#lust is….lovely! Ryder thinks anyways

[stanleyvampire14]

Y’all I think I’m finally good enough physically (over the sickness for the most part) to continue the Ryder ask blog and stuff let’s goooo! ‼️‼️🩷✨🩷✨🩷✨

Btw if you haven’t already, follow it! It’ll be so cool and grand and fun I promise I swear- /nf @ask-ryder-emerson-lotf

So sorry for the delay!! ^_^”

[tiriansjewel]

Rating All The Main Little Women Adaptations

Little Women (1933)-

This is probably my least favorite adaptation, not because it’s strictly bad, but mostly because it’s so old. You can definitely tell that this was made for an audience in the 1930s. Katharine Hepburn plays a very stereotypical, tomboyish Jo, and her performance is good, but in general I’ve only seen this movie one time and don’t have any desire to repeat the experience. However, if you like old films, if you like Katharine Hepburn, or if this movie is simply nostalgic for you, I can see how this would be something you might pop on every now and again. 5.5/10

Little Women (1949)-

So... I have a lot of mixed feelings on this adaptation. This is the adaptation of Little Women that I grew up watching, so I’ve seen it many times, and it has a huge nostalgia factor for me. I really love June Allyson’s Jo. Again, you can tell that this movie was made for an audience in the 1940s, but I connected a lot more with Jo’s character development in this as opposed to 1933. Peter Lawford was okay as Laurie, but I can’t get over the fact that he looks 35 and he’s supposed to be 16. Jo and Laurie do have lovely chemistry in this movie however, and I love the scene when they meet. I quite enjoy Janet Leigh’s Meg, although her character is rather poorly developed. Elizabeth Taylor’s Amy... is... not my favorite. I don’t hate it, but she always felt very artificial to me. Lastly, the decision to make Beth drastically younger than the other sisters was not good in my opinion. She just felt like a little fragile baby bird the whole movie, like they were setting her up to die, rather than being one of the sisters. All in all though, this movie is good if you want to watch a nice feel-good film. It has nostalgia factor for me and it’s definitely a fun movie if you can look past the humanity of the story and get lost in the music and joy. 6/10

Little Women (1994)-

Where to even begin... There are so many things I love about this movie, and so many things I dislike. Firstly: likes. I love Winona Ryder’s Jo. It’s the first time we’ve seen an on-screen Jo portrayed as a human and not just as a tomboy. She is clearly the hot-headed, independent intellectual that we all know, and yet she does have a kindness about her. Claire Danes is easily my favorite Beth in any adaptation. The emotion she shows when given the piano, when she is handed the sick baby at the Hummels, and when she is dying and Jo is at her side... completely unmatched. Her delivery of the line “I shall be homesick for you, even in heaven” always makes me sob. I also love Susan Sarandon’s Marmee, although at times it feels like her character is trying to be a bit of a political statement. Christian Bale as Laurie was also a good decision for the most part. I like that they made Amy an actual child in this film, so that her spoiled brat actions actually make sense, plus Kirsten Dunst is fabulous. I don’t have much positive or negative to say about Meg. I also like the subtle details about the time period, like the insinuation that the March’s were transcendentalists, because it shows that we’re really in the 1860s. All in all, the setting, aesthetic, and soundtrack to the film are very good, and it’s nice to finally see an adaptation that is filmed outside of a set. Now, dislikes. All of the relationships in this film and their portrayals, except for Jo and Prof Bhaer, are... not great. Firstly, Laurie’s proposal to Jo is so weird and creepy and not at all what I imagined reading the book. Sure, the first two proposal scenes from 1933 and 1949 were very overdramatized and obviously acted, but the first thing Laurie does to reveal his feelings to Jo in this film is to kiss her, after she repeatedly says no. Then after this, we get an extremely out-of-breath Christian Bale (rather poorly) delivering lines to an exasperated Jo. The way they film this entire movie also paints Jo to be in love with Laurie, and so when Jo refuses, it feels like she’s just making excuses. I do not like it. The other creepy thing is (again) an obviously adult Laurie bringing an obviously child Amy to Aunt March when Beth is sick. During this carraige ride, Amy remarks that she doesn’t want to die without having been kissed, and Laurie promises her that he will kiss her before she dies. I know this is meant to be “cute” and if Laurie had looked 17 and Amy had looked 14 I probably would have agreed, but Christian Bale looks 25 and Kirsten Dunst looks 12. That entire scene was weirdly sexual and made me very uncomfortable. In addition, John Brooke and Meg full on making out in the front lawn during the family Christmas dinner. I just... did not find any of this charming and wish that these scenes hadn’t been sexualized like they were. Am I crazy for thinking they are? Anyways, besides this, I enjoy this film, it’s a good movie to watch over Christmas or in the spring when it’s raining. I love Winona Ryder with all my heart and soul and this movie will always have a special place in my heart. 7.5/10

Little Women (2019)-

Finally, we arrive at the newest, and in my opinion, best adaptation. Firstly, the cast for this film is amazing, with Saoirse Ronan as Jo, Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy, Eliza Scanlen as Beth, Timothee Chalamet as Laurie, and Laura Dern as Marmee. This was made with a non-linear narrative, meaning the story isn’t told in order but instead in corresponding scenes that are years apart. At first, the format confused me, as I did not expect it, but on a second viewing, I appreciated how genius and subtle the parallels from scene to scene are, and how they really enhance the movie as a whole. This movie also brings in the most scenes from the book, showing Meg in her marriage to John Brooke, Amy’s buildup to her marriage to Laurie in Europe, and Mr. Laurence and Beth’s fatherly friendship. I feel that, in general, the way the characters were written was very accurate to the book, even if some scenes and plots were slightly changed for time and continuity. Again, Jo has the duality of hot-headed, wild, independence and kind-heartedness seen in the 1994 movie, but I really appreciate the way Jo was written in this movie. I never feel like she sees Laurie as anything more than a brother, and I feel like her transition from an idealistic teenager to an adult dealing with the loss of her sister is way more human and natural. Her relationship with Marmee is much better developed in this movie, which leads to scenes of Jo confiding in her mother, and these felt very realistic and reminded me of my relationship with my mom. Emma Watson is my favorite Meg, and this is probably because Meg’s character is so much better developed. Her shame when telling John Brooke about the dress fabric is palpable, and her discontentedness with being poor is very obvious. In other films, Meg has been pragmatic and has borne her troubles easily, but here we find her struggling, and it makes her more human. I also love how she realizes that she is truly happy with her husband, not money, and I really love how they wrote Meg in general. Beth’s character arc was great, although not as good as Claire Danes’s Beth, in my opinion. I love how they build Mr. Laurence and Beth’s relationship, and I love how you can tell that Beth is just as strong-willed as her sisters, she is just more quiet about it. She has a strong conviction to do what is right, like going to the Hummels, and the scene of her and Jo by the sea was one of my favorites in the film (and in the book!).

Moving on to Amy. I am SO happy that we finally have an Amy that everyone loves. I had always felt frustrated because previous adaptations have focused so much on the earlier parts of the book that viewers only ever saw Amy as a childish little brat who burned Jo’s book, not as a girl who grows up to become an elegant, strong, and graceful woman. Although Florence Pugh is clearly a 24 year old woman, I did not feel a disconnect when she was trying to play a 12 year old Amy. She was so hilarious and endearing, especially as her little crush on Laurie is so obvious. And the typical sister fight between her and Jo is so accurate to real sibling fights (my favorite line being “Don’t look at me like that!” to Beth). You dislike her for burning Jo’s book, but you also want to accept her apology. And her calm, yet firm attitude towards Laurie when they’re adults is beautifully done, especially as she’s so obviously in love with him. In short, Amy finally got what she deserved. Lastly, Laurie. Timothee Chalamet is my favorite Laurie, hands down. First, he looks the part, because he seems to be 19 instead of 35, and also, he acts like a typical teenage boy. When he confesses his love to Jo, you can tell that he truly cares for her and is experiencing his first heartbreak. It isn’t full of lust, rather it’s full of genuine emotion and raised voices and talking over one another, and this was truly needed after so many weirdly overdramatized proposals. You can also see that his love for Amy is real, and that she’s not just a replacement for Jo. Finally, he grows into a man, who has a wife and a child seen at the end of the film, something that I feel has not happened in previous films. In general, I felt like this adaptation did a PHENOMENAL job of portraying human relationships. The way the sisters talk over one another and tussle around the floor and hug one another and are just in relationship with one another is so natural and realistic. Marmee’s relationships with her kids. The romantic relationships are healthy and loving and yes, have chemistry, but aren’t sexualized or over the top. This movie is a new classic, and I plan to watch it many more times. I highly recommend this if you haven’t seen it yet. 9/10

So anyway, if you read this far, wow. I hope you enjoyed my opinions and found them useful. Have a good day.

[vaguely-concerned]

Mass Effect: Annihilation thoughts

TL;DR I fucking LOVED IT, a balm to my heart after struggling through Nexus Uprising! Also canonical lesbians! The sweetest quarian & his badass grandma! Elcor Hamlet except this time it’ll make you cry!!! 

- Aaaaaah the audiobook reader is Tom Taylorson (so male Ryder)!! Fryda Wolf (female Ryder) read the two others and did a nice job, but man I’m soft for his voice in a way only rivaled by (...outside-of-Overwatch!)Jennifer Hale and Nicholas Boulton haha. He also has a much better handle on the pronunciations and voices for the different alien species -- delightful, I’m still cackling over his pitch perfect elcor impersonation. (Bioware please give him more Scott Ryder to voice I miss my son)

- I’m only about half an hour in and this is already SO much better than Nexus Uprising, it really does feel like a brave new galaxy haha. Very funny, very warm and smart and engaging in how it does its characterization and Valente clearly has affection for the setting and the universe, she and Jemisin both do incredible jobs with these. 

- I’m fucking crying laughing at this cross-species near-brawl over a flower arrangement, god I love Mass Effect SO MUCH (what a neat idea though. something blooming quietly even when no one can see it. impractical as hell and hilariously including a high-nutrition celery now, but still neat)

Taylorson continues to wonderful things with the voices, that volus suit sound is so good. (he’s just generally really good at comedy) also a volus bellowing insults ‘moments before punching an anti-bouquet batarian in the groin’ sdafhjklsahfsjadkhfklajshdfkjlsadhf

- a high as a kite elcor... what a time to be alive, to get to read this book

I have already reached the ‘I LOVE EVERYONE IN THIS BAR’ stage with these characters, hard boiled drell detective lady and sweet sweet quarian first officer and manically enthusiastic elcor doctor TOT I would die for any one of you!!!

- The quarian/multispecies ark was built for long-term habitation, potentially over multiple generations. So what you’re telling me is that the quarians are the only ones who fucking thought this through and the rest of the Initiative probably should have listened to the people who’ve essentially been living on arks for ages. Who’d’ve thunk huh lol. (I guess the in-universe explanation is that people like the mysterious benefactor just wanted those arks yeeted to Andromeda ASAP, no time to get fancy in case the Reapers changed up their schedule. Fair enough)

- ;n; petition to let senna have a SAM pls (also uh. how happy do you think the stringently anti-AI quarian pathfinder will be when he finds out about everyone else’s SAMs lol lol lol he’s going to PASS OUT FROM RAGE upon meeting ryder. well he sounds like an asshole, I hope he dies so senna gets a chance)  

- I can’t BELIEVE yorrik is an anti-stratfordianist, i am betRAYED! disgraceful, how can I still love you knowing this (and yet I do he is extremely funny and sweet)!!! (at least his theory is that this so-called ‘shakespeare’ was actually an elcor, which makes it better somehow lol. anything so long as he’s not an oxfordian tbh)

senna and yorrik’s friendship is so good and wholesome 

- I really love the consistent alien POVs in this book, mass effect should indulge in this more -- everyone loves this universe so much, bioware, stop making us squint through a human lense to look at it!!  

- oh of course quarian ‘pirates’ exist, the people who’re thrown out of the fleet must be doing something huh. 

- haven’t written that many notes in a while just because I’m enjoying myself so much, I keep forgetting 

- lfsdkhfsajkldhfskadjhfsjakdfhsdkjfh communist volus!!!! this is not a drill, communist volus! I am completely and utterly charmed by this entire book

- the quarian ancestor VI is so interesting and weirdly touching. senna is adorable (and relatably neurotic lol)

grandma AI smoking T___________T I love everything about this, she’s so cool. the worldbuilding being done around pre-geth revolution rannoch here... exquisite 

- way to make me cry about batarians cat valente ;_______;

- the voice acting is SO FUCKING GOOD! I keep forgetting it’s one dude reading all these characters haha, I caught myself wanting to look up who voiced this dying batarian. (special shoutout that he does so many wonderfully distinct and specific female voices!) 

- haHA I KNEW the quarian VI was a full AI (or near enough that it makes little difference tbh)!!! this fabulous grandma was self aware the entire time b i t c h e s !!!!

- the running joke of borbala’s ‘you need ______? I can make _______ happen’ is SO satisfying hahaha

ooooooh serious femslash vibes!!!! initially I thought batarian ex-crime matriarch was too old for drell PI, but this is undeniable. (I don’t think we actually ever get to know how old annex is, anyway, come to think of it) I guess if asari get to be five times older than everyone else and still fuck freely this isn’t really that weird lol

- “don’t look! it’s not so bad if you don’t look!” ofhsdalfhskldlsfjas oh senna baby boy 

hey qetsi? qetsi both senna and I love grandma liat more than you. stand the fuck down 

- NOOOO GRANDMA LIAT ;______________________________________;

- do you think SAM could meet liat (either ship!liat or just grandma!liat).... and have... a friend ;_________; (a cool laidback friend who isn’t a murderous angaran ai who might very well go the murder suicide sort of friendship route lol) 

anyway I miss SAM a lot and love him??

- yorrik noooooooooooo this is awful everything is bad and terrible I love all of them so much why must senna be sad and watch everything he loves fade away 😭😭😭

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand?” He realized he’d forgotten to preface the words with an emotion. Now they wouldn’t understand what he meant.

Oh. Oh what a way to drive home the sadness and loneliness of this moment f u c k  (and again the emotion taylorson brings to it jesus cHRIST) 

I’m destroyed over how much senna and yorrik love each other, cross species found family out here wrecking my heart in true mass effect style 

- yorrik is such a great character though. he’d be so easy to make a one-note joke character (like most elcor have been in canon lbr), but there’s nuance and depth and just enough satsifyingly believable alienness there. (I love the staunch elcor ‘you can’t call anything love that hasn’t lasted at least two centuries’ perspective haha) his memories of his childhood and disappointment with his profession and everything... goodnight sweet prince indeed :(

- they went and made elcor hamlet heartbreaking how dare they 

(to be real for a second I think some of the human culture references are a little bit clunky, but the elcor hamlet stuff is perfect. contextualizing a throwaway joke from the original trilogy and giving it emotional depth, helping us see it from the elcor perspective and how frustrating and lonely it is to be so fundamentally not emotionally understood or seen on a level most of the other races are, despite their other differences, even though you have all these feelings and want to communicate... its very good.)   

fun additional fact: both mordin and yorrik have played/wanted to play polonius in a production of hamlet! though I guess mordin is the slightly problematic fave in that duo and yorrik is a sweet melancholic angel who has never done anything wrong in his life, I would say protect him but I guess it’s too late for that D:  

- qetsi giving off some real ophelia vibes here, I wish yorrik was here to see it, he’s the only one who’d properly appreciate it despite it all

- I. am. SO FUCKING HUNGRY for more mass effect after this (well even more so than usual) I’m so hyped!! I love this universe so much! I want a new andromeda game with senna as quarian pathfinder and grandma liat as the ship’s AI and see how they interact with ryder and SAM! (honestly though I feel like senna might be the one who’d translate the most cleanly into a game, I think there’s a lot of potential in him that’s barely being realized towards the end there with his deep righteous rage cutting through his uncertainty. also I just want nice things for him. is that so much to ask. he is a good boy, yorrik was so right.)

- aaaah not just femslash vibes, canonical lesbians, this is not a drill! I can’t wait until they propose... ‘we get shit done together, want to be in good cop/bad cop with me until the day we die y/n?’  

- the ME universe doesn’t feel quite itself without all these ‘background’ species hanging around, I suddenly realize. I dream of an Andromeda sequel with all of them on the board and in play again Y-------Y 

- potential Liat and SAM dynamics are so fucking interesting though! if she becomes/is confirmed as a full AI (all I hope and dream of), you’ll have two artificial intelligences with such different starting points but not that dissimilar goals? Liat was an organic person once who’s looking out for her family even now, and SAM is completely artificial but also intimately tied to and protecting His People. (and pulling a whole lot of symbolic weight re: the strength of familial/interpersonal relationships to boot; he’s the best way alec ryder managed to connect with his children. even though he was dead. because as established alec ryder was a disaster of a person)  

- I enjoyed the loose murder mystery structure of this quite a lot, but that might also be because nexus uprising is so shapeless and meandering by comparison that I’d be relieved by anything else (sorry I’ll stop ragging on NU soon it just. took some hours of my life I can’t get back)  

- jemisin did great stuff for characters already in andromeda (cora, SAM, alec ryder) and valente made me remember just why I love this universe so much and desperately want these aspects brought to andromeda too... and now I’ve exhausted all the fresh mass effect content I had available to me and will sit here consumed with lust for the rest of the time it takes for a new game to be announced thank you and goodbye  

[briarfox13]

@bronzeagelove Thank you for the tag <3

I tag @slothssassin @starsandskies @occorner @darth-salem-emperor-of-earth @flaine1996​ but no pressure! 

name ➔ Artemis Ryder are you single ➔  Nope are you happy ➔ Yep! Who wouldn't be exploring Andromeda! are you angry ➔ Sometimes, buy aren’t well all?

are your parents still married ➔ Yeah, then mum died then dad

NINE FACTS

birthplace ➔ The Citadel, meant to be on Earth but on a trip out mum’s waters came and out popped me and my dumb brother hair color ➔ A ginger bitch and proud!

eye color ➔ Amber birthday ➔ 24th July mood ➔ Excited and hungry gender ➔ female summer or winter ➔ Summer, I love the warmth

morning or afternoon ➔ So afternoon, who has time to get up in the mornings? 

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ Think so? Is thinking about someone a lot love? do you believe in love at first sight ➔ Nah who ended your last relationship ➔ I did, after all I was going to Andromeda and she wasn’t. Anyway we were more like friends with benefits  have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ Probably

are you afraid of commitments ➔ *she shrugs*

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ Obviously, it pisses Cora off so much have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ Yep, some kid at school? Always sent me cards on valentines. Shame I never knew who have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ Romance wise? Never. otherwise, yes. 

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔Both! lemonade or iced tea ➔ Lemonade, duh cats or dogs ➔ Doggos, I just love doggos so much

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ Surprisingly, I’d rather have a smaller group of goof friends I trust wild night out or romantic night in ➔Wild night out! Followed by sex and takeaway with my partner day or night ➔ Day

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ Always, dad used to yell at me all the time about it...bastard

fallen down/up the stairs ➔ *sarcasm* of course not 

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ Yep wanted to disappear ➔ Nah, I like being the centre of attention....expect when mum died and dad got chucked off the Citadel for the AI shit

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ smile shorter or taller ➔ taller

intelligence or attraction ➔ Little bit of both hook-up or relationship ➔Both, but only if I’m not in a relationship.

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ Yep, but me and dad didn't. I was the “black sheep” of the family would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ A bit

have you ever ran away from home ➔ I tried too, Apolo stopped me though

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ Nope, got sent to boot camp run by the Systems Alliance? Dad pulled on his N7 strings

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ Why would I be friends with them?

do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ Yeah most times, Cora can be a bitch and Lexi a bit motherly but that's just them. They are cool, we all get on. who is your best friend ➔ Apollo, and from my crew? Peebee! We clicked and cause all the trouble! 

who knows everything about you ➔Apollo, I’m closet to him out of everyone. After all, he’s my twin. 

[obvidalous]

Character Interview

I was tagged by my dear @starsandskies​ , thank you!! This was a lot of fun <333

And tagging with no obligation @natsora​ @rpgwarrior4824​ @pikapeppa​ @alyssalenko​ @heroofshield​ @liaorban​ @mrscullensrutherford​ (and, as usual, anybody who wants to do this. Let me know if you want to be tagged!)

PF Reyes Vidal

name ➔ Reyes Vidal.

are you single ➔ Yes.

are you happy ➔ Happy is such a strong word… I’m satisfied with who and where I am, if that’s what you’re asking.

are you angry ➔ Rarely.

are your parents still married ➔ No. They stayed in the Milky Way, they’re dead by now.

NINE FACTS

birthplace ➔ Chile, Earth.

hair color ➔ Black.

eye color ➔ Brown.

birthday ➔ Not telling you. I fucking hate birthday parties.  

mood ➔ Calm, most of the times. I like to think before acting, but I also love the heat of the moment. Sometimes I get those urges, like this adventurous mood taking hold of me and I just need to do something to release the pressure.

gender ➔ Male.

summer or winter ➔ Summer. I was born and raised in a very hot place, so I don’t really like the cold.

morning or afternoon ➔ Neither, I’m an evening person.

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ Nope. 

do you believe in love at first sight ➔ Hell no. Call it love if you want, but we both know this is something else.

who ended your last relationship ➔ I did.

have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ Ha yes, that happened before. I never make any promises but sometimes people get ideas, it’s not my fault.

are you afraid of commitments ➔ It’s not that I’m afraid of commitment—I just don’t want to commit.

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ I patted Gil on the shoulder the other day, does that count? Well, no then. No hugs.

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ *laughs out loud* Yes, I might have a few…

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ No.

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ Lust, most definitely.

lemonade or iced tea ➔ Lemonade.

cats or dogs ➔ Dogs. I don’t really care for animals, but at least dogs obey.

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ Hmm… *thinks* I have some regular friends… I mean, people that I enjoy seeing on a regular basis. Yes, I guess you could say they’re my friends.

wild night out or romantic night in ➔ A wild night out, no hesitation. I’m game whenever you want.

day or night ➔ Night.

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ No. Never got caught *winks*

fallen down/up the stairs ➔ I don’t think so? Probably when I was a kid, but I don’t remember. I never got hurt from falling down the stairs, anyway.

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ No. I always get what I want.

wanted to disappear ➔ No.

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ Both are nice. Lips may be a bit more… fascinating, though.

shorter or taller ➔ I don’t care. I really don’t.

intelligence or attraction ➔ Oh, attraction is definitely what I’m looking for. But intelligence is sexy, too. Nothing better than a stimulating conversation to get in the mood.

hook-up or relationship ➔ I thought you’d have got it by now. Hook ups, of course. Or... is that an offer?

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ Like every family, I guess? You don’t choose your family *shrugs* And anyway, it was a long time ago, in another lifetime.

would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ Not really. There were bad times and bad experiences, like for anybody else, but I like my life as it is.

have you ever ran away from home ➔ Yes. I ran away when I was 17 and never came back. I wanted something else for myself and just decided to go and get it.

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ No.

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ No, if I hated someone I’d make sure they know it!

do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ Not particularly.

who is your best friend ➔ That’s… a very good question. I don’t know what to answer.

who knows everything about you ➔ Nobody. Alec Ryder was probably the one who knew the more about me, I’ve known him for quite a while… but now he’s dead, so all my secrets are safe *smiles sadly to himself*

[future-emeryshaw]

What does your character look like at the 10 year reunion? James Phelps How old is your character now? 31

Where has your character been living since graduation? California

How did they end up there? Emery didn’t end up leaving California after graduation. He and Ryder had a serious discussion about where they wanted to live and they wanted to either stay close to Noah (who lived in California) or Arden and Lovey (who moved to Seattle). It made more sense for both of their careers to stay in California so that’s what they did.

What job does your character currently have? Emery is currently writing, directing and producing a very popular TV show.

Is this the job they always dreamed of having? If not, what stopped them from achieving their dream career? When he was younger, he thought that he would be a baker like his mother but as soon as he stumbled across theater club in high school; he knew that he wanted to do something creative. For a while, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to act or work behind the camera but as he got the chance to explore all avenues of film and media through his degree, he realized that he was happier behind the camera. He’s been working hard to pursue this career since graduation and he’s started to build a great reputation within that industry.

Is your character currently in a relationship? Emery and Ryder are still married.

What’s this relationship like? Although the pair have been married for over a decade, they’ve worked hard to make sure that their relationship never feels dull or boring. They both have very busy careers and are committed to raising their family together but they still make time for each other, which is probably the secret behind their lasting relationship as it’s meant that the pair have grown together rather than separately. Emery is still wildly, madly and deeply in love with his husband; and although their relationship has evolved over the years, the foundation of their relationship is still the same: trust, passion (and lust), laughter and support.

Does your character have kids? Ryder and Emery adopted twins a few years ago (one boy, one girl)

What big life events has your character experienced since graduation?

Emery and Ryder stayed in California after graduation because they loved their home; Ryder wanted to stay close to Noah; and it made sense for their careers for them both to stay in Californa

With Ryder playing football professionally, Emery made sure to attend as many of his games as possible; both of them putting in the effort to maintain their relationship despite busy work schedules.

Outside of this, Emery spent most of his time pursuing a career in film and media. He caught a lucky break because of Noah -- he went to some fancy Hollywood party with Noah and ended up talking to a writer on a popular sitcom

The writer was a little intoxicated and said that Emery should send in some examples of his work as they were about to advertise a new screenwriter role; whilst Emery knew that she wouldn’t remember this conversation tomorrow, he sent in his work anyway and was offered a job

From there, Emery worked his ass off to prove that he was a valuable addition to the team. When the sitcom got cancelled, it wasn’t hard for him to find work and his career went from strength to strength, with Emery being given opportunities to stretch his wings and dabble in producing and directing.

His career meant that he did spend a fair bit of time traveling, with several of his shows being filmed in Canada. When he and Ryder made the decision to start a family, Emery started thinking about ways that he could stay in California year-round.

That lead to Emery utilizing all of his connections and pitching his own idea for a TV show to several networks. To his surprise, his project was given approval and that’s how he ended up creating, writing, producing and directing his own show; allowing him to stay in California all year.

Who has your character kept in touch with since graduation? Obviously, Emery has stayed in touch with Ryder; Lovey; Arden and Noah (which means that he also sees Rebekah fairly regularly as she lives with Noah). As Ryder is still close with RJ, he sees her regularly too; and has also stayed in touch with Ryan. Emery remains in contact with Lola and Addison, too; as they both remained in LA and sees them and their families (including Ollie and Hadley) from time to time. Last but certainly not least, Emery and Dolly remain close.

[wildroseofarran]

Three Stories || Lawrina, RoJ, Quintane, & Luke

MJ: MJ placed his head in Rohan's lap. His long, exaggerated yawn said more than a whine possibly could.

Rohan: Hands immediately went to MJ's hair. "My, my, my, what did the gods place on my lap this day?" he asked with a grin. "A tired vampire?"

MJ: "I'm bored. Teach me a new spell, beautiful witch."

Rohan: "Ah, a bored vampire! What would you like to learn? Something useful or something fun?"

MJ: "Teach me...how to turn water into wine," he grinned.

Rohan: Rohan chuckled. "Red or white?"

MJ: "What's your favorite?"

Rohan: "White."

MJ: "What kinda white? That uh...chardonnay?"

Rohan: "I do enjoy chardonnay, but I prefer pinot grigio. It's smoother."

MJ: "I don't really know any of that. So, let's try em all."

Rohan: "In that case, we're going to the nearest vineyard. Going to need to pick up some grapes."

MJ: "What. You're supposed t'be the vineyard!" he laughed.

Rohan: "I'm not as good at poofing up things as Xavier is!"

MJ: "I got a trick for ya. I gotta practice on someone anyway."

Rohan: "Oh?" Rohan ducked his head to kiss his vampire. "What trick?"

MJ: "Yeah, it-" MJ smiled into the kiss, seemed dazed for a heartbeat. "Uh, yeah. Do we have wine any - of course we have wine."

Time to get up.

"C'mon."

Rohan: "We're lousy with wine. We just can't steal Christine's, she'll hang us by our thumbs in the garden."

One more kiss and he would let MJ get up.

MJ: "Xavier has a shit ton. I know he does!"

Rohan: "And you're right. He has the most ridiculously huge wine cellar in North America."

MJ: "Well let's go down there n'steal some."

Rohan: "Borrow, puiule, borrow." He took MJ's hand and led him down to the basement.

MJ: "Yeah, sure. That word." His hand was given attention during their descent. Each pad of his fingers given their own little kiss.

Rohan: Rohan smiled at all the affection, taking the first opportunity to pull MJ into another kiss.

"Any particular kind of wine you want to borrow?"

MJ: "Nah. I don't care. Hey, c'mere." Those lips required more of his attention.

Rohan: He was only too happy to oblige, wrapping his arms around MJ's waist to keep him close. "You come here," he whispered against his vampire's lips, wine temporarily forgotten as he let himself get lost in this beautiful man.

MJ: Arms were made comfortable around Ronan's neck. The wine also forgotten by the man sighing into their kiss.

"You're so beautiful," he purred.

Rohan: Rohan hummed in response, kisses migrating to MJ's neck. "I'm no match for you, puiule."

MJ: "Don't be ridiculous." Oh, his neck. He was still sensitive enough to shiver, massaging the back of his neck.

Rohan: He smiled against his vampire's skin, nipping and kissing and nuzzling more, hoping to elicit more shivers. Maybe even one of those soft moans he loved so much.

MJ: Moans which were given freely. Both hands grasped softly at his hair, tugging and combing as a means to keep himself busy.

Rohan: There it is, Rohan thought to himself. He loved those sounds. Those gorgeous, sweet little sounds.

"Beautiful," he murmured, tugging MJ's shirt aside to feast on that lovely spot where MJ's neck met his shoulder. "I have half a mind to take you back to the bedroom."

MJ: "What if I take you in my mouth right here and now?" One hand to the back of his neck, the other reached to cup him. "Lemme have this."

Rohan: Rohan's answering chuckle tapered a soft, barely-there growl at the touch. "Is that what my vampire wants?" he asked, pressing into MJ's hand. "Because there's a very comfortable looking chair right over there we could make use of."

MJ: The growl would have caught his breath in his chest had he been able. What an unexpected sound from the witch. He felt compelled to fall to his knees, but he was right; there was a chair better suited for their activities. Rohan would be carried to it.

"What now, sir?"

Rohan: It was rare, but every time MJ called him 'sir', a special kind of warmth pooled in Rohan's belly. It was almost enough to make him growl again. Almost.

He kissed MJ again as he was taken to the chair, settling in comfortably and taking that beautiful face in his hands, holding him in place for more kisses. "Now, my vampire can take what he wants," he whispered.

MJ: "I gotta undress ya." He kissed him again. "Ya gonna let me, sir?" It hadn't taken long to figure out what that word did to the witch. He used it at every appropriate opportunity for their mutual pleasure. Never around company, of course. It was their own private fetish.

Rohan: This time he couldn't quite manage to keep in the growl, quiet as it was. It, too, would be something kept private between them, something they only indulged when they were in their little bubble.

"Of course I am, puiule." Another kiss, two. "Go as quickly or as slowly as you want."

MJ: "Tell me why ya call me that." Tell me while I undo your belt, your button and zipper. Let me hear your voice while I expose you to the cellar air, kiss and swallow you whole.

Rohan: "It's a Romanian term of endearment." Though Rohan's voice was soft and laced with affection as he watched MJ, his eyes were a different story. They were no less affectionate, no less soft, but they were alight with lust and anticipation. At least until the feeling of MJ's mouth around him closed them.

"It means baby, but simply calling you baby just wouldn't feel the same." His voice was breathier now. "Puiule holds more meaning." Puiule felt closer to his heart.

MJ: Puiule. He'd have to memorize other words for Rohan as a gift. Just thoughts while he sucked down and tickled scrotum. He worshipped this man as he believed he deserved. It was all just spontaneous lust...but something more. He knew Rohan loved him. He knew Victoria would never allow their romance to flourish.

His movements began to slow.

"D'ya wanna fuck me?"

Rohan: MJ's ministrations were rewarded with soft moans and jerky little movements of Rohan's hips as he slipped deeper and deeper into his blissful state. His vampire felt so good around him, so perfect. Rohan could spend hours with him like this and be completely content.

He was thinking about saying as much when he felt something...shift. It was subtle, but it was there.

He opened his eyes, instinctively caressing MJ's cheek with his thumb. "Only if it's what you want as well."

MJ: "I just want ya t'take me."

Rohan: Rohan sat up, bringing MJ in for a lingering kiss. "Let's go back up to the bedroom."

MJ: "Kay. One sec." He was still going to grab one of Rohan's favorites before they returned where they had began.

Rohan: He smiled as MJ grabbed the wine. Even in the heat of the moment, his vampire still thought of him.

Once he'd gotten himself at least halfway decent, he took MJ's hand and led him back up to the room and into their private little bubble, pulling MJ back into his arms the first chance he got.

………………………………………………………..

Q: Q Traxler turned once again to check on the man behind him. His blazer was undone and draped over Luke Graham's shoulders.

"You alright?"

Luke: Luke smiled, Q's gesture seeming to pull him out of his reverie. His mind felt like it was a thousand miles away.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just distracted."

Q: "We don't have to do this tonight if you don't want, babe."

Luke: "No, I do. I need a distraction from my distractions. They're all work related."

Q: "Which work? You're running yourself thin, you know. You sure you want a house party?"

Luke: "Law firm. Been mentally calculating how much of Ryder's workload I'm going to get once he goes on his honeymoon in a couple months." He stopped long enough to tug Q down for a kiss. "I'm sure. It's exactly what I need."

Q: Down he went, plenty content to give as many kisses as Luke required. "Then I'll give you what you need and then some when we get home," he winked. "Just keep Stacey at arm's length. She's a chatty Kathy."

Luke: That earned Q another smile, and another kiss. "Looking forward to it like you wouldn't believe."

"Pfft, don't have to tell me twice. Her two favorite questions to ask me are 'are you rich yet?' and 'are you sure you're gay?'."

Q: "She has an agenda against anything not straight. Hides it behind a sweet smile and "I swear I don't care" attitude."

Luke: "Makes her the worst kind of person. You know she's scared of Stella?" he added with a grin.

Q: "Is she really?" he laughed. "And you don't mind meeting my friend Tane?"

Luke: Luke nodded. "Yep. Stella can and has beaten people up in the past for giving me and Pete shit for liking men. It's a treat to watch."

"No, not at all. June said he's really tall and nice."

Q: "And handsome, and gay, and mature, and can hold his own, and his hugs are the best you'll ever get. Next to mine."

Luke: "He's gay and he has to work near Stacey? I should send the poor guy a condolence card." He chuckled. "They'd have to be pretty amazing to beat yours. You're my sexy teddy bear, remember?"

Q: That word won't belong to me after you meet him. I promise."

Luke: Another stop, another kiss. "We'll see about that, sugar."

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Lawrence: Lawrence Atlas checked his watch for the third time in less than five minutes. He paced towards the tea kettle and back to his account book on the dining table. A page flipped. Back to the kettle. Watch, book, kettle, repeat.

"How long is it until we see the results?" He already knew the answer, but he just wanted to hear it again.

Gina: Lawrence's pacing was making her nervous, but she knew she'd be even more nervous if she got up to pace with him. Better to just stay put and jiggle her leg.

"Just a couple minutes," said Gina. "Are you sure you don't want tea? You keep looking at the kettle."

Lawrence: "I do but I don't know if I want - I prefer coffee. Can you even drink that if you're - probably not. Right?"

Gina: Yes, good, something to do with her hands. "I'll make you coffee." She was already getting up before she'd finished the sentence.

"I can, just very small amounts." 200 milligrams if she remembered correctly. "So herbal tea for me. Chamomile I think."

Lawrence: "Gina." He took her hands and squeezed them. "Is this what you want? If the test comes out positive, are you ready for that?"

Gina: She took a deep breath. She'd been asking herself that very question since she realized she'd missed her period and there were two facts she knew for certain.

"I'm terrified, but...yes." Her voice softened to a whisper. "I think I am. What about you?"

Lawrence: "I...If you - if you're willing to be with me, despite what I am and how I - I came to be... Of course I'm ready."

Gina: Gina brought a hand to his cheek. "Who you are is Lawrence. My Lawrence, who I love. That's what matters to me. I couldn't even imagine being here right now or doing this without you."

Lawrence: "So..." After nearly an hour without, his smile returned. "We're gonna have a baby? Wait - Are we having a baby?" he laughed. "Check the stick-thing."

Gina: Seeing Lawrence smile made Gina relax enough to smile back. Hearing him say that just...

"Oh, lordy. Let's check the pee stick." She walked back over to the table and picked it up, taking a deep breath before looking down at the little screen.

".....Lawrence...."

Lawrence: Well, that was that. "What shall we name him or her? What if we have twins or triplets? Gotta think of multiple names. Colors for the -" the room. "What are...we gonna do with...the room?"

Gina: His questions just washed over her for a moment. She stared at the little window, vision going blurry with tears as she read the word 'pregnant' over and over. It was right there, written in plain English.

"It's going to be our baby's room," she whispered, finally looking up. Her eyes were swimming and her smile was as radiant as the sun. "Our baby. We're having a baby. Lawrence, we're having a baby!"

Lawrence: The more she said it, the brighter Lawrence's expression became. Each equaled a hundred kisses. His heart had flown to the heavens.

"A baby!" he laughed. "Oh my god!" His sweet fiancée was lifted into his arms, brought into his lap as he sat. "Can I do that? Will that - I should get into the habit of not picking you up."

Gina: Although she was now openly weeping, Gina's laugh as she was picked up was pure joy. She hugged her arms tight around Lawrence's neck, still reading the word on the test over and over just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. This was real. They were going to have a baby.

"We'll be okay on it for a while," she sniffled, smiling wide as she kissed him. "When I start showing it might not be a good idea but for now..." She took one of his hands and placed it on her abdomen, holding it there as she twined their fingers. Their baby was in there, probably no bigger than a grain of rice.

Lawrence: "That's ours," he whispered, fascinated by what he couldn't see and yet to feel. "Is that...alright to say and feel right now? I know this is your ordeal and...I don't want to overstep by - I don't know what I'm trying to say."

Gina: She nodded immediately, not feeling or showing an ounce of hesitation. "Ours. Always ours, never just mine, okay? Always ours. Our ordeal, our weird cravings, our pregnancy, our baby grain of rice."

Lawrence: "You already have names in mind, don't you? We need to - I'd like for us to be married before the baby is born. Do you want the baby in the photo? You showing, I mean."

Gina: "A few might've popped into my head," she chuckled, resting her forehead against his.

"I'd like that, too." She'd imagined it more times than she could even count. "And I'd love for the baby to be in the photo. It could be something simple and lovely. Down at the beach maybe, or at the inn."

Lawrence: "So, a beach wedding six months from now, and we also reveal the sex at the reception?" he grinned.

Gina: "To everyone else. I want us to know as soon as possible." She grinned back. "Our little secret."

Lawrence: "Really? You don't want it to be a surprise until then?"

Gina: Gina shook her head. "I want to know right away. Too impatient to wait."

Lawrence: "Then we gotta think of names quick!" he laughed.

Gina: "What are you thinking? Tell me the first names that pop into your head."

Lawrence: "I like...the name Brogan...Brenna...Loreto. I've always liked the name Juna." However long was "always". "What about you?"

Gina: "Brenna," she repeated softly. "I like that. It's very sweet. I've always liked Camilla. Kelly, for a boy. Noelle. Sam."

Lawrence: "Kelly for a boy? That's one of those names like Ashley or Lindsay?"

Gina: "Yep," she said with a nod. "My dad's brother's name is Kelly. He's my favorite uncle."

Lawrence: "Kelly Lawson? Has a nice ring to it, like a lawyer." As did Mason Atlas in his opinion, but he wouldn't say that. "What are we going to do with...her room?"

Gina: "Close, he's an investment banker," she chuckled. "His favorite thing is to meet people who think he's a woman when they hear his name and see their faces when they realize he's a man."

Gina leaned against him. "I want it to be the baby's room. But I don't want the baby to feel like he or she is living in her shadow, but I also don't want to just...push her aside."

Lawrence: "I think we can honor both children. I don't see anything wrong with our baby playing with her toys, or wearing old shoes. It doesn't - it'll be fine, as long as you're alright with it."

Gina: "I don't see anything wrong with it either. Those things should be used. Maybe if the baby uses them, they'll feel less sad." Not that the things themselves would feel sad, although this was the same woman who named (and bonded with) all her kitchen appliances and her car.

Lawrence: Gentle kisses were peppered from ear to ear and to her lips. He wanted her to feel loved and appreciated more now than ever with such a delicate subject.

"Our baby will know about her."

Gina: Gina smiled softly, letting his love wash over her. There would be some sadness and fear and maybe some grief as her pregnancy progressed, but right now there was only joy. Joy and love.

"Thank you," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tight. "I love you so much."

……………………………………………………………

Q: Q balanced three cocktails with ease as he waded through the familiar faces towards where he had left Tane Lukela and Luke Graham. He knew Stacey would be on the hunt; he knew she would find a way to learn who was dating or fucking or trying to fuck whom.

Two couples passed agonizingly slow, women versus men, forced him to wait. He took the moment to tilt his head up to the setting sun and quietly bake.

Tane/Luke: Luke liked to think he was perfectly equipped to handle Stacey. His poker face was second to none, his suspicion of her general person was always at its peak, and he was just cold and hostile enough to deter her and still somehow manage to be polite. She wouldn't get so much as the damn time from him.

But Tane Lukela? Yeah, Luke was in no way equipped to handle him.

He'd been flustered from the moment Q had introduced them and it only got worse when his pretend boyfriend had gone to fetch them drinks. He felt like he was bright red and radiating heat as he explained what he did for a living.

"Ah, so you're one of the good guys," Tane was saying.

"Yea-yep." Luke nodded. "One of the good guys. Only represent the good people. No bad ones."

Q: Q smiled at the mere sight of them. He loved their natural contrast. Already he wanted to see more...so much more. A friendship was all he hoped for, but given the tint of Luke's cheeks, pleasantries only scratched the surface here.

"Are you that intuitive to know which are honest and which are playing you?"

Drinks were passed around, and a wide flirtatious smile was given to both. Step one into easing them into his scheme.

Tane/Luke: Oh, thank god. Alcohol and Q. Maybe now he could make himself calm down.

Luke took the drink gratefully, forcing himself to sip slowly. Being drunk wouldn't do him any favors right now. "With some people, but others require some looking into." Fuck, don't smile at him like that. There was nowhere they could sneak to for a kiss which, unbeknownst to him, was Tane's exact thought.

Tane returned Q's smile before turning to shifting his attention to Luke again. He was so cute with his blush he was trying to pretend wasn't there. "Looking into?"

"Yeah, we um..." Luke cleared his throat. "We have a P.I. on retainer."

"Seriously? How often do you use them?"

"A couple times a month at least, when there's a case that gets ugly."

Q: "More than the usual scandal, I hope? Can't be the same old same old in Raleigh. Too much military around." He was just going to play off their exchanged glances and that obvious look in Tane's eyes. Best he could do for both of them, he believed, was to play as casually as possible.

"So, we're going back to Hawaii for Tane's birthday. Yours being in September, you know, you should come with us."

Tane/Luke: "Never is." He took another sip. He was already starting to feel a little more composed. "People always find new ways to screw each other over, which would be impressive if it weren't such a pain to deal with."

Luke's face lit. "Hawaii?"

Tane nodded. "Yep, Honolulu. Ever been?"

"Never. I've always wanted to though."

"Then you should absolutely come with us. We're taking Logan, too, hopefully."

The offer got more tempting. "When's your birthday?"

"July 30th."

Q: "If I had it my way, we'd be there until your birthday, but as it is, it'll be for four days. What I /really/ want to do is hop around. Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand. I want a whole month dedicated to it, and then a whole month dedicated to the best places on Earth to snowboard."

Tane/Luke: "A month and a half would be nice, but four days in Hawaii is better than four days pretty much anywhere else."

Tane smiled at that, which made Luke's blush just a little darker. He was definitely flustered. "Exactly. Knew we'd get along."

Just drink, Luke told himself. Drink and try to act like a person. "If you want to snowboard, definitely go to Colorado," he said to Q. "And Canada."

The thought of all that snow and cold made Tane shudder. "You go to Canada, I'll stick to showing you around my homeland and adopted homeland."

Luke blinked. "You're Australian?"

Q: "I'll take Colorado. I was thinking more like Sweden, but you know, I should have something to compare it to. Oh and, you are coming with. No excuses."

Tane/Luke: Tane nodded at Luke and shook his head at Q. "I'll freeze to death and go broke buying dad sweaters!"

Q: "You'll be fine! You'll have us to warm you up." He winked at Luke.

Tane/Luke: Luke? Oh Luke wasn't here anymore. A tomato with blond hair had taken his place. "I take it you're not a fan of the cold?" he asked, voice sounding squeaky and nervous to his own ears.

"Not one bit. I grew up in Hawaii and Australia, dealing with snow is not in my wheelhouse. If I go, I'm going to spend the entire trip inside by a fire with a mug of hot chocolate."

Q: "You'd hate Chicago. Especially in winter. It's just an excuse to wear your best clothes and an even better excuse to strip the one you're with."

Tane/Luke: Tane tried not to smile too much when Luke choked on his drink and coughed at Q's little comment. "My step-dad worked in Chicago when he was younger and he told me his eyelashes got frost on them when he was waiting for the bus in the winter. Fuck that. I'll stick to the warmth."

Q: "I going to have to show you Chicago. If you wanna hide that's fine. Maybe you'd prefer March. Everything becomes green."

Tane: "I'll go anywhere in the spring and summer. Colorado, Canada, Chicago, anywhere. The sun is my friend."

Q: "Then it stinks and you can feel the pollution aging your skin."

Tane: "You can go to the beach and swim and have barbecues and bonfires."

Q: "Getting half-naked and sweaty, dropping wet after a swim."

Q looked Luke over and grinned from ear-to-ear. "Am I being too much, baby?"

Tane/Luke: Tane couldn't help but chuckle when, rather than answer, Luke returned to his lovely crimson shade and downed some more of his drink.

"That looks like a yes," he said, taking a drink himself.

Luke cleared his throat, trying to save face a little. But there were two handsome men smiling at him and flustering him and god, he couldn't get it together. "I'm fine. Totally fine."

Q: Q just smiled on patiently. "Would you be totally fine if I kissed you right here and now?"

Luke: "Not with our current audience." And he didn't mean Tane. There were four judgy people just in his line of sight.

Q: "What if weeee were to excuse ourselves from the party in a few minutes?"

Tane/Luke: Luke blinked. Glanced to Tane. Tane put two and two together. Luke blinked again.

"Seriously?" he asked, feeling the sudden need to look around for Stacey and make sure she couldn't hear. So much for his poker face.

Q: Q's tone remained as calm as ever, though with flecks of lighthearted libidinous still present. "Only if you want to, if everyone is comfortable. We don't have to do anything you don't want, baby."

Tane/Luke: There was a certain deer-in-headlights look in Luke's eyes that tugged at Tane. Something was making him nervous, and it wasn't the notion of taking a private moment with Q.

"She won't bother you," he heard himself say as he caught Stacey's voice somewhere in the crowd. His own had gone reassuring and gentle. "Her attention can be focused elsewhere."

Q: "We all arrived as friends, and we're all leaving as friends. That's all she has to know." She had made mountains out of less material, but that wasn't something Q cared about in the least.

Tane/Luke: "And if he tries to say something or stick her nose where it doesn't belong, we'll have Charmaine's little sister Mira say something mean to her." He pointed toward the other side of the room. "She's right over there flirting with that Jason Bourne look-a-like."

That got a smile out of Luke.

Q: The escort laughed. "Yeah. We'll use Mira. Super effective and devastating attack." He wanted to touch Luke, to give him the usual assurance as he would in private.

Tane/Luke: Tane smiled. He could see Luke start to relax, even if it was only a little. "She takes after her Uncle Glenn. She's a third his size but she's just as scary in that really quiet way." The perfect deterrent against Stacey and her big mouth.

"She is scary," Luke said, chuckling softly. It was one of the things he liked best about her. "I'm okay, really."

Q: Stacey, at least in this moment, seemed harmless as she chased her child around the yard yelling, "I'm going to get you!" She wasn't all bad, just a gossip. A really fucking annoying gossip, but her faults were few.

"Smells like the crab boil is almost done. Ever had that before? You know, grab and potato and corn on the cob in one pot?" He grinned at both. "Maybe Tane, but not you."

Luke: Luke grinned back. "I did grow up here, remember? If it has a shell and it came out of the ocean, I've had it cooked a thousand different ways."

Q: "But you're my posh lawyer. There's not a dirty bone in you."

Luke: Now there was a laugh. "Before I was a posh lawyer I was a squeamish kid who used to hide in his brother's lap when fishing with our dad so I wouldn't see the fish guts."

Q: "That's so adorable and also makes my point," he laughed.

Luke: "There are no fish guts today though," Luke chuckled. "I'm fine as long as I can't see or smell them."

Q: "But you're cracking into their hand! They needed those for eating! You're a monster," he teased. He figured Luke was one squeamish moment away from being one of those vegan people.

Tane/Luke: Hearing Tane chuckle made Luke smile even more. "They're chilling out in crab heaven, they're totally fine!"

Q: "You can justify your eating their insides. You're more devious than I imagined!"

Luke: "Oh, yeah. The most devious, posh family lawyer in all North Carolina."

Q: "And you're mine."

Luke: And there went that blush again, this time accompanied by a ridiculous smile that Luke tried to hide by ducking his head.

Q: "What's that? You're hiding from me?"

He stepped closer, but not to touch him with his mouth. That would be too much for their setting. Instead, he whispered in his ear how much he wanted him, how much he wanted to kiss every inch of blush.

He looked into Tane's eyes and winked.

Tane/Luke: "Not from you," he managed, smile obvious even in his voice. He was hiding from everyone else, not wanting to draw any attention to their little corner of the party.

Of course, there was no telling how Luke was going to be able to avoid that with all the lovely, swoon-worthy things Q was whispering to him. He wished with every fiber of his being that they were in an invisibility bubble so he could snuggle into his pretend boyfriend's arms and kiss him.

Tane chuckled silently over Luke's shoulder. "You're flustering him," he mouthed to Q.

Q: Oh, I know, Q thought. I bet you could fluster him just as easily.

Ignorance was bliss, thanks to an elegant past lover, no idea that he possessed an innate preternatural talent. The very same power which could have inflicted Tane Lukela since night one.

"Do you really want to stick around for under seasoned food, or do you want to feign a headache and have us walk you home?"

Tane/Luke: "I thought there was no such thing as under-seasoned in the south," Tane mused, eying the food table suspiciously.

"You'd be surprised." Luke cleared his throat, finally lifting his face. It was very much red. "It's tempting. I could feed us properly seasoned food. Got some mahi at the market I was planning to grill."

Q: "Now that sounds like a party I want to be a part of." An extrovert though he was, time spent with Luke was spent as though paid. His happiness and satisfaction were still very much a priority. He wanted Tane to be a part of Luke's life.

"You do that, and maybe...maybe I'll put on a show for you...both."

Tane/Luke: Tane quickly nodded in agreement. "You had me at mahi. Not enough places around here serve it." Plus, he was curious to see what Luke was like when he was in an environment he felt confident and secure in.

Luke's brows shot up in surprise. "Is that code for a strip tease in my living room?"

Q: "Is that something Mr. Graham would like from me?"

Luke: Ordinarily yes, but Q had said 'both' so...

"....Perhaps. Perhaps."

Q: "What are the conditions required for a yes?"

Luke: "No conditions, just...mulling."

Q: "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, baby."

Luke: Luke nodded. "I know," he said, smiling softly.

Q: "Tane has been a surprise I've been debating for you for a while now." He smiled to Big T, gentle and, as the bouncer would probably recognize, loving. His attention returned to the lawyer, fingers brushed over his hand as he took his glass from him.

"I'll get refills."

Tane/Luke: Of course Tane recognized that smile. It was one of the many, many things he loved about Q, and he would always give one back in kind when he was gifted with it.

Meanwhile, the look of flustered embarrassment on Luke's face had been replaced by one of, well, surprise.

Tane was a surprise? For him? Did Tane know he was a surprise? Even if he didn't, he seemed perfectly fine with it. He was still smiling and friendly. That was probably a good sign, right?

He nodded at Q while the conga line of questions danced through his head. "Okay. Thank you." He turned to Tane. "So...you're...."

"Your surprise," Tane said softly, smiling at Luke in his gentle, soothing way. He hadn't known beforehand but as Luke surmised, he was perfectly fine with it. "Is that okay?"

You're giant and gorgeous. Of course it's okay. "I--yes."

Q: Q took his sweet time in the kitchen, watching them every once in a while from the open window. They were unique. The contrasts between them didn't negate either man. He wouldn't always be what Luke Graham needed. Someday he would have to move on. Tane Lukela was the only man he could think of worthy of his company. He knew he would treat him preciously, like the gift he was. Watching them, it was already apparent that his assumption had been accurate.

Small talk redirected his attention. He allowed it, and allowed himself to relax.

Tane/Luke: Even though he was starting to relax, what remained of Luke's nerves still made Tane smile. He'd never met a lawyer this soft and cute before, and yet he couldn't help but think that not everyone got to see this side of Luke, or even knew it existed. He struck Tane as a very private person and that just tugged at him in some kind of way.

"What Q said still holds up, you know. Surprise or not. You don't have to do anything you don't want to or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable."

Luke nodded again. He hadn't needed it, but the reassurance was still nice. And appreciated. "Thanks for that."

"No need to thank me. It's a given, always will be. For me and for Q." Another smile. "He cares about you a lot, and I can tell you care for him."

A warm tingle settled in Luke's chest. "I do."

Q: Q slowly began to make his way back. Every sectioned crowd was given a greeting and his input. Those outside by the giant pot were assisted in cutting up a new batch of potatoes with his pocket knife. A beer was chugged with the most heavy drinking competitive. Finally, he made his way over.

"What did I miss?"

Tane/Luke: This time around, Luke wasn't nearly as anxious for Q to return as he had been the last time. Which wasn't to say he wasn't keeping an eye out for him, waiting for his warm, comforting presence to make itself known again. Still, it was a good testament to Tane's powers of distraction and innate ability to set people at ease.

He even managed to make Luke laugh. He was still patting himself on the back for it when Q came back to them. "Not much. I was just telling Luke about how my brother Derek scarred me for life literally and metaphorically with the frisbee."

Q: "Oh, that story. You're going to have to get over it, Big T. I'm going to throw one at you every day until you chill. That's what's going to happen."

Tane: "I already did!" he chuckled. "When I played with you and Logan. I even caught it a couple times."

Q: "You still flinched."

Tane/Luke: "But I still caught it!"

Luke couldn't help but smile. He just couldn't imagine this giant man flinching,

Q: "I'll show you later, Luke. It's fucking adorable and yet you want to make it worse and do it again."

Tane/Luke: Tane gasped in sheer, dramatic betrayal and Luke lost his battle with his giggle.

"It is not!" said Tane. "I am not adorable when I'm ducking from rogue frisbees."

Q: "Luke will be the judge of that later," he nodded.

Tane: "Luke is gonna be Logan today because I will hide behind him if you throw the frisbee hard on purpose just to make me flinch."

Q: "Luke will know that getting out of the way is good for you."

Luke: "Luke also has a healthy fear of getting hit in the face," Luke chuckled. "But I will simultaneously protect and help provide exposure therapy."

Q: "You're going to protect him? Tell me how. I want it all."

Luke: "I may be a ref now but once upon a time on my college team I played goal keeper. I'm very good at blocking foreign objects coming at me."

Q: "Are you going to reach the top of his head? Maybe if he ducked. He does that often." Oh, he was grinning from ear-to-ear.

Tane: Tane was squinting at Q. "You're enjoying this far too much." He was definitely going to have to do something about that later.

Q: "What are you going to do about it?" Tell me in front of Luke.

Tane/Luke: A smiled tugged at the corner of Tane's mouth. "Not entirely sure buuuuut…..that ass of yours is very bite-able."

Luke inhaled sharply.

Q: Q smiled knowingly, breathed slowly. "What do you think, Luke? Any truth to that?"

Luke: You would think by now Luke would've relaxed and gotten his blushes under control, but that wasn't the case.

His face was still very much red as he gave a jerky nod. "Mhmm." He didn't trust himself to speak.

Q: "What's the matter, baby?" Q tilted his head, completely innocent.

Luke: He just smiled and shook his head. "Nothin'." Ah ha, he found his voice! "Nothin' at all."

Q: "What's good, then?"

Luke: "Ah, well...Tane's suggestion has merit. A lot of merit."

Q: "Want a demonstration?"

Luke: He gave a slow nod. Not hesitant, just slow.

Q: "Want to go home?" A question asked to both men.

Tane/Luke: Another nod from Luke, along with a smile from Tane. "Let's go have ourselves some seasoned food."

Q: "You know the way to my house." His keys were given to Luke. "Going to say goodbye to our host and explain how so very ill you are, and we need to take care of you."

Luke: "I do," Luke said as he took the keys. If his smile got any bigger his face was going to start to hurt. If anyone believed he was really feeling sick, it would be a miracle. "Just gonna have to stop by my house to grab the food so I can feed you both."

Q: "Take Tane with you. I'll meet you there."

Tane: "You sure?" Tane asked.

Q: "He won't bite unless you want him to."

Tane: He laughed. "I meant about walking all the way back."

Q: "I'll be fine. Promise."

Tane: "All right." Since he couldn't give Q the kiss he wanted to give him in their current setting, he simply gave him a smile that promised one soon. "Come on, Luke, let's go get the food."

………………………………………

MJ: The expensive bottle of wine had almost fallen to the floor, rescued in the last possible second. The vampire exhaled and set it safely aside.

"Are ya sure ya wanna?" The idea had been planted by no other, but it had been a heat of the moment suggestion.

Rohan: Rohan inhaled sharply the moment the bottle slipped out of MJ's hands, exhaling in the same fashion and chuckling as it was caught. They'd narrowly escaped a lecture from Xavier about the carpet.

He smiled at his vampire. "I'm sure. Are you?"

MJ: "I...It's - I'm dead, Ro. I don't...understand. Xavier tried t'explain that I - I dunno what m'sayin'."

Rohan: "You are but you're not." MJ was given a gentle kiss. "It's all right if you change your mind, either now or during. We'll start slow and if you want to stop, we'll stop."

MJ: That sounded reasonable. Of course. Solutions were quicker from the witch than with himself. Answers which saved everyone. And those kisses.

"I wanna be...naked with ya."

Rohan: You like the kisses? Have another, beautiful vampire. "As you wish, puiule," he whispered, locking the door and leading MJ over to the bed.

"Want me to do the honors?"

MJ: "So long as I get t'undress ya." So satisfying it was to peel away his clothes like an ugly second skin for something so appealing.

Rohan: His smile radiated with affection for the man before him. "I would never dream of refusing you."

Rohan stepped within his vampire's reach, taking the liberty of removing his shoes before allowing those lovely cool hands to roam everywhere they wished.

MJ: This was a favorite ritual of his. To slide his hands underneath Rohan's shirt, allowing him to siphon his chill before removing the barrier altogether.

"Ro..."

Rohan: Rohan hummed softly at that initial difference in temperate, smile slowly growing as MJ's evened out with his own. He lifted his arms obligingly so his vampire could remove his shirt and stole another kiss before asking, "Yes?"

MJ: "Do you ever think 'bout anyone else?"

Rohan: "In the same way I think about you?" Rohan shook his head as he kissed MJ's shoulder. "No."

MJ: "Not...ever?" He cupped his face and leaned away enough to study his expression.

Rohan: MJ would find nothing but sincerity, and perhaps a bit of curiosity. "Not since the day I met you."

MJ: "The day I came in here all bloody n'crazy?"

Rohan: He nodded. "That day."

MJ: "But..." I was a catastrophe. "Are we... What are we?"

Rohan: A thumb caressed MJ's jaw. "I suppose you could say we're dating or simply....together. Together has a nice ring to it. But what do you want us to be?"

MJ: He leaned into his hand and quietly debated. He knew his instinct.

"Like...a... Ya know like...when ya smoke, or drink, orgasm or pop a pill. That high like... it's not all perfect, but, life ain't shit anymore? S'what it's like with ya. I wanna keep it, but I know the high goes away."

Rohan: "Eventually, perhaps." The perhaps was very important in this scenario. Even if MJ wasn't ready for something permanent or didn't want to label whatever was between them, Rohan wasn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

"But not now. Not for a long time," he whispered, nuzzling his beautiful vampire's cheek.

MJ: "N'ya still wanna..." Those kisses were distracting, simple though they were. "...Ya still wanna...have sex with me? Real sex?"

Rohan: Rohan nodded. "I do, but still only if that's what you want too."

MJ: "N'ya don't see it as...as..."

Rohan: He shook his head. "I don't."

MJ: "Then...finish undressin' me. Please."

Rohan: MJ was given a soft smile and one of those kisses he loved so much as Rohan pulled him close. He wanted every bit of his vampire in reach while he eased his shirt off, while he undid his jeans, while he lavished every inch of exposed skin with affection.

Rohan was going to take his time and take great care with the precious man in his arms. He wanted tonight to be as pleasurable for MJ as possible.

MJ: Bare skin, pale, dusted with the occasional dark freckle. A mole over his rib.

He wanted to give Rohan similar treatment, but he wanted to wait. He wanted to be completely nude before offering the same to his witch. It felt... submissive.

Rohan: Every one of those freckles was given loving, lingering attention, as was that sweet little mole. As was all of MJ.

Rohan's lips followed MJ's jeans as he slid them down the vampire's legs, and once they had been tossed away, the process was repeated with MJ's boxers until at last there was nothing between him and all that lovely skin. He would slowly work his way back up MJ's body, pausing briefly at his groin to press a soft kiss just above the base of his shaft.

MJ: No one had ever made him feel so feminine. No one had been given the opportunity. Not even Peter Graham, the man he believed to be his and his alone.

What an inappropriate time to think about the man that had broken his heart.

Rohan was suddenly held around his shoulders, face nuzzled into his neck.

Rohan: The sudden movement took Rohan by surprise. For half a second he expected and prepared for MJ to tell him to stop, that it was too much and that he'd changed his mind. But then his vampire was simply holding him.

"It's all right, puiule," he murmured, arms immediately coming up to hold MJ close, to offer reassurance and comfort and affection. "I've got you. It's just you and me. I've got you."

MJ: "M'alright," he muttered. "Don't need t'talk t'me like that. M'not gonna break." Not yet, anyway. Not by this.

Rohan: Rohan nodded and kissed MJ's shoulder, hands rubbing over his back for both the pleasure of feeling his skin and to reassure.

MJ: "Ya feel so warm," he marveled at the differences in their skin. "Aren't ya hot all the time?"

Rohan: He chuckled softly. "Only in the summer. All other times I'm comfortable, even when it's cold. I have that thick Romanian blood."

MJ: "Show off." What would Rohan do with fangs teased against his throat, with the obvious arousal against his thigh? How would he feel to the deliberate breaths against his skin...

Rohan: How would he feel in the face of so many signs of MJ's attraction and arousal?

Absolutely divine.

Rohan gave an appreciative little hum, hold tightening around MJ so he could feel more of him. That beautiful face required kisses, as did that shoulder. And that perfectly sculpted ass? Well that needed a loving squeeze.

MJ: Rohan must have known that such a hold made him feel secure, protected from that which was within. It would do nothing against Victoria, he assumed. He was mistaken. The stronger he felt, the less control she could wield.

"Tighter."

Rohan: If MJ wanted to be held tighter then Rohan would practically fuse them together. He'd lower him to the bed and all but wrap around him as he covered him with kisses.

MJ: No one. Not one man or woman had ever - he must have repeated that thought a hundred times.

He hadn't given Peter a chance to.

"Just...um... If we, uh, do this...are ya gonna be rough, or...?"

Rohan: Rohan shook his head. "No, puiule. If we do, it's going to be nice and easy. I want you to be comfortable."

MJ: "How do you want me. Like this on my back?"

Rohan: "For now, yes." They could change positions later if MJ preferred or needed it. They had all the time in the world and Rohan intended to use it all. MJ deserved for his first time being with someone like this to be special, for the person he chose to be gentle and thorough and put his pleasure and comfort above all else and Rohan was immensely honored to be that person.

"I'm going to prep you first. We'll go slow, I promise."

MJ: "Ya -Ya don't gotta - Ya ain't gotta be gentle. I mean...m'not gonna cry. Not much can hurt me, so..." A tough front, unwarranted bravery in the face of sex. He wondered...if Peter would be this caring. He wondered if Fletcher Goodman had been careful with him.

Rohan deserved better.

"Are ya sure ya want me? Are ya sure - Why me? I'm trash."

Rohan: "I'm sure, puiule," Rohan murmured, pulling MJ into a kiss and pouring himself into it. It was far more eloquent than anything he could ever say.

You're the farthest thing from trash there is. You're good. You're beautiful. You mean the world to me and I want you so much.

MJ: Naked and vulnerable, MJ involuntarily mewled into their kiss. Safe, he chanted. He was safe here. This man loved him. This man...

He kissed his jaw and fiddled with the witch's hair.

"If we're a thing, are - Ya won't...ever...cheat, will ya? Just be honest. I can take it." He couldn't.

Rohan: That was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard his vampire make and it made every single fiber of Rohan's being clench with feeling.

He nuzzled MJ's cheek, kissed it. "Never. I'm yours, MJ. Only yours."

MJ: He'd told Peter to move on, so it hadn't been cheating.

No, he'd come back. Peter had every opportunity to tell him. He hadn't. He lied.

He deserved it for having Victoria inside him.

When had his eyes glazed pink with tears he couldn't say. He didn't realize.

"Promise?"

Rohan: More kisses were placed on MJ's lips, his face, his hair. It broke Rohan's heart to see him cry.

"On my life."

MJ: MJ covered his face when he realized what had happened. A soft growl of frustration followed.

"Sorry." Man the fuck up.

Rohan: "Don't apologize." So many more kisses, for distraction and affection and everything in between.

MJ: "You're too sweet," he grumbled.

Rohan: He smiled against MJ's skin. "No such thing when it comes to you."

MJ: "See! There ya go again!"

Rohan: Rohan would simply continue to smile and lavish affection on MJ every which way he possibly could.

MJ: "Stooooop," he whined, laughing a moment later.

Rohan: Ah, there it was! That lovely laugh he didn't get to hear nearly enough of.

He finally lifted his head, smile triumphant. "Stop? As you wish! My kisses will be locked away!"

MJ: "Good." No, no not good at all. Now it was his turn to lovingly assault his beautiful witch with kisses from his face to his neck to his shoulder.

Rohan: MJ would be immediately rewarded with soft, appreciative hums as Rohan melted into the affection. He'd never get his fill of those lips and those kisses. They were just too perfect, and the only way he could think to communicate that was sneaking in some more affection of his own. MJ's chest was right there, after all. It would be positively criminal not to love on it.

………………………………..

MJ/Lawrence: MJ held his arms around Rohan's head and breathed him in. His shampoo, his natural scent, the subtlety of the wine cellar.

Lawrence looked over the list for what felt like the hundredth time. Things they would need. Things they would want. When they would need to see the doctor, and the pros and cons of leaving his home with Mason Atlas.

Rohan/Gina: Whatever MJ did, if he was within easy reach he was going to be held tight and lavished with all the love Rohan could possibly give him.

Gina watched Lawrence stare at his paper, imagining she could see the wheels turning in his head. It was a good long time before she said, "If you look at that list any harder you're going to burn a hole in it."

Lawrence: "Hmm?" He managed to tear his eyes away to look at her.

Gina: She smiled. "Where are you?"

Lawrence: "Finances, months ahead of us." He tapped his pen over the last of his tasks. Possibly moving out of Cameron.

"I don't want you to have to see him."

Gina: "I haven't in months." She didn't have to ask who Lawrence meant. "Something tells me I'm a subject he avoids like the plague. Maybe even more so now."

Lawrence: "Mason doesn't hate you."

Gina: Gina gave him a disbelieving look.

Lawrence: "He has no reason to. You didn't influence Callum. With you or not that man doesn't care about me."

Gina: She reached for Lawrence's hand and held it to her cheek. "That's his loss. You're wonderful. Possibly the most wonderful human being ever."

Lawrence: Her fiancé smiled. "You're just putting a daisy chain on the truth."

Gina: "No daisy chains. Just the truth." She kissed his palm. "What else is on your list?"

Lawrence: "I need to rethink and...or...expand my career. I want to be on the right foot for this."

Gina: Gina smiled. He really was the most wonderful man she'd ever met.

"You already are. Tell me what you're thinking. Your career has to be a source of happiness. Or it should be anyway."

Lawrence: "Notary is Mason's job, his life, a source of satisfaction. It's not difficult to maintain, but I'm not also a contract demon. I love...domestic work."

Gina: She considered for a moment. "Could I run something by you? If it's too weird you can absolutely say no."

Lawrence: He gestured for her to continue, sitting back in his chair.

Gina: "What if you worked at the inn? Supervising the cleaning staff?"

Lawrence: "Is that - Is that something you actually want?"

Gina: "I've been thinking about it for a while. I just didn't know if you would like the idea or think it was too weird but....I would love it if we ran the inn together. It's going to be our inn now. Not just mine."

Lawrence: "I don't want you to feel obligated or compelled to share with me. I don't want to take away your independence. This is yours and I don't want you to write me in any documentation."

Gina: "I don't and you aren't. I own a business and a home and a car, my independence is well established." She leaned over to kiss him. "I'm offering because I want to."

Lawrence: "So... you want me to be the housekeeping manager? And who is right now?"

Gina: "Would you be interested? Mary-Beth Carter is right now, but she gave notice nearly two weeks ago since she got a new job in Kitty Hawk."

Lawrence: "She moved? Where has my mind been..."

Gina: "Not properly. She's been moving slowly over the past few weeks instead of doing it all at once."

Lawrence: He resisted the urge to ask if she needed assistance. With a child on the way, such good will would have to take a backseat. To an extent.

"...Alright. Yes, then. But if and when you're done with me, say so."

Gina: "Yay!" Gina gave him another kiss and squeezed him tight. "I could never be done with a man who attacks a dirty oven with the white-hot passion of a thousand suns."

Lawrence: To that he actually laughed. "To think I found a woman with as much passion for cleaning as I have."

Gina: "It's so satisfying!" she chuckled. "And dinner's more fun when we have dance parties with the kitchen clean up afterward."

Lawrence: "We're an 80’s movie about coming of age."

Gina: "We are. All we need is ridiculous hair and denim jackets."

Lawrence: "I'll have you know denim jackets are cool."

Gina: She chuckled again. "Sweetie, you might be the only person who can pull one off."

Lawrence: "And men with long hair, with tassels on the sleeves."

Gina: "You could pull of those too. And aviator sunglasses and saying 'bitchin' every other sentence."

Lawrence: "What kind of image have you made of me?"

Gina: "It's forming as we speak," she laughed. "We should have 80's themed costumes for Halloween."

Lawrence: "What will you be?"

Gina: "Madonna."

Lawrence: "Pointy breasts and everything?"

Gina: She laughed. "Yep! Although by that point it'll be a little difficult to pull it off."

Lawrence: "A pregnant Madonna. You'll be fine!"

Gina: "That's one word for it," she said with another laugh. "You know, I bet there really is a maternity size Madonna costume that exists."

Lawrence: "You could be a victim from the Alien films, too."

Gina: "Ooh, I could! Or Ripley!"

Lawrence: "The best part of being pregnant is going to be Halloween, isn't it?" he laughed.

Gina: Gina grinned. "Absolutely. I get to eat all the chocolate I want!"

Lawrence: "How..." He shouldn't be shy about the subject, but he was. "...How many complications did you experience the first time?"

Gina: It was understandable, considering her history. She squeezed his hand. "None with my actual pregnancy. I had anemia but so did my mama when she was pregnant with me."

Lawrence: "Anemia. What - What does that entail while pregnant?"

Gina: "It basically means I'm not producing enough healthy red blood cells for me and the baby, so my doctor had me take iron tablets and vitamin B12."

Lawrence: Nodding, the pad and pen were take once more to write what she said.

Gina: "Oh, also folic acid and ginger since I had pretty severe morning sickness which was partially what caused the anemia."

Lawrence: "I'll look into pregnant friendly foods with the highest iron content. Probably dark leafy greens."

Gina: She smiled. "Yep, that's what I ate. All I wanted was spinach salad with strawberries. And lobster rolls."

Lawrence: "You can have lobster?"

Gina: "Yep, in moderation."

Lawrence: "I feel...like being alive for a lifetime could have come in handy at this time."

Gina: "Pregnancy is a weird and complicated topic. Even people who have been alive for a lifetime have plenty to learn."

Lawrence: "Is that...Does that bother you any?"

Gina: Gina shook her head. "Not one bit. There was a lot I didn't learn before that I'm excited to learn with you. Not just about pregnancy but raising a baby, too."

Lawrence: "And...what about other things? Things like what I am and behind the veil?"

Gina: She shook her head again. "What you are has never bothered me, the things beyond the veil don't bother me. All that matters to me is that we're together and we love each other and that we communicate. I always want us to be able to communicate."

Lawrence: "I understand that you were taken aback by my big reveal, but you don't miss what I was? Is this," his face to which he gestured, "actually alright?"

Gina: Her face softened as she smiled. "This," she said, lifting a hand to his face, "is absolutely beautiful. You look different but you're still you. You still /feel/ like you. My Lawrence."

Lawrence: Lawrence softly blinked, stunned by her positivity and acceptance. This woman gave more than his own - no. He didn't want that thought like a plague rotting his future. If he did, he knew he'd also think of her own, wherever her soulmate was.

"I'm robbing someone of you."

Gina: "I really don't think you are. Call it a gut feeling."

Lawrence: "You're just saying that, Ginnie."

Gina: "If I didn't believe it, maybe. But I do believe it. I don't think I have a supposed soulmate out there. I believe you're it for me. You're the love of my life, the father of our child, and soon my husband."

Lawrence: "I wish I had your kind of belief. It's beautiful, like faith."

Gina: She smiled, kissing his knuckles. "Maybe one day you'll have it, too. Babies bring faith and belief."

Lawrence: "I'm going to be a father," he mused. Smile slowly returned to light his features. "I want to forget - forget why I exist and give myself a new reason. You."

Gina: "Yeah, you are." More kisses were given to his hand and then his face. She was so very grateful he existed. "Not just me anymore, sweetheart." She placed his hand over her belly again. "Don't forget little name-to-come."

……………………………………………

Q: Q felt his pocket for the second time as he wound the sidewalk leading up to the apartments. He hadn't expected to see his Tracker under his personal carport. They had real chemistry, and his expectations for their budding relationship was high. High enough to offer his own body for their mutual pleasure. Who knew? Maybe Tane would realize he would never find true love with a prostitute. He would have to wait and see.

Tane/Luke: The trip to his house and then to Q's wasn't nearly as awkward as Luke had (briefly) been afraid it was going to be. They made small talk, Luke gave Tane a tour of the first floor of Pete's house, he introduced him to Midas. All with only a couple of moments of silence. Definitely something to be proud of.

When Q entered his apartment, he'd find Tane dutifully playing sous chef while Luke prepped their meal. Luke was blushing something fierce and Tane had a distinctly amused look on his face that Q was sure to recognize as the one he wore when saying random and scandalous things to make someone laugh.

Q: Q had quietly shut the door behind himself. Not wanting to surprise, but wanting to have a better study of the two without their notice. This was Tane and Luke without his influence, and he liked what he saw.

"Whatever he said, it's probably true."

Tane: Tane looked over when he heard Q's voice, grin still in place. "It is. I'm telling him about that really really drunk lady at that bachelorette party who hit on both of us, Stacey, some random girl, and then the boss. Remember, she was yelling everything she wanted us to do and thought she was whispering?"

Q: "Ah, yeah. I've never seen her since. I think she's too embarrassed to ever show her face again."

Luke: "I would be too," Luke muttered, trying to compose himself. "I'd probably never leave my house again."

Q: "Don't say shit like that. I will come up with horrific ways to embarrass you in public. I'll fall to my knees and kiss your ass."

Luke: "I'll spontaneously combust. You wouldn't make me spontaneously combust."

Q: "I will if the spirit grabs me," he grinned.

Luke: Have a puppy dog look.

Q: He would have it, and he would dare kiss those lips in front of Tane. Soft, slow, deliberate. What would Tane think? feel?

"Just like that," he purred. "The spirit grabbed me."

Tane/Luke: The spirit had made Luke's entire face and probably his body go bright red and immediately burrow into the crook of Q's neck to hide. From the embarrassment? From Tane? Who knew.

But if Luke was worried about Tane, he needn't have been. The reaction to that kiss had to be one of the sweetest, most intimate things he'd ever witnessed, and he felt strangely...moved by it.

Q: Arms wound their way around Luke's shoulders, swaying him in an effort to coax a laugh or smile. He turned them just so to lay eyes on the bouncer, locking eyes with an interest in his thoughts and compulsions.

Tane/Luke: Q succeeded. It wasn't a laugh, but Q would definitely be able to feel a smile against his skin.

Tane was looking on with a soft smile, one that just got softer when he met Q's gaze. What he was seeing there was a lot of trust from Luke. Trust that he would be able to hide against Q, that Q would hold him and make him feel safe. It was beautiful to see. So much so that a part of him wondered what it would be like to experience it for himself.

But he and Luke weren't there yet. Developing that trust took time and they'd only just met.

Q: Trust was part of his job. It had been since his first hundred dollars. Trust to be clean, appropriate, skilled, the perfect pseudo boyfriend. But Luke was more than a client. He had been since before the checks stopped flowing. He didn't know what to call them.

"So," he whispered, "dinner, yeah? You're teaching him how to be a proper chef?"

Luke: Luke nodded. It was so tempting to just stay snuggled against Q; it was by far his favorite place to be.

"Yeah. He's a decent chef already."

Q: "Is he now?" he chuckled. "He sure fooled me."

Tane: "Hey," said Tane. "I'm an excellent sous chef and part time chef."

Q: "What have you ever made me besides breakfast?"

Tane: "Shrimp, in many ways. Sometimes with rice."

Q: "Your Hawaiian is showing."

Luke: Ah, what was that? A giggle from a certain lawyer who had yet to emerge from hiding?

Q: Oh, that noise. He wanted more of it. He would take it by loving force, tickling at his ribs without mercy.

"What was that noise? Did that come outta here?"

Tane/Luke: Luke was helpless to stop the flood of giggles caused by such a loving assault, or to keep from squirming in a half-hearted effort to get away.

Just like Tane was helpless to stop the smile from splitting his face in half. It was official. Luke Graham was the most adorable lawyer in the world.

Q: Once Luke seemed too exhausted to resist, he was lifted into his arms by his ass. He loved hearing this man laugh. He loved being the cause just as much.

"No room on the counter for you. Guess you're trapped in my arms."

Tane/Luke: Luke all but wrapped himself around Q, nuzzling in even further as Tane's expression went all soft and melty again.

It wasn't just trust that Luke had with Q; it was complete trust. Luke could relax and be vulnerable and maybe even forget Tane was there because he knew Q wouldn't drop him.

"Guess I am," Luke said happily.

Q: Luke would hear a soft chuckle in his ear, followed by a trail of kisses down his neck. Precious man. He needed to be protected for when he'd no longer be around. Hence Tane Lukela.

Time to give the neglected Tane some attention.

"What stage are you guys on? Need help, Big T?"

Tane: Tane tore his mind away from the sweetness that was Luke and smiled at Q.

"We're nearing the end. Need to get a grill pan going and marinate the fish."

Q: "You'll be the first to use any of that stuff. You know what I eat on the daily."

Tane: "Yes I do. You and Logan are on the same level cooking wise."

The grill pan was placed on the stove before he went to grab the fish from the fridge.

Q: "I beg to differ. She can actually bake. I make smoothies."

Tane: "That's still amazing to me. We both watched her make a full fledged baked Alaska and burn pasta in the same day."

Q: "She's quite the catch." Just like the man in his arms. He deserved another kiss and sweet nothings whispered in his ear.

Tane/Luke: "Yes she is." He looked over in time to see the affectionate exchange and it made him smile once more.

Luke had braved enough to return Q's kisses, albeit in a much more demure way than he usually would. There was a big part of him that wanted to say screw food and just stay right where he was, but that would be rude.

Q: "So, before...you agreed with something Big T said. Do you remember what that was?"

Luke: Luke's blush returned as he nodded.

Q: "Why don't you tell me."

Luke: He would, but he'd whisper it very softly, so only Q would be able to hear.

"That your ass is biteable."

Q: "Do you want to see that?"

Luke: A moment. A pause. And another nod.

Q: Eyes never left the man in his arms. "T, you want to show Luke what it's like to bite my ass?"

Tane: Tane could practically sense Luke burrowing again without even having to turn around.

"You know," he began, tone light and gentle, "I really think I would."

Q: "Might want to turn the stove down, then."

Luke was gently tossed onto the touch, and the man he enjoyed calling boyfriend turned back to the kitchen and placed his hands on the fridge.

"All yours," he purred.

Tane/Luke: The sudden absence of Q's warmth left Luke feeling cold enough to want to protest, and had it not been for the anticipation of what he was about to see, he would have. As it was, he'd keep himself warm and give himself a hiding place using one of the couch pillows, because apparently Tane's presence was enough to make him as shy as when he...nope. He'd never been this shy. Ever. This was a first for him, one of many he suspected would come today.

Tane chuckled and turned the pan all the way to low. "Just like that, huh? No ceremony or anything. Right to the point." Have a chaste kiss to your shoulder.

Q: Q knew what Tane was going to do. At least he assumed, going off of every other time he'd played the same game with him before. What he knew for certain was Tane's lips against him, clothed or unclothed, was both soothing and arousing. He could calm his mind and divert his thoughts, but instead allowed himself to bask in the attention and his own selfish erection. This was what Luke wanted to see, after all.

"Slow," was his command. "Give baby a show." Much like his own, trailing his hands to the top of the fridge, allowing full access to his ass.

Tane: Oh, Tane could do slow. Tane loved slow. It gave him time to lavish and explore at his leisure, and now it would also offer Luke a very special show.

Starting at the back of his neck, Tane kissed his way down Q's body, letting his hands trail ahead of his lips and stopping when he hit the small of his bartender's back. Only then did Tane lift up Q's shirt, finally kissing bare skin as he slooooowly inched his pants just far down enough to expose that beautiful ass of his.

Q: His ass so exposed for Luke's viewing pleasure was exactly what he had expected. This had to be a positive experience for his favorite lawyer. He wanted him to enjoy every moan of pleasure and approval. Bare skin needed to be admired by both men. His shirt was tossed aside, offering a better view of his lithe willing body. Sun kissed skin warm and inviting. Almost everywhere. The subject matter at heart was still very much pale.

Tane/Luke: Luke wasn't sure how he was feeling about all this--there was a lot going on in his head at the moment--but so far...this was a very positive experience. He didn't feel weird or jealous seeing Tane with Q, like he was afraid he would, but there was still a lot of shyness and vulnerability he had to work through. No matter how enjoyable it was to experience, he simply wasn't used to being in an intimate situation like with anyone other than Q. Sure he'd had his share of boyfriends but Q was different.

A fact that was obvious to Tane, who was making sure not to move too suddenly or look at Luke directly for fear of embarrassing him further or making him feel uncomfortable. He wasn't only being gentle with Q; he was being gentle with Luke now, too. This would be a show, but it would be a gentle, loving show.

As gentle and loving as the series of open-mouthed kisses and teasing nips he placed all over that beautiful pale skin, watching Luke's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Q: Q remained as still as he could, allowing his approval to show with soft hums and dips and turns of his head. If he focused, he wouldn't have to submit to arousal.

"What do you want to see now, Luke?"

Tane/Luke: Ah, but they hadn't gotten to their main event yet. The thing that had piqued Luke's curiosity and landed them here.

Before Luke could try to respond, Tane gave him a wink and gave a playful little bite to Q's ass.

Q: "Ahn!" Nails lightly scraped over the stainless steel fridge. A laugh quickly followed. "Goddammit. Ya got me."

Tane: "Oh yes I did," Tane chuckled warmly, pressing a kiss to the same spot to soothe. "Lulled you and your ass into a false sense of security."

Q: "Neither of you will gain access to this temple." Another little something for Luke.

Tane: "Promises, promises." Another playful bite and Q's pants were set to rights.

Q: And it was back to their cooking, playing it smooth for Luke's sake.

"How was that?" he asked the man on the couch.

Tane/Luke: Luke would've responded, but he was busy blushing and trying to gather himself.

Surely the look in his eyes would answer for him; it had been a very pleasant sight.

Q: "I think we broke him," he whispered.

Tane: Tane smiled to himself. "Maybe just a little. Better go kiss him back to life."

Q: Then his spoon was set aside. He joined him on the couch and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

Luke: Luke immediately leaned into Q. "Hi," he murmured softly.

Q: "Are you alright, baby?"

Luke: He nodded, offered Q a shy little smile. "Better than."

Q: "Good." A kiss to his cheek, his temple, and his hand.

Luke: The smile got brighter. "We should go to the beach. Get some sun."

Q: "Today? Tomorrow?"

Luke: "Soon. I know all the good beaches without any tourists. Completely private."

Q: "So you're saying a nude beach," he grinned.

Luke: "Not officially but yes," Luke chuckled.

Q: "Is...Tane invited?"

Luke: He glanced over to where Tane had resumed dinner prep and nodded. "Yes. He is."

Q: "So you're alright with Tane?" he quietly asked.

Luke: Another nod. "Yeah, I think I am," he said just as softly. He's a lot like you."

Q: "Twice the fun," he smiled.

Luke: "And twice the handsome. I might swoon."

Q: "Swoon, will you?" He kissed his neck again. "What a romantic notion."

Luke: "Yep, maybe more than once." He hummed softly at the kiss, nuzzling him. His blush had started to fade in the face of such lovely affection.

"What can I say, you bring out the romantic in me."

Q: "You understand why I want Tane here?" The apartment was small. He expected the bouncer to hear every word. That was somewhat the point. What was more critical was Luke's understanding.

Tane/Luke: Tane did, but he didn't plan to interrupt unless he was spoken to directly. This was a moment Luke needed to have with Q.

And to that end, Luke tried to speak as softly as possible. "Kind of?"

Q: "I won't always be in Edenton," he continued on just as gently. "I want you to have another friend. And...maybe more."

Luke: "What do you mean you won't always be in Edenton?" Was Q leaving?

Q: "Someday I am going to move. I love this place," and he paused, allowing Luke to fill in the blank, "but it's not my forever home."

Luke: His gaze fell to his lap. That sounded too much like he was never going to see Q again and Luke didn't like it. He didn't even live in Edenton full time himself but something about 'it's not my forever home' sounded too much like....

Q: "Baby? Talk to me." That silence was much too long.

Luke: Luke shook his head. "It's nothing." He didn't want to think about Dana. That was for nights at his condo when he was alone and couldn't sleep.

Q: The very thought which had Q pressing his forehead against his neck, breathing him in.

"Why are you here?"

Luke: He reached for Q's hand, suddenly in need of the comfort it provided. "To spend time with you," he whispered. "To get to know Tane. To have dinner."

Q: Q took his hand and kissed each finger.

"Is knowing Tane like you do me going to make you happy?"

Luke: He smiled and leaned against Q. "Time will tell, but I hope so."

Q: "Good. Mind if I kiss you?"

Luke: "I don't mind one bit."

Q:  Now for another question.

"Will you mind?" he asked the man in the kitchen.

Tane: The man in the kitchen simply smiled and shook his head. "Not one bit," he echoed.

Q: A temptation crept into his chest like every sexual inkling. Would he mind kissing Luke? He bit his lip and considered, but thought better of it. Instead turning back to his favorite lawyer for his lips.

Tane/Luke: Tane wouldn't mind at all, but it was probably too soon. They'd have to ease Luke into it, help him feel comfortable and safe.

And nothing could do that better than Q's kisses.

Luke hummed softly, melting against his pretend boyfriend, aware of Tane's presence but feeling at ease.

Q: Easing Luke probably didn't mean placing his hand between his legs. It probably didn't mean squeezing, gently biting his throat, humming against his skin knowing what it would do to him.

Luke: It probably didn't, but that didn't mean Luke wouldn't react to the touch.

His breath caught in his throat as his thighs closed around Q's hand. He wouldn't let the moan building in his chest escape.

Q: "Do you want me to stop?" he whispered.

Luke: Luke shook his head.

Q: Then he would continue to squeeze.

"Tell me when to stop." He would unzip him if allowed, though his hand would not dip on the other side just yet. He wanted to gauge his reaction. Luke's security was his number one concern.

Tane/Luke: Tane had stopped mid-chop to watch the scene unfolding on the couch, eyes alight with quiet but very focused interest. He could tell Luke was holding back some, which wasn't a surprise at all, but what he wasn't holding back? Now that was a beautiful sight to behold.

Luke was clinging to Q, hiding his face against the bartender's neck. His lower half was starting to give jerky little movements, clearly aching for more but again, holding himself back.

Q: Squeeze after squeeze without relief. He wanted to torture, just enough to coax a beautiful sound from his companion. Give me something more, his fingers commanded, his lips plead, nuzzling in order to capture that perfect mouth.

Tane/Luke: It was the kiss that did him in. He never could resist those wonderful lips, much less control his reaction to them. Especially not when they were paired with those fingers.

The softest, sweetest little whimper finally managed to escape him, making him hide more at the same moment Tane felt a shock of lust go straight to his groin.

Q: Q's smile would have hurt had he allowed it in full. He had suspected such gentle and submissive noises from this man. Opposite of his brawny and hirsute body. Now there was a witness, a willing audience. Despite his assumption, it had not prepared his body for its reaction.

That cock belonged in his mouth. He asked permission in his ear, and kissed it.

Tane/Luke: Permission was given with another soft whimper. His body's need was successfully trumping his shyness, although not entirely. Absent Q's neck, Luke would be hiding his face in the couch pillow again.

Meanwhile, Tane had given up on cooking entirely in favor of watching the two men on the couch. His hands were itching to touch but he didn't dare approach. This situation was still so new and fragile.

Q: Slowly, with the same attentiveness as Tane, Q dropped to his knees. No sudden movements. His shirt was raised. Open mouth kisses and tongue across and around his navel.

Luke: Luke clung to the pillow like a man clinging to a life preserver. Behind it, his face was bright red and his breathing was quickening. It was just now hitting him that Q wouldn't be the only person seeing...well. A tiny part of his brain wondered what Tane would think. Of him, of this situation, of his reactions. What if he didn't like--

The potential litany of 'what if's' was cut off by Q's wandering mouth.

Luke's breath hitched, hips moving in an attempt to follow the affection. More. He wanted more.

Q: His gaze quickly turned to Tane, questioning his appeal. His crotch was studied and admired.

Flesh was softly bitten. Nudity was the logic in which to follow. But first, "Luke. Look at me. Tell me if this is okay."

Tane/Luke: The appeal and Tane's response to it was written all over his face and reflected in his eyes and his stance. All of his attention was on Luke and on the erection nestled against the soft looking blond hair on his abdomen. He wanted to touch so badly. Would Q be able to tell? Would Luke?

It took a few long seconds, but eventually the pillow lowered just enough for Luke to be able to peer over the top. He could feel Tane's gaze even without meeting it.

He nodded. "It's okay," he whispered.

Q: Wasn't he just beautiful, Tane? That golden hair and sun kissed skin from his weekends of soccer. His shyness, his masculinity, his femininity. He was just so fuckable.

The approval given, he smiled, kissed his stomach one more. "I'm going to undress you now. Want to undress me? Take my shirt off."

Tane/Luke: Absolutely beautiful, and all the more so because he strongly suspected Luke had no idea.

Luke whimpered softly again, burrowing his face against the pillow once more. Just for a little while though. The thought of being able to feel Q's bare skin against his was too appealing to pass up.

Very carefully, the pillow was set aside and the hem of Q's shirt grabbed. Up and over his head it went.

Q: Good. That's exactly what he wanted to see. He raised his arms and chuckled, allowing Luke to keep the garment if he wanted to.

"You're so fucking edible," he teased, nipping softly at his stomach (again) before giving the same treatment.

Luke: Oh, he was keeping it. It was soft and smelled like Q and that was even more comforting than having a pillow to hide his face with.

Ah ha, Q finally managed to get a teeny little smile from Luke! "Edible?" he asked quietly, feeling all warm and glowy and squirmy inside when Q gave more affection to his stomach.

Q: "Mhm. I'm gonna just eat you up, Mr. Graham." Starting with those lips. His tongue offered only a heartbeat into their touch.

Luke: There was a soft chuckle that turned into a soft, dreamy sigh at the kiss. If Q's shirt was a comfort, then his kisses were where Luke felt most at ease, most relaxed, most free to be himself and enjoy.

He let go of Q's shirt in favor of clinging to the man himself, wrapping his arms around his pretend boyfriend's neck to bring him closer.

"Promise?" Luke whispered.

Q: Those needy arms did things to him. This man had been one of his favorite clients. He would become a fond memory when the time came.

Those warm arms were kissed, followed again by his lips.

"I promise I'll eat you nice and slow."

Luke: Shy, embarrassed Luke seemed to be dissipating with every new kiss, allowing more and more of smiley, loving, needy Luke to shine through who hummed into every kiss and made a tiny noise of protest if Q's lips moved away for any reason.

"And you'll give me all the kisses?"

Q: "Every single kiss you want from me."

It was time to remove every article of clothing between them. His pacing was no longer slow and mindful. He felt confident in himself and Luke to move forward, to relax and trust Luke's response to Tane's gaze.

Tane/Luke: "I want a million," he said, smiling so brightly Tane felt his heart clench across the room.

He felt like he was walking a fine line between appreciating the sight of Q rapidly undressing Luke and making him uncomfortable, but from the looks of things he was successfully staying on the appreciation side. He might've even taken a step or two closer.

It was all he could do to keep himself from heading directly to the couch to see if that chest hair was as soft as it looked.

For Luke's part, he was helping Q undress him and returning the favor, resuming his clinging the moment they were both completely bare. And that lovely neck? Well it had gone far too long without some affection. As had those shoulders. And that chest.

Q: Q closed his eyes and allowed Luke to seduce him. His body was warm with life and appropriately turgid. He leaned closer to whisper his proposal.

"Do you want to make love to me? Do you want to watch Tane's hands on me?"

Tane/Luke: The proposal may have been whispered, but Luke's reaction was more akin to it having been shouted. They'd only switched roles once or twice before, and it had never been in a situation quite like this.

Still, the idea of loving on Q and watching someone else do the same.....it had an appeal that made his heart race.

He looked from Q to Tane's stunned face and nodded very slowly.

Q: Q didn't want to put Luke in a position so vulnerable as to be the submissive in Tane's presence. It was a choice he made, but one Luke could refuse if he wanted, which was why it had been a question. He was mindful of those wide eyes and what they were truly saying.

"Yes to both?" He wanted his answer clear.

Luke: It was a consideration Luke would be immensely grateful for later on. The fact that Q gave his comfort such priority and took such care with his trust made Luke treasure him that much more. No one had ever had a better boyfriend, real or pretend.

Another nod. "Yes to both."

Q: One more kiss, one more gentle, loving, slow kiss before turning around, exposed, to Tane Lukela.

"He wants your hands on me."

Tane/Luke: That one kiss was all it took to have Luke practically melting in Q's arms, and have Tane's heart melting along with him.

He gave a single nod before shutting off the stove and washing his hands. When he approached, he did so slowly, waiting for Luke's go ahead before closing the rest of the distance.

Q: Q watched his approach and wanted to laugh. He was so damn cautious. As cute as it was, he could bet it was appreciated by the beautiful nude man beside him.

"I think you're too clothed, but that's my opinion," he grinned.

Tane/Luke: It absolutely was; as was Q's opinion on Tane's current state. Appreciated and shared.

Tane chuckled softly. "Is it now? Then I better do something about that." Starting with his shirt. It was pulled up and over his head, tossed onto the coffee table. "Naked enough yet, gorgeous?"

Q: "You tell him when to stop, Luke. I sure enjoy the fucking view." Goddamn eye candy is what Big T was.

Tane/Luke: Eye candy was right. Luke didn't think people who looked like Tane existed in real life, yet here they were.

All it took was a glance to Tane's belt and off it came.

Tane was hyper-focused on this tiny blond lawyer, you see. Everywhere those eyes went was exposed to his view.

Shoes and socks followed the belt, then his jeans....and then his boxer briefs.

Q: Q leaned back and watched their silent exchange, marveled at their living Adonis and proceeded to touch himself with gusto. In that moment, life was completely and utterly perfect.

………………………………………………………………………

Rohan: To an onlooker, it would be astounding that Rohan managed to move so much while moving so little. MJ was being explored to both their hearts' content all without being denied the safety and comfort of Rohan's embrace.

He wanted his vampire to be delirious with pleasure, to feel nothing but a warm glow as Rohan made love to him. And this was most certainly making love.

While his lips delivered an onslaught of kisses, his hands eased and explored. Rohan wanted MJ to get accustomed to not only his touch, but being touched in all those lovely intimate places he had yet to explore and learn. The length of him was traced with feather light strokes, his sac cupped with the gentlest pressure.

MJ: The warmth of those hands was almost too much for his pale cold skin. The intimate fondling caused shivers up his spine and into his lungs. Another first.

"You're wearin' too much," he purred.

Rohan: "By all means," he whispered, peppering kisses along MJ's chest. "Feel free to rid me of all this cumbersome fabric."

MJ: With pleasure, he thought. Sitting up, he began with the belt, ripping one of the belt loops and sending it flying across the room. His short trimmed nails lightly raked over his hip. He continued with the jeans, wishing he could breathe life and celebrate being with this man the way he deserved.

"D'ya...love me?"

Rohan: Rohan laughed softly as his belt went flying, watching to make sure it didn't hit (and break) anything valuable.

The laugh was short-lived, however, soon replaced with a fond smile and appreciative hum. He adored those cool hands and the man they belonged to. Surely MJ would be able to see it in his eyes. And if he couldn't, Rohan's kisses and murmured endearments should show him.

"Yes, puiule," he whispered against his vampire's lips. "I love you." If his declaration halted things in their tracks so be it. MJ needed to hear the words.

MJ: His vampire - his? - stared up at the witch with blank expression. The expectation had been succeeded by truth. Had he breath to lose it would have vacated.

"I... You..."

Rohan: He smiled, kissed him again. "I love you, MJ." Another kiss. "I love you."

MJ: "Thanks." The realization of his reply caused a headache like cringe. "Not that. The fuck would I say that - I...I...love ya, too."

Rohan: That just made his smile grow more. It was such an MJ response, and that made his heart just as happy as the 'I love you, too'.

Rohan held MJ close, hands briefly abandoned his vampire's groin to hold him properly and drown him in kisses. This was a beautiful moment; it had to be savored. "I love you so much," he whispered.

MJ: "Alright, alright," he laughed. "Don't make it all mushy. We...We got love. So, back t'sex, right?" Oh no. Sex with...romance? Love? More emotional and tender than any night before.

"I shoulda asked after ya fucked me."

Rohan: Rohan gave him one more kiss, just to make really sure his vampire knew how much he was loved.

"Whether I said it aloud first or not, the sex would've been emotional. You would've been able to feel my love even if you didn't hear it."

MJ: "S'why I asked," he said softly. "Just had a feelin'. You're too sweet t'me, old man."

Rohan: "I'm exactly as sweet as I'm meant to be. And you, are very intuitive." Maybe just one more kiss.

"Do you still want to...?" It was fine if he didn't. There had been a lot of emotional intensity today.

MJ: One more? They would have many. "Yeah. Yeah, of course." Of course he said. What the fuck are you doing, his mind exclaimed.

Rohan: If MJ wanted many, there would be many, along with all the loving touches Rohan's two hands were capable of.

"Are you sure? We don't have to. I know it's a lot."

MJ: "If ya keep sayin' that I'll never go through with it," he laughed.

Rohan: "Nothing wrong with that, puiule," he said with a soft smile, letting his hands roam below MJ's waist again. "Promise me you'll tell me if you want me to stop or slow down." He kissed his vampire's shoulder. "Your comfort is the most important thing." A kiss to his chest as his hand gently cupped MJ's sac. "Your comfort and your pleasure."

MJ: MJ swallowed and licked his lips. Somehow he'd forgotten what that felt like. He placed his hand over Rohan's wrist. Closer. Harder.

"I'm fine. Keep doin' that."

Rohan: Rohan obligingly increased the pressure, massaging more firmly, occasionally stroking MJ's length from base to tip and back down to his scrotum.

MJ: Blood had to be willed between his legs. The act nearly took him from the scene, but the witch's lips fueled him. Softly, he hummed.

Rohan: Rohan smiled against his vampire's lips, giving him an approving and gentle squeeze.

"That's it, puiule. You're doing so well." His lips began to migrate lower. "So beautiful."

MJ: That feminine sensation again. He shivered, brought his hands to Rohan's hair and squeezed. So lucky, he thought. So unworthy. Tonight, this moment, this was for Rohan. Giving in to his nature was an indulgence.

"What d'ya wanna do t'me?"

Rohan: "Love you," Rohan said simply, kissing just below MJ's navel. Tonight his vampire was going to be positively worshipped and thoroughly pleasured.

A soft, open-mouthed kiss was placed on the tip of MJ's cock. "All of you."

MJ: Oh. More familiar. Not quite sensational, but the mere idea of Rohan's mouth against him was enough for the butterflies to flap their wings.

"Love ya, too. I wanna taste ya. Let me taste ya."

Rohan: "Of course you can," he purred, nuzzling and kissing MJ's scrotum. "Where do you want to taste, puiule?"

MJ: "Sit on my face, Ro. We can have each other."

Rohan: "Mmm, I like the sound of that." He liked it very much.

He leaned up to give MJ a proper kiss before straddling him and adjusting positions, making sure MJ was comfortable before continuing his exploration and letting his vampire explore.

MJ: His mind wandered to the first time he had ever kissed someone. To the warmth of their lips. The sloppy urgency. The fumbling hands which followed. None of which felt present tonight. Every move Rohan ever made was deliberate. He was beautiful and mature. Even now, with his body for the taking. He was brought into his mouth, tasted and played with, with two uncertain hands.

Rohan: MJ was immediately rewarded with a soft moan. It didn't matter how uncertain his hands were; Rohan loved their touch, loved his vampire's mouth's attention. And he wasn't shy about making his pleasure or his approval known, and he definitely wasn't shy about lavishing every single inch of MJ's groin with affection.

He kissed and tasted his cock and his sac and his thighs, lips gentle and thorough. "Beautiful," Rohan murmured to himself, pressing a kiss to MJ's abdomen as he petted over his entrance.

MJ: Fuck. This was Rohan Delca. He might as well be a prince, or an angel. The man was meant to be worshipped. He was so elegant and intelligent and yet somehow tolerant and patient - didn't he grow tired of being so wholesome? Somehow this man loved him. He would never deserve him.

Which was motivation in his attempt to offer himself as one of the druid's best experiences. He kissed every available inch of perfect skin and massaged firm muscle.

Oh. His legs spread submissively. More touches, please. Invade me at your will. Love me with your fingers and mouth.

Rohan: That was precisely what Rohan intended to do. The word 'beautiful' played on a loop over and over in his head as he reached for the lube and generously coated one finger, never ceasing his lavish kisses and warm little nuzzles against MJ's cock.

He petted over his vampire's entrance again with his now prepped finger, circling it slowly, getting it nice and wet before he even thought of breaching it, however slightly. At first, of course. He wanted MJ to get used to the touch and the feeling of being penetrated before he took things further. He'd work slowly and carefully, letting MJ control the pace while making sure every moment of the process was as pleasurable as possible.

[djinmer4]

Triptych 1: A Missing of the Minds (Dresden/Amalgam Cross-Over)

Kitty would not admit it, but she always felt a little sick whenever she met a new alternate version of herself.  Sometimes she could get over the feeling (meeting the Lightning Force version of herself had just made her sad and angry, and the Age of Apocalypse one had been a good friend once they got over the initial awkwardness) and sometimes she couldn’t (if she never met the Black Queen version again it would be too soon).

She hadn’t made up her mind about the newest set of dimension-hoppers.  A wealthy, refined (or at least could put up a good facade) Logan who was best known for always being prepared and a good hand with technology?  Jubilee leading her own team . . . and not a vampire?  Yana focusing almost exclusively on white magic?  Heck, at least their version of Piotr was almost exactly the same as the one she’d grown up with.  Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known what to think.

Frankly, it was that universe’s alternates of herself and Kurt that made her most uncomfortable.  It was like looking at a pair of exaggerated caricatures.  Nightcreeper was older, larger and more beastlike than her Kurt.  Colombina was younger, smaller and a shrinking violet compared to herself.  Not to mention the two of them stuck together like glue.  Kitty had never liked Beauty and the Beast comparisons for herself and Kurt, but that was the only thing that popped into her head whenever she saw the other pair.

“I think I may have offended Nightcreeper.”  Kitty looked up from her tablet at Kurt.  He was running his hand through the hair on his head.  It was growing out from the crew cut and the curls were starting to show up again.

“How so?”

“Well, I remembered how well the thing with the Age of Apocalypse versions of us went so . . . got a very long lecture from the Creep about fidelity and consent and how I shouldn’t blatantly cheat when I’m clearly in a relationship with you.  I think when I said sex he thought I was trying to proposition Colombina-”

She smiled with amusement.  “Which you were.”

“-behind your back.  I didn’t even get to the part about the menage a trois before he jumped in.  Literally, he landed on my back.  I’m lucky I’m as flexible as I am otherwise I’m pretty sure he would have done a lot more damage.”

“Ouch!  He’s got to be at least 185 centimeters tall and he’s built.  Want me to massage your back?”

“Yes, please.”  Kitty heated up the paraffin bath and got out the oils and latex gloves.  As Kurt stripped down and she waited for the bath to heat up she mused aloud.  “I’ll go and apologize to them tonight.  I’ve got first the twilight patrol so if I go right after, I’ll probably catch them just before they go to sleep.”

Kitty yawned but continued determinedly to the guest wing.  One last thing and then she could go to bed.  When she got to the room assigned to the girls from Jump City (she wondered what the equivalent city in this world was) she slowed then stopped.  There was a thick haze of lust in the air, heavy enough that she could feed on it if she so chose.

The former X-Woman flushed.  Were Sparrow and Colombina in a relationship?  She didn’t think of Jubilee in that manner, but they were from an alternate universe.  She should go and apologize to the Nightcreeper first.

Before she could leave she heard voices from beyond the door.  One she recognized as Colombina, the other sounded like Nightcreeper.  What was he doing in the room?  And that overwhelming feeling of lust and jealousy?  Now worried, Kitty put her hand on the doorknob.  She could just phase in but she wanted to make as big a scene as possible.

“Oh man, are Ryder and Kitty still going at it?”  Martenitsi’s voice interrupted her.  Kitty whirled around to look at the other two female members of the Misfits.

“You know how jealous Ryder gets.  Kitty’s gonna be lucky if he lets her get any sleep tonight.”  Sparrow noticed Shadowcat standing in front of the door.  “Oh hey, we were just looking for you.  Is there any way the two of us could get a separate room?”

“I could do that,” she answered absently.  Then realizing she could get some more information, “The two of them are in a relationship?”

She received two confused looks in return.  “Aren’t you and Nightcreeper- sorry, Nightcrawler in a relationship?  You weren’t exactly trying to hide it.  Speaking of which, you should know he tried to proposition Colombina earlier today.”

“We’re in an open relationship.”  The answer came automatically.  “But isn't he a little too old for her?  Kurt and I are only two years apart.  Colombina looks quite a bit younger than I do and Nightcreeper looks quite a bit older than Kurt.”

Sparrow took it upon herself to argue with her, while Martenitsi stayed a few feet back to watch.  “They’re only twelve years apart.  And Kitty’s twenty-two, she’s old enough to make her own decisions.  And how old could you possibly be, you look seventeen!  You can’t possibly be older than our Colombina.”

“I’m twenty-four,” she responded dryly.  “So he’s not taking advantage of her?”

“She’s got the same abilities as you do.  If she really objected, she could just phase out of his reach.”

“You can take advantage of people in ways that don’t involve physical force.  Again, is this relationship really voluntary on both sides?  He’s not manipulating her or anything?”

“You seem to have this strange idea that she’s an innocent to be protected.  It’s not like he took her virginity and that makes her his property or anything.”

“Sexual experience is no guarantee that you can’t be pressured into a relationship.  Believe me, I’m very well versed in the concept of ‘dubious consent’.”

Sparrow sighed.  “Look, let me put it this way.  How many people have you killed?”

Now, this was a strange turn in the conversation.  “A few.  Less than a dozen, even if you count the robots.”

“And how many people has your Nightcreeper- Nightcrawler, I swear I’m going to get that right someday, killed?”

“Just one and it was in self-defense.”

The Asian pointed into the room.  “Nightcreeper, body count: zero.  Colombina, body count: Unknown but definitely over fifty.”

Well, that put a different spin on things.  While Kitty digested this new piece of information (that shy little thing had a body count that could match Wolverine!) a very familiar moan came from behind the closed door.  After a few seconds, she could hear the Nightcreeper talking again.

“We’re not done yet, liebling.  I’m not going to be satisfied until you know who you belong to down to your very bones.”

“I’m not (pant, pant) . . . I didn’t-” Colombina cried out, a noise that Kitty knew didn’t mean she was in pain.

“Next time you won’t test me, right?  You’ll turn down that offer right away rather than having me speak for you, richtig?”

“Really?  Because that doesn’t sound very loving to me.”  

The two Misfits blushed.  “He’s not always like that,” put in the blonde.  “He just gets really uninhibited in this form.  If he was in his civilian identity, he’d be so embarrassed that we’re listening in right now.”

“Civilian identity?”

“Sure!  I mean yours doesn’t go around with blue fur and gold eyes all the time, does he?”  A pregnant pause.  “Oh my god, you mean he always looks like that?  It’s not an effect of the chemicals?”

“Technically, the Creep’s in his natural form right now,” piped up Sparrow.  “He needs a patch to bring his body back to human baseline.  But the point is, Kurt Ryder is the original, not Nightcreeper.”

This was so confusing.

“Oh God, Kurt!”

“So, a new room!”  Kitty brought her hands together with a clap.  Time to change the subject.  “Somewhere far from the noise I take it?”

“Please!”

“I think I owe the two of you an apology.”  Nightcreeper had staked his claim rather flamboyantly this morning by pulling Colombina into his lap and feeding her by hand.  Colombina had blushed but gone along willingly.

“You don’t owe anyone an apology, your boyfriend owes you an apology for his rampant infidelity.”  Colombina straightened up to look her counterpart in the eye.

“Yeah, I do.  We’ve got an open relationship and I’m aware of what he’s doing so he’s not cheating.  In any case, he was asking on my behalf, not his own.”

“Yours?”

“Let’s just say it’s one of the differences between your world and mine.”  She could see the cloud of confusion coming from both of them.  “I know your group is hiding things, so let’s just say it’s one of Excalibur’s secrets in return.

“But anyway, what I want you to know is that we’re both sorry for making you uncomfortable and no one’s going to expect anything from the two of you.  If there’s anything I can do to make up for this-”

“Actually I have an idea!”  The green man interrupted.  “I heard you had something called a Danger Room, worked a bit like those holodecks in Star Trek.”

“Lord of the Rings crossed with Pirates of the Caribbean.  He’s definitely your counterpart, Kurt.”

“But you can’t say you’re not having fun, Katzchen!”

[masseffectspotlight]

This week we’re featuring @lauraemoriarty!

What got you started writing Fanfic?

Oh god.... I'd have to think right back to the early days of the internet. I think I'd just finished Final Fantasy VIII, and wanted to read more about the characters-- and then I decided to write a very, very bad (I was about 14 or 15-- can't remember now), fanfic that involved the main characters going on a journey... I stuck around in the Final Fantasy fandom for a long time, and then lost interest in writing fanfic around the same time I discovered forum-based post by post RPG sites, so writing fanfic went by the wayside. But what I did learn from those sites was a lot about character development and how to keep learning from your characters-- so it was a really great foundation for later writings. A friend got me playing Mass Effect, as I'd been obsessed with Dragon Age: Origins, and after the ending of ME3 (which I really didn't mind, and still don't), I decided to write about it. The characters sucked me in, and my Sheps weren't done with their stories. Are there any authors, published or fanfic, that inspire you in anyway? Oh god. Another tricky question....Published authors that have inspired me in the past include JK Rowling, Tolkien, Robin Hobb-- and I'm also inspired by poets such as Leonard Cohen and Alfred Tennyson. One of my more recent published author influences is the wonderful Sarah J Maas and her world building in A Court of Thorns and Roses, along with her Throne of Glass series. As for fanfic authors that inspire me, I'd go with our lovely Lena (vorchagirl), Kim (mizdirected), Juleshawke, and a whole host of others who I'm probably forgetting right now. Other authors have also contributed heavily to my work: L.M Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, and to a certain extent, so has George RR Martin. The GRRM influence is more apparent in my Dragon Age works, than my Mass Effect works. What Mass Effect character comes easiest for you to write and why? This can be a canon character, an OC, or one of the MCs (Shepard/Ryder) After Rose Shepard, Aoife Shepard, Lee Shepard, and Grai Shepard, one of my favourite characters for me to write is probably Udina. He simmers with outrage, and I feel that he has such potential. Another favourite of mine to write is Conrad Verner, but in my world, he has a huge edge to him. Another character who I love to write is Nellie Nevell-- Rose's twin sister, and a navy surgeon who worked in the refugee camps during the Reaper War. She's a different type of Shepard, in that she sees far more of the war than Shepard does, and it's a lot harder for her than most people would expect. She has a very different perspective on the war, and I find it to be an interesting and refreshing take on it. Are there any characters you want to tackle writing but haven't yet? Why? Ashley Williams. I'm torn on whether to like her or dislike her, because her favourite poet is my favourite poet, and I think I'll need to write my mShep/Ash story in order to explore her and what she truly is underneath her skin. I'd also really like to write a Jack/mShep fic that's from her pov alone-- that'd be interesting to write because Jack is so complex and damaged, and I'm fascinated by her. Time to talk about your fics! What's your favourite story you've written / are working on? I love most of what I write. I'm most proud of On Both Sides of the Glass, which is a post-war fic that features Leonard Cohen lyrics at the start of each chapter-- even the name of the fic is a line from one of his songs: "The age of lust is giving birth And both the parents ask The nurse to tell them fairytales On both sides of the glass" It's heavily influenced by the music of Leonard Cohen, and Rose, my absolutely precious Rose, is quite a strong character. I'm putting her through hell over and over, and she just lets me. It's pretty amazing what she's gone through, and what she still has to go through. I like writing Rose's post-war journey, and I'm planning on writing hugely ambitious work for her pre-and-during the Reaper War stuff, along with an origins story that starts in 1066, with the Norman Invasion. Rose and Kaidan are soulmates through time and space, and I wanted to write something that would combine my love of historical fiction with my precious baby.  Start with On Both Sides of the Glass and go from there. Things will make more sense if you do. What's your second favourite story you've written / are working on? The Renegade Angels. This story came about incidentally-- I messaged Laura (aka Potionsmaster) about an AU she was writing, and we hit it off. We're both massive Potterheads, and our story reflects our shared love of Harry Potter and other things. Aoife (aka Effie) is a bundle of anxiety masked by obnoxiousness, a sense of humour, and an attitude of "who gives a fuck?" What's your third favourite story you've written / are working on? Probably my entry for the 2018 Mass Effect Big Bang. It's a lot darker than my usual stuff, and features a Shepard who is genuinely tired of being labeled  the Butcher of Torfan, even though she ceased being the butcher a long time ago. 0h! Welcome Home. I really like what I did with my Shepard here. What are your greatest challenges when writing? ​Not going off on random tangents and lecturing readers on things that are well-known in canon. I have a habit of educating people while writing, and I struggle with that. I also struggle with writing smut-- I love writing it, but it's a massive struggle for me to write it inventively and with enough feeling behind it. Another great challenge for me when writing is to not get distracted by google searching-- I'm working on something that spans 1100+ years, and trying to get all the history into it without it sounding like a history lecture is pretty fucking hard. What are your greatest strengths when writing? I'm honestly not sure. People say that my work concerning PTSD is really human and tender, and because I've been through trauma, I think it's one of those things where I end up working through my own trauma of surgeries and idiots who have no place trying to cannulate a traumatised patient. I love writing battles, and the action of war and death. One of the things I love to focus on in writing is the way that there are always unforeseen costs to being a hero in the moment, and that there are always going to be the shadows of what you lose when you go to war. Okay, we're almost done! Any WIP or sequels or anything you'd like to give a hint about? I have a few things in the works, including a Jack/MShep fic, and another Shega fic.

[quantumrpg]

NAME: Ryder Dawson AGE: 30 / 1362 SPECIES: Blood Cursed OCCUPATION: Owner of Hidden City Cafe. YEAR OF ARRIVAL: 1902. RESIDENT FOR… fifty-two years. FACECLAIM: Sebastian Stan

t i m e  i s  a n  i l l u s i o n,  b u t  n o t  o u r  s t o r i e s…

Ryder’s life started with a wagon. 

His parents had mules, three to be exact, and as such they were the rulers of their small village because they could leave if they so chose. He learned to control the mules when they were attached to a wagon at seven years old, his father beside him, as they rode down the dirt path to the village market. His whole life revolved around moving that wagon but he found his happiness in picking out the foods; smelling the tomatoes, picking the ripest apple. He was not supposed to be in the kitchens but he would often sneak in beside his mother to watch her as she created flavorful soups from flames and a dark pot. 

By the time he was sixteen, he was well versed in the ways of their village. They lived beneath a mountain, so they were blessed with the luxury of rain and less snow than those who lived up hill. It was a simple life. One that he knew well. Even when his father died, Ryder did not feel a sense of gravity. He knew what he had to do and he did it; but now he could also work in the kitchen. Becoming the boss meant no one could question his decisions, or else risk his wrath. 

The town prospered under his control. For ten full years he reigned as a psuedo-king, and he enjoyed his work. He was a natural leader. Although quiet and reserved, he listened well and understood. He could see the way the town needed to move, or if the rains were too much how they could harvest crops a little further up the mountain. The plague was out of his control but it ravaged the town, leaving the people fearful for the fate of the town. When he caught the  plague, Ryder panicked. He had never felt such an intense fear grip his bones and turn his stomach inside out. He thought he was going to die tucked into his bed, comforted by one of his wives, when he heard the voices.

They sounded like angels but later he would considered them demons. Although they did what they thought was best, Ryder would never understand the first year of his newly cursed life. He rose, panting, huffing, thirsting. His bones ached for something that he could not quite put his finger on. There were others, too. Three, to be exact. But he was too focused on the thirst to do anything about helping those people, or even recognizing them. His eyes, burning from the pain of the unquenchable thirst, searched for the thing that might save him from this damnation. 

He found it in the throat of a woman, the first one he killed. Sometimes, Ryder still mourns her. He remembers her face, because as he feasted for the first time, not knowing what he had become or why he had become this way, he realized what he was doing was wrong. For ten years, he became acquainted with his fellow cursed and they burned the town to the ground. Even his own precious gem, was lost to their thirst. 

Then came the imprisonment. Of course, during his time there Ryder assumed the emotions of hatred; resentment. He was not kept alive on hope but by anger. First they changed him, then they imprisoned him as if he were their slave, and then they expected him to learn. To change. To grow. Ryder did not want to learn or change. He wanted to destroy. He wanted to tear down the world and throw it as far away from him as possible. In those years, for so somany years, he found himself thirsty for revenge. The other three looked to him, for some reason, and he allowed himself to become leader. Maybe his anger was what they latched on to, but, either way, they followed him and his ideals.

They were freed by a traveler and Ryder was thankful, so he changed him. On their hunt for the ones that had imprisoned them, Ryder changed many other humans. Before he realized what he as doing, he had built himself an arm army, one that he was in command of. They hunted for years, about twenty men and women, looking for revenge on the ones that Ryder claimed could change them all back. Save them. Give them new life. He never found them and after years of searching, of scouring Europe, Ryder gave up. They were not really what he was upset about anyways. No; he realized that much too late.

It wasn’t until about the 1800s that Ryder recognized he could not be angry any more. There was too much in the world for him to discover; to explore. Being angry would not change his situation, and although they were not thinking about changing more people, it happened. One was uncontrollable in the beginning, and suddenly there were ten new vampires as they began to be called. 

The years passed and finally Ryder decided to move to America. The New World had just been formed, and although wars ravaged the country, he thought that it would be rather nice for all of them to have a new start. Ryder bought a restaurant in New York and began cooking again, but this time with a wide arrange of foods that he would never have been able to fathom back on the British Isles, all those years ago. He loved his restaurant, too, and finally found pleasure in something that he had not had in a long time.

Then came the disaster. The Civil War tore his family apart. His home. While the war raged on in the battlefield, his life was ripped out from under them and they were all drafted; split apart and torn up. So many of his vampires died from those hell-bent on witches and wizards and magic that the small town they lived in in New York felt more like a prison. While there was a literal Civil War in the country, there was also one in the streets as people began claiming truths about Ryder and his family. He could not protect him because he was drafted too quickly to do so. 

When he returned, his restaurant had been burned and most of his vampires had also been burned along with the sun. He’d torn the village apart and then fled, running as fast as he could West, to be on his own. He lived in California for years before that fateful day, on a train back East, when he heard about a new spot for a restaurant in Connecticut. 

The liminal space was new, bright, and shining, but the early 1900s were not working wonders for him anyways. He’s been in the space for fifty-two years now, creating a new family, building a home that he knows would satisfy him. He does not really know what will happen, but he rules the vampires in the area, owns his own cafe that brings smiles to the faces of his customers, and that is enough for him. For now. His blood lust has died, but that does not mean that he does not remember the past. He has forgiven.

But Ryder will never forget what has passed, and since he is immortal, he has a long time to think about it. 

t e l l  m e,  a r e  w e  a  p r o d u c t  o f  w h o  w e  u s e d  t o  b e?

positive Imaginative: Even before he was turned, Ryder spent his life trying to explore the world. He was one of the few people in his small town who wanted to weave together words into those crazy things called stories. He figured out how to use strawberries to stain bread a deep red. He now shows his imagination in food, sweets, really, but he’s always trying to discover; to develop new ideas. 

Honest: He found himself often knowing just what to say and how to say it but Ryder has also learned never to lie. He’s truthful to himself and truthful to others and he stands by that motto. Ryder does not think he can be a good leader without honesty and so, no matter the hardship, he will speak the truth. 

Sensitive: Although many believe sensitivity is a horrible trait, it has served Ryder well over the years. He knows pain. He can spot even the smallest bit of grief now, even if it is woven gracefully into a smile. 

negative Regretful: Ryder’s past is not behind him. He finds constant agony in remembering the things that he has done; constant doubt at how he has supported others in his life. He hates it but he regrets what he had become, even if it was only for a little while.

Reserved: Breaking down the shell of a broken down man is a difficult thing to do. Ryder clings to his walls because they are the last things still standing. Unless spoken to or unless he has to, he does not open up much.

Cynical: Ryder does not see the world in a positive light. He knows what it has done to him and he knows what it will do to others. He’s not necessarily a debbie downer, but people do see him being grumpy.

[stanleyvampire14]

Hi! To clear up some confusion because multiple people keep asking me this; “Who is the Emerson family?” Or at least a member of them TW FOR MENTIONS OF DEATH AND SEMI-VIOLENT SCENES

Let’s start with Mr. Emerson himself! John Emerson!

John is a policeman that usually either gets stationed in the neighborhood he lives in, or he goes around patrolling other neighborhoods in the town. He’s been in the police business for a while (years) and he likes doing it! He loves helping people! However he does have a side to him that can and will kill you (or at least seriously injure you) if you hurt the people he cares about, mainly his family. His immune system isn’t very great and he gets sick a lot around the flu season, which kinda sucks, but he refuses to not go to work, which kind of worries Mary (and Ryder as well). It’ll get to the point where Mary forces him to stay in bed, she will literally wrap him in a blanket to make him stay. He is very loyal (COUGH COUGH. @lord-of-the-bundle-of-sticks @todds-diary @that-fruitier-emo) and we love him for that. He taught Ryder basic manners and to actually respect women, despite most fathers at the time not caring about the latter, which is why Ryder is so insistent on teaching that to the other kids (island kids and daycare kids). Ryder really looks up to him, even after the island, although he’s more subtle about it after the island because he’s more reserved in general. Overall a great guy, I’d talk to him about my problems and he’d hug me as I rambled.

Next is Mrs. Emerson, Mary Emerson!

She is a saint I swear…and pretty…Beautiful even…Anyways! She’s a daycare worker, she made her own daycare because the others in the area kinda sucked in her opinion (discrimination issues among various types of people + “what about the poor people with children :( we have to help them somehow”) she will literally give discounts near the holidays please go to her daycare. Literally the most comforting person aside from Ryder himself. She doesn’t care who you are (and she might know who you ARE before you realize, in Ryder’s case…🏳️‍🌈) she will be there for you, it doesn’t matter how hard you breakdown, she will find a way to comfort you. She says that she doesn’t have a favorite child in the daycare, but she definitely does (it’s technically Ryder but he works with her so he doesn’t count) nobody knows who it is and the kids try to play guessing games, and everytime she leaves the room to do something, the children repeatedly ask Ryder who’s the favorite and he doesn’t know either, but he says that he likes Klaus a lot (@lord-of-the-bundle-of-sticks oc) and Ira (will reveal all of the daycare children soon enough, also Ira is they/them). She taught Ryder how to cook and somehow Ryder surpassed her skills in cooking, but Ryder always says she’s better, because he IS a mama’s boy and he can’t bring himself to make his mum sad ever. I just wanna hug her and melt hhgfssmhgh….Oh I love her so…💚💚💚 She’s my wife but also not-

Lastly, my favorite little guy (he is 16, he is not little) Ryder Emerson!

Despite what all the kids think, he’s not actually an angel, he does typical teenager stuff (sneaking out at night, occasionally drinking because of Lust, and rotting in his room for months after the island! Y’know, totally usual behavior for teens please don’t rot in your rooms that’s bad for your mental health) and he might’ve indirectly caused a few deaths on the island, but we aren’t talking about that- He scarred Gluttony because he killed Sloth and Ryder obviously didn’t like that he bit Jack and Maurice out of self defense, and he might’ve smacked Roger on the head on the island at least twice…He got tired of them eventually. I swear he’s overall a good person, that island just really messed him up mentally and physically. In the fight between Jack and Ralph at the end, Ryder ended up getting scars from Maurice because Maurice slashed him with his spear, meaning to stab him (it was Jack’s command and Maurice was kind of a little gone). Speaking of the Merridew kid, he and Ryder are therapy partners/friends together due to their therapist thinking that exposed therapy would be a good thing for them, which it kind of was. Ryder got so much better after talking to everyone that survived on the island, even though he still feels iffy with some of them (Ralph, Roger, Maurice, Samneric all technically betrayed him in some way). His relationships with the sins (also @lord-of-the-bundle-of-sticks ocs) got so much better, although Gluttony’s was…Not good for a while, they eventually forgave each other in their own way, I’d like to say it started here, which I believe would take place a couple months after they got off the island: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52156768/chapters/131921551

Thank you for listening to my rambling, if you did.

Have a gallery of them, I really do love them…💙💚🩷 (I accidentally made it a timeline of events, oops)

This post was mostly for @cve-th3mvsic , but I hope this clears some questions up! ^_^

I will be linking this on my pinned post, just in case it gets lost in the massive amounts of posts I reblog and such.



[thebattlelost]

Sometimes I wake up like I did thirty minutes ago it is quiet dark Ryder sound asleep next to me and just start thinking, since a little over three years ago when I got my gift to write I do not sleep well at all, I mean I will be up all night writing maybe two because my muse or random thoughts are filling up my head. It's like there is one hundred radio stations on at the same different channels. So it is loud and I will ask do you hear that? Hear what? Never mind lol... Anyways I pick upon words or sentences and tunes that's how I start most of my poetry. I know by the reaction how incredibly beautiful some of it is and I attribute that by how beautiful my muses are girlfriends wives ex's friends and the fact that it is heaven sent and every single one of God's Creations are beautiful in one way or another. Now there is a down side to all this which would the darkness or war with all things evil that is not coming because it has started and already here,, I hear all same things and frankly it scares scares the living shit our of me, you see i believe that true real love like we had where everyone stayed together their whole lives has been taken away from us hidden or hiding for now, it has been replaced with a cheap imitaion that does not last nearly as long or feel the same or even mean the same, how do love someone from a one night stand? How do love thirty people you had sex with this month or year alone? how do you love sombody you just picked up in a bar? Love comes from deep down in us it is a feeling that you cannot replace it is the easiset to get confused with lust and many others, the sad piece of this war is not addiction or gread or anything like that altough they are a piece of this war is it is not something new or sparkly or loud it is just something that is in all of us, I am convienced that the weapon being used is nothing less than total SELFISHNESS, yes that is correct, think about how it covers everything that is evil and wrong me me me over anybody or anything at all, Addiction is a selfish act, Greed is also, when you only think about yourself then you take Gods greatest gifts and throw them away.. you cannot give hope helping only yourself,  That is the true diease in this world and it is spreading everywhere and will be humanitys downfall ..... I will talk about that next time