#real banksy

[warhead]

[rosedosed]

just from that few seconds of screentime i am LOVING the "grad school dropout" energy that the actress playing sabine is bringing to the table

Me when I've already signed out of the first course of the first semester after 5 minutes of class but I feel too awkward to leave because the professor just insisted on doing an introduction round and I'm wondering if admitting that I just dropped out would ruin the educationally enriching atmosphere she's trying to create

[wolf-grrl]

The most important takeaway from Glass Onion is that there is a very particular flavor of Art Guy and you can spot them from a mile away because they're all fucking obnoxious.

[schn-tgai-scripted]

I don't know if it's unpopular or not but my opinion is I fucking hate Banksy. Not the art or the messages, but the hubris. They're a goddamn vandal. A public menace. Why is Banksy exempt from public scorn more than kids who tag train cars?? It's the gentrification of graffiti and it's gross. Some dumb half assed social/politically themed shit shows up the side of my house or business I'm painting over it in my fucking period blood. And I don't believe for a single second that they're anonymous, not to anyone who's a bigger ant than I.

If I'm missing some big major point please enlighten me because they've been this way since I can remember. Defacing shit and accomplishing nothing except bloated financial transactions in the hoity toity art world.

[prayforthemantispls]

The Rät strikes once again

Just try and stop him.

[luckybitch555]

I never believed in feelings like these. I’m not sure I ever believed in safety.

full video

[ur-mag]

Mysterious street artist Banksy reveals his real first name in lost interview uncovered after 20 years

MYSTERIOUS street artist Banksy revealed his real first name in a lost interview uncovered after 20 years. The graffiti artist from Bristol, famed for his anonymity as well as his anti-authoritarian art, gave his name as Robbie, a new Read Full Text

[rowanhoney]

not to be my mothers daughter but I really wanna go on a little trip to Glastonbury rn

[morlock-holmes]

So, people explaining that AI isn't "real art" bother me, not so much because of the answer they reach but because most of the people saying it isn't seem to romanticize not just commercial art production, but also bizarrely to romanticize AI as well, in ways that bother me for subtle reasons I want to try to articulate.

So, first of all, I personally don't think fine art will be changed much by AI.

"What if the artist isn't directly producing the art but instead letting some process create it?"

Convergence by Jackson Pollock, 1952

"What if the so called "artist" is merely rearranging and recontextualizing something that already exists?"

"What if the artist outsources a tremendous amount of work?"

Cambell's Soup Can, Andy Warhol, 1968

The fine art world already confronted these questions and answered between 1912 and, what, 1980 at the latest maybe?

My point here is not to assert the artistic worth of these paintings but to assert their undeniable importance to 20th century art history.

Nobody paying thousands of dollars for a traditional painting on canvas is going to buy an AI version because it's cheaper; such people are already paying a premium for artistic technique and cultivated human talent.

Or, alternatively, I have absolutely no doubt that people would pay a lot for an AI project with, I don't know, Banksy's name on it, even if it was made with freely available, open source tools, because in other cases people are paying for, essentially, a name.

The fine art community already confronted the questions raised by AI art and we're already on the other side of that confrontation. Statistically, the large battles being waged over these issues already finished before you were born.

The actually (potentially) endangered part of the art world is the commercial art world.

Not fine art, but art produced as part of an essentially commercial process in large part under the direction of other people. Fan Art, scripts for films, stock footage, key art used for commercial campaigns, pulp fiction cover illustrations, etc.

And, first of all, the reason that you can be so romantically attached to low-brow, heavily commercial art in the way that you are without feeling utterly absurd about it is Marcel Duchamp's Fountain and the works of Andy Warhol, so maybe have a bit more respect for them and their place in history if you are going to romanticize commercial art production.

Second, because it is those things that are threatened, defenses of human art against AI tend to have this kind of implicit view that the things which characterize commercial pop art are the most important characteristics of art. There is something about this that kind of bothers me for reasons I have trouble bringing up.

Okay, like, one I just watched a YouTube video where the creator said, more or less, "Can you imagine a world where people are so alienated from the production of art that instead of learning to produce it themselves, they type 'woman painting a picture' into a box on a computer and something just pops out?"

The video background was stock footage of a woman painting.

You have this really obnoxious trend of people who make monetized YouTube videos out of other people's copyrighted clips (Claiming "Fair use") talking about how awful it is for AI to "steal" other people's works, and people who fill their videos with stock footage and library tracks talking about how crazy it is that anybody would want to outsource this stuff instead of learning to do it themselves.

But also, beneath that, there is a kind of picture of "What's important about art" that is being built purely out of commercial concerns but masquerading as belief in something higher, and that really bugs me. Stock footage is elevated to the highest of human endeavors purely because it is commercially threatened by AI production.

[gabessquishytum]

Soul Marks AU

In this universe, a person's soulmate mark is a drawing "done" by your soulmate that shows up on your body when you turn 16.

Hob feels bad because he really cannot draw; he took classes to try to get better, but all his teachers agree -- his strength is not art. Whoever his soulmate is probably has the worst squiggles on their body; Hob hopes that at least the mark he gifts his soulmate with is identifiable as a drawing/as a soulmate mark.

Hob's soulmate mark when it comes in, is an elaborate tramp stamp. His soulmate is obviously a remarkable artist.

It's so cute!!! Hob trying hard to be good at art bc he doesn't want to disappoint his soulmate feels so real to me.

This also made me think of an au where Dream is basically like Banksy. He's an incredibly famous anonymous street artist, and his works are instantly recognisable. Imagine Hob’s utter shock when a totally unique piece of Dream’s art appears on his skin! It's unmistakable, even Hob can tell that it isn't just a copycat or a fan of the artist. It's the real thing.

And so he has to hunt down the most mysterious, secretive and well hidden man in the entire country. No big deal.

Meanwhile there's Dream, the most famous and talented artist of his generation, staring at his own soulmate mark... its a smiley face. Like a batista would draw on the side of a cup. The irony feels a tiny bit painful?

But imagine his surprise when he glances down at his takeaway cup one day and sees a carbon copy of that smiley face on his drink!!! His soulmate!!!

...he can't remember who made the drink, and by the time he rushes back to the cafe, its closed for the day. You gotta wonder if these idiots will ever find each other! I think they will.

[bullet-prooflove]

5000 Follower Celebration: Postcards From My Heart - Terry Silver x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @thedeadsingforme @eddieslut69 @mia1653 @kimbergoldess

Companion piece to:

Attention - Terry hasn't been paying you enough attention.

Distance - Terry and you struggle with emotional distance as the embezzlement case continues.

Prequel to:

Twenty Four Hours - You come home from your trip to spend 24 hours with your husband.

The embezzlement investigation takes hold when Terry reports the crime to the FBI. He’s spent months trying to untangle it on his own and now it’s gotten to the point where he’s forced to hand over all the details to the authorities or risk looking complicit.

The unfortunate part to all of this is that he has to make himself available to investigators, which means he has to stay in the city while you undertake the gallery tour across Europe you’ve had planned for over a year now.

Ever since the exhibition with the paper airplanes went viral, galleries from around the world have been requesting both you and your artwork’s presence at their venues. They want to discuss the programs you’ve been undertaking and how to implement them in their own locations whilst showcasing your paintings.

You end up going alone and it kills Terry because things between the two of you, they’re still not entirely right after the night you asked him if he was seeing someone else. He’s tried to be more attentive but the embezzlement it’s eating up both his time and his energy. He doesn’t even get to see you off at the airport because he’s trapped in a meeting with federal investigators. You don’t say how much it disappoints you but he feels it viscerally as he tracks your flight right out of his orbit.

He worries that this trip, the distance between the two of you, it’ll be the thing that kills your marriage especially when he misses three of your calls in a row over a series of days. He tries calling you back but with the time difference, you just keep missing each other.

When the postcard arrives his heart sinks, it’s an image of the small chapel where the two of you married in Tuscany. He’s filled with an intense sadness because this was the real reason he wanted to take the trip, he’d been planning to surprise you, review your vows there and then the whole thing had gotten fucked up and now you’re barely exchanging texts.  

By the time the postcard arrives from Paris you’ve been gone almost a fortnight. Terry’s eating breakfast alone, preparing for another lengthy day of depositions when the call comes through.

“Guess where I am.” You say as you appear on the screen and something in Terry’s chest just settles.

After so many missed connections he’s been dreading this call because he’s adamant it’s going to be the one where you tell him you’re done with all of this but then he sees the expression on your face and for Terry, it could light up an entire room.

“Tell me.” He urges, his voice soft and you alter the camera to show him the bench in the gallery where the two of you met. You zoom in closely and there’s a tiny heart with both of your initials drawn in the corner in black sharpie.

“Georgia,” He says fondly. “Did you deface a bench in the Louvre?”

“I’m hoping they kinda take it like a Banksy.” You tell him before turning the camera back so he can see your face. “You know how he just turns up, graffitis something and then disappears. I’ve been doing it everywhere we’ve been together on this trip. I even tagged the church.”

“You did not!” He smiles because he realises what you’ve been doing whilst you’ve been on tour, you’ve been marking your relationship, making it indelible. He can’t describe how that makes him feel, to know that you’ve been thinking about him, that you’ve been leaving the evidence of your marriage on landmarks all around the world.  

“I did.” You assure him. “Right on the pew you got a little handsy that time whilst we were waiting for the priest.”

“You were wearing that white sundress.” He reminds you, propping his chin up on his hand. “Can you blame me for defiling you in a church?"

You blush then, the pink tinge climbing your cheeks because he’d made you come on his fingers on that pew, it had been embarrassingly easy because you’d gotten off on the deviance of it all.

“You look tired.” You say quietly as you settle yourself on the bench. “How are the depositions going?”

“Monotonous.” He tells you with a weary smile. “I feel like it’s taken ten years off my life.”

“Do you need me to come home?” You ask him, the concern evident in your features. “I’m sure there’s a flight I could grab…”

The fact you’re willing to cut this trip short if he needs it, it speaks volumes about your headspace about the relationship, just like your actions have. He can’t ask you to return to him, not when you’re doing such excellent work out there, not when you’re having so much fun.

“No baby girl, don’t come back until you’re ready.” He murmurs before he props his phone up against the salt shaker. “Now tell me more about your travels.”

Love Terry? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Interested in supporting me? Join my Patreon for Bonus Content!

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[bumpscosity]

ayo new banksy just dropped in microsoft word 2010

I think the big thing that keeps me from liking banksys art is that it all looks like microsoft word clipart to me

[noctiphobiahere]

NestingAU baby Introductions!!

This is Banksy "Banks", he's my oldest baby!! In real time he's 3 yrs old and his birthday is 02/08/21 and my first LeoMikey baby!!

[couldawouldashoulda50]

From Completely Different Worlds - The Sweden Chapter - Part Seven

Previous parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 In continuation of @misshoneyimhome's birthday celebration, here is Part 7 of The Sweden Chapter. This chapter had to be split in two, so I have entitled it "The Beginning of the End". The second part will be posted soon, and will be aptly titled "The End". Thank you, Sophia. You have been such an excellent co-creator and audience for this fic - which started out as just this random idea where I thought William and Loren would meet, he would be attracted to her and then the smut would delicious and fun and that would be it. I have so much appreciation for the engagement and notes on this fic and I have learned a great deal about the whole writing process with this story. Thanks to all who have taken the time to read these long-ass chapters.

Word count on this one - about 9k (sorry)

No real warnings except for some profanity.

The gravel crunched softly under the tires as William eased the car into the driveway of the Nylanders’ lake house. The rays from the late morning sun illuminated the deep red siding of the house, warming the south-western deck and the vibrant flower containers perched atop each support post.

In the backseat, Pablo was already on his hind legs, his tail wagging furiously, unable to contain his excitement. Banksy, always mimicking his dog sibling, had leapt into Loren’s lap the moment the car turned into the driveway, his wet nose streaking the window as he panted excitedly.

“Okay, boys—give me a sec! Jesus, you were just here not that long ago,” William said with a laugh, shifting the car into park.

Loren kissed Banksy’s head before opening the passenger door and stepping out to let Pablo free. The two dogs bolted from the car, zooming across the yard before finding a tree to lift a leg to. Their energy never failed to entertain Loren as she giggled to herself.

She stood for a moment, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. The light from the sun danced atop each peak of the tiny waves that formed on the lake, making the water shimmer like diamonds. This place - where William spent much of his off-season - a place that exuded fun-filled family gatherings and long-standing traditions. Loren had now been a small part of William’s off-season plans, and had fallen in love with this place, his family and friends, and dare she even think about the depths of her feelings for William. But the reality was Loren had no idea what the future might bring. Her chest heavy with emotion as the thought hit her: this might be the last time she’d ever see this view.

William rounded the car and paused when he saw her. Loren was clearly lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the lake, the sun catching her long, light brown hair and the bronze of her exposed skin. He didn’t say anything right away, just watched her quietly.

William startled her as he approached her from behind. “You ok?”

Loren could feel the pin prick of tears threatening, so she bit the inside of her lip and nodded.

William wasn’t buying it. He soothingly rubbed her shoulders and pulled her back into his chest. “What is it - what’s going on?”

Loren placed her hands over his. “Please don’t take this like I’m hinting at anything…but I’ve loved every single second that I’ve been here, and it’s just - I know I’m really going to miss it,” she said softly. “I have had the most amazing and incredible time everywhere we've gone….but I think here has been my favourite.”

William knew in his heart that he wanted Loren to come back next off-season. And the one after that, and every one beyond that stretching long into the future. Somehow though, he and Loren had ended up in this situationship. Looking back, he could see how they had evolved into it, but William knew the time had come for them to communicate what they wanted from one another. A pang of anxiousness rippled through his stomach—a rare feeling for him, and a sign that he wasn’t entirely sure of their outcome. That uncertainty alone went against everything in William’s nature.

Before William could say anything, Loren first kissed his hand, then turned towards him and kissed him lightly on the mouth. And without saying a word, she grabbed the bags of groceries from the trunk for the French versus Swedish sandwich showdown that Michael and Loren had planned.

William followed with the rest of the bags, smiling to himself as he heard Camilla’s joy-filled greeting when Loren walked through the front door.

The plan for the next handful of days before Loren’s departure was simple: they would stay put at the lake house, letting family and friends come to them to catch up and visit. That day’s social agenda would begin with lunch for four - Michael, Camilla, Loren and William. The afternoon would be free to relax and then just before dinnertime, a rather large gathering had been planned with all the siblings, extended family, and friends from far and wide.

In William’s room, Loren began to unpack a few things while William chatted with his parents. He entered the room and quietly closed the door behind him.

Gazing at her with the air of a slightly cocky smirk, he leaned against his door.

A crooked grin formed on her mouth. “Are you allowed to be alone with girls in your bedroom?”

William failed miserably at looking innocent “It’s happened once or twice….my parents haven’t said anything yet.”

Loren slowly slid her teeth along her bottom lip. “And these what - one or two girls that you were left alone with, were they well behaved or a little naughty?”

William raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening into a grin as he pushed off the door. He stopped just short of her, his hands sliding casually into his pockets as his gaze lingered on hers. “Depends on your definition of naughty - I mean, which one are you?” he asked, his voice dropping to the low gravelly tone that always sent a shiver down her spine.

Loren slipped out of her clothing, dawning a light pink mesh bra with matching panties. William’s cock twitched and his mouth fell open. Earlier that morning, Loren was fully dressed when he returned from walking the dogs - it never occurred to him that she might be wearing something that tantalizing underneath her jeans and light sweater.

She turned to him, her fingers grazing the waistband of his jeans. “I’ll be whatever you make me in the moment - nice or naughty - whatever you want,” she purred before breaking out into a teasing smile.

William chuckled followed by a low moan. He wet his lips and swallowed as he looked down at her beautiful breasts, sliding his hands from his pockets to her waist. His hands continued to move upward along her ribcage before they landed on both mounds. “You’re making it hard - “ William paused sheepishly for effect “to decide what I want, that is.”

Loren ran her hands up under William’s shirt, her nails grazing his skin trailing a path back down over the ridges of his muscles.

“Fuck it - I want both. You can be - do - whatever you want,” William murmured against her lips before lifting her up, kissing her in the process.

William gently set her back down, adjusting the crotch of his jeans as she casually went about changing into older clothes to do some cooking in.

As she dressed, Loren’s eyes trailed down to the outline of his hardness showing by his zipper and huffed out a small laugh.

William looked down at his aroused member and looked back at Loren. “This is all on you…..”

Pulling her hair into a loose bun, Loren did her best “Poor baby” expression as she pulled on her leggings and then her sneakers. “I might’ve helped you with that but a) I’m half in charge for lunch; b) i wouldn’t want your parents to regret not putting us in separate rooms; and c) you know as well as I do that I like to take my time with…him…” Loren nodded towards William’s member.

William grinned but his heart twisted a little. He loved the banter; it was always good-natured and he loved how their humour always seemed to mesh well. But watching her move effortlessly around the room - it felt like she had always been there with him. There was something about the way she fit into his life so naturally that made him reel a little.

Loren approached him suggestively . Trying to keep the moment light, William joked “I know what you’re gonna say. You gonna tell me how gorgeous I am.”

Loren stepped closer, kissed him lightly, and let her lips linger just long enough to make him wish she hadn’t stopped. “You’re annoyingly perfect, William Nylander,” doing her best Swedish accent on his last name. “Are you coming out now?”

He chuckled at her enunciation of his last name. “Be there in a sec.”

When Loren left the room, her soft laugh blending with his dad’s voice from the kitchen, William stayed where he was for a moment.

If inviting Loren to Sweden acted as some kind of litmus test in their relationship, Loren passed it with flying colors. She hadn’t just fit into his world—she’d thrived in it.

William discovered a boundless happiness when in her presence. He was so proud to have her on his arm. It wasn’t just her classic beauty that caught people’s attention—she carried herself with an incredible grace. She was genuine, unassuming, and utterly captivating in a way that made her stand out from anyone he’d ever known.

He was intensely attracted to her—not just physically, though that part was undeniable. She matched his energy with her own kind of fire, one that burned bright and steady. She was as sexually charged as he was but with an extra layer of something that left him breathless.

The list of things he saw in her only seemed to grow the more he got to know her.

But all of those feelings were tangled up in the ache he felt whenever he thought about her leaving. It was a weight that had settled on his chest since the moment he realized how much he wanted her to stay. He hated the idea of saying goodbye—of spending the last weeks of his off-season without her here.

He knew she couldn’t stay. Loren had commitments back home, a life that was just as important to her as hockey was to him. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier.

William sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process the whirlwind of emotions she stirred in him. Shaking it off, he pushed himself off the wall and headed toward the kitchen, the sound of her infection giggle making his heart swell once more.

The kitchen boasted clean lines of typical Scandinavian design with sleek white cabinetry and subtle wood accents. The large windows overlooking the lake provided the perfect amount of natural light and gave the space a calm, inviting feel. A long island with a butcher block countertop stood at the center, flanked by bar stools and lined with an assortment of ingredients for lunch.

Loren and Michael stood at the counter having a quick sip of wine as he regaled her with stories of his family and their extensive travels. They began to arrange the ingredients for their respective dishes - Michael’s signature räksmörgås—shrimp sandwiches that William had grown up loving and Loren with the Croque Monsieur that she made William during her brief stay with him at the start of the playoffs.

William leaned against the island beside Camilla, sipping a glass of wine as he watched the easy flow of conversation between Loren and his dad. The space felt alive with laughter and the clatter of utensils. This was the kind of moment William had longed for in his dating life. The object of all of his affection and desires beside the patriarch of their close knit family.

“Loren and your father get along so well,” Camilla remarked with a gentle smile, nodding toward the counter.

William huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah, they’re both in their element—it’s really awesome to see, eh?”

Camilla glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. “It is. She’s really quite something, William.”

Her tone was light, but hearing those words coming from his mother carried weight, which settled somewhere deep in his chest. He swirled the wine in his glass, the familiar ache creeping back as he thought about how temporary this moment felt.

Loren caught his eye from across the room and smiled, a soft, knowing look that made his chest both tighten and relax at the same time.

[In Swedish] “I’m going to step outside for a bit,” William quietly said, topping up the wine in his glass.

Camilla knew not to press him while he tried to work out whatever was in his head. She watched him in silence as he walked toward the deck.

William leaned against the railing, looking out over the lake as the breeze made intricate designs atop the water’s surface.

He looked around at the Edison and fairy lights that hung loosely around the branches and tree trunks throughout the property. Once dusk hits, they’re going to look fantastic he mused to himself. It seemed the family had been rather busy while William and Loren were away decorating, prepping buffet tables and the large fire pit with dry brush for the large get together that evening with friends and family.

After tossing back the remnants of wine into his mouth, he absentmindedly rolled the empty wine glass lightly between his hands as his thoughts swirled. He’d never been one to dwell on the “what ifs” in life, but with Loren, it felt impossible not to.

The soft creak of the screen door behind him broke his train of thought. He didn’t need to turn around to know it was his mom.

“Please don’t break my wine glass, William,” Camilla said teasingly. She knew William was smiling at her quip. “You’ve been a little quiet,” Camilla continued softly, stepping onto the deck with her own glass of wine. She slid onto one of the lounge chairs near him and shielded her eyes from the sun as she at William, patiently awaiting his response.

William smiled faintly, setting his empty glass down on the railing. “Just... thinking.”

Camilla nodded, her expression warm. “About?”

Glancing down at the deck boards, he repeatedly stepped on the loose board before meeting her gaze. “About Loren.”

Camilla took a sip of her wine, waiting for him to continue.

“I’m not used to this feeling - like how strong these feelings are, and how quickly it’s all happened. Even asking her to come here - when I asked her if she could come to visit... it had told her it was because I missed her,” William admitted after a moment. “And I did - but it was weird, because it felt like I had to have her come here. I was so anxious to see what it would feel like having her here with me—if she would get along with everyone…..if everyone would like her. I mean, how shitty would it be to start seeing her at the start of next season, only to bring her here next summer and she hates it here? Or worse yet, what if there were issues between you guys and her…I don’t know if I could handle that. Especially not after the last one.”

Camilla nodded as she listened to William rhyme off his thoughts.

She took a sip of wine. “And? What do you think now?” Camilla asked, her tone gentle.

William sighed as he lowered himself into an adjacent chair. “She fits in better than I ever could’ve imagined.”

Camilla nodded once again.

William continued. “But it’s more than that—it’s her. It’s like getting to spend this time with her has sort of confirmed all the good things that I thought I saw when I first met her - even more actually. At the beginning - she was pretty shy and just so…” William gestured that Loren was a bit wide-eyed when she first met him. “But God, Mom - I feel like I can relax around her. We can talk or not talk or laugh about stupid shit. She’s just—she’s so easy to be with. The only thing is that it just feels like a lot... a lot because it happened pretty quickly. I wasn’t expecting any of this, and neither was she.”

Camilla smiled knowingly, setting her glass down beside her. “I think it’s good that neither of you were expecting it. William, you’ve found someone that you genuinely enjoy being around. - that is a good thing.”

William glanced out at the lake, his voice softer now. “It feels weird to think this, let alone say it but - I don’t want her to leave. ”

Camilla’s smile faded slightly, her expression shifting to one of understanding. “It’s not a bad thing that she has her own life, William. You’ll both have to find a way to balance that as time goes on.”

“I know,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I'm a bit worried too that my life - it’s a lot for her to have to deal with. It’s not like we started dating when we were younger so she could ease into what my life is like now. It freaks me out sometimes - I don’t want anything to screw this up.”

Camilla reached over, placing a hand on his arm. “Loren strikes me as a woman that can weather the highs and lows of being in a relationship with you, and everything in between. She sees who you are - and what you are - and I feel that is such an important thing, as the two sometimes can be very different. I’m not telling you what to do or how to feel. If you are honest with yourself of what you truly want, that’s half the battle. The other half is talking to her about how you feel….to find out if she’s wanting the same thing. But I see the way you two look at each other - the way you are around each other - I think you've found something really special.”

William glanced at her, the weight in his chest easing just slightly at her reassurance.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said quietly, a small appreciative smile spanned his face.

Camilla squeezed his arm gently before picking up her glass. “Of course, älskling.” She stood, pausing briefly before heading back inside.

William stayed on the deck a little longer, letting the lake view calm his insides, and he grinned to himself as the sounds of laughter and delicious smells wafted from inside.

As it went, the sandwich showdown was a success as it was no longer about choosing a “winner” between the two options. Michael’s shrimp sandwiches had quickly become Loren’s favorite, though Michael and Camilla couldn’t stop praising the Croque Monsieur she’d prepared, calling it a decadent, once-in-a-while treat. William indulged in it all and had to change into some looser track pants to feel a little more comfortable afterwards.

—

Cleaning up from lunch, William and Loren moved effortlessly around the kitchen, their movements in a natural rhythm as if they’d done this a hundred times before. Michael scrolled through messages on his phone at the counter, and Loren smiled to herself, thinking, like father, like son.

While sipping wine and exchanging family stories, the three of them had formed an assembly line: Loren washing, William drying, and Camilla putting away the larger pots and pans that couldn’t go into the dishwasher.

The rich aroma from the three slow cookers, each filled with Swedish meatballs, wafted through the space, making Loren’s mouth water despite still being full from lunch. There was enough to feed half of Sweden—or at least the Nylander and Altelius families, which felt just as large.

The conversation during lunch, which incidentally revolved around food, delved into Loren’s French-centric upbringing and the cuisine which went along with it. The Nylanders could understand and appreciate this element well, being very Swedish-centric themselves. Michael wanted to know more about the decadent dishes that Loren had learned to make since she was young, which incorporated an interesting fusion between traditional Quebec and Parisian cuisine. With the mere mention of a recipe for a popular side-dish that Loren often made for large gatherings in the past, dauphinoise potatoes, Camilla was convinced that it would be a wonderful addition to the buffet scheduled that evening. Loren was soon making a list of ingredients, and with the promise of making them that evening (which pleased Loren to no end to do), Camilla and Michael ventured off to run the last minute errands.

Once Michael’s car was out of sight, William turned to Loren, opening his arms for a hug. Loren stepped into his embrace and with her arms wrapping around him, her hands trailed up his muscular back. She closed her eyes, enjoyed the peace of the moment and just breathed him in.

William kissed the top of her head. “I think it’s time for a nap. Are you tired? There’s a hammock we can both squeeze into…we can watch the lake and doze.”

“Mmm….I can always sleep….and I’ll never give up a chance to nap with you.” Loren replied affectionately, tilting her head up to kiss him sweetly.

Loren meandered out to the hammock with both dogs in tow, while William fetched a blanket. Despite the warmth of the afternoon sun, there was a crispness to the breeze which implied autumn was not far off.

Although she was skeptical at first with how comfortable the hammock would be for one person, let alone two adults and two dogs, the four were soon cocooned all together under the blanket with relative ease. Loren lay on her side, her head resting on a small pliable pillow in the crook of William’s underarm. William had strategically, yet comfortably, wrapped his arms around Loren. With the lake as a serene backdrop, she felt William’s chest rise and fall with every steady breathe as sleep found him first.

As Loren lay in William’s arms, her thoughts wandered to the future. The Sweden fairytale would end tomorrow, and the uncertainty of what came next weighed heavy. She’d ignored asking all the “uncomfortable” questions with her ex, and look where that had gotten her.

Perhaps a new one would begin for her and William in Toronto, but deep down, she couldn’t bet on any of it.

Maybe he’d ghost her.

Maybe he’ll keep playing the field after she leaves.

Maybe she is just one woman out of many that he spends time with.

Maybe it’s all of the above. Maybe it’s none of it.

She knew she was too far gone with her feelings for William to ignore the questions that rattled in her head. She had ignored similar questions with her ex, suppressing every single one until it was too late. And look where that had gotten her.

William shifted, his hand which rested on her hip squeezed her playfully and then slid up her backside. She felt him pause, tilt his head downward, and pressed a long kiss against her forehead. “Are you awake?” William whispered.

Loren nodded and smiled against the warmth of his shirt, running her hand along his torso.

She asked if he was comfortable. William responded with a low chuckle “I’m so comfortable that I might consider not moving for the rest of the day.”

William lay in silence, breathing in the fresh air and Loren’s light fragrance of her hair.

Before talking herself out of it, and with a lot of hesitation and trepidation, she began asking William questions, starting off with the ones that had been circling in her mind that afternoon.

Unsure of how the Q & A would go, or where it would lead, Loren jumped in feet first with asking William about the plethora of women for pro-athletes.

She would just have to work her way back from that.

—

The next morning, Loren woke with a dry mouth and a faint headache pounding in the background, though it hadn’t fully committed yet. Squinting against the bright morning light streaming through the curtains, she turned her head just enough to spot William sprawled on his stomach, the blanket wadded up by his arm, and one leg partially hanging off the bed. His hair stuck up in every direction, and his face was smushed against the pillow in a way that made her smile.

Stretching slowly, Loren let her eyes wander over the room as the memories of the previous night came flooding back. The dancing, the singing, the laughter—it had been one of the most joy-filled evenings she could remember.

Her gaze drifted back to William, who stirred slightly as if sensing her attention. His eyes opened just a crack, dark and bleary from the night before. “Mmm... morning,” he croaked through his dry throat.

“Morning,” Loren replied, her voice raspy. She reached for the glass of water on her nightstand, only to find it empty. “Ugh. I need water.”

William’s lips curved into a sleepy grin. “Hungover? Pretty sure I saw you and Mom clearing out the wine supply last night. You two are a bad influence on each other.”

Loren laughed softly then winced, her headache starting to win the battle. She found a stray bottle of water in her bag and climbed back into bed, draping an arm across his bare back. “It’s your mom - I couldn’t keep up with her and your aunts if I tried. Did you see us? I’m shocked I even have a voice left after belting out the words to every ABBA song on the playlist.”

“Of course I saw you.” William rolled onto his side, propping his head up on one hand as his other hand rested lightly on Loren’s waist. “Dad and I were watching you guys - I think he got some footage of you and Mom, too. Fucking total maniacs.”

Loren grinned, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “She’s amazing. Honestly, the whole night was amazing. I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun.”

William chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Well, I think the champagne punch might’ve helped. Not that it did me any favors—you passed out before you could make good on all the promises you whispered to me and Cowboy Bill.”

Loren cocked her head to the side and rolled her eyes. “It was you and your dad that kept topping up our glasses - so you sabotaged yourself.”

“It was sort of worth it, though - you get all mushy and sentimental when you’re hammered,” William teased as he buried his face in her neck. “You’re so perfect William, you could line up every man on the planet and there would none as perfect as you, perfect body, perfect mind - Cowboy Bill - perfect,” William mimicked Loren’s voice as he rhymed off her drunken musings.

Loren pretended to pout, pushing him lightly on the chest. “You’re making fun of me on my last day here? Maybe I overestimated you and your perfection. A perfect man would lay me back and tell me how good those words made him feel. No, wait - he would show me how good those words made him feel - ”

“Ohhhhhh - come here, don’t be like that,” William said, his shit-eating grin widening as he rolled her onto her back and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “You telling me how perfect you think I am, took me out.” His eyes scanned her face. “And coming from you, phew…that’s really something.”

Loren rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile. “I’m sorry I let Cowboy Bill down last night.”

William groaned, pulling her closer. “If we didn’t have my parents expecting us downstairs, you could be making it up to him right now…”

—

As noon faded into mid-afternoon, the activity around the lake house began to quiet. One by one, cars were packed, and heartfelt “until next times” were exchanged.

Many of William’s extended family gathered around Loren, each embracing her warmly as they wished her well.

One of Camilla’s sisters squeezed Loren’s hand gently. “Safe travels back to Canada, Loren. I hope we can all keep in touch and that we’ll see you again next summer. So, no goodbyes—just ‘see you soon.’”

Loren’s throat tightened as she tried to steady her voice. “I hope so too. It’s been so wonderful to meet you all.”

Even William’s youngest cousins, who Loren had spent hours playing with to give their parents a much-needed reprieve, came bounding up, forming a little line as they waited their turn to hug her.

William stood behind Loren as they watched another wave of cars disappear down the driveway. His hands rested lightly on her hips, squeezing gently - both playfully to lighten the mood, and reassuringly. He could see Loren holding back her emotions as the thoughts of her own impending departure weighed on her shoulders. His hands didn’t stray far from her as they joined his friends out on the wrap-around deck.

The mood was light despite most of the group nursing varying levels of hangovers. The previous night had been one of the last big blowouts before the end of summer, with William’s loved ones leading the charge until most had passed out in one way or another. Alex and Lisa were nowhere to be seen, seemingly sleeping off the effects of drunkenly seeing the sunrise that morning.

William and Loren shared a lounge chair, with him leaning back comfortably between her legs. Loren did her best to soak in every moment, appreciating not just the view of the lake but the warmth of William’s hands resting on her thighs and the solid weight of his body against hers. She focused on memorizing every detail—the tone of his voice as he and Rasmus discussed the upcoming hockey season, the occasional laughter that lit up his face, and the feeling of being right there with him in this fleeting moment.

As the men’s conversation deepened into offseason trades and team strategies, Malin took it upon herself to slip into the chair next to Loren and William. With a wave of her hand, she shooed William away. “Go sit with the boys so we can have some girl time.”

William chuckled, giving Loren’s thigh one last squeeze before moving to take Lisa’s spot beside Rasmus, while Loren and the women settled into their own conversations.

Lisa smiled at Loren as she made herself comfortable at the end of the lounge chair. “So, are you looking forward to going back home?”

“Hmmm,” Loren said thoughtfully. “In some ways, yes—I miss my house, and I’m excited to see my parents and friends. But honestly, you’ve all made it really hard not to want to stay. You ladies are amazing, and I’m so thankful I’ve met you.”

Malin’s bottom lip turned downward in an exaggerated pout as she leaned over and rested her head on Loren’s shoulder. “You’re making me cry,” she said with a chuckle. “So, what this all means is that you have to come back. Stay longer next time. I mean, everything I’ve seen points to you and William coming back together, but if it doesn’t work out, you can always stay with me.”

“Or me! Oh my gosh, I’d love for you to come back,” Ingrid added enthusiastically.

The women cooed and leaned in for a group hug, earning a round of mocking jeers from the men across the deck.

“I’m gonna miss you, man,” Emil declared loudly, pulling William into an exaggerated hug and pretending to shed a tear. Rasmus joined in, dabbing at his eyes dramatically as he patted William on the back.

“You guys are such assholes, honestly,” Ingrid said, rolling her eyes at their clowning.

The group traded good-natured jabs until the laughter finally died down. Emil stood and stretched, announcing he was heading home. Loren approached him with a wide grin to say goodbye, and William clapped him on the back for a quick hug.

“Thanks for coming,” William said, smiling warmly. “Let’s hit the rink later this week—then grab some lunch after.”

“Sounds good,” Emil replied before turning his attention to Loren. His feelings for her had started to fade, but he still couldn’t help admiring everything about her. As he hugged her tightly—mindful of William’s presence—he couldn’t help but think of how rare it was to meet someone like her.

“It was such a pleasure to meet you, Emil,” Loren said, her grin lighting up her face.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you—I listened to that Canadian blues guy you mentioned. Incredible guitar. Loved his voice.”

Loren’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I’m so glad you liked him! He’s not super well-known, even in Canada, but I think he’s ridiculously talented.”

“Get William to give you my number,” Emil said. “If you think of anyone else you think I might like, send me a message, okay?”

William, standing behind Loren with his hand resting at the small of her back, nodded. “Yeah, for sure…I’ll pass it along.”

Emil flashed one last warm smile at Loren before saying goodbye to the rest of the group and heading out.

Before long, the group had dwindled down to just Rasmus and Lisa. As wonderful as it was to have all of William’s closest friends and their girlfriends around, there was something comforting about the particular closeness shared between William and Rasmus, and Loren and Lisa.

As the four of them relaxed on the deck, William casually offered for Rasmus and Lisa to stay a little longer. [In Swedish] “Pasta and Rebecca are coming for dinner tonight with little Freya,” he said, referring to current NHL star David Pastrnak, affectionately known league-wide as “Pasta” and one of his closest friends, and his wife. “You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner - catch up a bit from their wedding.” William quickly translated for Loren after the fact.

[In English] “Would love to but my brother’s coming with his girlfriend for a barbeque tonight at our place. Shit - seeing Pasta would be awesome.”

“Oh - I have seen pictures of Freya,” Lisa turned to Loren “she’s so sweet, an absolute doll. So is Rebecca, she’s really nice - you’ll like her.”

Camilla stepped onto the deck from the sliding door. [In Swedish] “Sorry for interrupting. William, can you help your Dad and I carry that bookcase you asked for out to the car? We’re going to drop it off at your place and then take the girls out for dinner.”

Rasmus stood up before William and offered to help as well. Soon the four friends were hauling out a very unique and beautiful vintage Scandinavian bookcase which William had discovered tucked away in storage at the beginning of the summer.

Michael and Camilla approached Loren for a hug. “We’ll see you tomorrow for brunch, and this time, I just want you to sit and relax. You’ve got a long day ahead of you,” Michael smiled.

Loren and Camilla exchanged a knowing smile. After drinking far more than either of them was accustomed to the night before, their brief meeting earlier that morning had included a silent acknowledgment—a shared camaraderie between two women who partied hard and were now paying the price.

With the remaining family splitting up between two vehicles—including Alex and Lisa, who still looked groggy and in desperate need of more sleep—the last of the hugs were exchanged, and soon they were on their way.

Lisa approached Loren for one final hug, holding her tightly. “We’ll absolutely figure out a way to get together,” she said confidently. “After all, D.C. isn’t that far from Toronto - oooh - if William’s away, you can come down….we can keep you company.

Rasmus opened his arms for Loren as well. His embrace was sincere and full of warmth.

“If he misbehaves, you make sure you tell me. He thinks he can make my life miserable during the game, but I know a million ways to get under his skin too.” He pulled back slightly “It was awesome to meet you, Loren. And Lisa’s serious - she would love the company when I’m on the road, so maybe you ladies can figure out plans to get together.”

Loren beamed with the thought of all the newfound friendships she had made in the past two weeks. “I would absolutely love that. Honestly, you all have been so incredible. Thank you for making my time here so special.” Loren fought against the tightness in her throat. This is just getting harder and harder she thought.

After Rasmus drove off, their hands still waving out of the window as they disappeared from sight, it was just Loren, William and his furry four-legged boys.

Each of them took a deep breath as their eyes locked for a brief moment. William snaked his arm around Loren’s waist as they walked toward the house. Loren slid her hand over one of his firm ass cheeks, tapping it affectionately, and smiled when William’s grip on her hip tightened in response.

The reality that time was slipping away faster than grains of sand in an hourglass was palpable. In less than 24 hours, Loren would be awaiting the call to board at the departure gate at Arlanda Airport.

William silently resolved to make the most of Loren’s remaining hours in Sweden. Their future didn’t have to be figured out in one night, but he knew one thing for certain—he needed to make his intentions clear. It was time to find out how Loren truly felt about being in his life, not just as “romantic Interest”, but as his girlfriend.

—

“Awh—look at Pablo,” Loren said, nodding toward the dog bed. “He lays just like you when you’re passed out on your back. Legs wide open.”

William chuckled, not missing a beat. “Nothing like having a nap and airing out the boys. It’s multitasking.”

Loren nearly spit her wine out, choking on a laugh as the glass clinked against the counter. Pablo, startled by the sudden sound, perked up briefly before settling back into his sprawled position.

“Sorry, buddy,” Loren said, walking over to the makeshift perch she’d set up for the dogs to allow them a clear view of all the kitchen activities. She stood beside Pablo, scratching his belly in apology before kissing Banksy’s head for good measure. Returning to the island, she resumed chopping carrots for the evening’s dish—a Swedish beef stew called Kalops.

Loren chuckled to herself. “I can just picture it now—on a low-key day, you three, and now Alex, lounging around on the couch at your place... a bunch of furry balls being air-dried. Nice.”

“Mine aren’t furry,” William countered without hesitation. “I took care of them in the shower yesterday... but you wouldn’t know since you fed Cowboy Bill a bunch of false promises last night. He’s still upset about it too.”

Loren lifted her head, staring straight ahead as if she was deeply unimpressed with William’s teasing. “I already apologized to Cowboy Bill—face to mmm... you know—but it’s you who owes my mmm-mmm down there an apology for getting me so hammered she missed out on a wild ride.”

The kitchen settled into an easy silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of Loren chopping vegetables and the sizzle of beef cubes browning in the skillet.

“So... how do you say ‘furry balls’ in Swedish?” Loren asked, deadpan.

William’s inner voice howled in amusement, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a laugh. “Luddiga bollar,” he replied, his tone mock-serious, though his shoulders shook with silent amusement.

Loren’s laughter spilled out, thankfully avoiding startling the dogs once more. “I can’t tell if that’s legit or if you’re just trying to make me sound ridiculous.”

William smirked, still focused on the pan. “You’ll have to say it to my dad tomorrow at brunch to find out.”

Loren’s eyes went wide and her mouth dropped as she flung a carrot top towards him.

William turned the burner off and removed the pan from the heat. Approaching Loren, he reached out, lightly pinning her hips against the counter. She set the knife down, her expression softening as his presence enveloped her.

“Furry balls aside, there’s some more important things you should learn to say in Swedish,” he murmured, brushing his lips against hers. “Like how to answer some questions I’ll probably be asking you regularly once I'm back in Toronto—but I will be asking them in Swedish.”

Her hands slid under his shirt, grazing the toned muscles along his sides as she smiled, her voice full of both curiosity and desire. “For example?”

William’s gaze locked on hers, his tone low and sincere. “Well, I know your schedule’s crazy, so I’d probably ask when I can see you, how long I can see you for, if you can stay the night—or the whole day. Maybe if I can crash at your place instead. And then there’s ‘Can you come to any games that week?’ or ‘Can you stay a few days?’...” He paused before leaning in for a slow, lingering kiss. Breaking away just to speak softly against her lips, he added, “And, of course, ‘Do you like it when I do this to you?’” His tongue lightly grazed the tip of hers - and with that one moves, she knew he wanted to use his tongue on a spot a little lower on her body.

Loren’s cheeks flushed and her pulse quickened, her fingers pressed against his sides. She wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, but something about William’s words felt less like a list of ‘What If’s’ and more like a promise.

“But I already know the word for ‘Yes’ in Swedish,” she said softly.

William tilted his head, his mouth brushing her jawline before finding her ear. “You’re just going to answer ‘Yes’ to everything?”

“Ja,” she whispered, her lips curling into a smile as her fingers tightened around his shirt. “Most of those questions just need ‘Ja’ or ‘Nej,’ but in my case... ‘Ja, ja, ja... hmmm... Ja.’”

In the background, the opening lyrics of Post Malone’s 'Stay' filled the room, a reminder of the long make-out sessions that had marked the beginning of her and William’s connection.

For William, it encapsulated such significant meaning in that moment because it’s exactly what he wanted her to do.

Loren rested her forehead against William’s collarbone as they began to sway. William’s one hand traveled up her spine, eventually finding its way to the back of her hair, while the other pulled her in closer around her waist.

Nearing the end of the song, a car horn beeped repetitively and William and Loren quickly snapped back to reality. Sharing one more tender kiss, they washed their hands and hurriedly followed the dogs to the door to greet the Pastrnak’s.

—

“So - you finished up with all of your interviews now?” William asked, sitting across from his long-time friend, David Pastrnak, at the dining table.

The two right-wing forwards, who have been friends for almost 15 years but play for rival NHL teams, were being featured together in the first episode of a upcoming documentary series.

“All done - you did yours too, right?” David asked, as he poured more wine into his wife’s glass and subsequently Loren’s.

“Yeah, right after your wedding. Fuck dude, your wedding - that was one of the best nights man - ah Loren, I wish you could have seen it,” William said, a touch ruefully.

Loren turned to Rebecca. “I saw pictures and reels on Instagram - Croatia looks incredible. I keep on thinking of the scenery…it looked magical…like a place out of a fairy tale.”

Rebecca pulled out her phone to show her some additional pictures as Loren openly and enthusiastically admired how stunning Rebecca looked, the colour scheme, the flowers - everything.

Loren began talking to Freya. “Did you see your momma and daddy? Absolutely beautiful - just like you.” Loren walked her fingers along the tray on Freya’s high chair, punctuating “just like you” on each button of her onesie.

Freya’s face lit up with a smile and a hearty giggle, and Loren’s did the same. Soon, they were copying each other, their fits of belly laughs growing louder with each motion. No one at the table could withstand the contagious sound of their joy, and before long, everyone was joining in.

Once the laughter had died down, Rebecca rather impressively instructed the two men to clean up the table while the ladies retreated to the living room with Freya and their wine. William and David looked at each other with slight resignation.

“Yes, Boss Lady,” David said with a mix of sarcasm and defiance as they slowly rose from the table and began gathering plates and cutlery.

They were fairly efficient for about a minute before William grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, handed one to David, and waved dismissively at the rest of the mess. “We’ll get to it later,” he stated, and with that, the two strutted out onto the deck.

Having settled on the living room sofa with Freya and their wine, Loren and Rebecca exchanged a certain look before their gaze fell on their respective men’s muscular rear-ends. In silence, they toasted each other with a knowing grin and took a long sip of their wine.

—

David motioned toward the empty chair across from him as William handed over a fresh beer. “So, she leaves tomorrow?” David asked, twisting off the cap.

William settled into the chair and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Yeah—flight’s at five in the afternoon. She had this insane thirty-hour return trip booked because it was the cheapest, but I rebooked her on a direct flight. Took some convincing, though. She’s stubborn as hell about letting me pay for anything.”

David leaned back, resting his bottle on the deck. “Okay, so she’s got pride and is stubborn. Anything else you figure out over the past weeks?”

William grinned, swiping condensation from his beer bottle. “Well, I think I figured out….I love hanging out with her. She’s got this - I don’t know, it’s like she’s a mix of every kind of goodness rolled into one person. It’s crazy.” David raised an eyebrow, smirking at his friend’s almost bashful admittance. “And now, seeing her with my family, with you guys - the rest of my friends—it’s just easy, you know? Like I don’t have to worry about entertaining her or think ‘oh fuck - keep her away from this person or that or else shit’s gonna happen’ - know what I mean? She wants to make a good impression but she’s so…genuine? Does that make sense?” William looked over his shoulder through the sliding glass doors. Loren was on the floor playing with Freya while Rebecca took the opportunity and enjoyed a glass of wine.

David nodded. He had only just met Loren but he could already see exactly what William was talking about. “Okay, but what’s the not-so-great stuff? She’s gotta have... what are these things... flaws? Y’know, like, she’s not gonna be perfect 24/7.” His tone was teasing—he hadn’t seen William this moony over a woman in a long time—but there was a hint of seriousness beneath it. Playing devil’s advocate, David wanted to keep his friend’s thoughts grounded.

William leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stretched his back. “I don’t know if I’d call them flaws—she’s just... different. In a good way, if that makes sense?”

David motioned for William to keep going. “Gimme an example,” David said, reaching for another beer from the cooler that sat between them, grabbing another for William in the process.

“Okay - like she’s had some really shitty stuff go on in the past with this guy…he was pretty awful to her - like pretty fucking bad but could be worse type of guy. She got past it - she works hard - like tons of hours to pay the bills. She’s made a really nice home for herself and she keeps things simple. But sometimes she is really in her head, or she was a lot when I first met her. She worries a lot about things that I probably wouldn’t give a shit about. But, that’s what makes her, her. Sometimes simple things really stress her out, and yet other times, she’s super chill.” William took a long swig of beer and then glanced at David as he considered the traits William rhymed off about Loren.

David cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, so can you see something happening with her when you get back to Toronto? Our lives - are not easy to deal with. Especially yours - for me, people just wave and say hi, like they know me but they just go on with their day. You, my friend, have always had women that will do anything to be near you. Whatever Rebecca has seen being my girlfriend, it’s going to be much harder for Loren. Have you talked to her about that?”

William rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “That’s kind of what I’m worried the most about. Not whether she can handle it, but whether she even wants to. Like - I know how she feels about me, as a person. But yeah, she’s already had a taste of the hockey player side of things - I still can’t believe I made her feel like she was the distraction when my game sort of went to shit back in April.” William silently cringed at the memory. “But I know she’s thinking about what it will mean for her being in a relationship with me. Fuck, yesterday, we were in the hammock all afternoon, just talking and hanging out, and she came right out with it. Asked me how it worked with athletes and women.”

David raised his eyebrows, wondering what direction the conversation in the hammock went in.

“She asked - and I’m not joking - ‘Is it you guys just wanting to get your dick wet just because there’s like never-ending pussy that are accessible to you?”

David choked on his beer, laughing. “She said that?”

“Yup,” William said, shaking his head. “And not even like she was accusing me of anything—more like she was trying to understand how it all works.”

David looked over William’s shoulder at Loren, trying to connect the dots between Loren’s sweet disposition and her apparent potty mouth. “So, what did you say?”

“I told her the truth,” William replied. “That there’s a lot of factors—pressures from inside the locker room, the lifestyle, the fans... but yeah, mostly, it’s just constantly being offered.”

David made a cringe expression. “How did she answer?”

“She didn’t say anything for the longest time,” William said. “And then finally, she asked ‘But is fucking random women that amazing that you guys just want to sleep around all the time? Like, I get it - it’s sex with beautiful women - and some women will do anything you want just to get with you - but is the sex really that good?’”

David and William exchanged knowing glances. “I just said ‘Fuck - not always…I’ve regretted some for sure’” William said, a smirk tugging on his lips. Silence hung in the air for a moment until both men burst out laughing. They had exchanged a number of ‘war stories’ of their female conquests over the years.

“But fuck, as she's asking these questions, I'm getting nervous, right? Like I used to fool around and stuff years ago…I wasn't sure if she was going to ask me how many girls I've been with or if I ever cheated or what. So I just sort of asked her - does she think if we're together that I'm going to fuck around on her? Then she hit me with something and I’m still thinking about it now.”

David's eyes widened with a mix of amusement and anticipation.

“She just said she doesn’t have this “magic pussy” that would keep me from cheating - if I wanted to cheat that is. And then she said—‘You’re going to do whatever you want to do….none of it is in my control.’”

David’s brow furrowed, his grin fading. “That’s...hmmm - wow. What did you say to that?”

William hesitated, taking another sip of his beer. “I didn’t know what to say at first. But she wasn’t done. She said she doesn’t get the appeal of having a roster of women. She said instead of having a thousand women, wouldn’t it be better to have one woman a thousand ways? And then she just kissed me and said, ‘I guess that’s just me.’”

David sat back, processing William’s words. After a moment, he smiled faintly, despite being a bit taken aback by Loren’s “You’re going to do whatever you want regardless” attitude. Nevertheless, David agreed with Loren. “Well, she’s definitely got a point.”

William nodded, his voice soft. “Yeah. And I can’t stop thinking about it. A thousand women? That’s not what I want. I was dating here and there before I met her, and yeah, they’re all stacked and say all the things that they think I want to hear - whatever. But fuck, Pasta—it’s scary when you meet someone that just blows you away, you know?”

David studied him for a moment, then leaned in. “So... is it possible? A thousand ways with Loren?”

William’s grin returned, a hint of boyishness. “A thousand ways might be tame for her.”

David threw his head back, laughing. “Lucky guy.”

“Trust me, I know,” William said, his voice sounding more serious. “I’ve never met anyone like her - like I can see things going pretty far down the road with her.”

“It’s not complicated, Willy. So you take the leap and probably end up happy but if you let her leave and don’t let her know how you feel about her, you might lose out on something big.”

David suddenly shivered, rubbing his hands together. “Fucking cold man - what are we even doing out here? Going in to sit with our hot boss ladies.”

William and David eased out of their chairs and into the warmth of the house. David rounded the love seat to find his beautiful daughter sleeping on Loren’s midriff. A little stream of drool seeped from Freya’s pink lips that were smooshed against Loren’s upper chest.

David smiled and whispered to Loren and Rebecca “Ohhh - she’s out…must be tired.”

Rebecca smiled and winked at her husband. “She passed right out when Loren offered to hold her - so I took the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine.”

William slowly lowered himself next to Loren, careful not to disturb the baby. He gazed at Freya’s face, noticing the drool and chuckled. The image before him of Loren holding a baby was yet another moment that was surprisingly exciting to William. They were nowhere near discussing babies in their future, but the momentary glimpse of one of the many possibilities did not frighten him either.

—

Life for William after Loren returned to Toronto wasn’t all that different on the surface. His days were still filled with the familiar routines of off-season life—rounds of golf and tennis with friends, grueling training sessions both at the rink and the gym, and leisurely evenings spent hopping between Stockholm’s best restaurants or lounging in with his friends for a movie or a big game.

But beneath the surface, everything felt different. Her absence weighed on him in ways he hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just the standard longing for someone you miss; it was much deeper. Loren wasn’t just in his thoughts—everywhere he turned, he could see her there.

The memory of her shivering from the chill of the lake while helping to fix the water line came rushing back every time he went down to the water’s edge with his dogs.

In the shower, he could almost hear her laughter and feel her body press against him by merely opening the shampoo she left for him and smelling it's familiar fragrance.

He longed for her to be beside him for meals with the family, especially when Michael made his own variation of Croque Monsieur for lunch, which he now deemed “Croque Michel”

With Loren hitting the ground running almost as soon as she landed, William made it a point to reach out regularly, given he had the time—whether through a text, a voice call, or FaceTime. He was lucky to catch her during quiet moments at home, a break at work, or even during her drive. Their conversations never disappointed; they were always filled with affection and humor, leaving him wishing they didn’t have to end—no matter if they lasted a quick minute or stretched to thirty.

One evening, during one of their FaceTime calls, Loren’s phone was mounted to her dashboard as she drove through the city. She glanced between him and the street signs outside, explaining that Chelsea, the unstoppable marketing machine, had asked her to meet with a local designer downtown. Chelsea had shown photos of Loren to the designer, and was eager to have her model pieces from a new collection being featured on a Toronto talk show. William listened, his smile fixed, but something about these new opportunities—even though she brushed it off and seemed opposed to the idea—tightened his chest. She looked so effortlessly stunning even then - her hair tousled, her still tanned complexion and deep brown eyes darting between focusing on him and navigating the streets. The thought of others noticing the same thing, of someone else being drawn in by her charm, sat heavy in his chest long after their call ended.

The busier Loren seemed, the more William found himself wanting to get back to her. He admired how hard she worked and how determined she was—it was one of the first things he’d noticed about her. But every now and then, he’d feel this strange, unexpected tug of possessiveness, like he was afraid one of the many things keeping her busy might pull her away from him. Now that he’d found her, the idea of losing her to something—or someone—else was a thought he couldn’t shake, no matter how much he tried.

Soon, September rolled around, and it was only a matter of days before William would be landing back in Toronto.

Loren, knowing how chaotic the start of the school year could be, decided to give herself some breathing room by scheduling her tutoring sessions to begin in the third week of September. It allowed her students time to settle into their routines and gave her the chance to spend time with William as soon as he got back. She knew once his season started, his schedule would take over—not just his life, but hers as well, in its own way.

As she sat on her porch one sunny afternoon, armed with a cold beer and her laptop, her phone pinged with an incoming FaceTime from William.

She smiled, setting the laptop aside and picking up her phone. Accepting the call, her screen filled with his face—and her breath caught for a moment.

William was in a tuxedo.

His blond hair was perfectly styled, slightly shorter than she remembered and a touch more polished than usual. The crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and tailored blazer fit his broad frame impeccably. He looked magnificent—beyond what she’d imagined when he first mentioned attending the event with his family.

Loren’s eyes widened, full of admiration. “William—I… wow. I’m speechless,” she gasped, her face flushed and not from the beer.

“You like?” he asked, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

She nodded, unapologetically gazing at him with wide, adoring eyes.

The rest of the Nylanders, equally as elegant, leaned into the screen and greeted Loren affectionately. She returned their greetings warmly, laughing at their playful comments about the evening ahead.

“Has anyone figured out the over/under on how many women will swoon the minute William walks in?” Loren teased, though she half meant it.

They shared a laugh, but when the moment faded, his expression softened. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Loren let herself take him in, marveling at how effortlessly handsome he looked, while William seemed content just to look back at her through the screen.

Eventually, after their goodbyes, William sent Loren a message:

Wish you were here.

Her response was almost immediate:

Me too. Although I’d probably trip over my dress and embarrass you in front of all those people.

The three bouncing dots appeared as William typed his reply:

Doubtful. Can’t wait to see you—be there soon.

Loren stared at his message, her heart skipping a beat. She was sure she had never felt so giddy or full of life, and she could hardly wait to see what the future might hold for the two of them.

—

A few days later, Loren sat curled up on her couch, her laptop balanced on the armrest as she worked on her tutoring schedule for the upcoming week. The day had been productive but long, and she welcomed the stillness of the evening. Her phone was close by, and every few minutes, her gaze drifted toward it.

William had messaged earlier, letting her know he and Alex were about to board their flight to Toronto. He’d promised to text again once they landed and he was settled. She smiled at the thought of seeing him soon, even if the past few days had left her with an unsettling feeling she couldn’t quite shake.

A notification at the top of her screen caught her attention: an Instagram DM. The account wasn’t immediately familiar, but Loren saw that Isla followed the account. A single word, “Hi.”—was simple enough to pique her curiosity. Loren tapped on it, opening a thread of several messages.

Her heart dropped as she scrolled.

“Hey Loren, I’m Margot. I know we were never introduced while you were here, but I think there are some things you need to know.”

“It’s about William.”

“You deserve to know the truth before you get hurt like I did.”

Her heart thudded, staring at the screen and debating whether to respond. A second later, another message appeared.

“William and I had a thing. I heard he told you about it. But what you don’t know is he told me I was special, but it turns out I wasn’t the only one he was with this summer before you came. Trust me, he’s really good at making women feel like they’re the only ones he sees.”

Loren’s pulse quickened, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She quickly closed the app instead, setting her phone down on the couch beside her—screen facedown. Determined not to let her mind spiral, she tried to focus on her laptop, on the neat columns of names and times that required her attention.

But her vision was blurred and she could feel her heartbeat pounding in her throat. Her phone buzzed again, the muffled vibration against the fabric sent another blinding wave of pressure behind her eyes.

Don’t look, she told herself. Just leave it.

A minute passed. Then another. Her resolve cracked as her phone continued to vibrate. She picked it up.

More messages.

“He has a pattern, Loren. I know it because I was part of it.”

“He told me we might have something real. Then I found out about the others.”

“One of lives in Stockholm and he saw her this summer. I know because she’s in our friend group. He sees her when he needs ‘something’, understand?”

Loren’s stomach churned. Her fingers felt cold as she scrolled up, rereading Margot’s earlier messages - they were so specific, so calculated that they sliced through her trust she had developed with William.

Then came another message with a link:

“I thought this might help you understand.”

Loren hesitated before tapping the link, which opened to an article from Hänt, accompanied by a clip of William’s interview at the Grand Hotel’s 150th anniversary celebration. She pressed play, her stomach twisting as she watched.

He looked as flawless as she remembered, polished in his tuxedo, as the reporter—a very pretty brunette with wide-eyes and a bubbly personality—asked him about his personal life. His answers were in some cases vague but polite, but his other responses seemed so specific and unrehearsed, like how the truth rolls off someone’s tongue before they can stop it. But it wasn’t just his words that made Loren’s chest tighten—it was the way he looked at the reporter.

The camera caught moments where his gaze lingered on her face. Loren could see it, recognize it because he looked at her like that.

She flung the phone down and hunched over, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes as her scattered mind tried to connect the dots.

Her phone vibrated again with another message from Margot:

“He does this with everyone. It’s part of his act. Don’t think you’re the exception, Loren.”

The final blow came with another round of photos.

One showed William at a bar, a woman leaning into him, her hand resting on his arm. The next was of him hugging another woman, his face buried near her neck. A third, blurry but unmistakably him, appeared to show a kiss on the cheek—or maybe something more. Loren couldn’t tell.

Margot’s final message landed like a punch to the gut.

“You seem like a nice girl. I just don’t want you to end up like me—thinking you’re special, only to realize you’re just one of many.”

Loren’s hands trembled as she placed her phone face down on the couch again, staring blankly at her laptop. The words burned in her mind, replaying on a loop. Just one of many.

Minutes passed, and still, she couldn’t stop herself from picking up the phone again. She scrolled through the messages once more, then opened the photos again, looking for any detail that might poke holes in Margot’s story.

The blood had drained from her face, leaving a dull ache behind. Despite how careful she tried to be this time, she had been blindsided once again by someone that she cared deeply for. Someone who had convinced her that they had a bright and loving future together.

The idea that there could be even a shred of truth in what Margot was saying was unbearable. Loren could not see how William could ever explain any of this to her and make any of it seem okay.

[snottertooder]

“Better” ending for The umbrella academy season 4 (A fix-it)

I genuinely think the idea of the ending is a fitting one for tua since the last 3 seasons, they have been doing EVERYTHING but giving up. But they absolutely dropped the ball on the execution and what built up to it (I didn’t shed a single tear last episode because they felt more like strangers in force proximity than sibilings, ESP DIEGO AND FIVE DYING HATING EACH OTHER??)

I think a better ultimatum would’ve been if instead of giving up their existence they gave up on their RELATIONSHIP as sibilings. The goal the hargreeves had the entire series is to A. save the world b. Save their family. That has been challenged MANY times and as a final Ultimatum, they have to pick between

- forever time jumping to other timelines (via subway idk) and repeating the cycle of saving the world to keep their family together

-save the world by getting rid of their powers (like og) and relationship with one another, where they would exist in a new timeline without umbrella academy, without powers and without the hargreeves name connecting them to one another (for this to be really impactful, season 3 needs to be FILLED with fluff and family happy moments like we all hoped to see)

So when they all give up their power (with Ben bc he deserves to be there at their final moment) we get the whole season 1-3 scenes and then when we see the new timeline instead of a bunch of minor characters living normal lives (which lowkey no one cares for) we see the hargreeves living normal happy lives without one another. I think it would be a neat call back/parellel if they showed their lives like how they did in season 1 ep1. Starting from Luther and ending with Viktor (including Five and Ben this time)

My hc for how they would be in this new timeline:

(FYI, I haven’t seen the other seasons in a hot second and the new season didn’t help me get an idea for their motivations so if any of these are ooc sorry 😜)

1) Luther

• I think in the new timeline he would have a fulfilled life with Sloane and a few kids(which he DESERVES, instead of being a stripper). I think they’re soulmates (even tho personally I didn’t care of their relationship) I think it’s fitting that they get their happily ever after. As a Career, I think he would be a of CEO/Manager, his entire life he’s been told what to do by his father and struggles as a leader to the family. Him being in charge of something for once esp his life would be fitting. (I think it would parallel well with season one him being alone and a mess to season 4 him being happy, loved and put together)

2) Diego

• as a career I think a Lawyer. In his new life with his new family he would still have a call for justice except this time he plays by the books since he didn’t have a father turning him into a vigilante by the age of 10. I don’t think in the new timeline he would be with Lila since then the sacrifice would be meaningless. I can see him get with his Dead girlfriend from season 1?? In a diff way as Lawyer x Detective. Also he’s a Universal dilf, he adopts stan from an abuse/negligence case (his real mom is pretty terrible) and they live happily ever after :)

3) Allison

• an Artist. Her entire life is a lie and she’s never been able to express herself, I think she would be a Artist who expresses herself through her art and becomes successful through her own means, this way for being herself (maybe an anonymous one so she isn’t famous as a person but her art like Banksy, I think it would be neat if some of her art was about the civil rights movement) Maybe she’s even with Ray and/or an alternative version of Claire.

4) Klaus

• Since everyone wanted Klave season 4 (rip), he could be with Dave in the new timeline. He would be 100% sober, and honestly I see him being a TV personality, either a TV show host or has his own talk show (LOLL it would be funny if he had smth like dr Phill happening where he’s fixing messed up families, orrr a paranormal series where he visits haunted houses, or even a game show host like love island, maybe he even met Dave on there idk scandal

5) Five

• Retired 100% finally, I honestly think he could be anything but smth in action like a police officer or CIA since he REALLY needs the rest. I imagine he’s living life like the creator of androids in Detroit becomes human with the Chloe robots except the robots are Daloris and his family visit him often so he’s never alone (also because his grandchildren wants his inheritance but he just gives it to a dog or smth for the giggles bc they are all morons) i think he either becomes rich for inventing/discovering something or because he’s a Nepo baby, Either way he deserves it.

6) Ben (the og one)

• An author who travels the world 100%%%%%% I think he would be a professor or Author (or both) but he travels more than he works, he’s a lazy bum for sure!!(for work) I think it’s fitting that he sees the world since he never got to from Dying young + being trapped with Klaus (ig they did explore the United States but he never really got far plus it was the 60s)he never settles down until his legs give out. In this timeline I think Og ben and asshole ben would be twins/sibilings (og would be the older one) their names would be Benedict and Bennett bc their parents couldn’t decide who Benjamin would be.

6.5) Ben (the asshole one)

• This one is hard since he’s barely been developed. But he’s gives me MAJORRRR Ken sato vibes from the new Ultraman movie on Netflix. He would DEFINITELY be a professional athlete teenage girls make edits of on tiktok (that I consume) Idk if he would stick with the water as a sport having tentacles and all but if not he would be a Race car driver, play a ball sport (basketball and baseball esp) or boxing. Since him and Jennifer are “fated” she would play a similar role to Ami Wakita (in the ultraman movie) as a Journalist, lowkey power couple (if they were properly developed) Also Jennifer as a journalist would be fun, maybe she crossed paths with Diego once or stalked Allison to find her true identity. Her first issue was DEFF about her creepy as home town. She wrote many books about the cult.

7) Viktor

• a Swimmer like his parents orrr a teacher/professor. I could see him write books too (since he already wrote one) lowkey try a lot of diff hobbies and Job jump alot into diff professions. Just do everything. Sissy (I forgot how to spell her name) could be in the new time line like the rest of them too with Danial? (I forgot the kids name) as alternative versions. I imagine they meet as Teachers (sissy gives me MAJOR councilor vibes)

Lila

• if they were to do like a montage of their lives like in season one, I don’t think she would get one since she isn’t numbered but I think it would be hinted in the background. I honestly imagine her becoming a Singer/Actor. She’s either in a Metal band, go on Broadway, be an Oscar winning actress, end up in hall hallmark movies or all the above ( like singer-> Broadway -> A tier actor -> D tier hallmark movies) (she loves it tho, keeps her on the toes)

The last scene is What viktors been up to but then the Radio plays idk “I think we’re alone now” which leads to Viktor starts dancing, and then it shows everyone else also start dancing from where ever they are in different locations. Because even if they aren’t siblings anymore they are still connected ☹️ and that’s the final dance scene we never got 🙏

I imagine it would be even more twisted if they all lived in diff time periods like how they all missed each other in season 2. Like Allison is already dead from old age by the time Ben is born. Lila is already a Punk rock legend by the time Diego loses his first tooth. Five in his young days had an enemies to lovers with JFK while Viktor is reading about them being best friends in Textbooks yk.

Anyways that’s it. Season 4 sucks put me in the writers room atp, I would have the end credit scene be Reggie burning in hell with his wife 4K 🔥🔥🔥