing. Don’t make me beg you to save me.”

The corner of your lips tugged up, fighting back a teasing smile. You arch your brow up innocently. “What? You don’t want to spend quality guy time with your entitled douchebag friends?”

“Like your friends are angels.” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. For such a manly guy, Rafe was patient zero from the sassy man apocalypse. “Didn’t someone get detained for shoplifting at Brandy Melville?”

You scoffed, smacking the blond’s arm. “Remember that time you beat up Pope? Yeah, asshole.”

Rafe groaned, wrapping his arms around your waist, pulling you impossibly close to him. He rests his head on your head, encasing you around him. “I apologized and made it up to you. And him. Besides, you forgave me and reinstated that I was your best friend, not my sister.”

“I feel like we have a different outlook on what happened,” you mumble against his chest, moving your head to the side, away from the smell of his Burberry cologne.

He smirked, pushing your hair from your face. If it were any time else, it would’ve felt friendly, but somehow a simple hug from him felt too intimate. “You love me still, though.”

You don’t deny it, trying half-heartedly to escape his arms. In response, Rafe only tightened them around you, chuckling in your ear. “Rafe.”

“Let’s do something else today,” he announced, letting an arm fall, the other still wrapped around your waist. “I got my boat back from maintenance so let’s get out of Kildare, yeah?”

Biting your lip, you were tempted to say no, and you probably should’ve, not wanting to make it weird between you and Rafe. But the prospect of getting out and ignoring your problems, even for a few hours sounded like heaven, especially if you could distance yourself from the man who wanted nothing with you romantically.

You shrug, sighing. “Oh, fuck it, let’s go.”

A big grin curls up Rafe’s lips, and you let the man lead you away from your friends and the sand. Passing your friends, you grabbed your tote, ignoring their smirks as they watched you leave with Rafe. Wind blew through your hair, the ocean making it chillier.

Refusing to get on Rafe’s bike, you take your car to the dock, with Rafe following closely behind, too closely that made you both nervous and irritated. When he passed you on the road, you briefly considered hitting him with your car, making yourself giggle at the thought.

He led you down the dock towards his boat, a present from Ward after he had finally committed to the company last year, thanking his son for getting his shit together. The man had gotten Rafe a cabin cruiser and you had gifted him a friendship bracelet. Rafe later told you he liked your present better.

You took his hand as you stepped onto the boat, making a face when you wobbled a little. You sat down beside Rafe on the boat, taking off your shoes and allowing the cool glossy wood floors to touch the pads of your feet.

As he unhooked the boat from the dock, you put on your sunglasses, leaning back in your seat. You took the opportunity to watch Rafe, eyeing how his biceps stretched his shirt sleeves as if they wanted out and the only way was to rip the fabric. Shifting your eyes before he could catch you staring, you clear your throat, pulling out your sunglasses and putting them on.

Rafe joined you, sitting in the driver’s seat. The loud purr of the engine rumbled in your ears, the sound familiar and welcome. You glance over at him, biting back a grin as he puts his sunglasses on, matching you once again. “Where are we going?”

“Anywhere you want,” replied Rafe, steering out of the dock, driving the boat out into open waters. His lips curved into a smile, your smile, the one reserved just for you, so caring and genuine, something not even Wheezie was enlightened to.

“And if I don’t know where I want to go?” you arch a brow, watching his soft smile turned smug as he gazed at you, revving the boat engine in reply.

Rafe reached a hand out, patting your knee as the boat swerved right into the ocean. His gold signet ring was cool against your skin. “Then I’ll just wait until you do.”

You groaned loudly, ignoring his laugh as you threw your head back against the seat. Rafe didn’t care for your indecisive tendencies just as much as you hated waiting. You had to give the Kook props for the system, at least you did get something done when you hung out with him.

“Fuck, let’s go to Charleston,” you grumbled, crossing your arms and slapping his hand off your knee.

“Charleston?” He tilts his head in curiosity, sliding his arm around your shoulders instead. “That’s kind of a long trip, we’d probably have to stay the night if you don’t want us driving back in the dark.”

You gave the blond a shrug, not too eager to get back and face reality. Gritting your teeth, you allowed the bitterness to wash over you, stopping the aching before it could follow. “I don’t mind. I mean, unless you have plans?”

He didn’t. Rafe never had plans when it came to you.

Rafe shook his head. “Nope. Let’s go to Charleston.”

You sat with him for over half an hour before giving your head a break from the bright sunlight and heading down to the cabin. Already exhausted, you lay on the master bed, stretching out and getting comfortable, wanting to nap but knowing you couldn’t with your headache.

Maybe it was the curiosity that got to you or your bruised ego, but you turned your phone back on, expecting texts from your friends. When your lock screen lit up your face, all you saw were notifications from your Kook friends, your phone empty of any messages from the group.

Wounded, you looked through your messages; not even Kiara had replied to your excuse, giving it a thumbs up without a single question. No one had texted you, not John B, JJ, or even Sarah. No one cared you couldn’t attend, no one would’ve noticed if you had even come.

You hadn’t noticed when it started, and you didn’t know the cause of it. Maybe it happened when Cleo came into the group, or when Kiara and JJ happened, maybe even before that, but you felt as though you were getting pushed out, taken for granted.

It made no sense, you thought before, writing off your observations as paranoia. You were the best one in the group, the richest, the prettiest–albeit the most vain–and although you were somewhat selfish coming into the group of friends, you had grown exponentially, putting them over yourself repeatedly. You cared for them like they were your family, and you had thought they cared for you the same.

Rafe came down the stairs, the boat no longer moving. He chuckles as he looks over your body sprawled out on the bed, sitting down beside your feet. “Tired?”

Shaking out of self-pity, you propped yourself up on your elbows, brows furrowing at the blond. “Aren’t you supposed to be driving the boat?”

He shrugs, lying down next to you. Rafe toyed with the bracelet JJ had made you about a year ago, from the first time you hung out with the Pogues as a group. The strings were slightly frayed and a bead lost, still it meant a lot to you, at the time and now. The mix of blue and orange strings was a little hard on the eyes, but you still wore it after seeing the look of pride and surprise in your friend’s eyes. 

“I was getting lonely without you by my side, as usual,” he answered, his finger tugging at the friendship bracelet, almost glaring at it. “You’re still wearing this junk? Right next to the bracelet I got you?”

You sat up, shooing his hand away from your bracelet and ignoring his question. You didn’t have the emotional maturity to discuss how much it meant to you despite JJ and the Pogues’ recent actions. “You got lonely after, what, like ten minutes?”

“It’s been an hour.” Rafe corrected, gaze returning to your face. “We’re docked at Beaufort right now. I wanted to ask if you wanted to get lunch before we head to Charleston.”

Yikes. You made a face at that, embarrassed to have moped for an entire hour, over no texts from your closest friends. How pathetic.

“Um,” you bit your lip, staring down at him. You could see the tan lines on his collar from his dog tag necklace, disappearing down his white tee. “I could eat. You hungry?”

His eyes narrowed at your words, his hand drifting to your leg. Rafe’s fingers played with the hem of your cutoff shorts, twisting the frayed edges. The blond sat up, a smile dancing on his lips as he leaned in closer, whispering. “I’m very hungry.”

Shivering at his words, you allowed his lips to kiss along your jaw, tilting your head to give him a more unobstructed angle. You mewl as he nibbled your earlobe, closing your eyes. “Rafe … we shouldn’t do this.”

The next moment, he had you on your back, mouth on your neck. He gives a kiss on both breasts before he looks down on you, smiling smugly. “It’s okay. This is what friends do.”

You sigh in content, easily giving up as Rafe pulls the bikini top to the side, taking a nipple in his mouth, swirling it with his tongue. A hand cups one of your tits, groping it as the other runs across your arm, playing with the tennis bracelet he had gotten you the night before.

This is fine, you assured yourself, moaning as Rafe’s finger brushed against your clothed clit. This is what friends do.

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