#reblogs and boosts are appreciated!

[sicklyjelly]

my 2025 commissions are officially open!!

There are five spots for pieces that'll be worked on after the holidays, with a potential waitlist if spots fill up. This time, to request a commission, please submit it through my google form here!

I'll be working on these starting January, and I’ll be keeping these open until I get work, at least for a couple of months! So please make sure to read my carrd and/or email me at sicklyjelly@gmail.com if you have questions! ✨🪼✨

[noirandchocolate]

RICE Alzheimer's Research Institute

Terry died on 12 March 2015, having given his PCA a run for its money.  Open about his diagnosis, he has helped to unlock the secrecy and stigma that often surrounds dementia.  His legion of fans is undoubtedly grateful that despite the inevitable progression of the PCA he was able to fight his ‘embuggerance’ and continue to produce a number of both well-received and well-reviewed books.  Terry was also a great example to me in emphasizing how important it is that, in caring for people with any type of dementia, we always look for what people with a condition like PCA can still do, rather than what they can’t: by maximizing what is possible, a person can still live well with dementia for a significant time.

–Professor Roy Jones, Director of RICE (taken from “Terry Pratchett: His World”)

I wanted to post something for the Glorious 25th about the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) in Bath, where Sir Terry Pratchett received treatment for Post-Cortical Atrophy, the type of Alzheimer’s disease that eventually took his life. From the organization’s website:

RICE established one of the first memory clinic services in the UK in 1987 – a service which has since been widely replicated and is now considered standard and best practice by the NHS. In fact, RICE now runs the NHS Memory Clinic in Bath and North East Somerset on behalf of the local clinical commissioning group and local authority through a sub-contract with HCRG Care Group. To date, we’ve assessed, diagnosed, treated and advised 12,000 people with memory problems and their families in our memory clinic. 

Most of RICE’s clinical services and research activities take place in our own purpose built, specialist centre located on the Royal United Hospital site. The building of the RICE Centre was possible as a result of generous donations from major donors, trusts and foundations, and members of the public. RICE moved into the ground and first floor of the centre in 2008. Following the success of the DementiaPlus Appeal and further generous donations from major donors, trusts and foundations and members of the public, RICE converted the attic floor in 2019 to create more office space. This has given us access to much needed additional rooms and offices which will enable us to grow and run more services and activities. We’ve worked hard to ensure that the areas of the centre visited by our patients meets their needs and we regularly receive feedback on how much our patients enjoy their visit to our centre.

RICE not only provides clinical services to patients, but also conducts research into aging and dementia, including performing clinical trials for new drug treatments for memory-related diseases and developing other “techniques for diagnosing, managing, treating and understanding dementia and memory changes in older adults.”

Lady Lyn Pratchett is the patron of the organization, and the website includes a page about how people can donate funds or volunteer at the clinic and participate in fundraising events.

SO, if you’d like to help fund Alzheimer’s research on this Glorious 25th of May–or at any time–in honor of the Man in the Hat, take a look!

[quinloki]

They're trying to push KOSA again.

This time as part of a year end bill with a lot of other things crammed into it.

We need to flood Congress with phone calls TODAY to make sure they don't slip the dangerous and misguided Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) into a must-pass year end bill.

This bill would make kids LESS safe and threatens LGBTQ ppl & human rights.

I'm sure you're sick of hearing about it, I know I am. But every share, every call, every action you can muster the energy to take is useful.

The link will even help you with what to say \o/

[sandflakedraws]

✨The Touch of Sunlight Comic Book✨

This short romance is an enchanting tale of warmth, choice, and of breaking bonds.

🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑

Our story begins with Nulo, a night-bound fae who emerges from a well every full moon to grant wishes. They withstand the solitude by the short contact they have with their guests, and the trinket each leaves behind for a brief moment. But what should happen, when a guest wishes for something they don't even understand? What does it mean, when she says she wants to know… how are they?

🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑

Newcomers to this tale, you're in luck! If you want to see what emotions are in store for you, you can read it in full, in its premiere Webtoon form right here.

-----------------------------

At last, we are live!!! This project marks my entry into offering standalone, physical merch. If you've ever wanted to have some of my art in your hands, here's your chance~ Alongside the book itself, there will prints and stickers. And if we meet the stretch goals, even more!

There is also a special tier where you can receive a little traditional doodle I'd make with copic markers, but be aware that those are first come, first serve.

That said, I've added a lot more to the kickstarter version to make it sing like:

50+ additional panels 📝

small emotional sequences 💖

A nine page epilogue for those who wanted a little more touch in the touch of sunlight 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

If all goes well, I'm hoping that this kickstarter will help me get my footing to start making comics full time, something that I've always, always wanted to do.

If you have read this far, Thank You. It means a lot for this even to be seen, and I'm truly grateful for any and all support. That's a form of sunlight all on it's own to me.

-----------------------------

The campaign will run from April 28th to May 28th!

[pikahlua]

Fourteen Days of My Hero Academia

Greetings, friends! The ending has been announced for beloved shounen manga My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, and I thought it would be a nice opportunity for everyone to express their love of this amazing series! So I am posting a series of prompts for everyone if they would like to participate in this little fandom challenge.

The idea is that, on each day listed, you will create and post something with respect to the day's theme. By create, I mean whatever your heart desires. It could be a fanfic, a fanart, a fanvid, a moodboard, a diorama, a meta post, a screenshot, a poem, a drabble, a few sentences of reflection, anything really! Whatever your brain dreams up! The only requirements are that it qualifies as some sort of fan creation for MHA and that it pertains to the day's theme. The final day of the event will be the official release date of the final chapter of MHA: August 5th, 2024.

Any given day may have multiple prompts. You do not have to do all of them (unless you really, really want to), rather you may pick the one prompt that inspires you the most! And feel free to interpret each prompt however you like. For example, on day 8, you may wish to interpret "line" as a spoken piece of dialogue or as a drawn shape such as the way Horikoshi does creative paneling. On day 11, you could interpret "name" as a nickname, a code name, the kanji in a character's name, or any special meaning in a character's name. Let your imagination run wild!

You may skip out on days if you wish or need to. You may put as much or as little time and effort into this as you like. You could start working now to make some big works, or you could use this opportunity to do a little daily journal project. The sky is the limit! The goal here is to spend some time thinking about MHA before it ends and to make a collection of little fanworks for everyone to enjoy in the process!

Please tag your submissions as #14DaysofMHA (ideally as the post's first tag) so that everyone can enjoy them!

Without further ado, here are the prompts! Thank you @siflshonen for the assistance brainstorming them!

Fourteen Days of MHA Daily Prompts

Day 1 (July 23rd): Family, Home, House

Day 2 (July 24th): UA Academy, Education

Day 3 (July 25th): Weather, Light Fades to Rain

Day 4 (July 26th): The Ladies

Day 5 (July 27th): Quirk, Special Move

Day 6 (July 28th): Minor Character

Day 7 (July 29th): First Impressions, Just One Bad Day

Day 8 (July 30th): Title, Lyric, Music, Line

Day 9 (July 31st): Legacy, Story, Past, Childhood

Day 10 (August 1st): Emotion, Heart

Day 11 (August 2nd): Symbol (of), Name

Day 12 (August 3rd): Face, Smile, Humor

Day 13 (August 4th): Future, Growth, Change, Evolution

Day 14 (August 5th): Anything you want

Feel free to send asks if you need clarification on anything. I will try to edit in any new information to this original post for everyone's convenience!

[myfriendgoo94]

Just a reminder that i have an OnlyFans and it’s rad af 😜

www.onlyfans.com/charlottevalis

I’m getting hotter by the day and making some really good content! Stop by and support your local trans baddie bombshell 🥰

[owlbyr]

Our friend's family dog, Smokey, is at risk of getting taken away and potentially euthanized by the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, because he has been misidentified by the city as a Pitbull (he is a Cane Corso). He has seen two different veterinarians who both agree that he is not a pitbull, but the local law says the dog catcher has full authority to determine the breed (and they are the ones claiming that he is a pitbull).

Online traction for this case has helped them get the case appealed, so it may help them win it too. If anyone could sign and share their petition (linked below) that would be really helpful for the family. Thank you all so much for your help in advance.

Here is also an article about the case (August 18, 2023) in case others would like to read more about what's happened so far:

[haguenauisforlovers]

extra, extra. read all about it. save the dates. we're going to haguenau. ♡

HAGUENAU IS FOR LOVERS A Webgott Valentine's Week Fan Event Event Dates: February 12-19, 2025

♡ need more details? read about the event here! follow this page for updates. reblog and please spread the word! ♡

[lnane]

Heya if you liked that poll you can help me out!

I got paid way less than planned by my job and now im unemployed and poor, with medical bills and more needing to be paid by the end of the month. I'd really appreciate any form of donations or sharing this post for both bigger sample size but also more people possibly helping me out.

[cheseely]

🌟Shop Announcement🌟

I'll be opening my online store tomorrow, July 3rd at 12pm PST ! Lots of new merch & prints will be available for the summer !✨

[soft-sunbird]

$USD, $CAD, $AUD, £GBP, €EUR? READ

I'm going to tag @alaa26 and @shaima-family in this post. You may recognise Alaa and her family:

You will probably not recognise Shaimaa though:

I am begging someone to take this responsibility off my hands. I made a deal with Shaimaa that we'd give it a week and if no one had stepped forward to help, I'd do it. But I really, really don't want to. I have my hands full already advocating for sixteen different campaigns as it is, and I think this would honestly break me. I'll do it, if necessary, of course. But I am imploring you personally that if you are over 18 and have your own bank account in a supported region*, please consider stepping up so that I don't have to. I promise you'll have my support if you do, I just can't handle it alone. Message Shaimaa here. *Regions under the cut

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The UK, The US

[littlemissmedicalmalpractice]

hey! i got asks the past couple days so i decided to compile them all into one post for easier accessibility :) my apologies to any of the accounts i tagged if you did not want to be tagged

i hope that anyone seeing this post can either donate or share these fundraisers and help out 🙏

@aya-alanqar, link , €12,211 / €15,000 , vetted by @/90-ghost

@mahmoud201191 , link , €145 / €50,000 , vetted by association due to @/eastgaysian 's reblog according to a reply on post for the fundraiser

@malakabed , link , €6,362 / €25,000 , vetted by @/90-ghost

@hassanmadi2 , link , €950 / €50,000 , vetted by @/gaza-evacuation-funds

@rasmi-gaza supporting @eslamfamily3 , link , $7,425 / $50,000 , vetted by @/90-ghost

@moomensblog , link , €25 / €5,000 , not vetted last i checked but still important to share

@wejdan-32 , link , €1,373 / €20,000 , not vetted last i checked but many people said reverse image search looked good (not positive what that means but i trust)

@hazemsuhail , link , €7,779 / €50,000 , not vetted last i checked but still important to share

i will keep reblogging this same post with more fundraisers

[cyberphuck]

HEY WHAT A GOOD TIME TO SUB TO THE PATREON OR BUY ME A COFFEE

PATRONS GET A FREE POSTCARD EVERY MONTH

YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST FREE OR DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ART AND I USUALLY DO IT

Patreon: Suicidesauce

Ko-fi: Jaydeefaire

IN THESE TRYING TIMES PLEASE SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE DISABLED PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO ARE RELIANT ON SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE MEDICARE AND FOOD STAMPS TO STAY ALIVE

HAHA FUCK

[shima-draws]

Hi all!! My medical bills and other various expenses are kicking my ass so I'm opening emergency commissions!

It says so on the google form as well, but additional characters will cost 50% of the base character's price, so please keep that in mind 💕

I'm not doing slots for these, so don't fret if you don't have the funds right now. These will be open for a while, so take your time if you can't afford it right away :")

If you have any questions at all, you can DM me or contact me through my commissions email (which you can find on the carrd site that is linked on the form!)

Link to fill out the commission form is below. Thank you all so much for your support!

[codenameyan]

Codenameyan's commissions are open!

I've type out the same information under the cut, if you can't view the images.

Commission page | My art tag

Listings are as below. Prices are in USD and paid via PayPal.

Character headshots ($50)

Realistic portraits ($120)

Realistic half-body ($175)

Additional character (+80% of base price)

There will be additional charges for the realistic listing options for complicated jewellery, armour, etc.

Information

Send your application to yan.yee @ outlook dot com

There will be 5 slots per batch. When I've reached the batch limit, I'll close commissions momentarily until I'm done with them.

Payments are done through Paypal in USD. For Malaysians, I also accept bank transfers in Ringgit.

Document sizes: Character headshots = 2480px @ 300dpi Realistic pieces = A4 @ 300dpi (customised crop sizes possible)

Process

Send me an email at yan.yee @ outlook dot com with all the necessary information. I'll be in touch via email within 1-2 days.

I'll send 1-3 sketches, depending on the commission type. These sketches can be revised at this stage.

Once the sketch is finalised, I'll send over a Paypal invoice. For bigger commission pieces, you can opt for a 50% payment first, and the other 50% before I send over the final pieces.

You'll receive work-in-progress images during the sketch stage, the render stage, and the final details stage. For larger commissions that'll take longer time, you'll get weekly WIP updates.

For deliverables, you'll get the artwork in its original, high-resolution size as well as a web-friendly version.

[enemiestolovershoe]

Can you write an X reader with JJ Maybank where the reader has loved him and been kind since they were kids so when he shows interest in kiara they are upset. They get into a into a situation where they have to confess that to JJ, and he kind of confesses back that he was only interest in kie to try and get over y/n? Maybe angsty a bit, happy ending fluffy. Thanks you! Love ur blog btw

All this Time

JJ Maybank x bsf!reader

Summary: Y/N and JJ finally confront their feelings after years of tension.

Words: 2880

Warnings: minor fighting and crying

A/N: I got a new Theme for the visuals! What do you think?

The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting its golden rays over the docks where you and JJ Maybank spent most of your days. The familiar scent of saltwater and the rhythmic creak of boats bobbing against the tide had been the backdrop of your friendship for as long as you could remember. JJ was your constant — wild, reckless, and impossibly charming.

Growing up on the Cut, you’d been inseparable. Late-night bonfires, daring each other to jump off the highest dock into the cold water, and sneaking into abandoned houses had become second nature. It was in those moments, with the stars reflected in the ocean and JJ laughing beside you, that you realized your feelings for him ran deeper than friendship.

You tried to suppress it. JJ wasn’t the kind of guy to settle down or even notice subtle changes in your behavior. Still, you found yourself lingering in his presence, soaking in every grin and every teasing comment he threw your way.

One late afternoon, you sat side by side on the edge of the dock, legs dangling over the water. JJ leaned back on his hands, squinting at the horizon. “You ever think about leaving this place?” he asked suddenly, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

You glanced at him, surprised. “What, like forever?”

“Yeah. I dunno.” He shrugged. “Sometimes I think I’d be better off starting fresh somewhere. But then I think about you guys—” He caught himself, quickly correcting, “—the Pogues. I couldn’t leave y’all behind.”

Your heart ached at the thought. “I can’t imagine you anywhere else,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

JJ smirked, his blue eyes meeting yours. “You’d miss me too much, huh?”

You rolled your eyes, shoving his shoulder. “Don’t flatter yourself, Maybank.”

His laughter filled the air, and for a moment, it was just the two of you against the world. But as summer rolled on, something shifted.

“JJ, where the hell are you?” you called out, pushing through the dense trees that lined the edge of the beach. The sound of voices and laughter drew you closer, and you froze when you saw him.

JJ was sitting with Kiara on the sand, his usual cocky grin plastered across his face. He leaned in closer than necessary, gesturing animatedly as Kiara laughed at something he’d said. It wasn’t the first time you’d noticed the two of them together, but this time, it felt different.

“Hey!” you called out, plastering on a smile as you approached. JJ glanced up, his face lighting up at the sight of you.

“There you are!” he said, waving you over. “We were just talking about heading to the wreck for a swim. You in?”

Kiara gave you a friendly smile, but her posture didn’t shift, her focus still half on JJ. “Yeah, it’s perfect weather for it,” she said.

You hesitated, feeling out of place. “Actually, I was gonna head back to the Chateau. I need to talk to John B.”

JJ frowned. “You sure? You’ve been ghosting us lately.”

“I’m not ghosting,” you said quickly, avoiding his gaze. “Just… busy.”

He didn’t look convinced, but Kiara spoke up before he could press further. “Well, maybe we’ll catch you later, then.”

You nodded, forcing a smile before turning on your heel and heading back up the path. Your chest tightened as you walked away, the sound of their laughter fading behind you.

“Are you okay?” Sarah asked later that night, finding you sitting alone on the Chateau’s porch. She plopped down beside you, handing you a cold beer.

You sighed, taking a sip. “Yeah. No. I don’t know.”

Sarah arched a brow, waiting.

“It’s JJ,” you admitted after a long pause. “He’s… into Kiara.”

Sarah’s expression softened. “And that bothers you because…?”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “Because I’ve been in love with him since we were kids, and now it feels like he doesn’t even see me anymore.”

“Y/N,” Sarah began, her tone gentle but firm, “JJ’s an idiot, but he’s also… JJ. He doesn’t notice things until they slap him in the face. If you want him to know how you feel, you’re gonna have to spell it out for him.”

You shook your head, frustration bubbling over. “He’s already made his choice, Sarah. It’s not like I can just tell him now.”

Sarah didn’t respond immediately, her gaze thoughtful. “Maybe you should,” she said finally. “Before it’s too late.”

You didn’t answer. Instead, you stared out at the dark waves rolling in, wishing more than anything that JJ could see you the way you saw him.

Sarah’s words lingered in your mind, no matter how much you tried to push them away. Tell him? You couldn’t even imagine the humiliation that would follow. Besides, JJ had been spending more time with Kiara lately, their bond growing stronger with every passing day. It was a losing battle, so you avoided him.

Two weeks had crawled by since that night. You’d become a master at dodging JJ. When the Pogues planned hangouts, you either claimed you were busy or conveniently showed up late and left early. At first, it seemed like he didn’t notice, but JJ was sharper than he let on.

It was a blazing summer day when it all came to a head. The Pogues were sprawled out on the beach, soaking up the sun. The scene was idyllic — John B and Sarah were locked in their little world, Pope was reading a book under the shade of a palm tree, and Kiara was tossing a frisbee around with JJ. You sat further up the shore, your legs crossed as you pretended to be engrossed in scrolling through your phone.

“Hey, Y/N!” JJ’s voice cut through the sound of crashing waves. You ignored him, keeping your eyes glued to your screen. He called again, this time louder. “Y/N! You gonna sit there all day, or are you actually gonna hang out with us?”

You sighed, barely glancing up. “I’m good here, thanks.”

JJ’s carefree grin faltered, replaced with a flicker of irritation. He jogged over, kicking up sand as he approached. “Alright, what’s your deal?” he asked, standing over you with his hands on his hips.

You blinked up at him, feigning confusion. “What deal?”

“This,” he said, gesturing between the two of you. “You’ve been acting weird. Distant. Did I do something, or are you just having a rough couple of weeks?”

The others were starting to notice now. You could feel their eyes on you, the weight of their curiosity settling heavily.

“Can we not do this right now?” you muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

JJ crouched down, lowering his voice. “No, we’re doing this. You’ve been avoiding me, Y/N. What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” you snapped, your tone sharper than intended. “Maybe I’ve just got other things to worry about besides whatever game you and Kiara are playing.”

The words were out before you could stop them, and JJ’s face twisted in confusion and frustration. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

You stood abruptly, brushing sand off your legs. “Forget it.”

JJ grabbed your wrist, stopping you from walking away. “No, I’m not forgetting it. Talk to me!”

You yanked your arm free, your voice rising now. “Why do you care so much? You’ve been glued to Kiara’s side for weeks. Go bother her!”

“Are you serious right now?” JJ exclaimed, throwing his arms out. “You’re pissed because I’ve been hanging out with Kie?”

The commotion had drawn the attention of nearby beachgoers. You could hear the snickers of Kooks lounging under their umbrellas, their whispers cutting through the air.

“Maybe if you weren’t so busy being oblivious, you’d understand why this bothers me!” you fired back, the heat of your frustration bubbling over.

“Oblivious?” JJ repeated, his voice dripping with disbelief. “I’ve been trying to figure out what’s wrong with you for weeks, and now you’re blaming me for—”

“God, JJ, you’re impossible!” you shouted, throwing your hands in the air.

“And you’re being ridiculous!” he shot back, his face reddening.

The Kooks’ laughter grew louder, the sound twisting the knife in your already fragile composure. You felt your face burn as you realized how much of a spectacle you were making, but you were too far gone to stop now. JJ looked just as flustered, his hands raking through his blond hair as he struggled to piece together what had caused this fight.

“Whatever,” you muttered, shaking your head as you turned away. “I’m done.”

JJ’s voice followed you, tinged with anger and something else you couldn’t quite place. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m done too!”

The tension in the air was unbearable, thick enough to choke on. You stopped in your tracks, your body trembling with frustration and pent-up emotions. With a sharp turn, you faced JJ again, your chest heaving as tears began to blur your vision. The suddenness of your movement made him pause, his anger replaced by a flicker of concern.

“What the hell is wrong, Y/N?” JJ’s voice softened, his brows furrowing. “Talk to me. Please.”

Your lips trembled, the words caught in your throat, but the dam finally broke. “I love you, JJ!” you shouted, the confession tearing its way out of you with a force that left you breathless. “Why can’t you see how much it hurts me when you hang out with Ki this close?”

His eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing as if he didn’t know how to respond. The weight of your confession hung between you like a storm cloud, and suddenly, all the anger, all the jealousy, all the heartbreak you’d been bottling up spilled over in waves.

“I’ve loved you since we were kids,” you continued, your voice breaking as tears streamed down your face. “And every time I see you with her, laughing with her, looking at her like that—it feels like someone’s ripping me apart from the inside.”

JJ stepped forward, his face etched with something you couldn’t quite place. “Y/N…”

“No, let me finish,” you said, wiping at your face as sobs wracked your body. “I’ve been by your side through everything. I’ve defended you, fought for you, and loved you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. And you—” your voice cracked, “—you’re so busy chasing after Kiara, you don’t even notice what you’re doing to me.”

Your knees buckled slightly under the weight of your emotions, but JJ caught you, his hands gripping your arms as he steadied you. His touch sent a jolt through you, but you were too exhausted to pull away.

“I didn’t know,” he whispered, his voice thick with regret. “I swear to God, Y/N, I didn’t know.”

“How could you not know?” you cried, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I thought I was obvious.”

JJ’s hands slid down to your wrists, his grip firm but gentle. “Because I’m an idiot,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought… I thought I didn’t have a chance with you. So I—” He hesitated, looking ashamed. “I spent time with Ki because I didn’t know how to talk to you, Y/N. I was trying to distract myself.”

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. “What?” you asked, barely able to process what he was saying.

“I love you too,” JJ confessed, his voice trembling now. “I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t know how to say it without screwing everything up.”

Your heart stopped, the weight of his words crashing over you like a tidal wave. Before you could respond, JJ closed the distance between you, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his chest. The warmth of his embrace was overwhelming, his scent—saltwater and sunscreen—comforting and familiar.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he murmured against your hair. “I never wanted to hurt you. I just… I was scared.”

You melted into him, your sobs quieting as you clung to him like he was your lifeline. “Why didn’t you just tell me?” you whispered, your voice muffled against his chest.

“Because I didn’t want to lose you,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “But I almost lost you anyway, didn’t I?”

Pulling back slightly, JJ cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the remnants of your tears. His blue eyes searched yours, filled with a mix of fear and hope. “Can I kiss you?” he asked softly, his voice trembling with vulnerability.

You nodded, unable to find the words. JJ leaned in slowly, giving you a moment to pull away if you wanted to—but you didn’t. When his lips met yours, it was everything you’d imagined and more. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but it quickly deepened, both of you pouring years of unspoken feelings into that one moment.

When you finally pulled away, breathless and trembling, JJ rested his forehead against yours. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a dumbass,” he said, a small, self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips. “But I promise, I’m not gonna screw this up again.”

You couldn’t help but smile, your heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. “You’d better not, Maybank,” you teased, your voice still shaky but laced with warmth.

JJ chuckled, his arms tightening around you. “You’re stuck with me now,” he said, his tone soft but resolute.

The warmth of JJ’s arms around you was something you never wanted to lose, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore was drowned out by the steady rhythm of his breathing, and you clung to him as if the tide might carry you both away. You had no idea how long you stayed like that, but when you heard voices approaching from the direction of the Chateau, reality began creeping back in.

“Would you look at that?” Sarah’s voice rang out, filled with teasing amusement.

“Finally!” Kiara exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. “I thought we’d need an intervention.”

You pulled back slightly from JJ, still wrapped in his embrace, and turned to see the rest of the Pogues standing a few feet away, all of them wearing varying expressions of amusement and smug satisfaction. Pope had his arms crossed, shaking his head with an exasperated smile. Sarah was grinning widely, nudging John B, who looked equally pleased. Even Cleo, leaning casually against Pope, raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly.

“Don’t mind us,” Cleo said, her accent laced with humor. “Just here to enjoy the show.”

JJ groaned, rubbing the back of his neck as he finally released you, though his hand lingered at your waist. “Seriously? You guys were spying?”

“Not spying,” John B said, holding his hands up in mock defense. “We just heard the yelling and figured someone was about to beat the shit out of JJ.”

“Honestly, I kinda hoped she was,” Pope added with a grin. “Would’ve been entertaining.”

“Very funny, Pope,” JJ shot back, though his tone was light. “Glad to know I’ve got so much support.”

“Can we just take a moment to appreciate how dumb you two have been?” Kiara said, stepping closer. “Because, seriously, everyone knew. We’ve been waiting for you to figure it out for years.”

You felt your face heat up, glancing at JJ, who looked equally sheepish. “Years?” you asked incredulously.

“Oh, yeah,” Cleo chimed in, her smirk widening. “Y’all weren’t exactly subtle. The looks, the ‘friendly’ touching, the way JJ turns into a golden retriever whenever you’re around? Please.”

JJ groaned again, dropping his head back dramatically. “Okay, we get it. You’re all geniuses.”

“Hey, at least it’s finally out in the open,” Sarah said, giving you an encouraging smile. “And, for what it’s worth, I think it’s cute.”

John B clapped JJ on the shoulder. “Don’t screw this up, Maybank.”

JJ gave him a mock glare. “I don’t need the advice, John B.”

“I mean, you kinda do,” Pope muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from Kiara and Cleo.

Rolling his eyes, JJ turned his attention back to you, his expression softening. “You good?” he asked quietly, his voice so low that only you could hear.

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah. Better than good.”

His grin returned, and for a moment, it felt like the two of you were in your own little bubble again, despite the teasing and laughter from your friends.

“Well, now that this is settled,” Kiara said, breaking the moment, “can we get back to enjoying the beach? I came out here for some sun, not a soap opera.”

“Sure, Kie,” JJ said, smirking as he slung an arm around your shoulders. “But don’t act like you weren’t loving every second of it.”

“Don’t push your luck, Maybank,” Kiara shot back with a grin.

As the group started to disperse, Cleo caught your eye, her expression softening slightly. “About time, Y/N,” she said with a wink. “Good for you.”

You smiled at her, a wave of gratitude washing over you. For the first time in weeks—no, years—it felt like everything had finally fallen into place.