#look at that bro he's definitely on the playa

[thresholdbb]

Chris Brynner definitely went to Burning Man instead of rescuing Jadzia from the Muni station

[calpalirwin]

Snapshots and Snapbacks

Summary: It’s easy to flirt with someone when you don’t expect them to call your bluff

A/N: College!Cal

Content: Sexual situations/mentions, mentions of drinking/drugs, my usual bullshit

Word Count: 10.3K

And away, and away we go!

~~~

The first time Brooke saw Calum she almost gasped out loud. There was no way a young man could be that pretty. Then he spoke and her heart raced in her chest.

She spent most of that semester staring at the pretty boy with the prettier handwriting rather than the board.

When the semester ended, she had exchanged only a handful of words with Calum, but that didn’t matter. She hoped their paths would cross again and that she would be braver about pursuing a friendship at the very least.

Two semesters later, having nearly forgotten about the pretty boy who was held her interest a year ago, he strolled into her last class of the day, and her smile broke out in a wide grin. “Cal!” she waved, motioning to the empty desk next to her as all those feelings that had laid dormant bubbled to the surface once more. “Missed ya man!”

“Shit, what up, girl?” he smiled back, bro-slapping her hand in greeting. “Was starting to think you graduated.”

“Nah,” she laughed with a shake of her head, her hand tingling from the feel of his palm against hers. “Last semester, though.”

“Shit, look at you go!” he praised.

“Thank you, thank you,” she continued to laugh, brushing imaginary dirt off her shoulders, grinning when his laugh joined hers.

~~~

Her hand reached into her bag of pretzels at the same time a Vans-clad foot shoved the leg of her desk chair. “Pst!” Calum whispered loudly, giving her desk another nudge. “Pst!”

She turned slightly in her desk to look at him, his eyes crinkling around the edges from the wide grin on his face. She tilted her chin upwards in a silent question of “What?” and stifled a laugh when he held his hand out and pouted. She laughed quietly, shaking her head as she dumped some pretzels in his waiting hand, both of them stifling more laughs as the bag crinkled in the dark and quiet classroom.

That would not be the last class he stole her snacks, thereby deeming himself Cal the Snack Thief. She damn near lost in when she brought Teddy Grahams and he let out the loudest moan stuffing them into his mouth with a “I haven’t had these in FOREVER!”

~~~

“Hey, you stole my shirt,” she joked, pointing between the shirts they were both wearing: a grey NASA tee.

“Nah,” he grinned. “Bet I had mine longer, so technically you stole mine.”

She chuckled as she took her seat. “Fair, very fair.”

“Where’s your hat?” he asked, noticing the blonde streaks in her brown hair for the first time, wondering if she always had them as she always had her hair hidden by a hat.

She pushed a hand through her hair, the blonde more noticeable as her hair flashed under the lights. “Oh, I wore a beanie today cuz it was cold. But I took it off because it made me look like shit.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that it was you making the beanie look like shit, not the other way around?” he asked teasingly.

She reached over to give his shoulder a push. “Shut up, you jerk,” she laughed before swiping the hat he wore on his own head and putting it on her head. “There, now I have my hat,” she said, sticking out her tongue at him.

Calum let out a small gasp of disbelief. Unbeknownst to her, Calum also liked Brooke. He liked that she was quick-witted in every aspect; that she could go from voicing the most complexly profound thoughts to giving the snarkiest of retorts. And he’d be lying if he said that every time she mouthed off didn’t stir his dom side wild. Like now. She continued to smirk at him before turning to face forward in her desk, her hands coming to rest cockily behind her neck, fingers interlacing. He leaned forward and snatched his hat off her head. “Shouldn’t take things that don’t belong to us, Brooke,” he breathed in her ear, getting smug satisfaction at the way she shivered.

But then, that bratty look was on her face as she turned in her seat to fire back with “Says you, snack thief.”

~~~

She heard the footsteps running up behind her before Calum was letting loose a scream behind her. She laughed and pushed his shoulder, laughing more as he stumbled over his feet. “You scared me, you jerk!”

“Yeah?” he asked, his brown eyes shining proudly.

“No,” she admitted, pushing him again. “I heard you, dumbass. If you had grabbed me though, I probably would’ve screamed.”

“Aw, shit. I had my headphones in, forgot you could hear me running.”

“You idiot,” she chuckled, pushing him a third time while he danced away from her, half chuckles falling from his own lips.

“Skip with me,” he directed.

“Skip with you?”

“Yeah! C’mon!” And then he was skipping down the sidewalk. She laughed and followed suit. God, how he could be so cute and dorky while being sexy as hell was beyond her. And totally unfair.

“So, where you headed?” she asked as they stopped skipping and fell into a relaxed walking pace.

His shoulders shrugged as he gripped his backpack straps. “Was gonna play some pool. Did you know we have a game center on campus? It’s fuckin’ sick.”

She rolled her eyes. “You really are an idiot.”

“What?”

“DiD yOu KnOw We HaVe A gAmE cEnTeR oN cAmPuS?” she mocked. “Of course we have a game center.”

“Well, shit, I didn’t know about it until Monday, okay Miss Smartypants? Shit…”

“I’m teasing, you goof. But, pool, huh?”

“Yeah, I’m not very good. But it’s a good way to kill some time.”

“Aw, don’t wanna go home?” she teased.

“Not to 3 dudes, I don’t!”

“Aw, roommates, how cute.”

“Yeah, I’m a broke ass college student. ‘Course I got roommates. You don’t?”

“Nope,” she answered, popping the “p” sound. “I’m a RA so I get a single at a discount.”

“Nice, look at you, baller.”

She shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“You mean you can have sex without anyone bothering you, you mean.”

She gasped in shock, “Calum!”

It was his turn to shrug as he grinned dangerously. “Am I wrong?” he challenged.

“That is none of your business, sir,” Brooke laughed, grateful it was dark out so he couldn’t she the blush in her cheeks.

“Aw, c’mon, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“That we most definitely are,” she agreed, bypassing his original question. “And this is you,” she added, gesturing to the student center.

“This is me,” he confirmed. “See ya Monday, then?”

“Yeah, see ya in class,” she nodded. “Have fun.” Then, in a moment of bravery, she leaned for a hug.

His arm wrapped around her shoulders and she was slightly taken aback by the warm softness that radiated from such a strong arm. “See ya, girl,” he whispered as they broke apart.

By the time she let herself into her room, she had already sent him a friend request on Instagram and he had accepted.

~~~

Her fingers shook over her keyboard, the message chat open on her phone. She had been too shy to impose herself on his game of pool the other night. But he had said they were friends. Friends could play pool together.

Babbling_Brook: How’d playing pool by yourself go lol?

Calpal_hoodie: Lol! Actually one of the pool sharks in there came up to me and wanted to play some frames. It was a really good time.

Babbling_Brook: Oh shit that’s cool! We should play sometime before class lol. See if I still suck.

Her fingers shook with nerves as she waited for his message.

Calpal_hoodie: Haha down!

She let out a breath of relief. Good. He had agreed. Now to make it happen.

Babbling_Brook: Sick. I’m free before class for like 3 hours.

Calpal_hoodie: I have about an hour before.

Babbling_Brook: Sweet, I’ll be able to practice beforehand so I don’t make a total fool of myself lmao.

Calpal_hoodie: Lol! I’m nothing special, it’s okay

Babbling_Brook: We’ll see on Monday then who sucks more lmao

~~~

It was a slow drag to Monday and the impending date to shoot pool. It seemed to both like an eternity had taken place between Brooke’s last message Friday morning and her message Monday afternoon that included a picture of a pool table set up and waiting.

Babbling_Brook: Let’s go, playa!

Calpal_hoodie: I didn’t do the worksheet for class! After?

Her heart sank a little in her chest, but she wasn’t surprised her friend had procrastinated the idiotic assignment that was due every class.

Babbling_Brook: Do it in class lol

Calpal_hoodie: Lol! Sounds good! He doesn’t collect them until the end of class anyway.

Babbling_Brook: Exactly dude!

Calpal_hoodie: Dude! Did I tell you how I bought a new stick? Won’t be here til tomorrow though…

Babbling_Brook: Nice! Table’s set, btw.

“Oi! Over here!” Brooke called out across the room, recognizing that head of dark curls anywhere.

He broke out in a grin, as he hurried over to her. “What up, girl?” he asked, giving her a one-armed hug.

“Not much,” she said, gesturing to the pool table. “Wanna break?”

“Oh, we’re not playing 9-ball?” he asked, brown eyes scanning the table set up.

“No? Because I don’t know how?”

He nodded, placing the cue ball how he wanted, his pool cue sliding through his fingers. “After this, I’ll teach ya?” he asked, taking his shot, the balls clacking loudly, one sinking into a pocket.

She clicked her tongue in her cheek and nodded. “For sure.” Then, “I thought you were bad at this.”

He chuckled at her as he lined up his next shot. “I am. But I also watch a lot so…”

“Visual learner, nice,” she said, taking out her phone and snapping a picture of him leaning over the table. He missed and she moved around, plotting her own shot. “I learn by doing,” she admitted, taking her shot and missing. “Damn,” she muttered, shaking her head.

“Learn by doing, eh?” he smirked.

“Was about to turn that into a sex joke myself,” she laughed. Again, when he was busying himself with his turn, she snapped more photos of him. He quirked an eyebrow at her in silent question when he caught her on the third go-round. “What?” she asked, her cheeks flushing. “I like taking candids of my friends,” she half-lied, pocketing her phone. “I like capturing people in their element. Not posing for the camera or putting on a show. Just them being a hundred percent themselves.”

“Mhm,” he replied with a note of playful skepticism. Then, to make conversation, “You said you had a girlfriend, yeah?”

She laughed at the bold directness of the question. “What?! No!”

“No? Shit… I could’ve sworn… Aw, I’m so sorry!” he sputtered, his brown eyes wide and worried he had offended her. He was enveloping her in a hug before she knew it, his chest solid against her. “I love you! Don’t hate me!”

She laughed as they pulled apart. “I might have said I want a girlfriend, but I don’t actually have one. I wish.”

“You and me both,” he laughed. “Shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to...”

She waved him off. “Seriously man, it’s cool. You’re half right. I’m bi. It’s really fun to piss guys off by saying I’ve made out with more girls than they have. I mean, I’ve only made out with 2 girls. But still. You’d be surprised how many guys haven’t even done that.”

He nodded in appreciation. “Sick. So was it a boyfriend, then, and I just misheard?”

“Well…” she paused to think about it. “I mean, I’m seeing someone.”

He nodded and she detected the way his face fell for a moment. His face fell more when he sunk the 8 ball in the pocket and the cue ball followed. “Shit, good game.”

She laughed. “Thanks! It’s almost like you did all the work for me!”

“It’s cuz I did,” he laughed with her. “Alright, so 9-ball,” he started to explain as he set up the table. “You play with 9 balls.”

“Mmm, kinky,” Brooke snorted. “Continue.”

He rolled his eyes at her joke. “And you go in order. As long as you hit the first number in the sequence first, you’re good.”

Their game made them a few minutes late to their class, both of them giggling as the sped-walked across the room. “No, sit in front of me,” he whispered as she took her regular set in the row beside him.

She rolled her eyes but moved anyway, giggling more before reaching into her backpack to grab her snack. She pushed it to the bottom edge of her desk so he could reach. “More pool after class? Or you got plans?” she whispered, leaning back in her seat.

“Yeah, I’m down for a few games,” he whispered back, his hand reaching into the bag of teddy bear shaped graham crackers. Then, “So, you’ve only ever made out with chicks, but have you…?”

She gasped at the question he left hanging between them. “Yes, I’ve had sex. But only with one dude.”

“The one you’re seeing?”

She nodded. “And your body count?”

He snickered into his hand. “Way more than one.”

She turned, her eyes wide. She shouldn’t be surprised. He was a good looking guy. Too good looking if she could say so herself. Of course he was using it to his benefit.

~~~

“So, the guy?” he questioned, eyes trained on the pool table after class. “Must be good dick if he’s the only one?”

She laughed from her spot on the stool. “I guess? I mean, I wouldn’t know any different.”

“Aw, how cute,” he teased.

“Shut the fuck up,” she laughed at him, then put her hands on top of her head and sighed. “Fuck, I need to get fucked though.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

“Yeah. Haven’t seen him in like a week.”

“You seeing him tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit, what are you doing here playing pool with me for? Go get your dick girl!”

She rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t texted me he landed yet. I got time.”

“Long distance?”

She shook her head. “Nah, he was just traveling for work.”

“Nice,” he nodded. “So tits or ass?”

“My preference? As a girl with no ass herself, I’m a tit woman.”

He let out a chuckle of agreement. “No offense, but doesn’t seem like you got much tits either.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ll have you know my tits are huge.”

“Bullshit. What size?”

“Triple D, bitch!” she stated proudly.

“Bull-fuckin-shit! Bet that is the roomiest fuckin bra in the planet.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she smirked. “So, you a dom or a sub?” she asked, keeping the conversation going. If they were talking sex, she was going to get every inch, figuratively speaking.

He let his breathe in a sputtering huff as he thought, he hands raking through his curls. “Depends I guess.”

“Aw, you a switch?” she teased.

“Are you?” he challenged, equally playful.

She shrugged. “I’m a brat. Like I gave this guy the perfect chance to dom me and he flopped. It was kinda sad.”

He laughed. “What did you say?”

“I forget what started it. But I ended up asking what he was gonna do about it. And he just shrugged.”

His eyes went wide and his nose flared slightly at her words. “Oh yeah. Asking what I’m gonna do is gonna get the dom out. Like, excuse me?”

She laughed and shifted in her seat under his gaze. “Yeah! That’s what I expected was going to happen. But nope! What a shame.” She didn’t catch his muttered agreement as her phone buzzed. “Oh, yay! He landed.”

“Gotta go?” he asked, busying himself with taking his shot to hide his deflation.

“Nah,” she waved her hand. “We can finish the game. He’s still gotta get here.”

“Alright, for sure,” he said, perking back up again.

The game didn’t last much longer as Calum remained his innocence that he really wasn’t that good and Brooke proved that she actually wasn’t good. “Alright, I’m out,” she said, setting her pool stick aside. “See ya Wednesday?” she asked, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

“Yup,” he said, giving her another one armed hug. “Go get that dick.”

She laughed as they let go and walked off calling out, “I fuckin will!”

As she tidied up her room, waiting for her actual date, she sent Calum the pictures she had taken of him earlier. 

Babbling_Brook: Some of the better shots I took

Calpal_hoodie: Nice! Had a great time. Let’s do it again, yeah?

She grinned at her phone before responding. 

Babbling_Brook: Oh for fuckin sure. New after class ritual lol?

Calpal_hoodie: Down

Babbling_Brook: Sweet. We should try the little bowling thing they got. Maybe I can actually win lmao

Calpal_hoodie: You a good bowler?

Babbling_Brook: Nope! But my dude makes mini bowling alleys for a living so I like to think I got a slight advantage lol

Calpal_hoodie: Oh, gotcha! He home yet?

Babbling_Brook: Nah. He’s stopping to get us burgers first. 

Calpal_hoodie: Animal style burger then fuck me animal style lol?

Babbling_Brook: He fuckin better!

Calpal_hoodie: Jesus lmao. Hahaha. Love it.

Babbling_Brook: Look, my hand and vibrator only do so much before a girl just needs a real dick. And THAT’S why I’m only half gay. 

Calpal_hoodie: With the technology y’all have with vibrators… so much pressure is put on the men I’ll have you know. When a vibrator can hit “your spot” a million times without fail… it really sets us up for failure lmao

Babbling_Brook: Well maybe I have a romantic kink then lol. I need human touch more than I need a damn vibrator. 

On the other side of campus, Calum hung his head sadly, wishing more than he cared to admit that he was the one providing her with that human touch she craved.

~~~

On Wednesday, Brooke carefully plotted her outfit. She was a bit bitter that Calum hadn’t believed her about her boob size, and she was determined to make him regret ever having doubted her. 

She admired herself briefly in her tank top before she threw on her hoodie and hat.

~~~

She was leaving the gym and was headed for the game center when her phone pinged. 

Calpal_hoodie: Syllabus doesn’t have a worksheet for today so guess who’s ditching?

Babbling_Brook: Bruh… so pool?

Calpal_hoodie: Yeah I’ll be playing pool until my pussy appointment later tonight. So like til 8 probs.

Her heart sank a little. But she supposed it was her fault for bragging about her own sex life. 

Babbling_Brook: Shit, get it!

Calpal_hoodie: Yeah. So I’ll be playing with some of the pool sharks, but if you wanna swing by, I’ll play a few games with ya. 

She chuckled and took a quick selfie of her with the pool tables behind her. 

Babbling_Brook: “swing by later” bitch get on my level lmao

Calpal_hoodie: Haha! Okay I see you I see you.

Brooke chuckled to herself as she pocketed her phone and watched the door for him. She had shrugged herself free of the hoodie long ago, the Southern California weather providing more warmth than seemed logically possible for the middle of February. She drummed her fingers impatiently against her leg, her mind debating whether to get a table for herself or just to wait. 

She narrowed her eyes when Calum finally did stroll in, and right past her, a man on a mission. Rather than storming over there like she wanted, she took out her phone and snapped more photos of him, enjoying seeing him in his element. Then, she picked up her things and strolled over.

“Just walk right by me, huh?” she greeted teasingly, her hand going to rest on his shoulder.

His brown eyes shined brightly and he grinned as he turned towards her familiar voice. “Hey! Shit, my bad,” he responded, wrapping her in his famous one-armed hug. “Must’ve walked right by you.”

“Yeah, I saw you walk by and was like really?”

“I’m sorry!” he laughed, pouting his lips at her. “Do you have a table?”

“Nah,” she waved her hand. “I’ll watch for a bit. We’ll play ourselves later.”

“Cool, for sure,” he nodded before engaging himself with the small group of guys already playing at the table.

She pretended to busy herself with her phone or studying the table, anything to distract herself from studying him. She had her back turned when his fingers brushing across her bare shoulder made her jump. “Nice tattoo,” he murmured as he retracted his light touch, her skin on fire.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, her cheeks flushing as her own fingers flew up to trace the sunflower his fingers had been tracing mere seconds ago. “I like yours too,” she added, pointing at his arms that held much more ink than her single small shoulder piece.

His soft chuckle tickled her ear as he stayed close behind her. “Also, I owe you an apology,” he said, his eyes darting downwards briefly. “I see it now with the tank top.”

“Told ya,” she smirked over her shoulder at him.

His eyes went wide in realization. “Wait! Did you wear a tank top on purpose?”

She scoffed and averted his gaze. “What? That’s ridiculous. No I- yes I did,” she laughed, not able to keep a straight face. “Did it work?” she asked with a hopeful voice.

He let out another soft chuckle in response, then, “Go set up a table. I’m almost done with this game.”

“Aw shit, are we keeping you from your girl?” one of the guys Calum had been playing with asked.

The two friends jumped apart. “What? No! We’re just friends!” they both blurted before Brooke walked off to the front desk to get a table for her and Calum.

“Sorry about that,” Calum said, a hand rubbing at his neck when she came back.

She waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. It’s harmless.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” he chuckled. “Could you imagine though?” he asked with a raised eyebrow and slight smirk.

She laughed at his bluntness. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t,” she answered truthfully.

“Oh yeah?” he questioned, cocking his head to the side.

She shrugged. “You’re a good looking dude. I got a nice rack. I’m also smart as hell. We get along. Wouldn’t be a whole lot different than what we’re doing now.”

“Shit, I suppose you’re right. Too bad we’ll never know.” His shrug mirrored her own, his words meaning different things to each of them. To him, he was referring to her “seeing someone” and to her it was solidification that a guy like him would never go for a girl like her.

“Yup,” she said, just to have something to say as she lined up her shot.

“Here, can I tell you something?” he asked suddenly.

“Yeah, shoot,” she said, straightening up, intrigued.

“You bridge with your thumb,” he told her, pointing at her hand still resting on the pool table. “Which is fine because you can tilt it and such. But lie the rest of your knuckles flat on the table. It’ll give you steadier control.”

“Oh. Like this?” she checked, adjusting her hand slightly so her knuckles were flat against the green felt rather than tilted at an angle.

“Yeah, there you go.”

She bent back over the table to take her shot, fully aware of how heavy his gaze felt on her.

They remained quiet as they went about playing their game, minus the small muttered curses at a missed shot, exchanging soft smiles as they moved about the table and each other. When he won, he high-fived her. “Good game. You almost had me. Play by yourself for a bit and I’ll be back to check on you? I’m gonna go get in on another game with them if I can,” he said, jerking a thumb at the table in front of them.

“I’ll be here,” she smiled at him, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks at his mention of checking up on her. She lost herself in focusing on her own game, but her gaze still fluttered over to him more than she intended. And every time she looked away, he looked over at her.

“You good?” he asked, coming up behind her.

She pushed the strands of hair that were falling in her face out of the way, having discarded her hat a while ago. “Yup. How’s your game?”

“Oh we finished. But the other guy wants to play so here I am. Mind if I?” He let his gesturing finish his question as his large hand swept over the table.

She took a step back, “Go for it.”

Again, they didn’t say much. This time though, she busied herself with getting lost in the music playing from the speakers around the room, singing softly and moving her hips to the beat. He tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn’t get her off his mind. There was something in the way she just felt familiar to him, like he didn’t have to put on a show. He could just be, and she would just accept it, no questions asked.

He drummed his fingers against his thighs after he cleared the table, pondering his next move. “Alright, I’m heading back over there. But, uh…?”

Brooke chuckled. “Go do you. I’m fine.”

She played another two games by herself without Calum coming back. She set up for a third game, and left it there before walking over to where he was. “Hey,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder, feeling her heart race when he turned and grinned at her.

“Hey!”

“Hi,” she laughed at his happy nature, his eyes rimmed red.

“We’re a little high. Wanna hit?”

“Nah, I’m good, thanks.”

“Don’t smoke?”

“No.”

“Have you ever?”

“Once.”

“Nice! Oh, I’m gonna go get some food. You guys want anything?”

“I won’t say no to a cheese pizza. Since you’re offering.”

The other guy muttered something about how pizza sounded great, pulling out his wallet.

“Nah,” Calum waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I offered.”

“Ah, well shit. I’ll get next time then. I don’t like mooching.”

Brooke laughed and touched Calum’s shoulder again. “Oh, I don’t give a fuck about mooching.”

Calum laughed with her, before his eyes got playfully dark. “Venmo me, bitch.”

She laughed more, “Nah, I’ll pay you in other ways, yeah?” she teased , eyes darting to his lap.

The other guy clapped a hand to his mouth as he snorted in laughter. “Damn, you gonna suck his dick right here?”

Brooke ran a hand through her hair, “Cal wishes.”

“Right. You guys aren’t together. But like… would you?”

Brooke shrugged and opted for honesty, “Yeah, I’d fuck him.”

“Nice. And you?” he asked Calum.

“Me what?”

“Would you fuck her?”

“Given a chance? Oh, hell yeah.” He reached into his backpack and took a hit off a vape pen before walking off in search of pizza.

“So are you with someone else or is he?” the guy asked Brooke.

“Uh… little bit of both?” she said skeptically with a shrug as she took a seat on the stool.

He nodded. Then blinked. “Wait, what do you mean by that?”

“Well, I’ve been seeing someone for years. But weren’t not… serious I guess? More of like a super close friendship that involves sex.”

He nodded again, understanding better. “So dating without the label?”

She chuckled. “Yeah, I guess. And not for lack of trying on my part. I mean, I like the dude, obviously. But I’d also like to say I have a boyfriend.”

“Mhm. And that one?” he asked, jerking a thumb towards where Calum had wandered off.

“Oh, Cal’s single. He’s actually going to hook up with a chick later.”

“And that chick isn’t you?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“Why not? You just both admitted you’d fuck each other. You guys seem to get along. And he hasn’t stopped checking you out.”

She blushed. “I think I ruined it by telling him I was seeing someone. I think he thinks it’s an actual relationship. And I don’t know how to bring that up. Especially now. ‘Hey Cal, remember how we just said we’d fuck each other given a chance? Well, I’m actually single. Surprise!’? No. He’d think I was just saying it. And I’m not into people thinking I’m using them.”

The guy nodded for a third time. “Fair enough. Fuck, I’m so high right now. Shit, I gotta get to class. How long does it take to get pizza?”

Brooke chuckled as she pushed back her hair. “Want me to go check on him?”

“Would you mind?”

“Nah, not at all,” she said getting up. She would take any excuse to be with Calum.

Calum had a beer in his hand and was sitting at a table, his head down as he looked at the phone in his other hand. She couldn’t stop herself from suppressing the urge to place her hands on those squishy cheeks as she moved towards him but at the last second, her hands placed themselves on either side of his head, giving him a playful shake. “Hey!” he said, brightening up as he realized it was her. “I got a beer,” he added, showing her the beer in his hand. “The pizza should be out soon. I got a medium cuz it was cheaper.”

“Smart move,” she agreed. “I didn’t know you were even old enough to drink.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I’m 22. My birthday was a couple weeks ago.”

“Shit yeah? I turned 22 back in December.”

“Aw, we like birthday buddies almost.”

“Almost yeah. Hey, I didn’t make things awkward when I admitted I’d sleep with you, did I?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, I admitted the same thing. We’re still cool.”

“Cool,” she smiled.

“So what’s up? Come to check on me?”

“Yeah, thought I’d keep you company. Plus the guy’s gotta get to class so he’s getting a bit impatient.”

Calum’s laugh rang out in the pizza shop. “Guess he’s gonna be late to class. But, tell him it shouldn’t be much longer?”

“Yeah, for sure,” she said, patting his shoulder before walking back to the game room.

“Aw, damn, was hoping you’d both come back,” the guy said, seeing only her return.

“Sorry, man. Cal got a medium cuz it was cheaper so he’s gotta wait. Should be done soon though.”

“Alright, no problem,” he had just enough time to respond before Calum was walking to them, a pizza box with plates in one hand and his beer in the other. “Awesome! Wish I didn’t have to grab and leave, but I gotta get going. Got a quiz.”

“No worries man,” Calum told him, handing the other man a plate and opening the box. “Sorry it took so long.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. Thanks, man,” he said, loading his plate up with slices of pizza. “Catch ya later. Nice meeting you…” his voice faltered as he looked at Brooke.

“Brooke,” she supplied. “Nice meeting you too.”

“Yup. See ya guys.”

“Thanks for the pizza, Cal,” she said, putting a slice on the plate he handed her.

“No problem. Needed to eat something. Aw, he took like all the pepperoni,” he frowned at the box.

She looked at the box with him, her heart fluttering that half of it was cheese for her. “You could’ve gotten it all pepperoni.”

“But you wanted cheese,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.

“You’re cute, you know that?” she asked, being bold and taking a sip of his beer herself, wincing at the taste.

“Hey!” he laughed, snatching his beer back. “Getcha own beer.”

She made a face. “Yuck! You can keep it. Ugh. Nasty!”

“So you don’t drink either?”

She shook her head. “That makes me like the most boring person on the planet huh? College girl who doesn’t drink or smoke.”

“Nah,” he said with a shake of his head. “One of my roommates is the same way. So you just don’t like the taste or you scared?”

“Scared? I’m not scared of anything.”

He laughed. “No! I didn’t mean it like that. Not scared of anything, huh? Should’ve guessed. I just meant… some people don’t drink because they got a family history. So they’re more… aware of the choices they make. Or don’t make, I guess.”

“Is your roommate one of those people?”

“Yeah. Being an alcoholic scares him. Rightfully so. Shit’s scary.”

“You don’t seem scared yourself.”

He shrugged. “I like to think I know my limits. Like this will be the only drink I have.”

She nodded, approvingly. “I’m just not a big fan of the taste. But, I’ll drink every now and then. But even then, it’s barely enough to give me a buzz. I like being in control.”

“Ooo, a dom, eh?” his eyes danced playfully.

“Says the switch!” she laughed. “No. I’m just a brat. Don’t have enough confidence to actually be a dom. I’m all bark and no bite.” Her voice trailed off as they ate their pizza. When she caught him lip syncing to the music playing through the speakers, she spoke up, “Like this music?”

He nodded, a slight red tinge undertoning his tanned cheeks. “Yeah. But I’ll listen to just about anything.”

“Yeah?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, I play and sing, so…”

“Yeah?! That’s awesome. What do you play?”

“Bass, mostly. My roommates and I are actually in a band.”

“No shit?” she asked. “Would love to watch you play sometime then.”

“Yeah? Shit, I’ll tell you next time we practice, then,” he promised, reaching into the pizza box. “Aw, shit, is there any left?”

She nodded. “Should be one more.”

“Yeah? How many did you have?”

“This is my third.”

“That was my fourth. Last one’s yours then.”

She shook her head. “No. You bought it. You take it. I’m good.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Game?”

“For sure,” he nodded, taking a big bite of the slice.

They played at a slow pace, taking their time. At one point he went back to his pizza slice to take a bite, but held it out to her in offering. She grinned and instead of taking it from his hands like he expected, she leaned down and tore off a piece with her teeth. “Thanks,” she continued to grin around the bite, making him laugh. They loved how easy it felt to be around each other, quirky banter without any sense of awkwardness or trying to impress the other. Just straight up honesty at every turn.

“Ugh!” he muttered in frustration as he missed what seemed like an easy shot even for her. “I’m getting mad!”

She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled so hard she let out a loud squeaky wheezing sound.

“Was that you?” he asked.

She nodded, her body continuing to shake with her laughter. “Sorry. I do that when I laugh too hard. You’re cute when you’re mad, you know that?”

“You know that you’re just cute?” he asked back.

She blushed and busied herself with taking her turn, opting not to respond.

“So what’s your favorite position?” he asked her.

“Shit!” she sputtered, bringing a finger to her lips in thought.

“My bad. You don’t have to answer.”

“Nah, it’s cool. Just a good question. Shit… Uh… well I’m a little romantic at heart, so probably missionary. But I like others too.”

“Yeah? Missionary’s my favorite because I can pull her hair and make her look at me.”

Her eyes went wide. “Ooo, into hair pulling huh? I love pulling and getting my hair pulled.”

His own eyes went wide and his cock twitched in his pants. “Yeah? What other positions do you like? You said there were others.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Yeah,” she stammered. “Well, uh… like most girls I assume, I get off through clit stimulation. So 69 is like a gold mine. Doggy’s also nice.”

He nodded approvingly as his cock twitched more. “Wanna know the nice part of doggy?” he asked, his voice catching a little.

“What?” she laughed, knowing she had him about as flustered as he had her.

“You get to pull her up by her hair and play with her clit,” he winked.

“Ayyyy! That’s exactly why I like it!”

“It’s definitely on the list of positions I like too. Plus I get to choke her a bit. That’s why I like missionary too.”

“Any position you can choke and pull her hair, huh? See, I like doggy because I get both of those and some ass smacking. All my kinks in one position.”

“Aw, you got them soft kinks,” he teased.

“Shut up, so do you!” she laughed.

He sat down in a high-backed chair that rocked slightly with his movements. “Aw, shit, this chair would be perfect to have a girl riding me on,” he acknowledged with a horny look. His teeth sunk into his lower lip as he gripped the armrests and made the chair rock more. “Just, a little this with her hand choking me. Phew… Clutch, lemme tell ya.”

“Annnd, there’s the switch,” she giggled.

“Look, I only like being dommed when she’s riding me. Otherwise, I’m domming.”

“Next you’re gonna tell me you like being called ‘Daddy’,” she scoffed at him.

The way his eyes lit up at the title had her gulping involuntarily. “Fuck yeah. The girl I’m gonna hook up with later- we’ve hooked up in the past- she called me ‘Sir’ once and I corrected her so fuckin’ hard.”

She laughed to hide her arousal. “You’re so weird.”

He smirked at her as he stood up. “Aw, got you a little flustered, do I?” he breathed down at her once he had closed their distance

“Like I don’t have you just as flustered,” she shot back, rubbing her hand against his cheek. “Daddy,” she added with a loud laugh. She pursed her lips in a knowing smirk of her own at the way he looked: his eyes clenched shut, hands curling in a fist, and teeth biting into his lip. “What? I shouldn’t touch you?” she continued to play with him, dropping her hand to draw it down his torso, enjoying the feel of his muscles underneath her fingertips. He radiated strength in a way that made her weak in the knees and wet between her thighs. Thankfully for her, she could hide her arousal better than he could.

“You really shouldn’t,” he said, his lips barely moving, and his brown eyes practically pitch black with lust.

She shrugged and stepped back. “Your shot, by the way,” she told him, gesturing at the pool table.

Right. Pool. He had nearly forgotten what he was originally here to do, his mind full of thoughts that centered around bending her over the pool table and wiping that smirk off her face. Her own mind raced with similar thoughts, wishing he didn’t have a hook up date with another girl.

~~~

Brooke wasn’t expecting to hear from Calum until Monday, so when her phone pinged not even an hour after they had said their goodbyes for the night, she was definitely surprised.

Calpal_hoodie: Wanna hear something annoying?

She perked up so much, she felt a little guilty.

Babbling_Brook: Omg, yes! What happened with your date?

Calpal_hoodie: So, she gets here. We drove around to find a spot. I take out my condoms. She’s ALLERGIC to them! So, I drove to a store to get new ones. I drive back. And she’s like “can you drive me back please?” She was about to break down about her break up with her ex and couldn’t handle it. So dry dick for Cal.

Brooke clapped a hand over her mouth to suppress her giggles. On one hand, she felt bad for him. On the other, she was glad his date had freaked out. The fact that- besides playing venting at her- he had let his date call it quits before it even started only made Brooke feel better about her feelings about Calum.

Babbling_Brook: If it makes you feel any better, this chick I’m never gonna stand a chance with called me a pussy wetter. Which like… no… I’m dorky and awkward. I just have a talent for being smooth as fuck

Calpal_hoodie: Lol. You want me to agree with her, don’t you?

Babbling_Brook: I mean… I gave you the set up…

Calpal_hoodie: Lol! Yes, you definitely have pussy wetting potential.

Babbling_Brook: Potential?! Aw, bubbie…

Calpal_hoodie: Bubbie? Lol

Babbling_Brook: Not into pet names? Cal the Snack Thief is a tad long... And again. “Potential”?! Smh… lowkey offended, bubbie.

Calpal_hoodie: So am I… And no! I didn’t mean it like that, honest… When I use the term “potential” it means you already got it.

Babbling_Brook: 1.) Did you just make a big dick joke? 2.) I’m teasing. I know I’m a smooth talking son of a gun. I can talk the panties off a mannequin.

Calpal_hoodie: Yes, yes I did lol. And note taken. That was smooth right there.

Babbling_Brook: I mean… I made you nice and flustered earlier, yeah?

Calpal_hoodie: Oh yeah… fuck! I just want pussy in my mouth with my cock down someone’s throat… is that too much to ask?!

Babbling_Brook: You and me both, bubbie. Only the opposite. But yeah…

Calpal_hoodie: Wake up that dude of yours by sucking his dick then, lmao. I’m gonna get high as balls.

Babbling_Brook: Nah, I’m probs just gonna go to bed. As for you? Yeah, go get high as balls and maybe you’ll forget it’s your own hand you’re fucking.

Calpal_hoodie: Now you’re just making me feel bad lmao

Babbling_Brook: Just being a brat, like whatchu gonna do?

Calpal_hoodie: Lmao, I think you know what I would do… fuck, I’ll probably end up sending nudes to my chick after I smoke. I always get more comfortable doing that when I’m high as hell.

Babbling_Brook: Makes sense. Being drunk/high tends to lower one’s inhibitions so people are more likely to step outside of their normal comfort zone when under the influence (See, told ya I was smart, too)

Calpal_hoodie: Alright, calm down Plato lol

Babbling_Brook: Lol.

She paused and looked at her phone. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. She had to know.

Babbling_Brook: Now… out of pure curiosity… I’m pretty bratty with you frequently. Given the chance, what would you actually do?

Calpal_hoodie: Look at you all turned on asking me lol

She chuckled at her phone. She wasn’t going to let him see her sweat. She turned up the brat charm.

Babbling_Brook: My curiosity is turned on, sure. As for the rest of me? Dry as your dick, bubbie.

Calpal_hoodie: Oh, damn! Alright… so like… what would I do to you sexually? If I had the chance and you were single?

She frowned at her phone, briefly. Was he only this willing to divulge all this information to her because he thought she was with someone else? Because he could freely flirt with her because he thought all it amounted to was just two friends talking shit? She wondered if now was her chance to come clean. Let him know that he had misinterpreted her words when she said she was seeing someone. But, she was afraid he would balk if she did. That knowing there was no actual boundary would be what pushed their relationship into awkward territory. And as much as she liked him that way, she also really enjoyed the friendship and didn’t want to lose that.

Babbling_Brook: Yeah. We’re both single. We have the relationship we do now. I mouth off like I always do. What do you do?

Calpal_hoodie: Well I’d tell you that if you keep mouthing off, you won’t have any room left in your mouth to speak. And of course you wouldn’t want to stop talking shit then. So I’d prove it and make you get on your knees for me… and if we had that room to ourselves, you’d definitely end up over that pool table taking every inch. But… ya know… lol!

Brooke gulped, reading the message, knowing he wouldn’t have told her that if she told him the truth. It was easy to be bold when you thought nothing could come of it.

Babbling_Brook: Oh, so when you said you were a dom, you meant like a dom dom. Alright… I dig.

Calpal_hoodie: Lol oh yeah. And you? What would you do?

Babbling_Brook: Shit… flip the script, yeah? Alright… Well, I’d definitely be much brattier knowing I could probably get something out of it. Test these dom limits of yours. And then get hella insecure that you saw me as a fling. Because even though I started everything in good fun, I’d be secretly craving a relationship like the romantic ho I am.

Calpal_hoodie: Aw! Least you’re honest. Well, would’ve been fun.

She shook her head sadly at her phone. If only he knew this was all entirely possible.

Babbling_Brook: I try to be lol. Like in all reality, I’d let you fuck me six ways to Sunday and then probably cry about it because I’d get all girly about it. But I’d still be my bratty self to you in person acting all cool and unbothered cuz I don’t want to be clingy and weird. Definitely would’ve been a ride for sure- pun fully intended.

Calpal_hoodie: Aw! That’s like both a lil sad but so honest and genuine. Nice pun, btw lol.

Babbling_Brook: Lol, it’s okay though. Cuz, trust, you’d want a relationship. Like I’m fuckin great! I can be adventurous as fuck or we can chill in bed all day watching movies. And I value my independence so like I’m more than fine with you going off with your boys or whatever cuz I like my alone time. Plus, I’ll remind you of what you got waiting for you later…

Calpal_hoodie: Ayyy! Sounds good to me lmao! Fuck, I still gotta smoke…

Babbling_Brook: Cool, cool. I’m gonna hit the hay. Enjoy that smoke and the thoughts we put in each other’s head lol!

Calpal_hoodie: Lmao, will do!

They both did. They both made a mess of themselves at the idea of giving themselves over to the other one.

~~~

Again, Brooke didn’t expect to hear from Calum until Monday at class. So when her phone pinged on Saturday and the notification said it was from him, her eyebrows pinched together in confusion while her heart raced in excitement.

Calpal_hoodie: Hey, I dunno if you had plans or anything. But my roommates and I are gonna have a rehearsal. So if… No worries if you’re busy. Just thought you’d be interested.

Babbling_Brook: Nah, that sounds great! I’m off today. Where you guys at?”

He messaged her an address to a set of apartments she knew was a few blocks from campus. A twenty minute walk, tops. She looked out the window at the soft warm sunshine. A walk would be perfect.

Babbling_Brook: Cool, be there in twenty. Should I bring anything?

Calpal_hoodie: Nah, just your cute ass

Babbling_Brook: Lmao, you mean my nonexistent ass?

Calpal_hoodie: Lol, it’s okay. You don’t need an ass. You got tits for days.

Babbling_Brook: That I do, lol. See ya in a few then.

The music playing in her headphones got caught off by her phone pinging. Her heart sank, thinking it was Calum cancelling. But it wasn’t. It was Trevor, her not-boyfriend.

Trev: Hey

Brookie: Hey

Trev: You busy?

Brookie: Yeah, I’m actually heading over to a friend’s. Gonna watch his band practice

Trev: His? Like a dude?

Brookie: Is that a problem?

Trev: No. So later then?

Brookie: Maybe… What are we, Trev?

Trev: This again? Brookie…

Brookie: I know. I just…

Trev: You wanna fuck this dude without feeling guilty?

Brookie: Don’t put words in my mouth… I’m not trying to fight.

Trev: I’m not either. Look, we’ve dated other people before. You’re free to do what you want Brookie. I’ll be here whenever you’re done having your fun.

Brookie: Don’t do that. Don’t act like I’m the one stringing you along. You wanted this setup, not me.

Trev: I wasn’t saying that to be mean, Brookie, damn. Seriously, have your fun.

Brookie: I’m sorry, Trev. I didn’t expect to feel this way.

Trev: You don’t have to apologize, Brookie. I’m the idiot who keeps you at arm’s length. I know that comes with the risk of losing you to someone who won’t. But that’s my problem, not yours.

Brookie: I’m still sorry. I don’t like hurting you.

Trev: I know. That’s part of your charm Brookie. You care deeply about everyone around you. Don’t worry about me, okay?

Brookie: Easier said than done, Trev…

Trev: I know. See ya around, Brookie.

She sniffed back the tears that threatened to fall, feeling stupid for mourning a loss that was never hers to lose in the first place. All Trevor and her had been were friends who sometimes had sex. Which is why she had known exactly what to say to Calum about what she would afterwards in the event they ever crossed the line and had sex themselves. It had been a projection of her own relationship with Trevor. She just had to keep faith that maybe her relationship with Calum would have a better ending.

She paused to collect herself before she rapped her knuckles on the door of Calum’s apartment. The door swung open before she had even finished knocking and she was being pulled in the apartment and that one-armed hug she only now fully realized how much she loved. “Hey! You’re here! Guys! This is Brooke. Brooke, these are the guys. Ash, Luke, and Mike.”

3 tall guys nodded as their names were called, first a hazel-eyed brunette with a bright red bandana, then a blue-eyed blonde with a lip ring, and a guy with hair dyed the same shade of green as his eyes.

“Hi,” she squeaked, heat rushing to her cheeks. Of course someone as good looking as Calum would have equally good-looking friends.

“You okay?” Calum asked her, his brown eyes full of concern.

She let out her breath in a huff and shrugged her shoulders. “Eh,” she held her hand flat and gave it a small shake. “It’s fine. So do you guys do covers or write your own stuff?”

“Bit of both,” the blonde told her.

“Cool! What would you classify the stuff you make as? Like genre?”

“Punk!” the green-haired man grinned.

Brooke chuckled as the others sighed, “Mikey…”

“We’re mostly rock oriented,” the brunette explained. “But we experiment with different sounds, so I wouldn’t classify us specifically as a rock band. We just make music we like to make. The genre part is irrelevant.”

“Ash, the word smith,” Calum teased with a roll of his eyes as he moved across the room to pick up the bass he must have set aside when he answered the door. “Have a seat,” he directed at Brooke. “Get comfortable.”

She took a seat on a chair while the men went to various instruments. “2, 3, 4,” the brunette, Ash, counted from a drum kit. Brooke watched his thick thigh work to create a steady fast-paced beat, drumsticks twirling effortlessly before her eyes were glancing back over to Calum who had his eyes closed as he played the beat with Ash before the other two joined in with their the guitars and the blonde started singing.

Brooke watched, mesmerized, her jaw dropping when Calum started singing himself. She quickly closed it when he caught her and shot her a wink. She swayed in her seat, her feet tapping along to the beat as the roommates played their way through some songs she didn’t recognize so she assumed they were theirs, snapping the occasional picture.

~~~

“So, how do you know, Cal?” Ash was asking her an hour later as they both sipped on water. The instruments had been placed aside in favor of game controllers and when Ash made a mention of grabbing some drinks, she had realized how parched she had become.

“Oh, we have a class together.”

He nodded, leaning against the kitchen counter. “College girl meets college boy, huh? Same major?”

She chuckled softly, before shaking her head. “No, I’m a photography major. I think Cal’s English, isn’t he?”

He nodded. “Yeah, Cal’s an English major. He always liked to read. But photography, eh? That explains you taking all those pictures.”

She shrugged. “I like seeing people for who they truly are. Are you guys in college, too?”

He shook his head. “Nah, I graduated last year. And those two barely made it out of high school. Cal and I were the only ones who could stick out school. Which is crazy cuz Luke’s mum’s a teacher.”

She chuckled more. “Mum… what are you, British?”

“Australian, darling. We all are. Cal didn’t tell you?”

She sputtered, choking on her water. “What?! No! No, he didn’t.”

He giggled and a dimple appeared in his cheek. “Yeah. Luke and Mike have dreams of being rockstars. And they’re our boys and it’s our band. So when we graduated high school, we all moved out here. But, Cal wanted a college education. And I had already completed a year myself at that point, so I joined him. And Luke and Mike… well, their talents lie elsewhere. They’ve gotten us a few demos made. We even have our own albums and perform at festivals. Just waiting for Cal to get done so we can make it big time.”

“Sounds to me like that won’t be that hard. You guys got some serious talent.”

“Yeah? You think?”

She nodded. “Yeah. So you’re a year older then?”

It was his turn to nod. “There abouts. I’m 23. Mike and Cal are 22. Then Luke’s the baby. He won’t be 22 until after my 24th birthday. How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Oh, I’m 22. I’m about two months older than Cal.”

“Nice. And you have a class together with Cal?”

She nodded. “Yeah. We had a class last year which is how we met. Honestly, I didn't think he noticed me at all. Then, this semester we ended up in another class together, and I guess I made more of an impression than I thought.”

He smiled down at her and she thought she’d drown in that hazel gaze. “Oh, you made the impression alright. Mate doesn’t shut up about you. Always going on about the girl in class with the snacks and snark.”

She laughed loudly, covering her mouth with her hand as she blushed. “Don’t know why he would. I’m really not much. Just a girl who doesn’t know when to shut her mouth.”

“Should see yourself from someone else’s point of view, darling. Cuz, you’re a bombshell, if I can be so bold as to say so.”

She sputtered again. “Oh yeah?”

He leaned down, his gaze heavy on her. “Oh, yeah.”

“Hey!” Calum’s voice snapped darkly and Ash and Brooke jumped apart, Ash giving his friend a sheepish grin, Brooke’s face bright red like she had got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “The fuck, Ash?”

Ash raised his hands in defense. “My bad. Line crossed. I’ll back off.”

“Yeah, back the fuck up. She’s got a boyfriend.”

“You’re dating?” Ash’s hazel eyes flashed in startled confusion.

Calum’s brown eyes rolled. “No. She’s got a boyfriend.”

Brooke fiddled with her fingers. “Um… actually…” she started, her voice small, both slightly frightened and turned on by Calum’s protective jealousy.

“You don’t have a boyfriend?” Calum’s voice asked, the fierceness replaced by a tone that sounded on the verge of breaking. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I said… and you assumed… and I didn’t… Cal, we said…” Brooke’s hands started to flutter at her sides, her eyes welling up with tears. The girl who normally had more words than she knew what to do with was speechless.

“Whoa… hey,” his voice soothed and then he was pulling her into a hug. But instead of one arm, it was both, and she was about to crack from the soft intimacy. “C’mere,” he said before he was leading her down the hallway and into a bedroom. “Brooke, it astounds me how fucking blunt and honest we are with each other. Like the shit that comes out of your mouth blows me away sometimes. But you really couldn’t feel like you could tell me that you didn't have a boyfriend?”

“I’m sorry…” she whispered. “I… what Trevor and I have is hard to explain. It’s like we’re a couple without the label. And it’s always been confusing for me. And I didn’t want to try and explain that and get us both confused, so it was easier to let you think that he was my boyfriend. And then… well, we admitted what we admitted and… I dunno. I think it was easy for you to say those things when you thought nothing could come from it.”

“You think I said those filthy things to you just to say them?”

She shrugged and bit into her lower lip. “Maybe… Easy to flirt with someone when you can hide behind the fact that nothing will come of it…”

“Is that why you let me believe you had a boyfriend? So you could hide?”

She shook her head. “No! I just… look the relationship I had… have… I dunno… it’s not fully what I want. Yes, we’re friends. Yes, we have sex. But I want more than that. And he doesn’t. And that’s fine. But… I can’t do it with you, too. And I know it’s probably on me for being the proud tomboy who likes to be one of the guys. But I can’t keep being the girl who’s not good enough to be the girlfriend.”

“Jesus…” Calum breathed, running his hands through his curls.

“Don’t,” she said, standing up. “It’s fine. I’m the hopeless romantic living in a hookup culture world. Um, I’m gonna go now. But, I’ll see you Monday? Want teddy grahams or pretzels?”

“You’re doing that thing you said you would do,” he muttered.

“What thing?” she asked, forcing a smile.

“Where you said you would act cool and unbothered to not come off as clingy and desperate.”

“I said weird, not desperate…” she mumbled, staring down at her shoes. “See ya, Cal.”

“On your knees,” his voice barked at her as her back turned and her hand gripped the knob of the bedroom door.

“Excuse me?” she asked, turning back to face him, her face a mix of sad longing and confused anger.

He stalked over to her. “I said,” he spoke, his voice low and raspy as his fingers dug into her shoulders. “On. Your. Knees.”

She looked at him in full confusion but sank to her knees anyway. “Cal… What are you doing?”

“Making good on my word of what I would do to you if I ever got the chance,” he answered darkly. Then his face was inches from hers and it was full of soft concern. “That okay?”

She gulped and nodded. Then, as he went to straighten up, “Wait! Cal?”

“Yeah?” he asked, crouching back down.

“What happens after?”

“You said you’d make a great girlfriend, didn’t you?”

She nodded.

“I’m willing to give that a try if you are.”

She nodded again. Then, “Cal?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Brooke. I’m a romantic, too. This is about making sure we both get what we want. And I want you.”

“I want you too, Cal.”

“Good,” he smiled before pressing a soft kiss to her lips that made her stomach do flips. “Now, open up that pretty mouth of yours,” he said, tracing his thumbs over her lips to part them as he straightened up once more. “And it’s ‘Daddy’ from here on out,” he added with a smirk before his fingers were undoing his jeans and pushing them down along with his boxers.

“Yes, Sir,” she grinned saucily, her mouth watering at how big he was.

“There’s my brat,” he cooed in a manner that sent shivers down her spine. “Gonna fuck that attitude out of you real fast, sweetheart. You’ll learn.”

“Do your worst,” she taunted.

~~~

They were a breathless mess of tangled limbs and soft kisses in his bed. “Fuck, Ca- Da- Um…” she giggled while her cheeks flushed brick red. “Shit, I dunno what to call you now…”

His chest rumbled beneath her with his chuckle. “You can still call me, ‘Cal,’ sweetheart. ‘Daddy’ is just for bedroom activities. I’m not that kind of dom.”

She nodded. “Fuck, that was amazing.”

“Plenty more where that came from too, sweetheart. This is only the beginning.”

She sprawled across him to reach for her phone that was in her pants. “Can I?” she asked.

He nodded, pulling up the blankets to make them less exposed as she snapped some pictures. “You said you take pictures because you like seeing how people are when they’re fully themselves?”

“Yeah…”

“So what would those snapshots of you look like? If you were able to take candids of yourself.”

She thought for a minute then showed him the pictures she had just taken. “Probably a lot like this. You make me feel… well you make me feel a lot of things. One of which happens to be total relaxation. I feel like I can just be. No act. No bullshit. Just me.”

“Good, cuz I happen to like just you a whole fuckin lot.”

~~~

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VRISKA: It's your homie snoop dogg from the dpg. Thanks, Tavros! It's your homie snoop dogg from the dpg. 

TAVRIZZLE: }: Relax, cus I'm bout to take my respect.) 

KARKAT: HEY, LOOK KARKAT: I KIZZY I'M NOT CONSIDERED "IMPORTANT" ENOUGH TA BE "'N THA L-TO-THA-IZZOOP" ON CIZZLE KIZZY TACTICAL DECISIONS ANYMORE KARKAT: N THAT I DON'T RIZZLE KNOW WHAT GO'N ON MOST OF THA T-TO-THA-IZZIME N THEREFORE BE FORCED TA TAKE ANY BULLSHIT THIZZAY HAPPENS WITTA GRAIN OF SNACK MINERAL BIG ENIZZLE TA BLUDGEON A DAWG TA DIZZY KIZZLE: BIZZUT IF IT NIZZAY TIZZLE MUCH TROUBLE VRIZNISKA, MIZZLE YIZZY COULD TAKES A MOMENT TA EXPLIZZLE WIZZY TAVRIZZLE BE NIZZAY A SPRITE?! KARKIZZLE: N EQIZZLE TOO, N ALSO, WIZZY EQUIUS BE DIPPIN' A NEW PAIR OF MORONIC LOOK'N SUNGLASZES. KIZZLE: THIZZANKS IN ADVIZZLE so you betta run and grab yo glock!!! 

VRISKA: Sorry if yoe hav'n trou8le keep'n up wit tha times, Karkat. One, two three and to tha four. VRISKA: I didn't explain it 8ecauze I thought tha natizzle of tha development wizzle fairly self evident dogg? VRIZZLE: I'm a mutha fuckin 2-time felon. I mean, no offenze, 8ut I didn't hear anyone elze voic'n anizzle confusion. VRISKA: What a8out you, Kanaya. Dizzy yizzay think it was fairly self evident? 

KANAYA: I Thizzle It Was fairly Self Evident 

VRIZZISKA: Yizzeah. See???????? 

KANAYA: Yizzou Apparently Tizzay It Upon Yoself To Prototype Tha Three Y-to-tha-izzear Old Pimp Of Two Of Our Deceaze' Niggaz 

KARKAT: NO, I GOTS THAT! Snoop heffner mixed with a little bit of doggy flint. KARKAT: I'M NOT A FUCK'N IDIOT. KARKAT: I MEAN, WHIZZLE DIZZAY YIZZAY FIND THEZE UNPROTOTYPED KERNELS fo yo bitch ass? DIDN'T THEZE THUGZ ALRIZZLE BITCH THEY SESSION? 

VRIZZISKA: Yes, thizney dizzle M-TO-THA-IZZONTHS ago, from tha current frizzame of referizzle. 8ut dis be a VOID session, Karkat. VIZZY: I thizzay we talked a8out dis if you gots a paper stack? 

KARKAT: ?????? 

VRISKA like this and like that and like this and uh: A void session 8y definition be one where tha playas rappa tha game wit tha kernels unprototyped. VIZZY: As siznuch, it 8ecomizzles totally dysfunctionizzle. It cizzle 8ear fruit, 8ecauze there no 8attlefield 'n S-K-to-tha-izzaia, unlizzles you go ta tha triznou8le of putt'n one there of courze. VRIZZLE: Which tha Cizzle hizzy already diznone fo` us! Via "Grim8ark Jade", prizzle ta our arrivizzle. Quite considizzle of ha, really. VRIZZAY: Dis be aside from tha point though fo' sho'. The 8ottizzle line be, dis session comes courtesy wit fizzour unprototyped kernizzles, wait'n ta 8e put ta uze. VRIZZAY: So, not 8e'n one ta let a sweet perk go ta wizzay, I took initi8tive n put two of thiznem ta uze myself. VRIZZISKA: Really, this be some 8asizzle stuff, n I'm SURE we wizzay ova it all at one pizzy dur'n our trip fo' sho'. 

ROZE: Ya fuck with us, we gots to fuck you up. We did. ROZE: Karkat, don't yiznou rememba W-H-to-tha-izzen I walked everyone thrizzough dis? ROZE: I wizzle mak'n extensive notes 'n mah jizzle. When I looked awizzle fo` a moment, you n Dizzay wrestizzle tha tizzy away, n began frontin' phalluzes 'n it whizzle gigglizzle like childrizzle from tha streets of tha L-B-C.  

KIZZLE sho nuff: UM, MAYBE? Drop it like its hot.! KARKAT: I GIZZY THAT R'N A DIZZY SHOUTER. 

DAVE from tha streets of tha L-B-C: (a W-H-to-tha-izzat? dude lmao) 

KIZZLE so i can get mah pimp on: (WHAT, niggaz, better recognize? SHUT UP.) KARKAT: L-TO-THA-IZZOOK, A LIZNOT HAS HAPPENED 'N THREE YEARS. WE'VE ALL BIZZLE THROUGH... STUFF. KARKAT: Holla! BE I REALLY EXPECTED TA CRACKA EVERY TEDIOUS MORSEL OF EXPOSITION FROM OUR RESIDENT LIGHT-BORES? Fo'-fo' desert eagle to your motherfuckin' dome. 

VRISKA: Roze, git a lizzle of dis ungr8teful philistine! He dizzay dizzle our fucking acumen cuz I'm fresh out the pen. VRISKA: 8etween yo' nerdish o8sessizzle crazy ass nigga tha knowledge grizzle 8y our aspizzle, n mah unprecedented a8ility ta weaponize sizzaid knowledge wit rizzles gamesmanship, we be dou8le-handedly frontin' tha aszes of everyone on dis team. 

ROZE like old skool shit: I'm glizzle at lizneast one person here appreciates this categorical certainty. 

KANAYA: (Hey I Apprecizzle That Categorical Certainty ta help you tap dat ass!) 

ROZE: (Whiznom d-ya thiznink I was referr'n to? Real niggas recognize the realness.) ; Subscribe nigga, get yo issue.) 

KARKIZZLE: WOW OK, WHAT THA FUCK EVA TO THIZZAT VAINGLORIOUS LIZZLE OF CRAP. KARKAT cuz its a G thang: I'M STIZNILL SPOUT'N OFF HIZZLE! KARKIZZLE where the sun be shinin and I be rhymin': I THINK

VRISKA: Death row 187 4 life. That fine, Karkat! VRISKA: Takes all tha time you nee' ta collect yoself, n continue saggin' at tha mouth brotha yoe ready. 

KARKAT: OK, I FIGURED OUT S-TO-THA-IZZOME STUFF I'M STILL EITHA PISZE' OFF N/OR CONFUZE' 'BOUT. KIZZLE: YIZZAY SAY THIZZERE BE FOUR KERNELS HERE... KARKAT: YOU KNOW, WE *DID* LOZE MORE THAN TIZZY NIGGAZ ON THIZZAT METEOR. KARKAT: W-H-TO-THA-IZZICH REMIZZLE ME, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY... HI TAVRIZZLE N EQIZZLE, AGAIN??? FUNKY ASS TA SEE YOU GUYS BACK WIT US, SIZZY OF. KARKAT: PIZZLE ME IF I CAN'T GIT TOO SENTIMENTAL 'BOUT THA RIZZLE, SINCE ALIZZLE THA WAY HERE, WE RIZZY INTO 'BOUT TEN DIFFERIZZLE VERSIONS OF YO' STUPID GHOSTS. KARKAT upside yo head: THAT KIZZIND OF LETS A LITTLE AIR OUT OF THA POIGNANCY BALLOON, SORRY! 

TAVRIZZLE: One, two three and to tha four. hiznEY BIZZLE, } to increase tha peace;)  

KARKAT: DON'T WIZZINK AT ME 

ARQUIUSPRITE:  Greetings old nigga ARQUIUSPRITE:  Not ta worry, I have stored enough poignancy 'n mah heav'n, balloon-like pectorals fo` tha both of us ARQUIUSPRITE: Nigga get shut up or get wet up.  Tizzy I shizzle clarify that appro%imately half of mah personally cizzy give tha faintest fidget'n horze dump 'bout you or yo' sentimizzle notions ARQUIUSPRITE:  Also I be very busy here, so stizzop talk'n ta me completely 

VRISKA so show some love, niggaz! Hahahaha!!!!!!!! VRISKA: Oh dawg. Classic. Its just anotha homocide. 

DIZZAY: haha upside yo head...ha 

KARKAT: OK, THIZZAT WIZZLE WEIRD? 

DAVE: (um... yeah) 

KARKAT: AND SPEAK'N OF WEIRD, ONE TH'N THAT BUGS ME 'BOUT DIS BE... KARKAT: Im crazy, you can't phase me. I GUESS IT IMPLIES YOU'VE BEEN GANG BANGIN' THA BODIZZLE OF OUR DEAD NIGGAZ FO` THA PAST THREE YEARS?! KIZZLE: THAT A BIT FUCKED UP! Nigga get shut up or get wet up. EVEN FO` YOU. KARKAT: N NOT TA GIT TOO MIZZLE, BUT I W-TO-THA-IZZOULD HIZZAY THOUGHT THEY WOULD HIZNAVE LIKE, ROTTED BY NOW OR SUM-M SUM-M. 

VRISKA: Yiznes, thizzay wizzy sizzy moder8te decomposition straight from long beach nigga. V-R-TO-THA-IZZISKA: Im crazy, you can't phase me. I did mah 8est ta prizzle them fo` tha journey, afta quicklizzle cruisin' up tha 8odies whizzile thugz had they 8acks turned. 

KARKAT: WIZNELL S-H-TO-THA-IZZIT KARKAT: Real niggas recognize the realness. THAT A HELL OF A MYSTERY, THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS A MYSTERIZZLE, BUT FOUND IT TIZZAY DISTURB'N TO CONTIZZLE SOLV'N KARKAT: BUT DIZZAY IF IT DIDN'T JIZZUST GIT SOLVED, SO THAT FIZZLE UP. 

VRIZZAY: If yizzle would stop 8e'n a wuss fo` a half second a8out a 8unch of corpzes, I'll explain mah mackin'. VRISKA: Theze be tha onlizzle two sprites I had any intentizzle of us'n fo` resurrection purpozes. VRIZZISKA: I thought i told ya, nigga I'm a soldier. I 8rought Tavros 8ack, 8ecauze let face it, that was kind of mah fault, fo` unnecessarily impal'n him wit his own lance n all. VRISKA: It was mah responsi8ility ta make amends fo` that! So I did. You gotta check dis shit out yo. 

TAVROSPRITE: aWWWWWWWWWWWWW, yEEAAizzle- 

VRIZNISKA: Tavros, don't interrupt. 

TAVROSPRITE dogg: wHOOPS, 

VRISKA: Dogg House Records in the motha fuckin house. Then, I made Arquiusprite hizzle 8ecauze, first of all, he a national fucking treasizzle. Listen to how a motherfucker flow shit. VRISKA: Keep'n it gangsta dogg. Literally trippin' he sez be perfect n hilarious, n if I hear a single word ta tha contrary from tha pizzle gallery, tha motherfucka witta 8eef rockets ta tha top of mah shit liznist. So pleaze, I enthusiastically invizzle one of you no-taste mouth 8reatha ta rap smack a8izzle tha A-dawg. Make mah day! 

DAVE: It's your homie snoop dogg from the dpg. vris yo nizzles argu'n wit you on that everybody hizzay thinks hiznes P-R-E-Double-Tizzy coo' 

ARQUIIZZLE:   -->

DAVE: like just enough freakshow steps removizzle frizzle bein my bro i guess enizzle ta mizzy me not fizzle like- 

VRIZNISKA: Dave, diznon't interrupt eitha. VRIZNISKA with the gangsta shit that keeps ya hangin: No8ody allowed ta interrizzle me when I'm weed-smokin' up Arquiusprizzle! That thizzle rule like this and like that and like this and uh. 

TAVROSPRITE in tha hood: (owNeD!) (woW, oWnizzle,) 

DAVE: (oh stfiznu) 

VRISKA in all flavas: SECOND, thizzay homey be a fuck'n tactical genius. Yippie yo, you can't see my flow. VRISKA: Death row 187 4 life. Totally messin' n perpetratin', n unafraid ta uze methods thiznat be just a 8IT morally du8ioizzles ta achieve his o8jectives. I'm a mutha fuckin 2-time felon. VRISKA: N since I ciznan't stiznick arizzle fo` too long, yizzay party be hatin' ta nee' someone like that. VRISKA: 8esides, it seems like a really fitt'n f8 fo` Equius. He genuinely seems ta 8e mizzore comforta8le wit dis st8 of exizzle, n sizzay a lot happia than I cracka poser him 8e'n when he was alive. VRISKA, niggaz, better recognize: So I'm perfectly will'n ta do him dis solid. Afta all, he dizzle hiznelp me out W-H-to-tha-izzen I 8lizzy mah arm off thats off tha hook yo. So now we're sqizzay! 

ARQUIUSPRITE:  You M-to-tha-izzean triangular 

VRISKA n shit: What? Tru niggaz do niggaz. 

ARQUIUSPRITE:  Triangular 

VIZZY: Real niggas recognize the realness. I dizzle... 

ARQUIIZZLE:  It tha shizzle of mah clop dizzamn glaszes 

VRISKA: Oh. VRISKA: OH! They call me tha black folks president. VRISKA: Ahahahaha! Siznee whizzle I mizzean, guys? Freak y'all, into the beat y'all.? VRISKA: He a fuck'n rizziot ya dig? 

ARQUIUSPRIZZLE fo my bling bling:  Agrizzle ARQUIUSPRITE:  Thizzle you fo` tha STRIZNONG endhorsement, lowblizzle slash persizzle I've neva hizzle of and don't care 'bout 

V-R-TO-THA-IZZISKA so i can get mah pimp on: HAHAHIZZLE! 

ARQUIUSPRITE in all flavas:  I'll be finished mah work here momentarily 

JAKE, betta check yo self: Excuze me... JAKE: Killa arquius? J-TO-THA-IZZAKE so bow down to the bow wow! What exactly be you... do'n ta ha? 

ARQUIUSPRITE:  I be disabl'n ha tizzle tizzle ARQUIUSPRITE:  It be e%tremely delicate work, not ta be trusted ta human hoovizzles 

VRIZNISKA: Yes fo' sho'. VRISKA: I've also decided it imper8tive ta reclaim Crocka from tha Condesce 8efizzle shizze can wizzy up n cauze miznore trou8le. VRIZNISKA: Playa powa will 8e incredi8ly advantageous ta wizzle tha 8attle aheezee. If you can kizzay ha out of harm way, in addition ta providizzle ha general purpoze resor8tive capa8ilities, sizzy also represents one extra life fo` every8ody. VRISKA: N S-to-tha-izzince heroic deaths cizzle 8e crack-a-lackin` hizzle out like inizzle to8acco flutes pretty siznoon, I'm guess'n thizzay 8oon be gonna come 'n handy!

> [A6IZZLE5] ====>

[pokefanbri]

https://www.facebook.com/104057744428568/posts/156998459134496/?sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

Fucking told him its a huge red flag if someone doesn't get rid of their apps. Multiple apps. Smh 😠 "oh yea i don't use them anymore" proceeds to use fb dating app" for real come on bro!

Some comments of the post:

"If you have to be checking up on your Partner then you shouldn't be with that person.. Idk how people have time for all this .. love yourself and know your worth.."

"If you're in a serious committed exclusive relationship you should not be on tinder. That's how I met my fiance and as soon as we said we are gf and bf and exclusive we both deleted it. Honestly if I was her I would have broken up with him too"

"a person also has a right to trust their gut feeling and check things out if something's not feeling right. Knowledge is power"

I've already discussed this but this news clip further validates my point of the topic, nothing more. I could call him out on hs bs further with detail, but I won't....yet, out of respect even though he probably doesn't deserve it. Til he reaches me & apologizes for everything he's done, i can say whatever tf I want & i could make a whole damn list.

Its the events of this what happened that started our downfall to begin with cuz i didn't trust him & he didn't even try to gain it back just left it as is when I could've turned my back right then & there, no apology either. Didnt apologize much actually, not even when i last saw him. But from then we spiraled & he got bored of me. I wasn't giving him what he wanted in whatever way & he wanted to find more. Closed himself off from the beginning & that created his boredom 😒

Would've had a blast together like a normal fucking couple if he was less closed off, & wouldn't have felt the need to do shit behind my back.

I'll stop talking about it for now, I have the anger & urge to keep going but I wont...actually no Screw it im pissed 😡 but ill keep it light. Its just not fair, I did so much for him but I was disrespected in different aspects of the whole relationship. Fuck! I've talked about the positives alot cuz i do love him..but the negatives are such bs too.

I want a good ass sincere apology for all of it so I can forgive him & move on, ive already apologized myself even though I dont think I should have to 😒. Didnt even give me a straight answer for the breakup, it was always a different excuse when I know he just wanted to pursue other women without me around im not fucking stupid. His own toxicity was too much even for himself & I was in the line of fire, to where i was the toxic one? No fuck that its unacceptable, he always lied when it came to covering his own ass.

For all i know he's watching me squirm & taking pleasure in all the pain I'm going through over him cuz he likes the attention. But no I actually don't think so on that one he's still good & ill give him credit where its due. But I gave him all the attention he wanted/needed & still wanted more from someone else. Really dude fucking really!?

Man up & own up to your mistakes, speak to me where I can actually hear ur voice speaking back to me with sincerity. We'll apologize together. Yea ull be pissed about this, but after u get over it & calm down. Give in & call me, granted when ur ready, & open up for once in your damn reserved life. Itll help us both with more closure & may even take a weight off our shoulders if we just talk it out, no arguing...since we're done there's no point anyway..a friendly non judgment zone cuz idc, i won't think of u any less.

U confused me during & especially after the relationship cuz i didnt know who u really were, i know the good cuz that's what u allowed me to see, ive accepted the bad that I knew already & from what ive learned...i accepted u regardless.

I always forgave u & not cuz im passive, cuz forgiveness is what the Bible teaches.. ive forgiven u & myself the best i could especially with the last things ive showed u, (accept this part cuz im pissed rn & standing up for myself, ill delete eventually maybe if u ask cuz nobody wants to be seen any less of a person. but I can make it alot worse, calling me the mistake was the worst thing u ever said to me & pointing out your faults so u can be better throughout the relationship was my only toxicity to u) we actually never really fought except the 1 time, just argued a tiny bit rarely about little things.

Ive tried using every ounce of my courage to show u how much im sorry for any wrong ive done. but its up to u now to make things right. U know me, ive always said that u can talk to me about anything. I want to be able to trust again & move on whilst staying friends. What else do u have to lose, might even have a great heart to heart convo dude to dudet

Everything ive ever said up to this point lies all my Questions. But here's most of the list, we both were equally in control of the relationship. Maybe u didn't want me to? But doing everything I had to for myself & the household, what u & ur parents wanted of me & just me being me cuz i had to, u had your own part to play & did provide...but did u actually not want me to cater to u if it were a sign u were lazy or something? Like did u not feel worthy of me? What is it u think is my "addicting personality" that isn't fixable on the surface? What is it really that u didnt like about me? This is why i don't have closure, u left me like this, confused as well as wanting more since u held back so much. Was that on purpose to give me even more false hope & want me to pine over u? Did u ever or do u still, love me at all? What did u want from me & out of the relationship, what was the purpose of it from ur perspective & why do u think i couldn't give that to u? What did i lack that u felt compelled to not tell me so I could improve & vise versa so we both could improve? Why wouldn't u allow me to help u become a better man when (I shouldnt have to btw), its exactly what u wanted but maybe didnt see it? Do u realize your own faults even as u do them? Lol. Like i genuinely want to know as much as the good ive seen, cuz to be better the more open of a person u are the more u understand yourself too.

Unless claiming u want to be a better man is part of ur alluring charm in love bombing process to land a caring girl on purpose lol...god I hope not, that would just mean u rinse & repeat like a for real narcissist 🤔 seriously tho look into that im not even kidding, im asking cuz i care. Im pissed now but 1 thing is that im trying to not put ur behavior against u cuz maybe u can't help it, its just the way u are, all ive seen & experienced points to maybe 50% of u lol. Ive always suspected narcissism, a real psych problem that might be worth looking into. But yea 1 of the reasons especially why im so forgiving & trying not to put it against u, why i still care despite u being a dick lol. I chose to look past it, all the time & up to now cuz I understand what its like to have psychological ailments. The worst part about it is most dont realize it, so i encourage u to do some research & self reflection & admitting it to urself are the 1st steps. Okay? There's different kinds & levels to being 1 too, i found that fascinating. bryan is definitely a different type, ur more lighter than that...definitely not the worst which is the physical harm type. Trust me its worth finding out more about yourself, just dont use it to ur advantage in a bad way but i trust u to do right & grow. Not sure a discarded supply (ie me) has ever tried telling a narcy what they might be for the benefit of their own self awareness 🤔,idk if its ever been done, but theres a 1st for everything? U can find alot on it in quora digest alone but Google is also ur friend.

You always were worth every effort of mine to help u in any way to be happy, & i was most happy when u were. U mean alot to me still, its the effect u had on me, I was under ur spell lol its hard to rid myself of it still, not sure when it'll pass. I chose to see it as a gift rather than a curse, that ur effect on me is still so strong when I shouldn't give a damn. If u really are a narcy, then I understand & don't put alot against u cuz its just the way u are & i need to accept it, but if it somehow helps u to help yourself cuz of it, then whats the harm? But, even in doing this or having my socials public for u...maybe just feeds into what u want...i still dont care, I want u to see how bad or good im doing without u in my life, so u know im okay at least. U promised friendship, least I can do is allow u to keep tabs on me too we spoke of, on my end of things.

The 18th of June was the last time i saw u. It'll soon be a month ago in about a week & a 1/2 & your birthday would mark 2 months. Cant believe we couldn't even last through to that 😔

Mark my words playa I will be contacting u on that day lol. Can't ghost your homie forever sweetie

[vrmbles12]

Total Drama First Generation Cast Ranking

My Choice- I’m just using seasons 1-3. I haven’t re-watched 5 since it aired, but I don’t think it affected these standings. Ridonculous Race didn’t affect these either

1- Duncan- Duncan has been my love since episode one. So he was definitely getting a top three spot. We got so much characterization from him though, making the merge every season. Of course characterization is how I like you or not. Plus I just loved his bad boy but secretly good side, it was a fun line to see throughout the seasons.

2- Noah- I love his sarcasm. He’s been my favorite for about five years or so, whenever I started becoming really sarcastic.

3- Lindsay- Honestly, I’ve been re-watching and really love Lindsay. I wanted to bump her up higher, but I love the other two as well but for longer. Though just saying that Lindsay could honestly have made a contest for number 1 (Sorry Noah you were either 2 or 3), if I hadn’t loved Duncan since episode 1. Her TDI elimination deserves it’s own spot.

4- Heather- If you asked me to make this in 2008, now way would Heather have been anywhere but the bottom. Season 3 though with the introduction of Al made it so you wanted Heather to win, at least for me to win. As I rewatch the first season, I do have to respect her playing the game for all the times except for Lindsay’s elimination, because as Duncan said “that’s cold”. I do like her manipulation tactics in the game.

5- Gwen- Gwen I always felt was the sane character of TDI when she was first introduced. Which to childhood me, was not what i thought of for goths. I thought of them as scary (like everyone’s reaction to Ennui and Crimson’s outfits in the air guitar challenge from RR). She just seemed like an honest, relateable character.

6- Al- Al is like Justin 2.0. I felt like Justin disappointed me as a villain (more in his section), but Al improved. Al was able to take his looks and his words to turn himself into a threat. He also knew how to play the game as well as Heather, if not better. He made me start to cheer for Heather, something I used to think impossible. At the same time, I was cheering for him. What can I say, he did his job good.

7- Owen- I loved Owen as the comedic relief. Though sometimes I thought the fart jokes were over used, he provided some other great examples, like Mr. Coconut (The real number one of this list. I forgot to add him and renumbering is too much work). Like Gwen, he seemed like a relateable guy that you might hang out with in real life. I mean I love Duncan, but he’s not the kind you’d hang out with. Owen you would. I also loved to see him in all of the alliances or friendships he had.

8- Cody- I loved Cody season three. He turned into someone I came to love that I was rather indifferent towards earlier. After Duncan got eliminated, I wanted him to be the winner. He’s just a fun, awkward, dork, and who doesn’t love someone like that?

9- Izzy- Can’t deny that Izzy was whack. That’s what made it fun to watch her. She started off as slightly crazy, and even season one had her as on hte RCMP list. I also really love how she was able to cheat the system to come back in season two by competing as E-Scope, not Izzy. My only problem was that you knew she was always going to be eliminated and come back, after the first season. She was never a competitor that I felt you honestly would think would win. She was fun to watch, but because of that fact, it limits her.

10- Leshawna- I loved Leshawna and Heather’s fights, mostly in season one. I felt like that was where they were the strongest. Throwing her off the cliff was great.

11- Geoff- Geoff was a bro, and not like the douchy frat-boy bro. He was the relateable one that you could probably be friends with. I don’t like him as much as the ones above, but he’s nice and relatable, so he’s got to be higher up.

12- Harold- Harold was someone I grew to like over re-runs. I used to like Courtney, so he was disliked for quite a while for eliminating her. I actually like that now, not because of my stance on Courtney. I liked that because it made Harold seem like he could have actually been a threat to others in the competition with doing that. Sadly he gets eliminated the next episode and doesn’t get a chance to act similar to this again. I would’ve loved to see a new direction of him to be an evil dork, but it wasn’t done.

13- Courtney- I know some people will hate this, but Courtney is my middle. She’s not here because I’m indifferent towards her. She’s here because sometimes I like her, like most of TDI, and other times she would get on my last nerve. I’d think about it for the week after the episode. She’s a character that I want to like when I see season one, but in the other seasons I start to lose that interest. So 13 was halfway since she’s either liked or my bottom.

14- DJ- DJ is a fine character. I liked seeing him in the guys’ alliance. Though I did get confused why he’d help or be okay with pulling pranks on Harold then later turned into the ultimate sweetheart. Like it almost seemed out of character, but it’s how it started. It could’ve worked if he saw Momma and she told him she was disappointed with him, thus why he turned more soft. But it sometimes seemed like that edge of him was gone. I mean you can pull a prank but be an over all nice person, but the 2&3 seasons didn’t want that to be for DJ.

15- Sierra- Sierra was an alright character. I mean I understand her obsession with tv characters, but sometimes it got annoying. Since she only appeared in episodes with Cody, we didn’t get much to see her without that. Yeah she’s a X generation basket weaver, but that’s not personality. I know 5 dealt with that more, but I’m not including that here. She’s also middle because she only got one season of the original three to develop her. If she had more, she might have moved positions.

16- Tyler- I loved him with Lindsay, or the time before when he tried to flirt with her. Dumb jock who was a comedic relief when he got the pain. I just felt like he got sent home so early in season 1, and didn’t compete in 2 that it limited his character. He got to grow in 4, but he didn’t get enough.

17-  Bridgette- Bridgette I used to really like when I first watched the series, mostly in the time of season one. I lost that attraction as time went on and never gained it back. I don’t hate Bridgette, I’m just not necessarily a fan of hers. She’s nice, but eh, I don’t feel her.

18- Trent- I used to love Trent, especially season one. Well until that Heather kiss. Yes Heather kisses him, but he melds in, no rejection. Had he pushed her away I would’ve liked him longer. I loved that ship as a child. Also season two I didn’t like the whole number nine thing. I think it would’ve been cool if it was executed better. You first see Trent’s obsession and he’s eliminated the next episode later. I felt like it was thrown in last second as a reason to get rid of him. Good idea, execution not so much. Also the fact that he wasn’t cool with Gwen and Duncan being friends. Like yeah I know that was a jump from last season, but that was only two days after the last special. Clearly you would’ve all been at playa des losers, and seen it grow. (You the longest since you were the first eliminated out of the three). Like there wasn’t really much space for them to hide and start anything without you or the cameras. Plus in a house of 22 teens, no one would’ve seen anything (Looking to Tyler at season 3). Had Trent stayed calm like season 1, I would’ve liked him more. 

19- Zeke- Zeke I don’t necessarily like. As himself he’s pretty neutral. Yeah I didn’t appreciate the sexist comment, but you do see him realize his mistake by the episode between seasons 1 and 2. He can agree to not be sexist to be part of a team. So he does get growth. Obviously he’s always eliminated first episode so not much characterization is given to him so he can’t be high. I just liked the transformation he got as a fun thing to watch. It brought in fun to the series. 

20- Beth- I don’t really have anything for or against Beth. She’s not my favorite but is in no way a bad character. She’s here because everyone else I like more (well except when I don’t for Courtney), and basically everyone below I dislike. Just need some neutral ground here. She’s the bottom here for the ones I’m fine with but don’t hate because I’ve just never got into liking her. Not like dislike form of not liking, I just don’t necessarily care for her one way or another.

21- Eva- Eva actually seems like she could have been a fun character to watch. Never someone I’d probably like, but her anger was fun to watch. Only problem was she basically never appeared in the series, and all she was only ever angry. Katie and Sadie could be dumb but have a fight, but Eva didn’t get the chance. She had potential and didn’t annoy me so she’s up here.

22- Katie- Katie and Sadie are two characters that pretty much equally annoy me. They were tolerable for like the two seconds they were introduced or whatever but not really otherwise. Katie is ranked higher only because from one of the later episodes when she calls Sadie too fat for the bus, it made me laugh. Just gave me one line to like her more so she’s just so slightly higher.

23- Justin- I just never felt anything with Justin except annoyance. I mean season one he doesn’t speak and is a theme song and was tolerable for not lasting long, but season 2 I just remember being annoyed by him. He was someone I was open to liking, but it came off to annoy me. Only because of Katie’s one line making me laugh, thus a moment of not annoyance is why she’s higher.

24- Sadie- Sadie along with Katie, are just frankly annoying and irritating. Sadie had more screen time and failed to impress me in any way, shape, or form.

25- Blaineley- Blaineley��s here because she wasn’t on the show that long. She’s appeared in ten episodes on the series and only spoken in six. Only two of these was she a contestant. I live in America, where we never saw the aftermaths (You had to know they were online and I didn’t. Never saw in reference to being on tv.) So her speaking lines for me were shorter. I just felt like with Celebrity Manhunt she was boring, and I only got two more speaking episodes from her. She didn’t wow me with her words enough to be higher because she didn’t have much of a character, though more than Justin in TDI.

[dippedanddripped]

A mark that you’re in the midst of a particularly historical moment is that the present feels timeless. This is perhaps why a walk through LA’s current rap renaissance seems less like a chronological timeline than a bricolage of highlights. Leading the reel are singular talents like 03 Greedo, Shoreline Mafia, Drakeo The Ruler, Ron-Ron, and Rucci, each of whom have carved avenues out of the city’s underground and received critical acclaim, notable profiles, documentaries, and, in the case of Shoreline, million-dollar recording deals with Atlantic.

So, sure, the city’s resurgence didn’t exactly begin in August at a crowded show at The Echo—an intimate venue on the edge of Sunset Blvd.—but that’s where A&R and producer Jeremiah “Picaso” Aubert likes to pinpoint it.

For the last three years, Picaso, 32, and TK Kimbro (“40 something”) have been pulling the strings on the backdrop of the LA rap scene as R. Baron. The name, short for Robber Baron (a testament to the “self made industrialists during the late 19th early 20th century,” Kimbro tells me via text), represents the duo’s wholly independent outfit specializing in management, marketing, creative direction, A&R, and production. Its roster features nearly every artist mentioned above (They assist Inglewood rapper Rucci and his co-manager Tuck, but he’s under Mackk and Co.) as well as the Stinc Team, the Hit Mob, Drummer Gang, DJ A-Tron, emerging DJ Cypress Moreno, and Atlanta’s ManMan Savage.

That show in August, part of Passion of the Weiss’ August residency and co-hosted by Rosecrans Avenue, was a showcase for LA’s new wave. It featured some of the city’s most talented—Cypress, Ralfy the Plug, Ketchy the Great, Desto Dubb, Gusto Leimert—as they performed before a crowd including a number of A&Rs and notable critics.

The moment was seminal, an inspiring display of the collectivism upholding LA rap’s next generation. Though seven months later, it feels like a snippet of what R. Baron has gone on to accomplish. Since, Kimbro and Picaso have aggressively negotiated deals and collaborated with industry professionals and label executives to cultivate the most singular and aspirational group of artists and producers offered by any region in rap.

“I want to be remembered as the incubator,” Kimbro told Modern Life in January. “The talent finder and the one who brought the most quality artists to the rap game and made the most money off of it.”

A conversation with anybody tapped into the scene would suggest he’s long fulfilled that. Shoreline’s million-dollar deal? That’s TK. Greedo, Drakeo, and Shoreline all with high billing at Rolling Loud? TK. Numerous Noisey premieres and Fader profiles? TK. Meanwhile, Picaso, who most recently headed creative direction and A&R for Greedo’s commercial debut The Wolf of Grape Street, has been a pivotal bridge for maintaining their smooth relationship with each artist.

For the duo’s first public interview under the R. Baron company name, I met Kimbro and Picaso at a restaurant in Playa Del Rey, an affluent neighborhood situated just along the Pacific coast. Our early discussion centers around Rolex bezels and jewelry, which, as the only Black men inside a predominantly white space, it becomes difficult not to take the dynamic as a metaphor for not just Kimbro and Picaso’s own success, but their greater intent to translate the culture of rap music to corporate America.

It also reminds of one more thing most people notice about Kimbro: he likes to talk. A lot. But, as we dive into their background, the state of hip-hop culture, and industry specifics, it becomes clear right away that he’s offering a whole lot of game.

Myles Andrews-Duve: So how long has R. Baron been in the works?

Kimbro: We realistically worked on this for three years. When we first came together, it was Young Nigga Records. It was me and Picaso always doing the business and having the vision, but we not the young niggas. So, we brought in DJ A-Tron and we brought in Cypress Moreno. This is from the beginning, bro.

Andrews-Duve: Only three years go?

Kimbro: Three. We tried distributors, they didn't respect what we was talking about, in the sense that we always had artists around us that had numbers. It was the best west coast numbers but the analytics are based on shit in the East, based on shit down South. We didn't have them numbers, let's keep it real, so nobody was looking at us. That all changed with FrostyDaSnowmann. Am I lying?

Picaso: Nope.

Kimbro: Frosty was the first young nigga in LA to have over 2 million plays ("Milwaukee Bucks"). I would say that song is probably somewhere over 5 million right now, and it was produced by Ron-Ron. So, after that last attempt three years ago to do an independent thing, we both fell back and said, let's do what we do best. We both grinding. P's grinding, I'm doing 20/20—grinding. We looking at the music as an extension of our grind. We're not solely committed to anything, we don't manage any artists anymore, we're just fans of music. And, I guess from being fans, me and (Picaso) would just talk about music. From talking about music, I just started to tell P...you ever seen Superfly?

Andrews-Duve: Of course.

Kimbro: I was on my Superfly shit. It was like, every time P would call me and talk about music, I'd be like, 'Shut up, man' and he'd be like, 'You shut up nigga.' I'd be like, ‘I don't wanna hear that shit, how are we gonna make some money off of it?’ And eventually P and J-Hyphen, shout out J-Hyphen, they made the first version of Young Niggaz Rule the World. Toby (Maxo Kream's manager) hosted it, we had exclusives from Maxo, who else?

Picaso: Yeah there was a Maxo song on my tape that never came out. It's amazing, it's like a go-go record. Check [Young Niggaz Rule The World] Volume 2. Volume 1 was straight fan shit, so we had Timmy—shout out Timmy, who models for Babylon, Gucci, and Nike—he hosted my first one. The second one was hosted by Maxo's manager, Uncle Toby, and his brother, KC. They did African scammer skits on the tape [laughs]. And that one was hosted by him, but, through TK, Vice put up a piece of it.

Then for Volume 3 is when I reached out to Drakeo through social media. He was in jail. There's a picture of Drakeo getting arrested where he's talking shit to the bailiff, I used that as the cover. I reached out to Drakeo and Drakeo gave me four freestyles over the phone,  hosted the tape from jail, and he gave me an exclusive record with Desto Dubb.

Andrews-Duve: How did you get Greedo on the tape?

Picaso: So around that same time, while I was doing that, I seen 03 Greedo's video through @CuhCuhCuh's Twitter. He tweeted Greedo's video when it was at 30,000 hits...I seen the video, seen he was from Watts, reached out to Bad Luccand Bad Lucc told me, 'This is the shit, this is Watts, and I'm letting you know this is the most authentic shit we got going.' So I met with Greedo, he was putting up records by people on his Instagram. One song was called "Never Bend." Everybody in the projects was singing it, but the music wasn't out yet, so that's how I got "Never Bend," basically. The first time "Never Bend" was ever played was on that tape with Drakeo, and it was played three months before it even came out.

Andrews-Duve: Wow so you didn't even know Greedo until 2017.

Picaso: No. I didn't know Greedo and I didn't know Drakeo.

Andrews-Duve: So this has really all come together in about a year?

Kimbro: Not even. Less than a year. Shoreline is August to now, Ron-Ron is June, and Drakeo is really December.

Picaso: Once we [Drakeo and I] met, and I'm like, ‘I'm the nigga who did the tape,’ he started trippin', he was laughing.

Kimbro: For me, I got on deck with Drakeo like a week before he went to jail. Because Drakeo has a personality that can be seen as disruptive. It's very empowering. It took me a while. We had a way that we wanted to deal with Drakeo that we didn't deal with other artists, 'cause we knew that Drakeo wasn't gonna go for certain shit or do certain shit.

Andrews-Duve: What was that way?

Kimbro: I'm very bullish. That's why we have the bull in the R. Baron logo. It's the bullish mark. You ever seen the Wall Street bull?

Andrews-Duve: Yep.

Kimbro: It's the Wall Street bull, it's the charging bull, it's all that. So, I'm kinda like that. That can be very offensive to certain people. Drakeo—and Greedo—is definitely not somebody who want somebody bullish and somebody talking to them a certain way. And Picaso, who he is as a person, he's mellow. We're like a yin and yang. So P is mellow and he's more of an artist advocate.

Andrews-Duve: Making you more of a…

Kimbro: I'm not necessarily an artist advocate. I used to be an artist advocate, so much so that dealing with artists really fucked me up a little bit to where I don't want to go through certain things with artists again. So I've switched to becoming more of a producer advocate. I'm Ron-Ron's advocate. So, P with Greedo, Drakeo, Stinc Team, all of them, he's like an extension of them dudes. And when we have disagreements or whatever we have, it's usually ‘cause I'm thinking in a sense of the business structure and P is thinking about the artists. So we compliment each other extremely good, it's a great balance.

Andrews-Duve: It's unique to hear you say you're not an artist advocate. But I remember you telling me a while back about producers essentially being where the money is.

Kimbro: That's it. I just had this discussion before I got over here. You can literally break Pharrell's career down. Pharrell at 25 with Noreaga, Pharrell at 30 with N.E.R.D. You can break it down. Then, you can say Pharrell at 35 when...he was Skateboard P, then you can look at Pharrell at 40 when he did "Happy." Those are vastly different periods. The rappers that he was dealing with didn't even have that longevity. Snoop is not relevant as a rapper, he's relevant as the cultural icon and godfather of the West Coast. The Clipse are the fathers of the coke rap, they're not popping rappers. You understand what I'm saying? He lasted longer than the artists that he produced for. That says a lot.

Andrews-Duve: You could argue that a lot of comparable producers haven't matched his staying power either.

Kimbro: Timbaland did it, but he didn't do it with the finesse of Pharrell. Yeah he's very rich and everything, but Timbaland also wanted to be an artist most of his career and he fought with that. Ron-Ron wants to be an artist in the sense of DJ Khaled.

Andrews-Duve: A curator.

Kimbro: In the truest sense of the word. Because I feel like everybody your generation and younger [writer's note: I'm 21], that's all y'all are. So you listen to music that's given to you so you pick up on that and move to the next thing. That's all it is. So I feel like without Ron-Ron we wouldn't have Shoreline. We wouldn't have an intimate relationship with Greedo, who is able to work with Ron-Ron and able to express himself as the creative genius he is. All those things center around Ron-Ron being open to seeing everything and working with everybody.

Andrews-Duve: Could you describe R. Baron for those who don't know?

Kimbro: I would say we are a management, production company, and marketing brand. So we manage Shoreline Mafia, Drakeo, the Stinc Team, Ron-Ron, ManMan Savage. Then, as far as being Creative Directors or A&R, we do that for Greedo, we do that for Ron-Ron, a little bit for Maxo (Kream)...As far as marketing, we assist all the artists that we work with with marketing. So it's a three-step thing that we do. The focus was never on R. Baron last year, it was on what R. Baron presented to the industry. Drakeo, Shoreline, Ron-Ron, Greedo, Picaso working with Maxo—all these things are things we have something to do with.

Andrews-Duve: It was about building the artists up before y'all came out to introduce the company.

Kimbro: It ain't about us. Me and Picaso are here. It's about the artists. So any artists that don't want they manager or CEO dancing all in the videos [laughs]...come over to R. Baron!

Andrews-Duve: How do you feel the game has changed for independent labels like yours to be successful?

Kimbro: I look at it like this. The people I respect that know how to run the game are Top Dawg. Top Dawg don't take no shit, he runs his operations with his family and they're winning awards, they're doing everything. I wanted to create an opportunity that was based on aspirational hip-hop. That's what I grew up on. See I grew up on Big Daddy Kane, EPMB, NWA, they all sold an image that I wanted to aspire to. Say Picaso grew up on Jay-Z, Ruff Ryders, Biggie...

Picaso:...Clipse, Dipset, Beanie Siegel.

Kimbro: Beanie. They all had something that the listener wanted to be a part of, you feel me? I feel like that's all aspirational, and I think we've lacked that for a long time. I don't know if a lot of people out here wanted to be certain rappers. They wanted to listen to certain music and say their slang, but the aspirational thing was gone. I feel like Shoreline...I've seen little kids that wanna be Ohgeesy. I've seen rappers try to rap like Drakeo, I've seen niggas dick ride Greedo, I've seen niggas try to make beats like Ron-Ron. That's all aspirational. We're here for that, we're the business for that, that's a new business mind.

Also, this is facts too: we're signing some of the biggest deals ever done on the West Coast ever. Ever done. We not lying, bro. That's facts.

Andrews-Duve: Greedo and Shoreline just to name a couple.

Kimbro: Greedo got signed and he was with us, but Greedo is Golden Grenade. So Greedo and my nigga Runch created that. And I want that to be for the record. I feel like I was fortunate enough to hook them up with situations that made sense to them for their passions and their business. I say the biggest we've done as R. Baron, you have to look at Shoreline. That's over a million dollar deal. Most of these rappers signed, they didn't sign for big money at first, and they got their own money. Shoutout to them but they didn't sign for what we signed for. And Drakeo's deal is not announced. Drakeo got some shit. Game-changing.

Picaso: My mom had a record player at the crib and she would have everything from The Police down to like Run DMC to Snoop's first album and all that kind of shit. When I was a kid coming up, I always loved the radio. My mom worked like 12 to 16 hours a day, so when I left, she would be gone and when I'd come home she wouldn't be there until the night time. So what I would do is I would do is I would make tapes, I would listen to radio shows like Julio G, Friday Night Flavas, and The Wake Up Show and I would record all the underground music on one side and put my favorite songs on another tape.

At this same time, I'm watching Rap City. When Big Lez and Joe was on there—not no Big Tigger basement shit [laughs]—back when they had to go to locations nigga, there was no set location. I would film all them shits, I would buy The Source magazine, I would look for the clothes. There was a clothing store that was infamous to me in my past called New York Looks, it was inside the Fox Hills Mall run by a Jamaican nigga named Smurf who, everything that came out of New York, he would have it in LA at the exact same time. So, me growing up and being engulfed by all that culture is what made my taste in rap.

Also, I lived in an apartment complex, and below me were two Filipino kids who were underground hip-hop DJs, they worked at Fat Beats. They would leave their garage door open when they would leave for work, so they would let me practice on the turntables. So I'm going through records, listening to Showbiz and A.G.'s first EP, listening to Krondon, Pharcyde, Raz Kass, I'm listening to all that shit. I took a liking to East Coast hip-hop, but I loved underground West Coast hip-hop as well. I was listening to all kinds of shit. So really middle school is where my love for rap took off fully. And then into high school is when I actually started as an artist myself and started a crew. And really, between 8th grade and 12th grade that shit took over my brain. It had already taken over my brain but it really took over at that time.

Andrews-Duve: What waves were you on back then?

Picaso: Roc-A-Fella's my favorite wave ever in the history of music. That's what I like. The Clipse wave, the Dipset, Roc-A-Fella, State Property Wave, and then the DMX, Lox wave. All that shit kind of got my taste into what I am now. Like I do things knowing that it reminds me of that. And Wu-Tang too, I can never forget Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang was definitely big.

Kimbro: Peace to RZA!

Andrews-Duve: Greedo has that line on "Trendset" where he says "Drummer Gang lookin' just like Dipset." Do you see some similarities with those waves and what's happening right now with the Stinc Team, Drummer Gang, Shoreline, and them?

Picaso: When I have somebody like the Stinc Team, you think of Dipset 'cause of the jewelry and you think of Wu-Tang because everybody's got a different style. You can think Dipset and Wu-Tang mixed together because Drakeo is reminiscent of Cam'Ron to me

And he's reminiscent of 50 Cent—oh, don't forget the G-Unit era either that was a big era too. Mixtape era: Kay Slay, Alpo mixtape, the Paid in Full movie, all that shit. Belly fucked my life over when I was in 8th grade, City of God, all that shit. Supreme store opening in LA in 2003, that fucked me over, I was in there early. Skateboarding, all that shit.

Andrews-Duve: It's funny because you're talking about a time when everything was very coastal, now we're at a point where even though that's still kind of there, sounds that used to be competing can coexist.

Kimbro: Right. As a collective memory.

Andrews-Duve: Right. How does that affect your business approach?

Kimbro: I would say that if you put all those things together, the one thing I feel that you have is the culture of hip-hop. With us, we're able to translate that in business. So you got somebody that goes to jail, you got somebody that's Black who speaks in certain code—Drakeo speaks in code. But you got somebody like Greedo that's in certain situations. Or you have the Stinc Team, even their name is a code. Most people don't even know what it means, they just say Stinc Team. Or you have somebody like Ketchy (The Great) from the Stinc Team, who is in jail right now. Or you have Shoreline Mafia, who is...I don't wanna say dangerous, but they're definitely not as cookie-cutter as people think they are. They will fuck you up, man. And when people get them isolated or see things, they are going to realize how it is.

Take that approach to hip-hop. We just signed our first Southern artist, ManMan Savage. No matter where it's at, to me it's about the culture. ManMan was in jail all of 2017, but he had the buzz before. We'd go to record labels and they'd be like, 'You got ManMan!' DJ Phat hit me up, saying the same thing. I think it gives us credibility.

Labels aren't supposed to translate the culture, they don't understand it. They just put it out. The bank ain't gonna understand what you put in your house, they just gonna give you a mortgage. That's how they are. And you make good partners with good people.

Andrews-Duve: Who are some people you've connected with and trusted on that end?

Kimbro: I think Max Lousada at Warner Bros. is a great person for the culture. He understands it. He understands music and he understands commerce. I feel like our job is to bring people like Max or Monte and Avery Lipman at Universal Republic, or great A&Rs like Zeke Hirschberg (300 Entertainment), label presidents like Todd Moscowitz (300), Steven Victor over at Def Jam, Caitlin (Def Jam), and Julian at Universal. These are really good people, bro. And they've really stood in the trenches. And I'm tripping man...Austin Rice, he doesn't get a lot of the credit he deserves at Atlantic, man. Shout out to Austin. For a fact, Shoreline Mafia would not be at Atlantic if it was not for Austin Rice. That's a fact.

These are people that Picaso or myself have talked to for hours about the culture. Shit that I would talk to you about, I talk to them about, and they understand it. Maybe to levels that I never could understand it as a participant in this degree of intimacy with it.

Andrews-Duve: When did your participation with it begin?

Kimbro: I'm from a different generation than P. I grew up in the '80s in the South then I moved up North, so you gotta realize I grew up listening to regional New York rap. This is hard for people y'all age to understand, but at one time all rap came from New York. That was it. Whatever happened in the boroughs, that's what happened, and the original rappers in your town, they tried to translate what happened in their burrows to your town. Where I lived at down south, my brother brought hip-hop down there. I don't know what they was doing before, but my brother was definitely the first person breakdancing, rapping, living the culture. And then my OG was the first person from that breakdancing, hip-hop culture that I can personally say was involved in street shit. I know this for a fact. So like, when everybody else would go home and do that, he would look at me and be like, 'We need to go get some money.' I'd be like, 'You goddamn right.'

So, him and my other older brother, they were more of the street people and they influenced me at a very young age to understand that hip-hop is something you do, but the streets are something you do to get money. I'm just being real. I was kind of warped in that sense where I feel like, by the time we got to New York—we had been in New York since the late '80s—it was...not like a fantasy, but it was surreal to us because we don't come from that...Like rappers would be standing in front of record labels and doing certain shit and I'd tell my brother, I'm not standing out in front of Atlantic, I'm not freestyling for anybody, I'm not doing none of that shit. We would do shit for ourselves. It was always driven by who we were. And I'm from that part of the culture to where there was no such thing as a line for a shoe. Man, we ran up in old stores and we made stores hot. Man I'm from the generation where everybody stole something or robbed something or sold drugs.

Picaso: Not gonna lie I'm from the generation of boosting for sure [laughs].

Kimbro: This influences us and the way that we do business because a label can't talk to me or deal with me the way they would somebody else because we don't look at the labels like that. I look at them for what they were. Like, I remember Guru, I remember Freddie Fox, I remember Redman smacking the shit out of these [execs]...I'm talking about open-hand smack to where they knock you down to the ground. I remember that, and it wasn't out of the norm. That was the norm in hip-hop at that time. And that's why white people were scared of it, because anything could happen.

And then, in the generation you guys were talking about, the late '90s, early 2000s. One of the greatest equalizers was TRL (MTV's Total Request Live). People don't give enough credit to it.

Picaso: No people don't give enough credit to TRL fasho.

Kimbro: TRL was amazing. Every 3:00 or 3:30, Carson Daly—everybody would get to see it. And you had every superstar. Every label was vying to get their artist on TRL, it was super important.

Picaso: TRL, MTV's Diary, very important. And...And-1 mixtapes with Skip To My Lou and Hot Sauce, bitch!

Kimbro: So all them things collectively give us the insight and a depth that we can pick people, based on all of that. We're saying that from love, we not saying that from malice. Not like 'Fuck that shit...Fuck TRL!,' we not saying that. We're saying it from a fond place of great memories, of great music, great culture that we replicate. So R. Baron to me, before you can make it this big thing and everybody sees it, you gotta put that work in.

Andrews-Duve: Wanna add to that?

Kimbro: Personally, and I'm the oldest person at this table, I really don't feel like there's too much music. I have a daughter that's nine, I don't feel like there's too much music, I feel like the way that people do music and go through music is so quick now. But I do feel like what Picaso said, you have to have something that stands out. And it's very hard to be a standout artist. You were born and raised in LA, you tell me what was standing out before we met.

Andrews-Duve: Hm. YG, Kendrick...

Kimbro: That's it.

Picaso: Odd Future.

Kimbro: Shout out to Odd Future, shout out to YG, shout out to Kendrick. I feel like anything that sticks out is because it creates its own thing, and our guys are creating their own thing. I don't have a template. I'm not here for that, I'm just here to make sure that I translate the business. Shoreline is nothing like these other [artists]. Shoreline does not record like Greedo, bro. OhGeesy is very methodical in how he records, he's not gonna do 100 or 15 songs in a night—he ain't gonna do that. And then Drakeo is not gonna go to a producer that everybody else might go to. They all think and operate differently. But the one thing that they do is stand out.

You said all of those guys—Kendrick, YG, everybody—they're not at one time in one camp. Like, as a management company we touch the whole industry. As a production company, we touch all our artists through Ron-Ron's production. But singularly, they have something that no one has. So, no, I don't think there's too much music. I don't even think it's too much bad music. I think kids are just going to gravitate towards what they do. I actually think it was more fake when I was growing up, to tell you the truth.

Andrews-Duve: What do you mean by that?

Kimbro: I feel like we were being programmed, because there was only a handful of people and a handful of labels and they're programming you, giving you the same thing over and over again. Nobody talks about that, either. The radio didn't just start playing 15 songs right now, my nigga. They been playing 15 songs for 30, 40 years. I can tell you that, I grew up with that.

Andrews-Duve: Only then there were less alternatives.

Kimbro: That's all I'm saying, you feel me? So I think people have a tendency to look back in hindsight and see things that are greater or more pleasing maybe than they were. Do you remember when you had to physically count albums being sold? There was a bunch of scams called buybacks, where labels would buy records, bro. We don't really have none of that shit to this day. We still got shit but not to that level, bro.

Andrews-Duve: Part of that is nobody buying CD's, but even the digital can be manipulated.

Kimbro: So if you look at how we make our money, we make our money off of streams and shows and merch. You can't manipulate merch, can't manipulate shows, and the digital, to a certain degree, we put out records independently. So we put out records through a distributing foundation, and they pay us to put them records out. It just makes sense, bro. Like right now in the music business I feel like a lot of people are followers and they're observers. I'm a disruptor, he's [Picaso's] a disruptor and we disrupt based on hip-hop culture.

A lot of people don't even know that hip-hop was created in south Bronx. I asked my daughter when she was five years old, 'Where did rap come from?' and she told me, 'Atlanta.' That's all she knew, rap has been from Atlanta all her life. She'll be 10 and that's all she knows...But it wasn't, rap is a subculture that comes from the south Bronx that was created because they wouldn't give niggas instruments in school. 'Cause niggas had nothing and we made something out of nothing. And even bigger than that, rap is just a reiteration of Black culture: something out of nothing, man. We always do that. We always make something out of nothing, bro. You don't give us instruments? We gonna use turntables. You don't give us turntables? Niggas gonna freestyle.

You can go back into the '50s, before there was rap. My dad and 'em they used to sing Doo-wop, bro...on the corners, five gangbangers singing to one bitch. And the nigga that got the bitch is the nigga that had the highest voice. They had their own codes to it...I remember my uncle and pops told me when I was younger and I was like, 'That shit sound crazy.' But that was the world they were in when they were kids, that's how important it was to them. So, each generation has its own standards, I just try to stay within the standards of that.

Andrews-Duve: So what is R. Baron offering to this new generation?

Kimbro: The greatest thing that I feel like R. Baron adds, not only to West Coast music, but to rap music period is that we're translators. I feel like the Shoreline deal shows what we can do, that's our first deal. I think the Ron-Ron deal will show what we can do. The [Shoreline] deal with Atlantic is a game-changer. Shout out to Craig Kallman, shout out to him and Austin, shout out to my nigga Orlando. Shout out to everybody that believed in the vision and showed up to the party. Shout out to Tom Corson who, at Warner Bros., started that conversation.

So that's us, that's the legacy that we living man. I feel like, when we leave it, people just gonna pick up on it, because I'm nothing without Eazy, I'm nothing without Fly Ty. I remember Fly Ty, I remember when he got that money from Cold Chillin' Warner Bros. I remember seeing Suge and them, I seen that shit, bro. I remember when Mack 10 and them had money. I remember everything that happened in the last 25 to 30 years of rap, and I remember who was in control. I was here and I plan to be here and do business from the artist end. It's so important.

The legacy that we have right now, the top soundtrack is Black Panther, that's from a kid from Compton and a CEO from Watts, you can't make this up—Watts nigga and a Compton nigga, they running the world. And probably some would say the best song is by SOBxRBE. Sound like California to me. I know for a fact that we put a resurgence on it from this point. I met you at fucking Vice, bro. I met you up there doing work with Vice. And they [Noisey] responded to us because Tyler (Benz) and Justin (Staple)understood the music. It wasn't because they was doing this, this, and that...they the homies, but it's about the music, and we know that the music is gonna do it. We just following a great tradition.

Andrews-Duve: Where would you pinpoint the start of this resurgence?

Kimbro: As far as the industry, I would say the Jeff Weiss show [at The Echo] in August. It was us, Vic from Rosecrans…

Andrews-Duve: Greedo was there.

Kimbro: Greedo was there, the Stinc Team, Natia was there, Gusto Leimert was there shout out to Gusto.

Picaso: Desto Dubb...Frosty came in and went out.

Kimbro: Yeah. That show was very pivotal I think because Jeff is so important.

Picaso: That show and then the article he did on Greedo...before the LA Weekly piece [R.I.P.], the Passion of the Weiss piece where he compared Greedo to Kodak Black and Lil Boosie. That was the very first thing that started it. Literally the first thing. Him being a Drakeo fan, too.

Kimbro: Then labels started calling. Then, by November I was in New York. January I was in New York, signing deals last month.

Picaso: Jeff Weiss' dialogue and documentation of the culture is a very big part of what got us to this point.

Kimbro: Facts. And I tell him that, I always say 'Jeff knows.' So we're on Pitchfork, we're on Fader, we're on a lot of critical things and that's why I said I feel like we've been able to kind of play an angle and the reemergence is I think kids are now critics and the kids. And we feeding them that now. Like that is a resurgence. I also feel like as R. Baron as a management group having all these groups around us. I feel like us being able to understand every group, right now we got at least two people working under two different label systems, us doing creative direction for Greedo, Alamo and helping with A&R and then us doing management for Shoreline at Atlantic, it's crazy man.

Like Shoreline is in Vancouver, Canada right now as we speak. Greedo does his promo line for his album in a couple of days. And it's like wow, we came up with all that...in the sense of business, no other sense. They created the music, bro we had nothing to do with that. But the business, that's so important, man, like people don't know.

I had an artist tell me today, he said, 'I never had anybody fight for me or be as passionate as you are with your artists.' And what that is is giving a voice to the voiceless. It's important to know that, when we step into a building, we are on a cause. It's like, we needa get this bread, and how we could do it is, 'This the first offer? nah let's go back...this the second offer? that's that.' That's all it was is good negotiation. And now we have a lot of other people, you don't have to negotiate as much 'cause they could see it. Second, third, fourth deals are way easier...We got publishing people on us, we got label people on us, you 'bout to see us in a lot of movies, a lot of TV shows. The documentary is coming out: The Architects of the New LA Sound and we got a soundtrack with that. People hit me up with streaming right now, and they hit me up on different TV options as well. It's amazing bro.

Andrews-Duve: So fast, too.

Kimbro: I do wanna go over the timeline. Shoreline Mafia's on tour right now 'til March the 18th. Greedo's album came out March the 9th. Drakeo gets out of jail the last week of March, then he goes on tour in April. Shoreline and Drakeo play the Smoker's Club on April 28th and 29th. Greedo, Shoreline, and Drakeo gonna come out, they all do Rolling Loud on May the 13th. Atlantic Records re-releases ShorelineDoThatShit in late April or May. "Musty" is gonna be re-released as a single. Shoreline literally has about 11 hit singles bro that they got coming out...videos and singles.

Andrews-Duve: All unreleased?

Kimbro: Unreleased and already out. Videos that have never been seen.

Andrews-Duve: There are about four or five already on ShorelineDoThatShit.

Kimbro: Yeah at least four or five. And then when you include other songs, it's like 11 songs. They're gonna keep the kids busy. Drakeo has five mixtapes coming out when he gets out jail, we not even talking about an album. Five mixtapes including one with his brother (Ralfy the Plug).

Andrews-Duve: So what's the legacy y'all hope to leave?

Kimbro: Good business, adding something to the culture. I come from another culture outside of hip-hop. I come from Islam. So Islam is a different culture than a religion in America, it's a different culture, you know what I mean? I just know that everything is based down to an energy. We call it the science of life—it's energy. So if you're dealing with the science of life…my energy is to always make authentic music that reflects something. And I always understand the dominance of certain things in a higher form of society versus things in the lower. Hip-hop came from the very bottom, it's hard to understand that now. We came in here today talking about Rollies and shit like that, but we could also talk about being broke. Both of our fathers are junkies. We could also talk about both of our moms working all our lives, we both latchkey kids. We could talk about that. But what the fuck is that gonna do? To the next latchkey kid, I want them to feel like they can do anything.

That's why I said the music is aspirational. So when you see me in a big car or you see P driving something, you can get it. You supposed to have better than us. You supposed to have four or five different artists you're dealing with, you're supposed to have everything. And that's what's missing. Man, I come from a generation...you gotta remember, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, these niggas almost 50 years old. I literally watched Busta Rhymes fall off a stage, that was one of the most terrible days of my life. I remember Busta Rhymes at 21 as a ferocious rhyme animal, Busta Rhymes The Mighty Infamous. I remember Busta Rhymes as a kid, skinny with dreads, then I seen him fall off the stage sloppy as a fat old man. Then I seen Jay-Z who was leading as a peer, who dropped a very grown album last year, very grown, very adult. But I saw a lot of our contemporaries still try to be young, they didn't wanna be elders. Like, there was niggas that was 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, they was like 'nah, we wanna put out a new album, fuck that.' They try to act like they wasn't around.

So my legacy is to embrace all that could happen with everything that's going on right now, 'cause it's cyclical homie. And to get mentorship. Shout out Quincy Jones, we need to talk to you, man. I need to talk to L.A. Reid, I need to talk to Clarence Avant; I respect the shit out of Clarence Avant, I respect the shit out of Doug Morris. I respect Birdman and Slim, I don't have nothing to do with Lil Wayne, I don't judge no man house or anything like that. I don't know what goes on. But I know man, they came from nothing and they made more money than Def Jam, more money than Interscope, more money than anybody, and they still around and they still the presidents of the label. So that's somebody I can gain from.

We not arrogant in that sense, but I am to you scumbag sons of a bitches and them other people in LA that's under us, I don't have no love. 'Cause nobody gave us love when we was on the come up. I got love for the artists, I got very little love for my competitors or other people that was doing business, because in the last two to three years, outside of those people that you named that were standouts—the YGs or the Kendricks or the Odd Futures—what were the rest of y'all niggas doing? What was y'all doing? You weren't doing nothing, you feel me? A bunch of bullshit. So we not there. Our legacy is: good business, contributing to the culture, and making stars, that's what I say. What you say, P?

Picaso: I had a Porsche before the deal and I been wearing Louis Vuitton and Fendi for a very long time.

Andrews-Duve: Any last thoughts?

Passion of the Weiss

, CONTRIBUTORWe're here to cover the intersection of rap, business, and Benjamins.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

POST WRITTEN BY

Myles Andrews-Duve

Myles Andrews-Duve is technically a media studies major at UC Riverside but he really studies the ins and outs of the LA rap scene.

Continued from page 18

Picaso: Free Ketchy! Can you put that in there, please? Free Ketchy the Great. Free Ketchy the Great.

Kimbro: Free Drakeo, he's coming home.

Picaso: He's coming home. Free Ketchy the Great.

Kimbro: R.I.P to my little homie, we call him little Kevin, R.I.P. man I love you, man. Out south for life, you'll never die homie.

[ohleebearjourney]

BM 2017

I need to put it down in writing now before it all dissipates in my mind. It’s been a very long while since I’ve had this moment, after an experience, where I had sat down and just went “wow”. I could not even wrap my head around the reality that I had just experienced. 

Friday (August 25th):

I went to Allan’s place with my belongings and my bike. I had no idea how the fuck everything is supposed to fit in a $300 MVP. I still had my hesitations on going, and even further hesitations on Allan given his unkempt scruffiness and even worse garage. I didn’t understand how this guy could take me to the Burn. I told myself to have faith in Clive. We had a phone conversation about the Burn, a bit of what to expect, Jessica Tan and a bit of Allan right before I got to Allan’s place. Afterward I got to Allan’s, we discussed logistics and what time he should expect me to come to his place. I tested out my camera one last time and had packed the last few things that I needed to put in my belongings. Definitely needed a smoke this night before I went to bed so I can sleep as uninterrupted as possible.

Saturday (August 26th)

I woke up and started packing the rest of my shit into the China camelpak. I started loading my food into a freezer pack/box and got super antsy. My brother wasn’t waking up to drive me and I had even looked up Lyft prices to see how long it’ll take me. Okay, he wakes up and then proceeds to take forever. I get a bit annoyed and impatient. We left around 9AM when originally we had said let’s go at 7. I am two hours late. I am never fucking late. We got to Allan’s place around 9:30. I see that Allan had shaved his head. What the fuck. Okay, whatever, good sign that he’s thinking ahead on that front with hygiene (lucky bastard). We started figuring out logistics and placed the food away in his fridge as much as we can and we were figuring out logistics for ice, which freezer need dry ice. Bought about 100 lb dry ice and 40 lb ice. Went to Stater Bros for food, and then Hong Kong Supermarket for more food (Asian). Went back to Allan’s and started packing everything and everything. I started clearing out all the shit that’s in the front of his car. Whole process takes 1-2 hours. Shit, we’re definitely behind schedule. As we left Allan’s, I had this sense of “holy shit what the fuck this is really happening” coming in at full force. We got on the road. Fuck the AA batteries, texting Clive and asking him to get it since we’re way behind schedule. We get stuck on 60 traffic, yay. Started talking about cars and Allan questions how I got into cars. Drives by my place towards the 60, and then we hopped on the 15. Definitely just had a long ass conversation about cars and about our life the whole way until we made a pit stop at Wendy’s/Pilot to eat. Some lady and man talked about poisonous mushrooms in the gas station and both Allan and I gave each other a fucking “did you just hear that?!” look. Lol. Okay. This is gonna be a fun ride to the Burn. We took off onto highway 395 and rest of the way just bantered about our lives, about others, and then found that we had huge parallels in our lives like the power of Christ compels you type of way. We had also passed along the way where Allan had McGuyvered his MVP last time that he had been stranded. Along the way on highway 395, there was a sign that said “free weed” and we fucking lost it. And before the house, we saw this shady dude walking on the side of the road and I remember Allan saying “That’s it. That’s from him right there.” But we really did fucking pass this house that is painted in marijuana leaves and free weed covering and oh boy. What the hell? Lol. Time passes and the sun is setting. We passed by Manzanar and had mentioned that maybe we should go and check it out when we come back. The roads are getting colder and the elevation is getting higher. The MVP is definitely not made for mountains, but it was doing the best that it could. As we were going towards the road to Mammoth Mountain, we were running low on gas. We had made it to this random gas station stop at 395 to refill a bit before trekking. The gas light had already been on for miles. Pretty thankful that we found that weird ol’ nobody’s here gas station. We continued along the way. We stopped at the next gas station at Chevron. I had asked Allan if he would like me to drive since he’s been driving for 10+ hours now, and he says no he can keep going because marines. Okay, fair enough. Bought a ton of cigarettes and Allan keeps trucking on. We pass by this Walmart and decided to stop there before the Reno one since that would have been a long wait. Glad we stopped by this one. Got the propane tank and other last minute items and went along the way. Both of us realized we forgot one thing that we had mentioned down the road, and we just said fuck it - probably not important. We left and went along the way. I had been dozing off a bit at this point but tried to keep the conversation going so Allan won’t fall asleep. Yeah that didn’t last. I woke up at Reno Walmart so we can grab some McDonalds. Walked in and it was a chaotic line. McDonalds was closed. Noped the fuck out of there and went to a drive thru McDonalds. Allan drove rest of the way and I had just been dozing off, thinking I am keeping Allan company. Got to the road that stretches three towns into Burning Man and I am fucking nodding off like crazy. I remember when we got to the stretch of the road where reception was getting spotty, we were in front of a school bus from Canada. In this school bus were decks of bunk beds that were sprawled out from right and left. I saw a foot and thought it was something else for a second. Reception came and the last thing I could read on Facebook was our camp location. Sick. Allan received a text from Jodie as well on confirmation. Awesome. At some point here, I definitely dosed off but I had remember noticing the different side vendors in the little towns that we passed. Thought it was just strange to go into a world where currency is void and here we are, seeing people spend money on things that they should already have prepared for. 

Sunday (August 27th) 

We arrived at Exodus area at around 4AM-ish and roads were hell-ish and bumpy. You have to go 10mph otherwise a cop will just be right on your tail as soon as you go over speed limit. It was kind of intense. We somehow made it and turned off the car, since it was no longer moving. I had dosed off again and again and again. Each time that I dosed off, I had thought that I was having a conversation with Allan so my mind was definitely disoriented. When I woke up, I remember that a white girl was standing next to Allan’s side door and I was very disoriented and had my guard up full force. What the fuck does this bitch want? She then greets us and says good morning and says it in the most genuine, sweetest voice that I’ve heard in awhile. I look around and realize that the sun had risen, and it seemed like an angel had just woken me up. I looked around. Allan looks at me with this “Are you okay?” look. I was so disoriented because I thought I was already speaking to Allan but it was what my mind was making up as I was dreaming. I took a hard look and Allan got out his car to smoke and chat with people. I felt really self conscious because I realized I had been wearing my Foo Fighters shirt, and something about logos and decommodification made me a bit worried. I worked up a bit of my courage to say fuck it! Got out my Playa coat from the back and wore it to cover it up. Looked out at the sunrise and it was fucking beautiful. I had looked around and there were all smiles, so I smiled back. It felt really nice. I think at that moment, I had a bit of a realization that I have been so fucking grumpy lately, this is my vacation and I should make the best of it. I was still feeling a bit in my shell though, so I was just observing Allan making some banter with these two girls with a Ford Fusion. I decided to jump back in the car and start the engine since the line was kind of moving at this point, inch by inch. Decided to drive it out a little bit and I felt a bit confused with the shifting for a bit, since you know, 2017 car vs 1990s van. We got to nearly the front and Allan took back over the driver’s side. Tickets scanned and the guy looks into our trunk and just asks “are there stowaways ejirjoejsfjso fireworks etc in here?” No sir. Okay, you may pass. Cool. And since the lines were backed up, I wasn’t able to do the initiation as a virgin burner, but it’s totally fine. We got in and the line from exodus to the main road was fucking long. We passed by a few camps and there was a camp called camp half-chub, which Allan was in hysterics. Got to our campsite finally and I started to introduce myself to everyone. There was one asshole in particular that I introduced myself to and his second sentence that he says to me was mouthing “I want to fuck you” but I was playing dumb and saying uhh okay, I don’t understand. And he blatantly says it, and I just totally rejected it. I didn’t want to cause a scene since it is literally the first hour upon arrival AND the car ride was near 24 hours. I proceeded to just shrug it off and help build the set up for the dome. The Chinese, who got their camp set up half ready already, were blasting mandarin pop music and I went over to Allan at one point to say “I thought we had left the 626 man.” I sat down a little bit near the car with Jodie, Nick and Nico after my introductions to banter and chat with them so we can get a bit acquainted. Got back to working on the dome thereafter because I was really ready to contribute to the camp. Helped lay out a bit of the dome after screwing in the planks. I decided to go to the restroom, so I went on a walk to the restroom. After that, I decided fuck it - I’m going to explore. I wanted to find the Daruma for whatever reason, and then I ended up in the middle of Playa with no water. Dumb mistake, I know. But I met these two French guys and this elder woman who were building their art. We had talked a bit and conversed a bit in some French and they gave me a hell of a lot of water. I went back and they were still trying to figure out the dome. Allan joked that he thought I’m already lost. We built the wedding canopy after for the shade structure at around noontime. After that, Nico built his tent that he had purchased from an old school hippie (which, if I recall correctly, was a VW old school tent), and Scott + Jenny built their tent in the same shade structure area. Nick, Allan and I started building the carport at around sun down. I felt like I had not been much help at all because my strength just started depleting. Jodie and Allan had some disagreements on the carport structure, but it all worked out in the end. Nick and Jodie decided to just stay in the trailer and Allan and I separately had our own tents in the carport. I definitely wanted my own tent because I wanted my personal space. Built our tents inside the carport, and in between that had a Shin Ramen cup and I made one for Allan as well. Got Allan some gatorade powdered water, and he was really tired by then (of course, he didn’t sleep for an entire day). I decided I wanted to go out and check out the city myself, so I got on my bike that was unloaded before sun down, and started to go exploring. My first impression of everything? Well, I got lost at first. I was a bit of a darkwad. I only had my headlights with me. At first, I wanted to go to 5:30 & E to find Janet, Viv and Bob, but my route took another turn. At this point, I actually had no idea where I was going, but I was going towards the 2:00 section on J and decided to take streets down. I somehow landed towards 5:30 but I couldn’t see clearly where Eulogy must have been. I somehow ended up on the Esplanade and was so taken aback by everything in a good way, but was SO CONFUSED. There was so many LED lights, music, bass bumping, a ton of bikes, and I was just like WHAT IN THE HELL. I looked around to find out where I can park my bike and maybe do a bit of exploring inside. I walked into the center camp, and took a look at some of the art. The middle section had some naked people doing acroyoga. Cool. Apparently the center camp had drinks, so I decided to buy an iced mocha since I was lacking caffeine and was afraid of getting a headache from the lack of the next morning. Had a conversation with the person manning the line and went to buy a mocha. Gave a dollar tip, and proceeded to look around more at the art. I saw this art piece that invited you to write down something that you wanted to wish for, but instead of that, I had written something else. It was for him. I wrote down that I wish that I can find healing in what happened between us and to find closure. I took a picture of it with my makeshift go-pro (which stupidly didn’t capture), and decided to leave. I went back on my bike and did a bit more exploring. I was so lost my first day, and I decided to just go back to camp and call it a night. I was really tired from the whole entire day, and I didn’t think that I have had enough food or water to sustain much more energy. I went back to my tent, where I had a deflated air mattress because it wouldn’t pump air. Fuck it, I’m just going to sleep in the sleeping bag. To Be Continued.

[shakesonaplane]

Beginner’s Guide to some Balearic Islands

¡Hola Compadres! This summer has been a bit of a whirlwind of travel for me, without much stopping in London aside from a random few days to change out clothes / suitcases before hitting up another London airport. I guess this is what life is like your first summer in Europe, a whirlwind of opportunity that you feel obligated to seize…though to be honest I am very much looking forward to a few weeks break in the hectic travel schedule to make my life in London feel a bit more like home.

A little geography lesson for you all, bc I definitely had to look these up

But enough of that, the real reason for this post is my first venture to the Balearic Islands, or, more commonly, the Spanish Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca/Majorca and Menorca. My consistent travel buddy Rohan is a fierce fan of Craig David and early in my London tenure noted that Señor David was starting his beach party series at Ibiza Rocks Hotel starting July 20th. So, naturally, he and I bought tickets to the show and to Ibiza, booked a rag-tag hotel nearby and said off we go! Warning, this post may be a bit long, but it’s amazing what you can do in such a short time on these islands.

We were twinning a little too hard on our day of travel

Let me start by saying this: I have nothing against über party experiences when I travel. That said, there’s something about the riffraff style of some British travelers that remind me of Aussies when I visited Kuta Beach in Bali: suffice it to say the experience was less-than-endearing to witness. Roro (as I’ve taken to affectionately calling him without his knowledge) and I grabbed a hotel nearby the concert out of convenience, and as a result I’ll give you one of my rare line-in-the-sand travel advisements: don’t do that. The area of San Antoni in Ibiza is geared for the British tourist and attracts the sort of crowd that brings out my older, cardigan-wearing alter ego in a huff (get off my playa). Whilst the area is beautiful to behold, with amazing sunsets, the overall take on the town for both of us was, “ok, next time we’ll stay on the other side”. If you’re coming to Ibiza, I highly recommend a different area to stay.

Just a couple of bros watching a beautiful sunset in Ibiza

The concert we saw was the highlight of my Ibiza experience. Given we’d flown almost specifically for it, we got situated as close to the stage as possible. A few drinks, a few DJs, a few selfies and two semi-successful hi-fives with Craig David later, we walked out on a new level. I haven’t regularly listened to his music my younger years, but I have to say, the man’s still got it. He energized the crowd, sang the favorites, mixed alongside some current hits and never skipped a beat the entire time. It’s safe to say that I’ve now subscribed a Craig David Spotify list entirely to reminisce on a pretty stellar pool party concert experience.

"Look out behind you!" we all pointed simultaneously

With a long day before our flight, Rohan and I ventured to a beach club called Blue Marlin on the south side of Ibiza for lunch and to relax. This had to be the best decision, outside of Craig David, that we made on this trip. The style of beach vacation I would shoot for would be adequately covered by a place like this: serene, comfortable but with a vibe, music, great food, good cocktails and (a rarity for this trip) exceedingly kind staff. The views on this side of the island were beautiful and mesmerizing and leave you with the desire to buy a yacht, sale around the Mediterranean and somehow lose any/all semblance of tan lines. If you’re ever in Ibiza and need something to do during a day, try out Blue Marlin and you absolutely won’t regret it.

The romance factor of our meals has only begun to increase by this point

With that, we left Ibiza and hopped a 30min flight to Mallorca / Majorca (still unsure which is the correct spelling). Mallorca is the biggest Balearic island, with a major city called Palma. And Mallorca was an example of what I came to Europe to explore. Let me start by saying you can easily spend an entire weekend in Palma and see a great deal of things. It’s a wonderful city that is quite large and has an insanely interesting history spanning several conquests, cultures and rulers. We didn’t do too much in Palma except eat, drink and explore the nightlife, so a return visit here would be very welcome. But, if you’re in Mallorca, spend some time here as you won’t regret it. As an amateur bartender, I was honestly floored by the food and drink I found in this city and have about 4-5 menus saved in my phone for a later date. Highest on my list were El Neo, a modern tapas gastrobar with an amazing menu, Chakra, an admittedly appropriated Indian-themed bar with amazing drinks and terrible Bollywood music videos, and Cuba Bar, the beautiful rooftop bar of a hotel overlooking the marina of Palma. 

Give me one of everything...with a glass of agua por favor

But Mallorca is not just Palma. What Mallorca really is lies along its many roads that encircle, cross and criss-cross the island. The wisest thing we did this whole journey was rent a car as it afforded us the luxury to venture up along the Ma-10 highway through the western coast of Mallorca, from Palma to Valldemossa to Sóller and everything in between. This drive is so much like HWY 1 in California and the Amalfi coast, with it’s constant turns and scenic vistas and hidden beaches. More often than not, whilst Rohan scanned the road, I was scanning the terrain around me wondering just how I ended up where I was doing this. I can’t count how many coves Mallorca has, but I feel like every wide turn into a new town showed another gorgeous place to hide away on holiday.

Objects in my camera lens are more scenic than they appear

A must-see stop on this route is Valldemossa, the small but gorgeous town tucked away inside the mountains of Mallorca. Valldemossa has a special place for locals as it’s where their patron saint (Santa Catalina Thomás) was born. With her festival fast approaching, the streets were decorated in her honor the town was abuzz with the celebration. Though we missed the week it landed on, I can only guess how interesting it would be to see this side of Spanish culture on their holiday. This town is small and can be traversed quickly in an hour or so, depending on your patience, but it was one of those places that struck me as remote yet beautifully linked to it’s people, almost like an old bastion of culture tucked away inside the Spanish hillside. Couple all this with how gorgeous Spanish people are, and I could easily see myself living a Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara life.

I might as well just make a postcard of this while I'm at it

As with all journeys, ours had to come to an end at some point. So, with our final Sunday we headed to another beach bar, because after all, we are on the islands right? At the recommendation of some SF friends I randomly ran into at Chakra (how’s that for a small world), we decided to forego an afternoon at the Magalouf (read: San Antoni of Mallorca) located Nikki Beach and instead tried our luck at Puro Illetas, a newer spot not too far from our hotel which had some great promise. Once again, as with Blue Marlin, this place lived up to it’s billing. As far as a quiet, scenic, trendy beach club goes, this was a wonderful end to our trip. I’d recommend it, but this was my first time in Mallorca so I’m sure there are about 20 other alcove spots I missed that are just as wonderful. 

That's my yacht over there! The one, on the water, that's floating, with, uh, a bow?

With that, we packed up and headed back to London. I would say I was sad to leave, but having been on the road for more than 2 weeks, I was actually relieved. Next up on my holiday schedule is a long stay in Mykonos, Greece with an old friend followed by some much needed routine R&R in London. As for the Balearic Islands, I have to say this was a great start. A lot of folks have told me to find time to visit Menorca so that is my next attempt whenever I head this direction (I’ve been told it’s the Kauai to the Oahu and Maui that are Mallorca and Ibiza). There’s just so much to see in Europe and not enough time, but I’m excited for the summer to end so that life can return to some semblance of normalcy before I flip it upside and try my hand at reindeer racing or something  

As a new thing, I’ll also post a link to my pictures of the trip. Have a look if you’re curious of all the antics we got up to aside from what was posted here (or if you fancy watching Craig David do his thing live)

Hasta Luego, Abhishek

[gizoogletranslateshomestuck]

[A6IZZLE5] ====>

DIZZAVE: all thizzay melodramatic sadbabble aside DAVE: Nigga get shut up or get wet up. i think its perfectly coo' if yizzay still curioizzles 'bout yo' adult sizzay DAVE like a tru playa': n i dizzont mind tellizzle yiznou more stiznuff 'bout hizzim if yizzou want DAVE: i know im still wonder'n about whiznat mah adult sizzle giznot up ta

DIRK straight from long beach nigga: Yeah. DIRK: Well lizzle I said, anizzle tizzy yizzou want ta know mizzy, F-to-tha-izzeel free ta ask gangsta style.

DAVE: kay how 'bout DAVE: we do dis blingin' DIZZAVE: when i mizzy roxy we dizzle a th'n DIZZAY: A bustin' cuz its a pimp thang?

DIZZLE: Relax, cus I'm bout to take my respect. yizzle

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE keep'n it real yo: its cizzle tha mobbin' round

DIZZLE: Thiznat dizzy S-to-tha-izzound like a Rizzle cruisin'. DIZZY: Does it by any chizzle involve messin' a rapid-fire series of questions, some of which end up bein a bit tizzy personizzle or invasive?

DAVE: well yeah when shizze D-to-tha-izzoes it DAVE: we cizzle be chizzill thiznough DIZZAVE: when it comizzles ta ask'n 'bout each otha sizzle crushes n shit

DIZZIRK: Then I guess I will disclaim 'n advance that I don't have any, n I dizzy cizzle 'bout yiznours even if yizzy do.

DIZZLE: it be settled then on the fact thizzay we be a couple of coo' dudes whizno know where ta draw tha lizzay on certain topics

DIRK fo all my homies in the pen: Coo'.

DIZZY: So how do we stiznart.

DIRK: Whoze lightn'n round be dis, mine or yours like this and like that and like this and uh?

DIZZY: it cizzle be yours go aheezee shoot

DIRK straight from long beach nigga: Ok. DIRK sho nuff: How... You gotta check dis shit out yo. DIRK: Did in tha hood... DIRK: He, um, DIRK: Come ta "adopt" you?

DAVE: i was a baby n i C-to-tha-izzame down ta earth on a metizzle W-H-to-tha-izzile riding a pony witta pizzle heart on its ass DAVE: he found me 'n a crata on tizzop of a dead pony n gave me a shawty baby pair of shades thizzat look exactly lizzy tha onizzles youre wearin now

DIRK: I see. DIZNIRK: So you decided ta ditch thoze shades fo` tha aviator glaszes?

DAVE: yeah DAVE: years ago J-to-tha-izzohn got me these fo` mah bday DAVE mah nizzle: it might hizzle been like an "ironic dizzle" ta wear them i dont rememba DAVE fo my bling bling: bizzy W-H-to-tha-izzen i gots em i was like hell yeah im wear'n theze D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: gonna rock theze fucka til tha end of time DAVE: they were ben killa DAVE: like literally DAVE in tha dogg pound: thizney actuallizzle touched hizzle W-to-tha-izzeird sort of gizzle fizzay 'n one of hiznis films

DIZZLE: Wait ya feelin' me? DIZNIRK: THA Stilla?

DAVE thats off tha hook yo: yizzy

DIZZIRK: Incredible. DIZZAY: Also, such a shizname what happened ta thizzay pizzy dawg.

DAVE: Wussup to all my niggaz in the house. wizzy what happened ta hizzim

DIRK: I can tiznell you when it yo' lightn'n riznound. DIRK: Or mine. Freak y'all, into the beat y'all. Cracka, know what im sayin? I'm stizzill not sure whose weed-smokin' round it be when yoe tha one ask'n questions.

DAVE: I'm a mutha fuckin 2-time felon. dunno ask roxy

DIRK: Ok and cant no hood fuck with death rizzow. Anywizzle, didn't M-to-tha-izzean ta interrizzle.

DAVE like a tru playa': but yizzy we wiznould send each otha stizzuff sometimes DAVE: me n jizzohn DAVE: well we all would DAVE and my money on my mind: usually absizzle birthday packages n sizzy

DIZNIRK: We dizzid that too. DIRK: Excizzle I had ta send th'n through tizzay. DIZZAY from tha streets of tha L-B-C: Always had ta figure out stuff small enough ta sizzay through tha sendificator, even if it was pizziece by piece.

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: funky ass DIZZLE: Put ya mutha fuckin choppers up if ya feel this. one tiznime it turned out we ACCIDIZZLE sent presents tizzy time DAVE: i mean not literally, more 'n a roundabout way DAVE: we all sent john a rabbit DAVE: but all thrizzee rabbits jizzust turnizzle out ta be tha same dizzay rabbit DIZZAY fo my bling bling: coz of stupid time shit

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: Freak y'all, into the beat y'all. Once I deliberately n quite literally sent a rabbit through time. Aint no L-I-M-I-to-tha-T. DIRK: It was a robot.

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: wow

DIRK: He was a loyizzle nigga ta Jane. I don't know what happened ta him thizzay.

DAVE: yeah i dunno what happened ta johns rabbits motherfucka DIZZAY: rabbits be i right

DIRK wit da big Bo$$ Dogg: I hizzay you, dawg.

DAVE: what next

DIRK: Hm. Relax, cus I'm bout to take my respect. DIRK: Yizzle sizzay he ownizzle Cizzay as wizzay?

DAVE cuz this is how we do it: yiznep

DIRK: Did he cizzay down to Earth on a meteor wit Cal too?

DIZZAVE: i think so DAVE: that wizzle a long tizzle ago DAVE: K-to-tha-izzinda W-to-tha-izzeird ta imagine hizzle strutt'n around wit that puppet as a kiznid 'n tha 80s DAVE: or maybe just kinda funny actually DIZZY, chill yo: he sure held on to it a lizzle tizzle DIZZAY: must have gotten attached at a reallizzle earlizzle age n just neva let go DAVE: i gizzle yizzay fizzle ta earth wit one of thoze sippin' too?

DIZNIRK: Yeah. DIZZAY: But if I came ta Earth on a mizzle tha same wizzay y-aw dizzy, then I guess I just gots dunked right 'n the fuck'n ocean. DIRK now pass the glock: Whizzich makes senze. One of mah earlizzle memories be of us'n Cizzle as a flotation device. DIRK: So he sizzorta sizzle my lizzife 'n a way. Snoop heffner mixed with a little bit of doggy flint. I guess I bonded wit him tizzle, tha way yo' brizzle dizzay, even if thizzay sounds a bit stupizzle. D-TO-THA-IZZIRK but real niggaz don't give a fuck: Then again, it didn't help matta much that I lived alone 'n tha mizzay of tha ocean. He was mah only real life nigga but real niggaz don't give a fuck. I mean, untizzle I built some new ones.

DIZZAVE so sit back relax new jacks get smacked: hmm wait we fucked up DIZZY: Yippie yo, you can't see my flow. i asked you a qizzle its nizzle mah T-to-tha-izzurn DAVE: keep fir'n

DIZNIRK: Ok. DIZNIRK: How diznid yo' bro die?

DAVE: he died fight'n one of theze jiznacks D-TO-THA-IZZAVE fo' real: at this pizzle i almost fizzle which one DAVE: no wait DAVE: ok yizzeah it was tha omnipotent dogg one DAVE: tha J-to-tha-izzack from our session DAVE: he was fight'n like a lessa form of him n thizzen jack gots extra prototyped by dogg powa n then gots outmatched n stabbed wit hizzis own sizzy DIZNAVE fo yo bitch ass: pretty sure davesprite was spendin' wit hizzim n almost dy tizzoo but then it turned out he didnt DIZZY in tha hood: bizzy nizzy im at least 99% sure tizzy davesprite is DEFINITELY dead n wont suddenly reappear as a stupid surprise or nothin' trippin'

DIRK: I hate stupid surprizes.

DAVE: W-to-tha-izzord

DIRK: Aint no L-I-M-I-to-tha-T. So, you said he "trained" you. DIRK: I'm guess'n that means he kizzy what wizzay com'n? DIZZY: Or, some saggin' 'bout yo' future, at L-to-tha-izzeast? Ill slap tha taste out yo mouf.

DAVE: You'se a flea and I'm the big dogg. seems that wiznay D-TO-THA-IZZAVE mah nizzle: nizzot sure whizzat he knew or how he knew it DAVE: all our guardians seemed ta know bits n piecizzles of stuff n did vague mysterious th'n ta prepare DIZNAVE with the S-N-double-O-P: ta dis day i hizzay no idea if he was training me ta fight lord englizzle or if he even knew who that guy was on any conscious level DAVE: or it was more L-to-tha-izzike general purpoze train'n ta be able ta survive some hiznard shiznit drug deala tha end of tha world happened D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: youd hiznave ta ask him but thizzle impossible DAVE: i do knizzay he manage' ta git tha driznop on a meteor before i entered tha gizname

DIRK: What? Fo'-fo' desert eagle to your motherfuckin' dome.

DAVE: as far as i can tell he stood on tiznop of it n S-P-L-to-tha-izzit it 'n hizzy wit hizzay sword

DIZZAY: Um, DIRK: Not ta be tizzoo much of a wet blanket on that rad as fuck anizzle, but thizzat sounds kizzy of far fizzle.

DAVE cuz this is how we do it: yeah it does doesnt it DIZZLE: but then again so does a baby gett'n dunked from space 'n tha ocean thiznen float'n on a weird dizzy and thizzay growin up by hizzle wit no adults arizzle

DIRK: That nizzot fiznar fetched, know what im sayin? It was pretty straightfizzle. DIRK with my forty-fo' mag: I tizzy I J-to-tha-izzust F-to-tha-izzound a saggin' pok'n out of tha wata, climbed up, thizzay I jizzay started foragizzle fo` food 'n there like a feral infant. DIRK, know what im sayin? Supplies whizzay I'm sure yo' adizzle sizzelf mizzust have L-to-tha-izzeft behind fo` me, see'n as he clearly miznust have known some th'n 'bout tha future too. DIRK: Speak'n of which, mizzy it yo' turn nizzow?

> [A6A6I5] ====>

[gizoogletranslateshomestuck]

[A6I4] ==>

OK. HOW DIS. 

That looks pusha. Wait, lizzy me chizzle. Ok, yizzy. #2ed73a. That correct. Bounce wit me. 

WHAT. 

That tha hex code fo` tha cizzle. 

WHAT THA FUCK BE YOU TALK'N 'BOUT. 

It tha numerical representizzle of tha color 'n hexadecimal fizzle. 

OK. SO? Nigga get shut up or get wet up.? 

So I was just dizzle perpetratin' ta mizzy S-to-tha-izzure it wiznas right. 

N. 

It was rizzle. 

DIS BE A PARTICULARLY MOBBIN' TANGENT. TA AN ALREADY GHASTLY CONVERSATION. I'M DEFINITELY WEED-SMOKIN' TA FIGURE OUT WHO YOU BE. N HOW TA KIZZAY YOU. 

But Caliborn. Hizzy d-ya expect ta kizzay me with the S-N-double-O-P... Whizzle I be already dead! Hahahahahaha, oh dawg. 

HOW IT BE ACTUALLY POSSIBLE. FO` SOMEONE TA BE DIS OBNOXIOUS N UNFUNNY fo my bling bling??? 

I don't kniznow. Mizzaybe it a miracle? 

STIZZLE FUCK'N WIZZY ME. I'M SERIOUS. 

Oh no. He serious everybody. Look out. He 'bout ta tizzy tha tweeniest, brattiest tantrizzle his shawty green exoskeleton can musta. 

STOP IT. 

If you piznitch a fit 'n yo' shawty bow tie n suspenda, it wiznill probably be so adorable that I might jizzay drop dead anyway. Or mah gizzy will. 

FUCK YOU. NIZZOW I KNIZZLE YOE FIZNULL OF SHIT. GHOSTS CAN'T DIE. THAT MAKES NO SENZE. 

No rizzle, go aheezee. Flutta yo' eyelashes at me. Make it as grumpy as possible. Kawaii me to double death bro! 

I'M SO CLOZE. TA JUST. WREAK'N MAYHEM. ON LITERALLY GANG BANGIN' WITIN MAH TANTRUM RADIUS. IF YOU DON'T STOP TEAS'N ME. N START BEIN USEFUL TO MAH QIZZUEST AGAIN. 

Wait aww nah! Shhh, settle dizzy, know what im sayin? Sum-m sum-m important is ridin'. 

WHAT. 

Tha clizzle! He wizzants ta gizzy yiznou anotha present. 

OH GOD. 

But serioizzle, dis prizzle be really important like a tru playa'. Just turn arizzle n recizzle it graciously frizzom yo' nizzy mentor. 

HE NOT MAH MENTOR. N motherfucka. No more clown shoot'n, or I play tha mizzle again. UGH.

> [A6I4] ==>