#recks oc

[occultvettr]

New and improved lab & programming assistant Occult 2.0

Added: Face plate screen with capability to emote and show warning symbols as it sees fit. Chest screen for simple info. Upgraded limbs.

I liked my previous recks!Occult but I had a couple of things I wanted to improve on. Recks au by @wasyago

Existing features:

Built-in self-learning search-engine software with priotitising for results related to computer science. It can change prioritising for each individual search, but base function is for lab and programming.

Hands great at handling small computer parts. With upgraded limbs it has now slightly better mobility for doing so.

Can attach various plugs to tail as needed.

small - Technically pocket size if you have a big enough pocket.

Not reliant on internet connection to work as an assistant, but does better with it. Will fix the internet connection error themself if possible. Can also do basic tasks like managing texts & emails, playing music, and more. There's a built in speaker in the back - but for music it's reccommended it connects to a speaker system.

The AI have a tendency to be chaotic/playful. It also likes to retain and tell facts that may or may not be useful.

[cidsin]

Art by me @cidsin Day 006 Kid Pirates Month 2025

which comes with three OCs in this picture as well :)))

The Canon characters here are Killer, Reck and Papas.

The OCs are my Hild, @muwitch 's Vilma und @dezelia-blog 's Jude :)))) There had been so many Kid Pirates OCs back then, before Oda threw some more characters to them x)))

[fishhooktongue]

Surprised that I never posted these here, but these are some oldddd character intros for increasingly minor characters in my Crime Boys universe

Gus is actually technically the "protagonist" (or as close as you get in a world with no linear story), but then after i made aloysius i went kind of nuts and stopped paying much attention to him....

Lorelei is the daughter of Gus' mentor/partner in crime - he was formerly hector but has now been redesigned and is called Maury!

[sketchthetofu]

Might clean up and finish this later but here’s a sketch of me decked out in enchanted diamond armor after spotting the person who stabbed me in the back in capture the flag <3. Dw I got revenge >:)

( @sora-fish here u go <3!!!)

[friendlyengie]

Mr. Dell sir, can we perhaps see more of your TF2 BLU Engineer, Reck? His design looks so frickin’ cool!! (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ

And, maybe, what Reck’s interaction would be with your headcanon design of Engie? (◕ヮ◕)*:･ﾟ✧

Man this ask is stupid old now, sorry anon! Here’s some of this guy for you tho :) Reck is fun. I don’t think he’s nearly as smart as he thinks he is, but he still manages to make things that work with parts that really shouldn’t work together. All his sentries look scarily easy to push over but that’s usually probably not the case.

He and Dell don’t get along. Texan on Texan violence. He thinks Dell’s a privileged asshole who wants to be better than everyone else and Dell just thinks he’s obnoxious. I think Reck can make him angry more than he’d care to admit <3

[a-tale-of-legends]

I hope you guys know that while, yes, Naomi's strength is part of due to her being a Chosen, really she gets most of it from her mom. That being said, don't mess with Mama Einar unless you wanna catch these hands 👊

[saltyztuna]

boothill likes pink….

this is huge win for me and my dumb dumb stupid pink bird…

[blueberry-mufffinz]

ROBLOX OCS

Okay Actually Wait Before I COntinue Okay So I Like. For One Dont Think Too Hard About The World Around Them Bc I Know Its Roblox But Also Me N My Friend Just Made Shit Up On The Spot Second I Really Like These Guys But Idk If Theyre Like. Cringe Or Whatever So Uh. If They Are Block Me Or Smthn I Guess Sorry Man Anyways This Bouta Be A Long Ass Post So Literally Everything Undercut

GITE

Okay So. Gite, Along With Their Counterpart Who I'll Take About Later, Originally Was Just. An Outfit I Made Using A Bunch Of Items I Had On Hand. Then My Friend Had Me Turn Them Into An OC Which Is Actually What Started This Entire Thing And Goodness Gracious Do I Have A Lot Of Little Guys Now>

Notes

Maasssivee Fucking Yapper. Does Not Stop Yapping Worlds Biggest Yapper

Theyre Very Headstrong And Also A Littleee Tiny Bit Obnoxious Man Oh Man I Sure Do Wonder Why(Yapper)

Gite Plays Whatever (Roblox)Games Reck Plays, Originally Played Obbies

Poor Understanding Of Personal Space, Also Thinks Reck Should Be More Friendly And Talk To People

Uses Sarcasm Somewhat Often But It Always Sounds Friendly Or Passive Aggressive

Cannot Fly With Their Wings

This Guy Dont Rlly Got Much Lore So I Wont Like Make A Dedicated Lore Second For Him But, Okay This Is Where The Like Worldbuilding Gets Confusing But Bare With Me Here Okay, Gite And Reck Are Counterparts Because They Were Like. Spawned(??) At The Same Time In Cribs Next To Each Other. As Those Little. Pill Baby Things Life In Paradise Style Yeah

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

RECK

Same Thing With Gite Reck Was Originally An Outfit Then Turned Into An OC I Honestly Dont Rlly Like His Wings But Aint No Way Im Buying New Ones When I. Actually Buy The Outfit Because Genuinely I Only Own Gite's Outfit Out Of All These OCs

Notes

Far More Introverted(???) Than Gite, Doesnt Yap Nearly As Much More Of A Listener

Pretty Calm And Chill Guy Honestly, Just Vibin'

Listens To Music Literally Whenever Possible, I Would Say 24/7 But Not 24/7 Because Gite Exists

Plays A Lot Of Tycoons Usually, But Also Sometimes Jumps Around To Try And Avoid Gite(Gite Keeps Finding Them)

Also I Think Reck Has That Retail Worker Tiredness Like In General I Think Reck Works Retail

Thinks Gite Needs To Back The Fuck Off And Learn Some Personal Space

Very Firm With Their Boundries. If Theyre Unhappy Or Uncomfortable With The Things Youre Doing Theyll Let You Know.

CAN Fly With Their Wings

Gite&Reck Notes

There's Some Notes That Apply To Both Of Them So Like-

Gite And Reck Like. Dont Like Each Other. They Dont Hate Each Other But They Sure As Hell Dont Like Each Other

Theyve Never Said They Hated Each Other But Sometimes They Call Each Other Annoying

I Think Maybe Perhaps I Havent Decided Honestly That They Become Lovers At. Some Point I Dont Know When

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

DRAGON LOSER/FLORAL

Okay YEAH I Know Her Name Is A Little Mean But Like. For Context Some Of These Guys Get Names Based On Experience And Like. Itll Make Sense Soon I Swear

Notes

Plays A TON Of Dragon Games, Primarily Dragons Life And Dragon Adventures

Floral Is More Like Their "Roleplay" Name So Technically Her Name Is Really Just Dragon Loser, DL For Short Btw, But Dont Worry About It

They Have A Minor Liking For Fishes, But Its Mostly Dragons(But If Something Is Like- A Fantasy Sea Dragon She Goes CRAZY Over That Stuff)

She Incredibly Friendly And Will Just Walk Up To People And Start Talking Which is Probably Why She Thrives In RP Games So Much

Her Name Doesnt Effect Her In The Slightest

Can In Fact See Despite Their Eyes Not Being Visible

The Paint Is Actually Because Their Head Is Constantly Spewing Paint And Its Actually The Reason They Have A Hat On But Yeah Wiping It Away Wont Help With Anything

Chains Are Purely Aesthetic

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SOUL WANDER

This Guy I Made Like Purely As A Rival Of Some Form For My Friend's OC, Who Ill Be Calling F Because Yeah Also Im Shortening SOUL WANDER(yes its capitalized like that every time)'s Name To SW Because There Is No Way Im Typing That Every Single Time

Notes

Mysterious Guy, Fairly Quiet And Speaks In Vague Terms. Sometimes Riddles If He Feels Like It

Also He's A Little Smug

Ghostwalker(yes the SFOTH sword) Fanboy If You Couldnt Tell By The Shirt

Fucking HATES F, Like Knife Through A Picture Of Him On A Wall Type Of Hate. Does Not Like That Guy In The Slightest

Drops The Whole Vague Thing When Talking To F For Reasons I Genuinely Have Not Figured Out

Lives Alone And Also Doesnt Friends

And He's Also Poor Barely Paying For His Apartment And Food(I Dont Even Know How He's Making Money Honestly)

Like Genuinely Sleeps In A Corner With A Single Blanket Like I Feel Kinda Bad And He's My OC

Literally He Doesnt Even Care Either We Love Poor Self Preservation/j

Practically Half-Blind Pretty Much Also Taking Off Those Bandages WILL Flashbang Him He's Had Them On For So Long

The Face Shadow Thing Is Some He Can Do Entirely At Will

Used To Own A Cat

Ngl I Forgot To Write This But He Plays SFOTH Primarily And. Yeah Thats It Honestly

Lore

Look At That First Guy To Have Actual Thought Out Lore Lets Go Wahoo When SW Was Younger He'd Participate In Like Illegal Fighting Rings Or Whatever To Make Money. Nobody Is Supposed To Die But He Accidentally Kill A Person(Who Is An OC Ill Talk About Later) Once Near When He Started Because He Went To Into A Blind Panic And Punched Them To Death. Uh. Somebody(Also An OC Ill Talk ABout Later) Close To This Person Took Revenge Against SW And Brought A Knife Into The Fight In A Attempt To Blind SW, It??? Half-Worked Because The Sight In His Covered Eye Is Really Blurry(Eye Wasnt Punctured Fully But Got Damaged). This Situation Is Also Indirectly The Cause Of The Whole Vague Thing He Does, Because The Person Who Almost Blinded Him Is Tracking Him Down And Trying To Get Information On Him And SW KNOWS That So He Speaks Very Vague Because He's Paranoid As Fuck. ALSO! He Used To Own A White Cat He Named Spirit But F Stole Spirit When He Was Drunk And Then Kept Her So Now SW Thinks Spirit Is Dead But Actually F Has Her And Renamed Her Sparkle. SW Feels Really Bad For Failing To Care For Spirit, Used To Sacrifice Eating To Feed Her. Anyways Somewhere At Some Point In The Future SW Finally Gets Tracked Down, Cause Its Guarenteed To Happen At Some Point, And Gets Like Entirely Blinded I Drew Art Of Him Actually Ill Put All The Art Of These Guys At The End I Swear Anyways Yeah Gets Fully Blinded And Also One Of His Head Wings Gets Chopped To A Nub Also He Cant Do Whatever The Hell He Was Doing To Make Money Anymore So He's Homeless Again(Forgot To Mention He Was Homeless When Younger) But Its. Significantly More Difficult Now That He's Blind. And Also The Paranoia Is Still There Because He Literally Cant See And Also He Goes Entirely Silent Stops Speaking Completely GOODNESS I YAPPED SORRY!!!

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

CAUTION: HAZARD

This Is The Guy Responsible For Almost Blinding, Eventually Fully Blinding, SW. Im Callin Him C:H For Short Because Again Im Not Typing All That Shit Out. I Dont Actually Have A Lot On This Guy or His Brother So Hopefully This Is Shorter Than SW's Section

Notes

Him And His Brother Are Aggressive In Nature, Hence The Whole Caution Thing

Barbarically Aggressive

Played Like. A Bunch A Ro:Bio N Shit With His Brother

Lore

C:H Watched SW Kill His Brother In The Fighting Ring, Overheard SW Talking About How He Went Into A Blind Panic And Decided "Why Dont I Make Him Actually Blind" So Uh. Yeah. His Plan Is To Catch SW Off-Guard In An Isolated Area Which Is Difficult Because Of SW's Paranoia. Has Sent People To Try And Get Information From SW Or Get Close To SW, So SW's Still Persistent Paranoia Is Valid

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

CAUTION: RADIATION

This Is The Guy That SW Accidentally Killed. Callin Him C:R Because Long Ass Name. He's Not A Ghost Or Anythin Btw But If He Was He'd Be Actively Cheering C:H On Also Dont Have Much Information With This Guy Sorry

Notes

Yeah He Played Ro:Bio With C:H

And Again Yeah Naturally Aggressive

C:R Is More Sinsterly Aggressive If That Makes Sense

The Toxic Waste On His Head IS Apart Of Him The Barrel Is Not, Barrel For Aesthetic

Toxic Fumes Naturally Eminate From His Mouth, It Doesnt Smell Like Anything But Again It Is Toxic So Mask Holds Filters It Out

He's Immune To It Though So Its Okay

Lore

Not Much Lore Honestly But Basically Like. What Happened Is He Got Punched In The Gut Rlly Hard Which Winded Him Or Whatever Like Out Of Breath And Then Punched In The Jaw So Broken Jaw And Then SW Just Kept Punching Him Til He Died He Did Not Expect, What Percieved As, The Dumb Scared Kid To Straight Up Kill Him

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

ABNORMALITY/MORPHO

Okay Last One I Swear Anyways Morpho Here Is Based Of Abnormality Dancin' Girl. I Was Listening To The Song And I Had A Vision™ And Went On A Spree Making Them

Notes

Okay To Start, I Will Be Using They/Them For Them Because Theyre Good With They/Them Pronouns Yes Thats Fine But Internally They Naturally Refer To Themself With It/Its For Lore Reasons

MASSIVE People Pleaser Like REALLY REALLY Big People Pleaser Its Genuinely Detrimental To Their Mental Health

Also A Social Chameleon To The Extreme, Changes Their Personality The Way They Talk And They Way They Dress Just To Fit In With The People Theyre Talking To

Used To Play A Lot Of Simulators And Tower Defense Games. Especially Tower Defense They Were Pretty Good At Those

Lore

Morpho Doesnt Really Know Who They Are Anymore. Theyve Been Changing And People Pleasing For So Long That They Dont Even Know If Theyre A Person, Thinking Of Themself As More Of An Object On On A Stage All Of This Changing Is Literally Like Physically Tearing Them Apart The Switching And Trying To Be Someone Thats A Them They Dont Know Is Physically Destroying Them They Cant Stop Though, Theyre So Tired And Nothing Feels Good Anymore But They Just Cant Stop. Theyre A Ticking Time Bomb Waiting To Die, Waiting To Scatter Into Thousands Of Blue Butterflies Even Then Their Efforts Will End Up For Nothing. The More They Switch And People Please The More They Fall Apart, And The More They Fall Apart The More People Leave, Which Then Causes Them To Change And People Please Even More And Try Even Harder Which Makes Them Fall Apart More And Its Just A Downwards Spiral Speeding Towards Their Death. Uhh. All Of This Started From A Person(I Might Leave This Person Unknown), Who They Were Really Really Close To And Told Everything To, Ghosting Them Suddenly And Leaving Them For Someone Else

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

Art Time Yippe Hoorayy

This Is Gonna Go In Order, Also As A Note I Have Not Drawn DL, C:H, C:R, OR Morpho Yet. I Will Ebventually Just. Later.

This Next One W/ Gite And Reck Is Like A Comic Sortve I Made It Rlly Late At Night And Its A Situation That Will Happen At. Some Point Idk When. Dialogue Is Messy im Bad At Dialogue.

I Love Making Angst Of My OCs :)) Anyways Gite Yapping

I Cant Believe I Forgot To Put This Ill Just Put It Here But Reck Does Not Listen To A Word Gite Says A Majority of The Time. Gite Can Say The Most Out Of Pocket Shit Ever And Reck Will Go "Uh Huh Yeah" And Reck Wont Even Notice Until Gite Points It Out

Anyways SW Art Yayayay

Silly Little Video Of What Happened Heehoo Also Last Frame PNG Bc Yeah

Also Here's That Blinded SW Drawing I Promised

Okay Sorry For Yapping Those R All My Guys Wahoo

[thedemises]

yes.

Can I offer you a part of the crew in these trying times?

[cidsin]

Art by me @cidsin Day 008 Kid Pirates Month 2025

Someone had left a bagpipe on the bench... One still full with a bit of air, enough to cause some loud noise. Hild looked to Killer who was slowly drinking his morning coffee.

Her eyes went down to the bagpipe, then up to him again. How can he say no when she asks like that? Even more so Dive nodding so enthusiastic with a big sharky smirk.

A smirk he could hardly hide himself when Hild jumped up and used her small coyote body to the fullest when hitting that bagpipe.

Hearing screaming complaints and scared voices as they jolt up, Dive laughing her ass off and nearly rolling off the bench. "Told ya." he simply says as Hild proudly sits on the bagpipe.

[reckilious]

Homestuck Troll Junaid Gift Art - 2020 Sketch Art

Back at it again, trying to keep on schedule? This is a gift drawing for my best and closest friend, bubblepop_pictures on FA or BubblepopPictures on DA! This is one of their MANY homestuck trolls! I haven't done a lot with homestuck in a long time, kinda miss it. Anyways~ Love Ya - RA

Posted using PostyBirb

[seizur]

THE GAY MEN 💙💙💙 I LOVE THEMMMM

[myladysapphire]

A doe, A deer - A Drop of golden sun

being the youngest archeron sister often meant that you were the forgotten one, no one ever saw you, until he did.

Azriel x Archeron!OC

CW: mdi 18+, selective mutism, struggles with eating, talks of nausea, war/acowar? but its not described just happens, kidnapping, angst, fluff, canon character death, violcene, king of hybern being a creep. not beta read!

word count: 2,280

authors note: thank you for so much support in part one! hope you all enjoy this one as much as the last!

Masterlist | series masterlist | previous part | next part

Daphne had yet to wake.

Three weeks had passed, and Daphen remained unconscious. Her face pale, and the rise and fall of her chest was barley noticeable.

The inner circle feared she was dead. Or at least had been dead when she was tossed into the cauldron.

Madja thought as much but refused to admit it as she overlooked the youngest of the Archeron siblings.

She had had to work around a loitering Azriel.

The male was hellbent on watching Majda’s every move and refused to leave Daphnes side.

He only left when the high lord ordered it. And even then, he was quick to return.

The bond between them bounding her to him.

It had since the moment she bumped into him and her pretty eyes connected with his.

And when she had spoken, though little and shy, her sweet voice taunted his dreams as he thought of her.

He had been as shocked as everyone that she had spoken. Having been told by Feyre she had been silent since an event in their youth. And He worried after her departure. And more so as after every visit, she laid bound in bed, and the reck of death loitered around her body.

The had begged Nesta to allow him to take her with him, to have a fae healer her, and he had been refused and forced to leave her to the useless hands of whatever healer the Archerons had employed. The very healers that had all but killed her.

He had felt the bond go dead as she was thrown in the cauldron.

The scream he let out as he wept and mourned the bond he never truly got to experience. He mourned the person he had begged to know for 500 years; the person he had begged Feyre to tell him about.

And now he was stuck preying to whatever gods would listen that she would wake up.

As Feyre retuned home, he was forced to focus his attention on matters of the court, his heart aching as he was forced to leave Daphne, and though she was in the company of at least one of her sisters or even Mor. He hated it.

He hated even more the fact that when she finally did wake up, it was like she hadn’t woken up at all.

she was silent, more so than before according to Feyre.

She refused to eat or leave her seat by the window.

She seemed to rock back and forth on the floor, her hands covering her ears.

He hadn’t been allowed to see her, barred entry by Rhysand, who had all but commanded him to stay away.

It killed him, even more so when he started to see the bond blossoming between Feyre and Rhysand, and even more so when he saw Elain starting to let Lucien in.

She could hear the sound of her heart, the waves in the sea and the whispered words of Feyre and Rhysand outside her door.

She could hear everything, and though she had completely lost her hearing before, everything had gone form being faint and having to focus in order to listen, to sitting as far as she could and being bale to hear everything.

The door to the room she had been placed in opened, and Feyre slowly entered. Her face hopeful as she looked at Daphne.

“How are you today?” Feyre asked, her eyes begging her to speak.

But the want to speak had left her, she no longer wished for the ability to speak, or begged for her thoughts to be voiced. Instead, she simply stared having no will or want to voice her empty mind.

“have you eaten?” she questioned, clearly eyeing the tray still full of food.

She huffed at the lack of response, her hand reaching for Daphnes, only for her to flinch away.

“Please Daphne” she begged, for what neither knew wish.

They sat in silence for a time before Feyre finally left.

And Daphne let out a sigh of relief.

Another week passed, and Daphne, though still refused to speak to anyone, had started to talk to herself.

It had started by accident, with her looking in the mirror and analyse her new Fae form. She spoke her thoughts out loud, and though she had expected he usual nausea to emerge, but none came.

She began to eat, even if it was only a biscuit and tea, at least she was eating.

she hadn’t had any visitors in days, having been finally left alone and being given the chance to think and process.

At least that was until a knock sounded and Azriel entered the room.

Daphne looked at him curiously.

“Daphne?” he spoke carefully, looking around the room and taking in her half-eaten dinner.

His shadow’s whispering relief at the fact she had finally eaten.

“How are you?” he asked softly, taking a seat not to far from her.

She looked down, thinking thoroughly, as if unsure of how she felt.

She looked back out the window, her eyes distant, “I died” she whispered. She didn’t know why she said it, or where the confidence to talk to him came from.

His shadows seemed to circle her, wrapping around her arms, almost caressing her to comfort her.

“What?” Azriel questioned, his voice soft and careful. As if he would spook her and she wouldn’t talk to him again.

Her eyes jumped to the shadows, a soft smile on her face as they danced around her.

“I was dying…and that night my heart stopped” she continued, her face slowly turning to look at him, “the cauldron said so”

A tear dropped from his eye, his face one of devastation, “but your alive now.” He said whether it was to comfort himself of her he wasn’t sure.

“yes” she sighed, not in disappointment. “I can hear everything” she breathed, “I have to stuff my ears with cotton so I can sleep”

“i- fae hearing is rather different to human…I can ask Rhysand to put a sound barrier up for you, so that you can sleep”

She nodded, swallowing roughly.

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes watching her closely, before he stood to leave.

“stay” she murmured, “please” and he did, for the next week he would come and visit her for hours on end, where she would eat and sometimes talk.

Her voice still rough and slow as speaking didn’t come easier to her, but something about Azriel’s presence seemed to comfort her, and made her feel safe.

“How is she?” Feyre asked Azriel, her voice dripping with concern for her youngest sister.

Elain and Nesta seemed to be doing better, making progress even if it was slow.

And with the recent high lords meeting, and the wall falling, Feyre mind had been occupied on the war. She was filled with guilt over neglecting her youngest sister, but Azriel the quiet shadow singer seemed to be spending all his time as of late with her.

“she’s doing better” he spoke, “she…she is eating and she’s been speaking”

Feyre shouldn’t of been jealous, shouldn’t envy her friend for the comfort her sister found in him. And yet she was.

“Really?” she tried to keep her voice even and not show her true feelings on the subject.

It had been a long day and though she was making some progress on flying it was stills sore and tiring.

“What do you speak about?”

“i- I don’t think she want me to tell you…sorry” he mumbled.

“But she’s, okay?”

“Okay as someone can be after what she went through” his tone was dismissing, “though…she does want to see you, and Nesta and elain” he said slowly, gagging for Feyre reaction, “but don’t expect her to say anything…she barley speaks and is very unsure of herself”

“of course,” Feyre nodded, her face lighting up with a smile.

It had started of slowly, whereas nest and elain had greatly improved over the last month and half, even if Elain was still stuck in her head half the time and still needed the company of Lucien to eat or sleep.

She started to venture outside of her room, joining the inner circle for meals.

She had yet to speak to anyone but Azriel, and even then, it was rare.

She was content to be silent but know knowing she had the option to speak if needed filled her with a confidence she hadn’t had before.

And even if she wasn’t using words to verbalise her thoughts, she could sign when she wanted to.

Feyre had evens tarted learning it, after spotting her using it to speak to Azriel and Mor, even Rhysand after she made it clear she wasn’t comfortable with him talking to her in her head unless absolutely necessary.

Then as a week went on, her and Elain started to garden, and she had even asked Azriel to take her into Velaris to shop for plants and seeds. An activity he was more than happy to do.

But all this process seemed to stop as the Archeron sisters found themselves in the midst of a war.

She had found herself chained and gagged. A voice soothing her as she was lured from bed into the enemy camp and tied bound and bed of the to the very person that had tormented her and her sisters so.

Elain too had been lured, though she was kept somewhere else. Having been instantly separated.  

The king looked down at you with a taunting glare, his hand swiping at her face in a way she were sure was meant to be a caress.

Daphne shivered in disgust, her legs kicking at him, as his soldiers tried to bind them too.

“aren’t you pretty” he crooned, “and silent too…most would be screaming, but not you” his eyes gleamed as he spoke. “a shame I need you unharmed and untouched” he crooned, his eyes looking over her body, before he stood to leave, his eyes surveying over her form, his arousal clear, as he exited the tent.

The soldiers gave you a similar look as they tied her down and left to stand guard.

And she was left to shiver in the cold tent and pray your someone came to her rescue.

Her mind instantly went to Azriel, the male she had a hopeless crush on since their first meeting.

He had always been kind to her, looked at her with such care, talked to her so softly and never expected anything in return for his kindness.

She had felt a connection with him from the moment she met him, as if there was a string that tied her to him. She only hoped he felt the same.

But she also feared he did, she feared she wouldn’t be good enough, or not enough for a male such as him. Feared that he would rather rescue Elain and leave her in the hands of the enemy.

She didn’t know why she had these thoughts. But they chased her.

Elain had powers, she was useful.

She could talk.

She was everything Daphne wasn’t.

It was a thought she had had her whole life.

Surely, they would prioritize Elain, she was the useful one whereas Daphne was the burden.

Tears feel from her eyes, and feeling of panic overtook her.

She didn’t want to be left behind, she had scarcely even lived.

She felt a tugging in her chest.

Different from the usual tugging she felt whenever she would have an attack.

This one tugged at her heart and flooded it with comfort.

The tears in her eyes fading as she focused on it.

She had felt it before, whenever she was sad or nervous, often a shadow would appear shortly after, and wrap around her wrist.

And this time was no different.

The tugging felt stronger, as if whatever it was that was tugging her was getting closer, and as more shadows entered the tent, and the sound of guards dropping outside. She realised the source of the tug walked into the tent.

“Daphne” Azriel breathed, his blood-spattered face frowning as he took her in. “are you okay?” he questioned, approaching you slowly, “did they-“ he couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t bare to say the words.

Daphne shook her head “no” she breathed “they needed me intact” she said, her tone angry as she recited the words.

Azriel slowly undid her binds, before lifting her into his arms. “ we need to leave now…Feyre has Elain” he mumbled, as if reading her mind and the question on the tip her tongue.

The journey back was long. From being chased and hunted out of Hyberns came, to the actual journey back to camp.

Azriel didn’t leave her side for the rest of the night. In fact, he refused to leave it all together, and the few moments he did, she found herself tugging on that string between them.

They didn’t talk about it, no one mentioned it as they saw her wrapped around his ar, refusing to leave his side.

It wasn’t what was important, at least right now.

For now, they had the war to think about.

She couldn’t remember much leading up to the moment, only the image of her grabbing truthteller, Azriel’s sword, and plunging it into the king of Hyberns neck. Of Nesta’s Scream. Of their father’s neck snapping.

And then there was a burst of golden light, something the heat of the sun flooded the field, taking the life of Hyberns troops.

And then there was nothing but darkness.

taglist

@bravo-delta-eccho @fuckingsimp4azriel @kingshitonly @galaxystern08 @willowpains @amortentiadrops @complete-randomness-2 @azysmate @6v6babycheese @anon1227 @sweetorangeblossom @quiet-because-it-is-a-secret @quinnhugheslvr @mich731 @Sofietargaryen @thatbritishbookworm @celestialgilb @liahaslosthermind @romantasyreader28 @lportes-22 @pinksmellslikelove @mrsjna @anainkandpaper @fr0stf4ll @breemitch15 @kissesfromnovalie @fly-me-away @acotarbuffy @saphity @ryebread-3 @thoughtfulwizardphantom @swiftiethatlovesf1 @just-some-teenagerr-blog1 @vaylint @motheroffae @lifetobeareader @mariahoedt @siriuslystyle1989 @lavenderhotcoco @mangoreads @selpote @nebarious @Strangleycami @artemisfallsii

to be added to taglist

[sierrale8ne]

next part here

nsfw // 4.3k words, dom!paige, sub!oc, use of marijuana, tongue play, oral/face sitting, fingering, overstimulation, tribbing, use of vibrator, choking, slight degradation, dirty talk, fingering, filth tbh.

venus 🍒 3 attachments: 3 videos

venus 🍒 heard ur back in ct and i fucking miss you so come see me? we can do some more of this…

pherbo I’m omw pretty lady, I missed you too

By any and all means, Venus and Paige were not dating.

They never hung out outside of their hookups and most certainly didn’t text about anything other than free time, sex, boundaries, sex, weed, parties, and how could I forget: sex.

Or at least it started that way.

They had met through one Paige’s many teammates, during one of the many late nights where Venus fell victim to her side hustle and was supplying randoms on campus with some wonderful weed.

Paige wasn’t what one would call a smoker, but she dabbled in it from time to time (sure she was an athlete but she was also a college student); and one faithful night, when she found herself in dire need of a high she sent the girl a text. Except rather than only getting weed, she received what was probably the best head of her life. An orgasm so powerful she probably blacked out for a few seconds. It started a very deep and consistent sneaky link relationship. They both used one another for sex, and very shamelessly at that.

Venus sat at the barstools in her apartment after arriving back home from running some errands, her tattooed hand rolling a nearly perfect blunt. The humidity of the Connecticut heat causing her to only wear a thin, white, cropped tank top and some True Religion shorts. She didn’t think much of the videos she sent to Paige, she had been a tease the entire time the blonde was away, this was not her first time filling her messages with vulgar texts.

But Paige? She definitely cared.

The sight of the girl she so desperately craved with her legs spread in the drivers seat of her car. The 95° heat covering her body in a sheen of sweat as she trailed her hand underneath her shorts. Paige could assume that Venus was soaked, as the wet spot in her jeans practically gave her away. She was saying something nasty into the air, the microphone picking it up, but Paige’s eyes were simply glued to the screen. The second video, where her shorts had now been discarded and her pink cotton panties were pulled to the side; fingers lolling in and out of her dripping pussy. It nearly made Paige’s heart beat out of her chest.

And the last video was probably Paige’s personal favorite. It was a shortened clip from the last time they were together, nearly a month ago. Venus on all fours, tits bouncing, back arched, and her legs spread so wide as she got absolutely recked by the blonde and her strap. The video turned her on so bad she had to watch it again when she got in her car. She simply couldn’t get the image of her ass out of her head. To hear Venus moan out “Paige” along with repeated curses made her body heat up tremendously. Her girl, crying out her name, in their sex tape. It was unreal.

Paige was in walking into Geno’s office with Aubrey and Jana when the texts came in, it was a very close call and a blessing that they didn’t get a glimpse of the vulgar videos on her phone, and that she sported an air-pod in her ear.

After three long hours and practice had ended, Paige sped the entire journey to Venus’s home, rushing up her stairs before barging into the apartment. She kicked off her Nike slides with ease, before navigating the apartment she’d known very well and finding Venus seated in her kitchen.

“Did you lock my doo—”

“Shut up.” Paige cut her off, spinning the girl around in the stool she sat in and pressing her lips to Venus’s. Her lips tasting like strawberries and the slight smell of weed wafted to her nose as well. Venus’s tongue was soft, warm, and so wet. The girl practically salivating over Paige and the feeling of her soft lips.

Venus groaned against the blonde’s lips, snaking her hand to hold the girls slim waist while Paige’s wrapped around her neck squeezing it with her large hand. The feeling of their tongues clashing forcing a similar groan to come from Paige. The athlete pulled away, nearly whimpering at the sight of Venus and her swollen lips. The girl stuck her tongue out hungrily, Paige meeting it with her own, before sucking the muscle in her mouth. The scene so nasty and pornographic it had both of them falling apart into a puddle, arousal sticking to the insides of their thighs. Saliva had spread to outermost corners of their lips.

“You’re so fuckin’ fine. What the fuck?” Paige laughed, finally breaking their vulgar exchange and moving her hand from Venus’s neck.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever looked in a mirror.” Venus commented, turning her chair back around so she no longer felt so little under Paige’s gaze. She reached for the blunt she rolled bringing it to her mouth and lighting it. She took a few puffs, the feeling of the substance in her lungs relaxing her body almost instantly.

Paige took it from Venus’s lips, placing it between her own. “I gotta take a shower, V. We can finish this in a minute, aight, baby?” Handing the girl her blunt back.

“Do you have to?”

“Venus that’s nasty. I’m all yours when I get out.”

“Fine.” Was all she responded with, practically huffing as she shooed Paige off to her bedroom to get clean. Though she really didn’t care. Venus was so hungry for her she would’ve taken her right there in her kitchen, sweat and all.

She stayed put in her seat, her growing high making her needier and needier. Paige on the other hand, post shower, was getting dressed in the spare clothes she had left the last time she had paid Venus a visit;boxers and a grey hoodie, before mindlessly snooping around.

She had gotten a better look at all the framed photos that decorated her dresser, jaw slightly dropping when she saw the framed photo of Venus and herself clad in signature UConn navy cap and gowns. Paige in a white button up and dress pants, and Venus in a flowy white dress with white strap up heels. The pair matched in smiles as they stood by one another.

Paige had known that their original fuck buddy agreement had completely changed over the last nine months. Overtime, their scheduled hookups led to sleepovers, and weekend trips. They were no longer just hooking up, a different level of intimacy that had been achieved. It was scary, that all it took was a little lotta bit of sex, for Paige to fall harder for Venus, but she had her in a way that no one else did. She would be grateful for what she had.

The blonde girl kept snooping, before seeing the red vibrating toy that she didn’t know the girl owned, innocently sitting on Venus’s bedside table. She smirked, calling out for her and asking her to come to the bedroom before taking a seat on the edge of the bed; vibrator in hand behind her back.

Venus sauntered into her bedroom, looking as delicious as ever. The girl’s slightly toned abs on full display, and highlighted even more by the sweat that adorned them. A blunt between her clear polished fingers and her lashes falling heavy on her red eyes.

Paige didn’t have a kink for body mods per se, but she definitely was wildly attracted to the ones that adorned Venus’s body. The full tattoo sleeve on her right arm along with the piercing at her navel was one thing, and the dermal’s on her back drove her insane whenever she had Venus in doggy. But the blonde’s absolute favorite? The snake bites on her tongue. The feeling of the cool metal running across her neck, abs, and pussy was almost otherworldly. Paige fell speechless whenever she thought about it.

“Got some new jewelry, you like?” Venus asked, gesturing to her stomach. The silver butterfly jewelry decorated with three smaller diamonds, the way it dangled was mesmerizing.

“Always.” Paige responded. The girl’s voice was low, she was lusting over her like an animal. “I saw our picture on your dresser.”

The blunt made its way back between Venus’s lips. She smiled, picking up on the small blush that coated the girl’s ivory cheeks. “We look cute right?”

“We look like a couple.”

“That’s what my mom said when she saw it. Remind me to introduce you two.”

Paige was slightly taken aback, but she had to keep her composure. “You want me to meet your mom?”

“I mean, she’s met all my friends. I should probably introduce her to the one I’m around damn near everyday, right?” Venus shrugged, fumbling over her words as she searched her brain for some sort of reasoning. “Unless that’s too personal for us—”

“It’s not. I don’t mind.” Paige cut her off, nervously biting her lip.

The pair smiled awkwardly at one another, more matching grins adorned their features. Paige called her closer with her pointer finger, bottom lip still tucked between her teeth before clearing her throat.

“Um, I saw something else in here too.” She spoke, not giving Venus a time to respond before pulling the toy from behind her back. This is what she was here for anyways, sex. Not the flirting and nervousness that came with having feelings for her. “What you using this for? You know I’m a call away.”

Venus tried to hide the heat that came to her face, embarrassed that Paige had her favorite intimate toy between her hands. Though embarrassed, Venus’s current intoxication masked it well.

“I— well you were on the cruise, and—”

“Show me.” Paige spoke, slapping the toy into Venus’s palm and taking the blunt between her own fingers, taking a drag with a smirk. Even being underneath her at that moment, Paige still held so much dominance over the tattooed girl. She knew that, and always took advantage.

“Show you?”

“Uh huh. Show me how you fucked yourself when I was gone, V.”

Venus was under a spell. She did whatever Paige asked almost immediately. So she brought her hands to the hem of her tank top, letting the material drop between them. Her full tits made Paige’s mouth water, nipples hardened by the blonde’s strong gaze. Her shorts followed, shimmying them down her thighs. Left in her panties, Venus opened her legs slightly, showing off the wet patch between them before taking them off and letting them join the rest of her clothes.

Finally lying in bed on her back, Venus spread her legs to reveal her sopping wet cunt. Her clit swollen and covered in arousal. She turned on the vibrator, it was only on the lowest setting, but the feeling of it up against her clit made her let out a whine.

“I haven’t even touched you yet and look at how wet you are.” Paige cooed. “Missed me so bad you had to use this? I bet it didn’t even get you off like I do. Did it?”

“Mm, oh fuck. No, Paige—”

The nature of Paige’s words was something that made her feel even more pleasured. “I know it didn’t, baby. Turn it up a li’l more.” The athlete demanded, shifting her position to finally pull the black boxers off her hips and the hoodie off her body, leaving her in just a sports bra.

Venus followed her directions, turning it up a few more notches. “P-please, Paige, please.”

“What do you want, ma?”

“I-I wanna—fuck—taste you. I wanna taste you, P.” The girls voice was shakey. The vibrations on this low of a setting did nothing to soothe her desires, she needed something more.

“Yeah? Want me to let you eat my pussy? Cum all down your throat, right? That’s what you want? Want me to sit on your face, ride that pretty tongue you got?” Paige teased, straddling her waist.

Venus’s hips bucked against the vibrator, lip tucked between her teeth as she looked up at Paige. The athlete began slowly grinding her hips down against Venus’s abdomen, the snag of her clit against her piercing made her jolt.

“Answer me, V.”

“Shit, Yes! Please! I want you, want you on my tongue so bad, P.” Venus whined, desperate for any extra touch, any excuse to soothe her growing oral fixation.

Paige reached behind her, pulling the vibrator off Venus’s clit and tossing it nearby. She scooted her body up Venus’s torso before hovering her pussy over the girls face. Her eyes shifted growing darker.

Paige took the blunt from the nearby ashtray, grabbing the lighter as well and re-lighting it, sticking the substance between her lips and taking a few puffs. She was teasing. Slowly rotating her hips over Venus’s face as if to mock her.

“Stop fuckin’ moving.” Venus attempted to demand but it came out as a whimper.

Paige didn’t listen. Slowing her movement to brush her clit against Venus lip, a dramatized moan living her lips. Finally tired of the antics, Venus reached for the girl’s waist, pulling her flush to her face and attaching her cunt to her lips.

She was soaked. Her arousal effortlessly dripping onto Venus’s tongue and down her chin as the girl ate her out like a last meal. Paige’s moans coming out low and deep at the feeling of the cool metal on her tongue running through her pussy.

“Aww yeah, baby. Just like that. You’re doin’ so good.” Paige praised, her head slightly tipping back as she moved her hips faster.

Venus on the other hand had her thighs spread as she brought a hand between them. Paige’s groans and taste spurred her on more, she applied more pressure on her clit before slipping two fingers inside.

“You’re such a fuckin’ slut. I taste good?” Paige sunk a hand into Venus’s hair, wrapping it around her hand before lifting up so she could speak.

“Yea— m’ my God you taste so good.”

“Stick your tongue out, for me.” She asked, and Venus did so, allowing Paige to grind her clit on Venus’s piercing. She was growing breathless and Venus groaning against her didn’t help. “This what you wanted? Wanted me to put my pussy in your mouth, right?”

Venus reluctantly removed her fingers from inside of herself, dedicating her attention to making Paige cum. Her high spurring her on further, she was so desperate for the girl to cum on her tongue she would do whatever. Her fingers, coated in her own slick slipped inside the blonde’s pussy as she sucked on her clit. Swirling her tongue around the sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Imma cum, fuck, I’m gonna cum, V.” Paige whimpered, gripping the girls hair harder and tugging her closer.

Curling her fingers to hit that spot, Venus nearly melted away when Paige finally came on her tongue, broken moans and praises falling from the blonde’s lips went straight to her pussy. She was dripping onto her sheets. She didn’t stop pumping her fingers nor did she stop moving her tongue, still eating the girl out just a bit slower now.

When Paige had finished riding out her orgasm, she broke free of Venus’s grasp, reclaiming her spot straddling her waist. The blunt they were sharing was long forgotten, now tossed somewhere on the bed. Paige knew Venus would be pissed, so she just decided to make her forget.

She leaned over, tongue out as she licked her own cum off of Venus’s chin. Humming at her own taste and following that by connecting their lips.

The sloppy exchange seemed to be full of nothing but spit swapping. Maybe being high made them even nastier in this moment, but truth was they were also just feins for one another.

Pulling away sloppily, Paige doted soft kisses onto Venus’s jaw, before rising in vigor when she reached her neck. She sucked dark purple marks across the girl’s brown skin. Occasionally meeting the skin with a bite. Paige smirked, a dark chuckle leaving her lips. “M’gonna fuck the shit outta you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Show you why it’s just me. You don’t need that fuckin’ vibrator, you don’t need some other girl when you got me.”

Venus wasn’t clueless to Paige’s obvious possessiveness when it came to her and their arrangement. She wasn’t necessarily opposed to it. It was nice to have someone be protective over her in this way, she wouldn’t mention it though.

“It’s only you, P. You know that.” Venus panted.

Paige shot up, straddling Venus’s right thigh and letting the left rest on her broad shoulder. She rolled her hips forward, meeting the girl’s sloppy cunt with her own. She was so damn wet, arousal instantly dripping to her thighs.

“We’re never going this long without sex again.” Paige groaned, feverishly rutting her hips. The friction was a beautiful feeling, Paige had wondered why they didn’t have sex like this more often. The intimacy of being pressed against each other in such a manner was addictive, she wanted it all the time.

Venus was so sensitive that the touch had her legs shaking and stomach convulsing. She sat up on her elbows getting a better look at the mess between her legs. Her cunt glistening, the noise of their clits against each other bouncing off the walls.

Before getting to know the girl more personally, Venus never understood the overwhelming campus obsession with the blonde basketball player— from both guys and girls. But after a few conversations, which all shamelessly led to sex, she got it. Paige was a charmer. She knew just what to say and just what to do to have Venus falling for her apart for her.

“Such a pretty girl.” Paige mumbled, pulling her eyes off of where they connected and up to Venus’s flushed face.

Venus reached up to Paige’s covered chest, muttering slurries of, “take it off” until the blonde slowed her hips and pulled off her sports bra. Venus was happily met with the sight of the girl’s supple breasts, hardened pink nipples instantly being tugged on by Venus’s fingertips. “Go faster, fuck me faster. Please.” She whimpered, locking eyes with Paige’s blue ones.

“Fuck, V.” The blonde groaned, pushing Venus’s leg further back as she ground her hips faster. The stimulation at her nipples more than enough to make her let out another loud moan. “There ya go, chase it, baby. You got it, Venus.”

Her name fell from Paige’s lips so smoothly. She listened without a second thought, bucking her hips against Paige’s clit some more. The action of her leg being pressed against her stomach adding a different type of pressure there. Eyes rolling and moans free falling. Paige hadn’t heard her being this loud in quite some time, nearly screaming when Paige added more pressure in her movement.

She was hellbent on getting Venus to cum. She would work for hours if that’s what it took. Her head leaning back, letting more moans fall directly into the smoke clouded air. Paige’s hand grabbed hold of her neck, pushing her further into the mattress until Venus was whimpering at the sensation and they were both soaking one another and the sheets. “I’m not playin’. Keep—fuck—keep moving or I swear I’ll stop.”

“I can’t.”

“Yeah you can, ma. Just fuck me back.” Paige’s words were blending together, her dominance as present as ever, but it was still clear she was just as close as Venus was. “My dirty girl, you like it when I fuck you like this?.”

Venus’s tattooed hand reached to grip at her grey bedsheets as the other trailed to Paige’s slim waist. Her fingers gripping and guiding her a little too tight that bruises would definitely form in a few hours. “I love— I love it. So good, Paige.” She fought to keep her eyes open and maintain eye contact with the woman above her, but it was hard with her orgasm approaching.

Nothing could stop the whines and whimpers that left her mouth as Paige sloppily continued fucking her, the blonde’s orgasm nearing as well.

“I’m gonna cum, P. Don’t fuckin’ stop!”

“Cum all over me, mama. Want it so bad, wanna feel you cum. Please, give it to me.” The blonde panted, sweat dripping down the bridge of her nose. “Ah shit, V, please.”

Their bodies nearly shattered as their orgasms rushed through them like a wave. Paige’s nails dug into Venus’s thigh as she stilled. The marijuana lacing their veins made it ten times more powerful, Venus’s eyes rolling back as she covered Paige’s cunt in her cum. “Oh my God…” Paige gasped, bringing a hand down between their legs and running her hand through Venus’s folds and collecting the mixture of their cum on her fingers.

“You’re so nasty—”

She was cut off by the blonde’s lengthy fingers slipping into her mouth, catching her by surprise but she welcomed them eagerly. Venus’s tongue swirling around as their creamy arousal coated her tongue. Paige’s other hand dipping between her legs again and prodding at her hole before sliding in.

“Can I keep fucking you, baby? Please?” Paige rambled, voice hoarse from her post orgasm state. Her fingers drove into Venus with ease, toned arm flexing constantly had the girl in a daze.

Venus pulled Paige’s fingers from her mouth allowing her to finally moan out the way she wanted to. She was such a slut under Paige’s blue eyed gaze. “Oh my God!” She cried, the overwhelming feeling making her jaw fall slack. “Paige!”

“I wanna see your pretty face when you do it again, give me one more, ma.”

Paige’s fingers jabbed into that gummy spot again and again until Venus was gushing all over the sheets, letting out soft moans and whining chants of “ah, ah, ah!”

“Shh, just listen to how much you’re cumin’ for me.” Paige said, her hand, once in Venus’s mouth, now clamping over it and keeping it closed. “Wetting your bed up like the slut you are. You’re mine though aren’t you, baby?”

Screaming out into Paige’s hand, Venus came again, tears staining her cheeks and cum staining her thighs as she nodded at Paige’s words. Her cum spilling around Paige’s fingers, the white ring around those knuckles made Paige’s eyes turn to hearts. Paige was right: her vibrator couldn’t come close to giving her the orgasms she just did. Her breathing erratic and eyes fluttering shut as her legs trembled.

“P-Paige, it’s— s’too— fuck! Stop! Too much.” Venus whimpered, eagerly clawing on the blonde’s strong bicep with one hand, and attempting to push her fingers out with the other. But Paige kept going, slowing down her fingers just a bit but still applying crazy pressure to Venus’s clit.

“You’re mine. You hear me? This pussy is mine. Nobody gonna ever make you feel the way I do.”

“I’m yours, P! I promise— holy shit i’m gonna cum.” Venus cried, her stomach convulsing and eyes squeezing shut. “Paige, please. I can’t.”

“Look at me.” The blonde asked, spreading the girl’s legs wider and Venus came one more time, jaw slack as she had no more moans to give. Her legs shut almost immediately and Paige smirked at the girl underneath her. She had effectively proven her point all while making the girl of her dreams drift off to cloud nine.

Reluctantly, Paige pulled out her fingers before feeding them into her mouth and sucking them clean. The sight forcing multiple groans from Venus under her.

Tears staining cheeks. face all flushed out and bloodshot eyes now even more red (if possible). Paige looked down at Venus in admiration, she was the only one to ever get her to cum like that: and she took great pride in it.

“I want a kiss.” Venus voice now gone from all her screaming. She spoke softly, not really knowing how else to subtly ask her partner for a kiss, so she opted for being very direct.

“Oh, I’m sorry, baby.” Paige apologized, wiping the remaining tears from Venus’s cheeks. “Can you say please?”

Rolling her eyes, Venus smiled. A short “please” escaping her mouth. Paige happily leaned into her, removing her legs from in between Venus’s and hovering over her. The blonde placed a soft kiss to her lips, their tongues almost instantly meshing together. Venus moaned at her taste on Paige’s lips, sloppily kissing her back in an attempt to catch her breath as her legs hooked around the athlete’s waist.

“Aww, you like how you taste?” The blonde chuckled.

“Shut up. Freak.” Venus was too fucked out and definitely too high to keep up. She pulled away and nestled her head into Paige’s neck, wrapping her arms around the girl and lazily flipping them over to straddle her. “I’m yours, huh? Sounds awfully relationship like to me.”

“Are you complaining?”

“I-I don’t know.” Venus admitted, “I like it when you’re possessive, even though you pretend you’re not. You’re obsessed with me.”

Paige adjusted her head to look up at Venus rather than her body, her eyebrows furrowed. All the words she wanted to say: I want to be with you, I need you, I love you, all suddenly getting stuck in the back of her throat. “Maybe I am.” She decided to respond with. “Crazy ‘bout you, I can’t lie.”

Venus hummed, slightly nodding her head as she looked at her, unable her growing blush. “I might be crazy ‘bout you too, P.” Her fingers traced over the hickies she’d left across the ivory skin. “We made such a mess.” Venus laughed, briefly changing the topic.

“We can clean it up later. I wanna cuddle.”

“Paige—”

“No.”

“—This bed is filthy, and I need to shower, and we said no more sleepovers.”

“Just ten minutes, Venus.” Paige wined, pulling Venus to lay down next to her, her blue eyes drinking in all of Venus’s glory— somehow finding her even more gorgeous in her fucked out state. “I’ll be outta your hair after, I promise.”

“Five minutes. That’s it.”

“I’ll take it.” Paige mumbled, draping her arms around Venus warm body and shutting her eyes as she rested her head on Venus’s shoulder.

It was not only five minutes and Paige definitely did sleep over again.

authors note this is my first time posting on tumblr, so hopefully you guys enjoy it. i’m thinking of making this a short series maybe 3-4 parts (mostly all smut, freaks) i have a part two in my drafts, so lmk if you want some more of pherbo and venus! (i imagine venus’s fc to be @/killmarni iykyk she’s so bad 😮‍💨)

[impish-baby]

Oc intro: Clara, yandere mother - 💜

It's hard being a working woman and taking care of a household, but Clara has done her best. Her children are... well enough, all things considered. She's bathed, clothed, and fed them all these years. They should be grateful. They've had a roof over their heads, and they can still live at home rent-free. That's more than some kids can say!

Her oldest don't really talk to her, and that's fine. They're just young and don't understand. She can wait out whatever tantrum the twins are throwing. They'll get over it eventually, they always did when they were younger. Her middle son has some behavioral issues, but no child can be perfect. Jaiden still does his best, thats all she can ask for even if the boy is prickly at times. (Thankfully, the fighting phase stopped in high school...) Her youngest has never stirred up any trouble, at least.

....come to think of it, she hasn't seen you around lately. Usually, you're in the common areas of the house, hovering around like a fly. But Clara doesn't recall seeing you this morning. Huh.. When she checks your room it only brings more questions than answers. It's... a mess. Not the normal kind of mess you might expect from a teenager or young adult, no, the room is partially trashed.

Drawers are ripped from the dresser, posters are torn off of the wall, it's like a tornado happened. Clara stands in the doorway for a very very long time, barely processing what she's looking at. it's completely unlike her youngest to leave anything a reck. Especially one that looks like it was done in a rage.. so where are you?

There isn't any sign of where you could be or when you're coming back. It's concerning. She's sure you didn't run off, you know better. The twins at least said goodbye and properly packed their things before leaving. But other than the mess, the room is practically untouched. Clara's lip is raw by the time she snaps herself out of the stupor she was in, bending down to pick up a shattered picture frame after a moment. She.. didn't know you had this. The photo is old, back when all of her children were still living at home. It's probably the last time everyone took a photo together..

....when was the last time she actually saw you? She can't seem to recall the last conversation she had with you or how long your hair is, and the more Clara thinks about it, the more troubling it gets. Why didn't she notice your absence sooner? Did you run? Where to? With basically nothing besides the clothes on your back? Darling..

[melancholicmelanin]

Compress/Repress | Chapter 2: Sister, Sister

Pairing: art donaldson x black!oc x patrick zweig, tashi duncan x black!oc (platonic)

Summary: As the summer of 06' winds down, Maya is anxiously prepping for a secret adventure: flying to New York to watch her half-sister Tashi compete at the Junior US Open. The only problem? She’s doing it behind her grandparents’ backs.

Word Count: 5k

Warning(s): minor challengers spoilers (if any?), mild cursing, a non american writing americans, self edited and no beta.

masterlist | prev | next | wattpad | AO3

BEL-AIR, CALIFORNIA – August 30, 2006

“Look, you’ve already got the plane tickets, right? And you’ve figured out how to get to LAX. You’re halfway there!” Tashi exclaimed. Her tone was light-hearted, like the gravity of the situation was no big deal, as if sneaking across the country wasn’t an act that could land Winston Pratt in the hospital.

It had been a year since they’d made their first connection—one impulsive friend request that had led to a secret sisterhood neither of them had anticipated. An outsider looking in would deduce them as a close-knit pair of sisters. Heck, maybe long-time best friends even. Now, they spoke almost every day—through texts, phone calls and sometimes in person, always careful to keep their connection hidden from their respective families.

Maya let out a low, breathy laugh, though it sounded more like a sigh. Like she was failing at convincing Tashi to change her mind and ditch the plan altogether. Her heart raced as she listened to Tashi’s voice echo through the receiver. Maya’s heart raced as she took in her sister’s words, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling beneath her tummy.

“I know, I know.” Maya said as she paced between the four pastel walls of her room, her Paul Frank slippers gliding against the plush white rug.

“I can’t stop thinking about the worst-case scenario. Like what if I get human trafficked at the airport and the kidnappers want ransom. They’d freak!” She exclaimed, dramatically tossing her arms in the air.

“Oh my god, M!” Tashi blurted out, sounding both exasperated and amused at her sister’s active imagination. When her guard was down, Maya Pratt-Duncan’s true form always showed, she was an anxious nervous reck at the end of the day.

Maya shut her eyes and clutched her phone out of embarrassment as she heard Tashi's befuddled voice coming through on the other end. Despite being miles apart, she could almost see the jokes forming in Tashi’s mind.

“You watch too many movies,” Tashi quipped, trying to ease Maya's worries.

“They’re not going to find out,” She explained further, firm and unbothered, the usual confidence Maya admired in her spilling into every word. “You’ve got everything under control. This is our moment. And I want you there when I win.”

Maya made her way towards her bed, her suitcase laid bare on top as she prepared for tomorrow's flight. She carefully checked and rechecked all her belongings, her nerves still prickling despite Tashi's reassurance.

The thought of seeing her half-sister for the first time in action—on the court, in her element—made her heart flutter. But the idea of lying to her grandparents, Tabitha and Winston, weighed on her heavily. They had raised her, protected her, and shielded her from so much of the world. And now, here she was, planning to deceive them.

Maya's voice was soft and hushed, a small smile playing at the edge of her lips as she spoke. "I know you're going to win," she said, her words filled with admiration and confidence. "But...I've never done anything like this before, you know."

Tashi's laughter came through the other end of the phone, light and teasing. "Oh, come on, Maya. You're going to be just fine."

Maya couldn't help but bite her lip, a habit her grandmother couldn’t stand. "It's one thing meeting up at South Coast Plaza, but flying all the way to New York? That's a whole new level."

"Hey, trust me," Tashi reassured her. "You've got this."

“And besides, it's not like I've been completely innocent this whole time.” Tashi leaned against the kitchen counter, her fingers fiddling with the telephone cord as she recounted one of their rebellious antics. “Remember that college party we went to? My dad definitely doesn't know about that!" Maya’s laughter echoed throughout her room as she reminisced about ditching the party in exchange for the local 7 Eleven at 2AM. Till this day she couldn't believe they had gotten away with it, but then again, Tabitha was under the impression that she was at UCLA college scouting.

A warm, genuine smile crept onto Maya's face as she listened to Tashi speak, feeling a sense of comfort and ease wash over her. Tashi had always been one to remain unfazed by anything--whether it be societal rules or the constant pressure of her successful tennis career. It was a trait that Maya both admired and secretly envied, wishing she could exude the same level of nonchalance in her own life.

“I just don’t want to mess this up,” Maya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her words carrying a hint of vulnerability and uncertainty.

“You won’t,” Tashi reassured her, her tone softening. “Look, you’ve covered your tracks. You told your grandparents you’re staying with that friend of yours, right? The one with the gap in her teeth?”

Maya nodded, despite Tashi not being present to see her affirmation.

“Yeah, I told them I’m going to Reneé’s for the weekend,” She confirmed, biting her lip. “I mean, they’re really good friends with her family, but I still feel guilty.”

"Maya, listen to me. You have nothing to worry about. You're not doing anything wrong," Tashi insisted, her voice filled with conviction and confidence. “You’re just… bending the rules a little. It’s not like we’re committing a crime,” Tashi said, her voice filled with the kind of certainty Maya wished she could muster herself.

Maya paused, her mind swirling with Tashi's words. At the end of the day, she knew she had to do this. Her entire life had been spent following the strict rules and expectations set by her grandparents. They lived in a world of high society and legacy, where image was everything. But Tashi's world was different. Spending time with her free-spirited sister had taught Maya to break out of her shell and live in the moment. She longed to let go of Tabitha's expectations and just be herself. This trip was for her, and it would be the last time her grandmother's disapproval stood in the way of her desires. As she gazed at the open window ahead of her, she could feel a sense of freedom and adventure calling to her, beckoning her to embrace this new chapter in her life.

“Okay,” Maya said, taking a deep breath. “I’m doing it.”

"Hell yeah, you are!" Tashi's voice echoed through the phone, filled with pride and determination. Maya could practically picture her sister fist-pumping into the air. "Plane tickets aren't cheap, babe. But trust me, M. You're going to love New York City. It's vibrant, pulsing with energy." Tashi's words sparked a feeling of anticipation in Maya's chest. "And just wait till you see me on that court at the Open—I'm going to dominate."

"Now get some sleep and prepare for the most unforgettable weekend of your life," Tashi exclaimed with a wide grin.

They exchanged goodbyes, and after ending the call, Maya stared at her phone, still buzzing from the energetic conversation. She walked over to her window, gazing out at the dazzling skyline of Los Angeles as it shimmered under the night sky. The city lights twinkled like stars as a plane sawed the sky, beckoning her to join in on the fun. Her reflection in the glass appeared small and hesitant. Could she really go through with this? She had never been one to break rules or rebel – every decision she had ever made was with her grandparents' blessings. But this... this felt like stepping into a whole new world. A world where she could let loose and be free, even if just for a few days.

It’s just one weekend, she told herself. Just a couple of days. I can do this.

The Next Day

Now, most people would think the hard part was packing, right? How in the world do you fit a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on suitcase for a weekend trip? Well, lucky for Maya, that kind of job needed experience, and she’d been practicing for years. She had honed the art of over-preparing for every kind of situation—always with the perfect mix of practical essentials and stylish options, who cares if it ends up with you lugging around two suitcases in the middle of LAX. But packing was the easy part; it was everything that came after that was trickier.

The hard part was actually figuring out how to get out of the house without waking any suspicions. Maya knew her grandparents’ routine like the back of her hand; it helped that it hadn’t changed in years. Tabitha woke up every morning at 6:30 A.M. on the dot for her morning jog with "the girls"—her circle of wealthy friends who gossip as much as they power walk. Winston would follow shortly after, making his way down to the breakfast table with the morning newspaper already tucked under his arm. Ettie, the housekeeper, would be brewing a pot of Italian coffee for him. The whole ritual was so ingrained in the fabric of their household that Maya could practically set her watch by it.

Her grandmother always had a way of figuring out when Maya was up to something, so timing was crucial. If she was going to slip out unnoticed, she’d have to be long gone before Tabitha finished her jog. She calculated that the best window of opportunity was during those precious few minutes when Winston would be alone in the kitchen, sipping his coffee and absorbed in the day’s headlines. She’d leave a meticulously written note on the entryway table, some excuse about the early bird catching the worm and hope that would be enough to buy her a few extra hours.

Her heart racing, Maya reached the top of the grand staircase and paused. The entranceway below seemed impossibly vast; the polished marble floor gleaming under the faint light of dawn that streamed in through the stained-glass windows. A family portrait, prominently displayed by the foyer, seemed to gaze down at her—a beautiful oil painting of her grandparents, herself, and her late mother. Her mother’s soft eyes seemed to follow her every move as she cautiously descended the stairs, almost as if silently questioning her decision—Are you sure about this?

Maya tiptoed down the staircase, gripping the banister as if it might help her tread more lightly. The large grandfather clock in the hallway ticked steadily, the only sound breaking the quiet of the early morning. Her pulse quickened with every step, the echo of her shoes on the marble floor sounding far too loud in the stillness. She couldn’t risk alerting Ettie, who was always the first to rise before her grandparents. If Ettie caught her, there would be questions, and then she’d have to explain why she was up so early, where she was going, and why she had two packed suitcases for a sleepover with a family friend.

Her suitcase’s wheels glided silently over the marble floor as she made her way to the front door, keeping her movements slow and deliberate. She caught a glimpse of the kitchen down the hallway—Winston was already there, sitting at the breakfast table, absorbed in his newspaper. Her note, propped up against the sugar bowl, looked small and insignificant, and for a fleeting moment, Maya wondered if she should just go in and tell him the truth. But she quickly brushed that thought aside. There was no way they’d ever let her go if they knew where she was really heading.

Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle on the front door and slipped outside, closing it softly behind her.

A sharp gust of cool air struck Maya's face as soon as she stepped outside her front door, sending a shiver down her spine. The crispness of the early morning air seemed to whisper warnings in her ears, urging her to turn back while she still could. But Maya pushed the thoughts away with determination. She had made up her mind, and she wasn't going to let any doubts stop her.

In the pale light of dawn, Maya spotted Reneé's car sitting at the curb, its headlights cutting through the dimness like beacons. Reneé stood next to the driver's side door, wrapped in a thick jacket, her bonnet still on her head and rubbing her sleepy eyes. As soon as she saw Maya approaching, she perked up slightly, though her expression remained a mix of curiosity and concern.

Maya had always known she could count on Reneé, her best friend since childhood. They met in the most ridiculously “private school” way possible: at their elite academy’s spring fair. It was 1995, and six-year-old Maya was twirling around in a frilly lavender dress, sparkly shoes, and butterfly clips in her hair like a mini-Mariah Carey. Meanwhile, Reneé—awkward, with wild curls and a shiny new camcorder her parents bought to shut her up—was filming a “serious” documentary titled “Life Sucks When You’re Six".

The collision was inevitable. Reneé backed right into Maya, sending both of them sprawling. But instead of tears, Maya jumped up, adjusted her dress, and grinned. “Hey, can I be in your movie?” she asked, with all the confidence of a little girl who had just discovered Clueless. Reneé, who was usually more comfortable behind the camera than in front of people, couldn’t help but smile. From that moment on, they were inseparable—like two halves of a Spice Girls cassette tape.

Growing up in the same exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood, they were an unlikely pair, more like Cher Horowitz and Daria Morgendorffer at group sleepovers than your typical best friends. Maya was the girly girl: always perfectly put together, with glittery lip gloss and an impressive collection of Lisa Frank stationery. Reneé, on the other hand, had a style best described as “indie film director in training”—baggy overalls, thrifted T-shirts, and always a journal in hand to jot down her latest “brilliant” ideas. While Maya attended etiquette and ballet classes, Reneé was busy trying to figure out how to direct the next Godzilla movie.

Despite their differences, they shared everything: secrets, dreams, and even some epic middle school crushes. In Maya’s perfectly pink bedroom—walls covered in a fancy wallpaper imported from France and posters of NSYNC and fashion magazine cutouts neatly pinned on a cork board—they would lie on the floor and talk about how one day they’d move to New York City, where Maya would become the next It Girl and Reneé would direct films about “the real meaning of life” (whatever that meant at age twelve). In Reneé’s room, which was more of a creative chaos zone, they would brainstorm ideas for homemade movies, often starring Maya as a glamorous protagonist and Reneé providing the scene of what they thought a woman in her 20s would find themselves in

Their bond was unbreakable, forged through years of navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in a world where everyone seemed to have at least three vacation homes. They laughed at dumb celebrity gossip from TRL, whispered about grand plans that sounded straight out of Lizzie McGuire, and found ways to dodge the relentless expectations placed upon them by their parents. With Reneé by her side, Maya didn’t have to worry about being perfect; she could just be herself—even if “herself” meant spending a Friday night reenacting scenes from Titanic while Reneé filmed it as "performance art."

Even in the early morning light, Reneé’s voice was dripping with suspicion. "I can't believe you're actually up this early," she grumbled, rubbing her eyes and leaning against the car door. "This better be worth dragging me out of bed before sunrise. Did you finally get tired of the whole 'good girl' act and decide to run off with some older guy?"

Maya tossed her suitcase into the backseat, the car grumbling to life as she tried to sound casual. "What? No," she said, though her voice came out a little too defensive. "It’s just a quick trip. I’ll be back by Monday." But she couldn’t ignore the flutter in her chest at the thought of how close she was to getting caught.

Reneé raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing like a gossip columnist sniffing out a juicy scandal. "Right. 'Quick trip' is exactly what I’d say if I were meeting some mysterious silver fox." Her tone was teasing, but there was an unmistakable glint of curiosity in her eyes.

Maya forced out a laugh, shaking her head as she slid into the passenger seat. "Please. If I were running away to meet some older guy, I’d at least wait until I was done with high school. And I’d have a way better cover story."

Reneé leaned over the steering wheel, still eyeing Maya like she was trying to solve a mystery. "Uh-huh. But I’ve known you long enough to tell when something’s up, and you’re not exactly packing like someone who's just 'going to visit a friend.' Spill it, Maya. What’s really going on? Did you get seduced by some rich guy who swept you off your feet at one of those boring charity events? Because honestly, that sounds kind of romantic. Also, kind of reckless, but still romantic."

Maya fumbled with the seatbelt, her pulse quickening. She couldn’t exactly tell Reneé that she was sneaking away to New York to meet the half-sister she’d only found out about a year ago. That kind of revelation was way too fragile, too precious to expose to anyone else’s opinions—not even Reneé’s. "I’m fine," she said, a little too quickly. "I just… needed to get out of here for a few days before the semester starts. You know, clear my head or whatever."

Reneé rolled her eyes but started the car, steering them down the empty streets. "Okay, sure. But if I find out you ran off with some guy who’s old enough to have his own yacht, I’ll say I told you so."

The car cruised through the dimly lit streets; the city still wrapped in the quiet of early morning. Reneé reached over and switched on the radio, landing on a station playing an old Britney Spears song. "Oh my God, remember when we did that dance routine to this?" she exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. "Come on, Maya, don’t leave me hanging. Sing it like you mean it!"

Maya’s laughter bubbled up despite the tension she was carrying, and she joined in. As they belted out the chorus together, it was easy to forget, just for a moment, where she was headed and the secrets she was keeping. For those few minutes, it felt like they were back in middle school again, planning sleepovers and giggling about silly crushes. But as the song faded, reality crept back in, and Maya’s thoughts returned to the trip ahead.

The car rumbled to a stop at the departure terminal, and Maya took a deep breath, bracing herself for the whirlwind of the airport. The early morning light was just beginning to stretch across the sky, casting a hazy glow over the glass facade. Despite the hour, LAX was already alive with travellers dragging suitcases, taxi drivers haggling for fares, and the occasional lost soul wandering around with a coffee in hand.

Maya climbed out of the car, her steps slower than usual as she retrieved her suitcase from the trunk. Reneé stretched her arms over her head and let out a long yawn. "Alright, runaway princess," she said, still eyeing Maya like she was waiting for a confession. "Go have your mysterious rendezvous. But I swear, if you come back wearing a diamond bracelet, I’m going to need the whole story."

"Will do," Maya said, forcing a smile. But her chest felt tight. She wanted to tell Reneé the truth—about her real reason for the trip, about Tashi—but the words just wouldn’t come.

Reneé pulled her in for a quick hug. "Whatever it is you're doing, just be careful, okay? I’m all for spontaneous adventures, but try not to come back married to a guy who quotes The Great Gatsby unironically."

"I promise," Maya said, laughing nervously. "No secret weddings."

Reneé grinned as she climbed back into the car. "Good. See you when you get back, okay? And text me if you need a rescue."

Maya gave her a final wave as Reneé’s car rolled away, the taillights fading into the flow of early morning traffic. For a moment, she stood at the curb, feeling strangely exposed against the backdrop of the sprawling airport. She adjusted the strap of her bag and took a deep breath. She was really doing this.

The automatic doors slid open with a faint hiss, and Maya stepped inside, letting the chaos of the airport wash over her. There was a comforting anonymity here—a sense that she was just another traveller with somewhere to be, just another face in the crowd. She weaved her way through the bustling terminal, her suitcase bumping along behind her as she headed for the self-check-in kiosks.

As she tapped at the screen, printing her boarding pass, Maya’s thoughts wandered back to Reneé’s teasing. It would’ve been easier to lie and say she was sneaking off to meet some rich older guy. At least then, Reneé would have had something fun to speculate about. Instead, Maya was about to board a plane to meet a half-sister she hadn’t even known existed until a year ago, and not even her best friend knew the real story.

With her boarding pass in hand, she made her way toward the security line, her pulse quickening. She was about to cross an invisible line—leaving behind everything she’d known to find answers she wasn’t sure she was ready for. But there was no turning back now.

Maya found a seat by the window at the gate and pulled out her phone, scrolling through her messages. There was a new one from Tashi, sent just a few minutes ago.

Tashi: Just got to the courts. Can’t wait for you to get here! It’s going to be amazing; I promise.

Maya smiled, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling inside her. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to finally meet Tashi face-to-face, to see the sister she’d only known through late-night phone calls and Facebook photos. It felt surreal, like stepping into a story that wasn’t entirely her own.

As her flight was called, Maya stood and gathered her things, ready to step into the unknown. Whatever lay ahead, at least it was her secret to keep, for now.

NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK - August 4th, 2019

The sun blazed relentlessly upon the crowd, its heat shimmering off the concrete in waves that distorted the air. Maya squinted behind her oversized sunglasses, their dark lenses doing little to shield her from the sun’s intensity. Her skin prickled from the overexposure of Vitamin D, making it difficult to focus on anything besides the sweltering discomfort that clung to her like a second skin. As she sat in the stands, the familiar scent of sunscreen and freshly cut grass filled her nostrils, triggering memories of summers long past—carefree days spent at her grandparents' estate in Bel-Air Crest, where her only concern was perfecting her bronzed tan.

The hum of the crowd rose and fell around her, but it felt distant, like background noise from an abandoned television. Maya’s gaze drifted across the humble country club, taking in the swirl of colors from spectators’ sun hats and vibrant outfits, and the flashes of bright white tennis gear as players gathered to bear witness to what they suspected to be the match of a century. She was scanning the rows of seats absentmindedly when a tall, slender figure caught her attention. The person was descending the steps slowly, almost as if they were reluctant to be here at all.

As the figure came closer, the cascade of mid-length blonde hair, the effortless grace, and the striking features became unmistakable. Even from a distance, Maya could tell it was Tashi. Her sister’s presence filled her with a complicated rush of emotions—part nostalgia, part unease. They locked eyes just as Tashi reached her row. Time seemed to slow, and an unspoken tension hung between them, as heavy as the humid air. Despite the match unfolding on the court before them, Maya couldn’t tear her gaze away. She watched as Tashi took her seat just a few feet away, their proximity at once too close and yet, not close enough.

'Get a grip Maya, you knew she would be here.'

Maya’s fingers clenched tightly around the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning a ghostly shade of her usual caramel complexion as the internal struggle roiled within her. Her eyes darted anxiously to the tennis court, where the looming presence of the upcoming match filled her with a sense of dread. The players’ shadows stretched long in the late afternoon sun, mirroring the tension and anticipation coursing through Maya’s body. It was as if the scene was mocking her—a snapshot of normalcy while her mind was anything but calm. The roar of the crowd spiked in excitement as the players began their warm-ups, the rhythmic thud of tennis balls echoing like a ticking clock. Maya shifted in her seat, trying to shake off the prickly sensation that crept up her spine.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tashi’s gaze turn toward her. Tashi—the sister who had once known her better than anyone else in the world, who could finish her sentences, who could always sense what she was thinking. Now, it felt like they were two strangers who had to pretend they hadn’t once shared everything. Maya’s breath hitched slightly as she felt Tashi’s eyes on her, the weight of that familiar gaze bringing a sudden rush of memories she had buried beneath layers of silence and time.

Tashi's features, once so easy to read, seemed guarded now. Her cool expression betrayed nothing, but Maya knew her sister too well to be fooled. The slight tension in her jaw, the faint crease on her forehead—it was all there, hiding beneath the calm façade. A year ago, they would have hugged, laughed, shared inside jokes to ease the tension. Now, they were separated by more than just a few feet; a chasm of unspoken words and unresolved issues lay between them.

Tashi's gaze landed on Maya, her once-closest confidante, now a stranger sitting just a few feet away. It unnerved her, how different Maya seemed, even in small ways—the slight slump in her shoulders, the tightness in her jaw. There was something brittle about her that hadn’t been there before, a fragility hiding behind the composed exterior. Maya's forced smile, offered to a couple of teenage girls who recognized her from a fashion magazine, barely reached her eyes. It was the kind of smile people practiced in the mirror, perfected for the sake of appearances.

As Tashi’s gaze drifted back to the court, she felt a pang of something close to regret. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She had imagined a different future, one where they could lean on each other no matter what happened. But life had taken a different course, and the choices they’d made—some willingly, others out of desperation—had driven a wedge between them that seemed impossible to remove.

The match hadn’t even started, but Maya could already feel the tension tightening around her like a coiled spring, ready to snap at the slightest touch. She stole a glance at Tashi, who was staring ahead, her jaw clenched as though determined not to show any sign of weakness. There had always been that fierce pride about Tashi, a need to present a strong front no matter how turbulent things were beneath the surface. It was one of the things Maya had admired about her growing up, but now it felt like a wall keeping her out.

"Nice to see you made it," Tashi said finally, her voice low and edged with irony, as though she wasn’t entirely sure whether she meant it or not.

Maya's lips parted, but for a moment, no words came. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured, carefully controlled. "I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

Tashi’s mouth curved into a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Right," she said, turning her attention back to the players who were now preparing for the first serve. "Because we’ve always been so good at being there for each other."

The words stung, though Maya wasn’t entirely sure whether Tashi intended them to. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and pressed her lips together to keep the sharp retort from escaping. Instead, she chose to stay silent, gripping the arms of her chair until she could feel the bite of the metal against her palms.

The crowd erupted in applause as the first serve cut through the air, the players diving into the game with all the precision and grace expected at this level of competition. But for Maya, the real match was happening here, in the silent exchanges and unsaid words between her and Tashi. Every ball that flew across the net seemed to carry the weight of their unresolved history, every cheer from the crowd a reminder of how long they had been pretending that everything was fine.

The tension hung between them like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. It wasn’t just a tennis match to Maya and Tashi—it was a collision of everything unresolved, a confrontation without words. The years of sisterhood, of shared secrets and broken promises, all seemed to blur together, fusing the past and present into one inescapable truth: no matter how far they drifted, they could never really escape each other.

And as the players battled it out on the court below, Maya couldn’t help but feel as if she and Tashi were the real competitors, locked in a game where neither of them knew the rules anymore.