#salmon outfit board

[macaw-squawks]

salmon therian outfit board? :3 Masc or fem is fine 🐟🍒

Salmon therian outfit board!

Requested by: 🐟🍒 anon

Hope you like this, anon! Tried my best with this :> also I found 2 cute salmon bracelets, so you get both!

[hsdiaries]

dinner activities

boyfriend!harry x original character

choking, bits of praise, oral f receiving, p in v

I stood at the kitchen sink, washing the fresh produce I had gotten at the farmers market. Strawberries, cherries, apples, mangos. I wanted to make a giant fruit salad for when Harry got home. He had been working late nights in the studio all week, and today was the first night he would actually be home early. I wanted nothing more than to spend time with him, having him hold me. Being his girlfriend with his schedule was often tough, but he was worth every moment of it.

Once I had finished washing all the fruit I moved over to the kitchen island, pulling out our giant wooden cutting board and starting to cut up the fruit. I would pop some in my mouth as I went, enjoying the sweetness against my tongue. As I chopped I heard the front door open, Harry walking in. His hair was tied up in a bun, loose black shirt and grey sweats on his body. He was always so handsome to me this way. I loved a man in a suit, but with Harry, sweats and nothing else was his best outfit.

"Hello darling," he smiled at me, taking off his shoes before walking over to me. I turned and looked at him as he approached, he leaned in, kissing me gently. His lips moved on mine slowly, and though the kiss ended, his lips lingered on mine. I smiled against it, feeling him smile too.

"I've missed you today, Lacey, a lot." He whispered, pulling away and leaning back against the island. I couldn't help but notice how his arm muscles flexed as he held his weight up.

"I've been missing you this entire week if we are being honest." I smiled small, popping a piece of mango in my mouth. He opened his mouth at me causing me to giggle and I grabbed a piece, feeding it to him. He caught my hand as I did, licking the juice of fruit off my fingers.

I narrowed my eyes at him a bit, pulling my hand back, "Behave yourself, Harry Edward."

"I'm afraid I don't know how, Lace." He smirked, a devilish dimple on his left cheek.

I rolled my eyes, pushing away from the island to wash my hands before coming back to cut more fruit. As I did, he slipped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"Is this dinner?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I hope that's fine? I can also grill some salmon if you want." I said, chopping up some kiwi had left before it went bad.

"Mmm, no, this is fine darling." He said, his face turning and kissing my neck, slowly at first, the tip of his tongue teasing small licks on my neck, each met after with a kiss.

I inhaled sharply, my grip tightening on the knife as I licked my lips. He knew what he was doing and I knew what he wanted; but I wanted to make him work for it.

"How was the studio?" I said, holding my voice steady, though I could feel my stomach tighten.

He chuckled a bit, "Good actually. I finished two tracks. Just ten more to go."

"You got this baby," I said, as he reached over and grabbed a strawberry. He brought it up to my lips and I took a bite out of it. As I chewed it, I felt him run the strawberry down my neck, the juice spreading across it. His lips soon began sucking down my neck, his tongue licking up the mess he had made.

"Harry, what are you doing." I said, my grip loosening on the knife, my eyes fluttering close slightly.

"Mm, nothing." He breathed against my neck, his voice so low and deep, nipping at my neck gently, "Just enjoying my dinner."

I shook my head a bit, biting my lip, "It's not even ready, you're going to spoil it."

"Mm, I'm just helping with the preparation, that's all." He said, his voice still low. He popped the rest of the strawberry in his mouth, as his other hand began moving down my waistline, around to the front of my stomach. He moved it further down my front, his fingers teasing along my center, causing my legs to squeeze together, the knife dropping from my hand completely.

"Baby..." I whimpered as he began rolling his fingers over my clit.

"Keep making dinner Lacey." He said sternly, there was a lust in his voice and I nodded, swallowing. His dominance was always something that drove me insane, I loved it every bit of it. I swallowed, steadying myself and grabbing the knife. I took a deep breath and kept cutting the fruit, careful not to cut myself as I did.

His hand slid back up to my stomach only to push under the band of my leggings and underwear. His fingers pressed against my bare clit, my head falling back slightly at the feel. I bit my lip, looking back down at the fruit, concentrating on cutting it. As I did, I watched his hand come back to the cut fruit, picking up a piece of kiwi. I felt him move the kiwi over my earlobe, and down to the spot right behind it on my neck.

"Now you're just being plain mean." I said, clearing my throat. He knew these were my weak spots, he knew I would completely give in to anything.

He moved his face close to my ear, chuckling a bit, "I don't know what you mean. I think I'm being quite nice right now." He said, his teeth on my earlobe biting it softly, only for him to begin to suck on it, "And the best part of it is, none of this will taste as delicious as what I know is between your thighs." He said before moving to the spot on my neck, his fingers moving quicker on my clit, causing my to push my ass backwards onto him.

I could feel his hard cock the moment I did, and I decided, he wasn't the only one who could be a tease. I began to roll my hips back onto him, my ass moving up and down his hardening cock. When he bit down on the area behind my ear, I knew I was working him up.

"Bloody hell, Lacey." He said, as he placed his entire hand flat against my middle, pushing me back against him, "Fuck the fruit, come here." He quickly wrapped his hand tight around my neck, the kiwi he was still holding spreading all over my neck but I didn't care. I let go of the knife, bracing myself on the counter.

My head fell back onto his shoulder and soon his lips were on my neck. His tongue cleaning up the mess he made, his teeth dragging along my neck. His other hand moved so he could slip a finger in me, then another.

"Oh..fuck." I moaned out, my hips stilling moving on him; causing his fingers to sink deeper in me as I did. He curled his fingers inside me, pushing against my sweet spot, the spot he only knew the perfect location too.

"So wet for me, darling, god I can't wait to slip inside you, to fill you up." He groaned in my ear, his words causing my nerve endings to ignite everywhere, my body craving to be touched by him. His lips never left my neck, always coming back, and sucking hard on me. Peppering kisses all along the length of it.

"I want you to fuck me, Harry." I moaned out, my grip tightening on the counter, his fingers moving in and out of me as I grind my body on them. I was going to come, it wasn't go to take much to get me there in this position.

He dragged his hand down from my neck, over my breasts, palming at them and further spreading the kiwi over my white tank and I didn't care. He was making me a mess both physically and mentally. His hand kept moving down my body, gripping tightly at my skin, moving down to my middle, pushing my leggings and underwear down. He grabbed on tight to the band so he could push them down, lowering them to my mid-thigh. He brought his hand to my clit, moving quick circles over it, causing my movements on him to stop.

"Har-Harry, oh my god..." I reached back, grabbing onto him for support, "Baby..ba..uh...I'm going to come. Plea—" he didn't stop moving in and out of me, his fingers rolling on my clit so deliciously.

"Come for me darling, come for me and I'll fuck you right after, come for me." He purred in my ear, motivating me. I could feel my core tightening and the more I thought about him slipping his length inside of me the closer I got to my high.

I turned my face to him, our eyes locking and soon our lips were on each others, his tongue finding mine, running along it. This was all I needed, I melted instantly, coming all over his fingers. My legs squeezed shut, my mouth off of his, hanging open, no sound coming from me. He moved his fingers from my clit, still moving his fingers in me as I rode out my high.

"Oh...oh that felt so good babe, oh..." I finally chuckled out, causing him to laugh a bit and kiss my cheek.

"And to think, I'm not even done," he said, removing his fingers from inside me. He placed both his hands on my hips, sliding them up my body, bringing my tank with them, slipping it over my head. He turned me around pushing the fruit and the cutting board to the side lifting me up in the counter. He grabbed the knife, turning around and throwing it in the sink.

He stepped back a bit, licking his lips and taking me in. He reached back, pulling on the collar of his shirt and slipping it over his head. As he did, I unhooked my bra, slipping it off of me and throwing it to the side. I locked eyes with him as he unbuttoned his pants, biting my lip and breaking eye contact to face the fruit. I reached over and grabbed a strawberry, turning back to face him as I bit into it. I ran the fleshy, wet fruit along my lips, running it down my neck. I trailed it over my nipples, watching as he smirked at me. By now he was just as naked as me, and he moved toward me, his lips meeting mine. Kissing me hungrily, sucking in my lower lip, biting it and claiming it as his own.

His lips began to wander down my neck, following the trail I had mapped out for him with the strawberry, his tongue moving over my nipples, sucking on them as his hands held my breasts up to his mouth. He kept trailing a path down my body with his mouth, ending at my middle, his tongue lapping over my folds, taking in all my wetness, before settling on my clit. He rolled his tongue on it, and I instinctively reached down, I pulled on the elastic holding back his long hair, pulling it until his hair was freed. He groaned, because I wasn't gentle and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I wrapped my hand in his hair, my fingers tangling in it, pushing him hard against me. I moved my middle against his tongue, my head falling back, taking in every bit of pleasure I was feeling because of it. I felt greedy, but only for a moment.

"Mmm, oh god I could fuck your mouth all night," I moaned, his chuckle vibrating against me causing me to laugh as well. He pulled away from my middle and I hated how much stronger he was than me that he was able to do this.

He stood up straight, leaning forward and kissing me, "You're a spoiled brat tonight."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "All you have to do is ask." I said, reaching down between us and taking his length in my hand, running up and down it. I stopped only to spit on my hand, to add more slick.

I moved over his tip, running my palm over it like I knew he liked, "I'll never pass up a chance to make you feel good baby, never pass up a chance to remind you how much I love you."

I bit my lip at him and he leaned his forehead down on mine, "God, I love you, Lacey." He pushed down, and kissed me deeply. His hand reaching up and choking me as he did, he pushed my head back moving his lips from mine, locking eyes with me, "I love you so damn much." He said, my hand moving up and down his length, I could feel his veins on his cock pulse, and he bit his lip, letting go of my neck to reach down and remove my hand from his length.

"I don't want to come that way," he said, moving to remove my leggings from me completely. He picked me up in his arms, bringing me back down to the floor and turning me back around, bending me over the kitchen island, "I want to come like this."

He pushed his length into me, giving me no mercy. No moment to adjust. He rocked his hips against me, moving in and out of me. His strokes were long and hard, his fingers digging into my hips as he did.

"God, you feel so fucking good baby, fuck Lacey." He said, his pace picking up. He reached down and lifted my right leg up on the counter, allowing him deeper in me, and I yelled out in pleasure. I squeezed against his length, feeling every bit of him fill me up.

"Fuck, Harry. Oh fuck baby...."

"Is that good for you darling, huh? Tell me how good I feel baby." He groaned, his hand wrapping around my waist, moving up to cup my breast, palming at them as he pulled me against him.

"So fucking good, Har..Harry, oh..." I moaned, turning to look at him, leaning up and kissing him messily. We kissed and moaned against each others lips. I couldn't keep my eyes from rolling back into my head. He felt so damn good, his movements were so aggressive, so sure of what they were doing.

"Oh, Lace...I don't think I can...fu-oh you feel so fucking good. Bloody hell." He groaned, leaning his head down and biting at my shoulder.

His movements were becoming sloppy, he was clinging onto me tighter, as if holding on for dear life.

"I'll come with you baby, keep going please." I said, using my leg to help me move up and down his length. He hissed as I began my movements, helping me move on him, holding my hips.

"Lacey...oh baby. That's it, oh fuck me like that. Oh...fucks sake, I'm going to com—me too, I'm coming Harry...I'm.." I interrupted, as we both came together. I fell back against his body as he fell forward on mine. I chuckled, riding out my high. He laced kisses along my back, bringing small chills along my body. He attempted to pull out and I squeezed against him.

"Fucks sakes woman, you're going to murder me." He said and I giggled, relaxing so he could pull out. We both groaned at the sensation, and he continued to place kisses along my back, "I love you, Lace."

"I love you, too."

[melancholicstation]

The Socially Active Secretary: Chapter Three

pairing: robert francis kennedy female ❤︎ original character charlotte agapov (secretary!reader)

author's note: a little impromptu diner date ... well why not

synopsis: charlotte agapov, a divorcee whom recently moved back to the states after a disastrous lovers quarrel, assumes the secretarial position to the most important man in America, but it is not he who has captured her attention, no. instead, it's his meek younger brother, the runt of the kennedy pack, bobby francis kennedy.

[ 1640 words ]

taglist: @kennediva @absurdlyvintage @bloxholden35 @astro-vibes-bro @h-l-vlovesvintage @kimcrystal123 @krazyforkennedy @fortheloveofjos @remotewatch

chapter one, two, three

masterlist, charlotte moodboard, rfk moodboard

Chapter Three

May 3rd, 1962

Charlotte started off her evening with a plate of boiled eggs and butter, and steaming coffee on the hotplate. Dressed in a cotton voile nightgown with a smocking along the neckline, that was constricting in a pleasant manner. Since her aunt had gone into town to visit one of her, despite her genuine personality, many toffee-nosed, haughty friends in Plymouth Charlotte was left to her own devices. A state of being that Charlotte would come to know was entirely dangerous.

This loneliness of Charlotte had birthed a new idea of hers that she should re-engage with the nightlife that she had so recklessly abandoned in her early twenties. Charlotte felt that those nights were the only ones in which she truly felt like the woman she had been forced to push down.

The nineteen year-old version of Charlotte seemed to be football stadium sized gulfs away from the 29 year old woman she had morphed into. Nineteen year old Charlotte was free, and accompanied by a girlish charm of ambivalence and whimsy. In all her glory dressed in her jumpsuit and chainmail balaclava, eating steak tartare and drinking whiskey sours at Harry Cipriani every night. This nose-dove into nostalgia turned into Charlotte, through the assistance of a very rickety very unstable wicker chair, finding old photo albums kept in the attic of her aunt that her mom had stored years ago. Some were of Charlotte departing in and out of restaurants with a big, bright grin on her face, others of her with some friends from boarding school. They were all pictured posing very dramatically on top of each other in such a way that instantly gave way to the fact that they all had done theatre as adolescents.

As a result of this Charlotte decided that she was going to make the most out of this getaway and book a four course tasting for one at Cuvée at Chatham Inn. How decedent!, she thought. She could feel her excitement churning up inside her, what a silly thing to get excited to spend dinner along Charlotte thought, teasing herself. But the predicament of what she was going to wear however, was less exhilarating for the young woman.

She had now been staring down the mate-shift closet she had made in the interim period of her stay in the cape for almost an hour, searching for something to fit the opulence of the Curvée that wasn't in the dull muted tones that Charlotte had dressed herself in lately. Most items were textured mohair, cotton, or suede in organised colours of military green, cloudy brown, and porcelain. Certainly not fit for the Chatham Inn that's for sure. That was, until Charlotte in her almost manic manhunt for the perfect outfit came across her equivalent of the green light in the Gatsby novel; a strapless satin minidresses gathered at the hem in light khaki.

The best option of a bad bunch sure, but it would have to do. She opted for a pair of wedges in patent leather and a hand-painted shoulder bag given to Charlotte by her esoterically inclined grandmother from her dad's side. After applying rouge and lipstick all in shades reminiscent of smoked salmon, she gathered her hair in a half-up half-down style that she had remembered dog-earing in the April issue of Women's Weekly. And with that, she pranced out the door.

Cervée wasn't a quick walk so Charlotte called a car to drive her to the Inn. Charlotte should really look into the mindfulness her mother had been just raving about in their most recent call, because it appeared that Charlotte had zoned out for the entirety of the 20 minute car ride and only been broken from the trance at the prompt of the driver asking for a 20% tip, which she would then politely give.

As she entered the Inn, and was promptly escorted to the private dining space of the restaurant by a man donned in black dress pants, Charlotte was greeted by the aroma of cinnamon and patchouli filling all her fourth sense.

The room seemed calmly bare with only one person at the bar, and another elderly couple seated by the bay window facing the coastline.

The first course, Hamachi was delectable and paired with an equally excellent wine pairing. However Charlotte was temporarily distracted by the voice of the person ordering a second Mai Tai cocktail, a voice so familiar that Charlotte was sure she had heard it before. But just as Charlotte's curiosity could get the best of her the second course was brought out.

The second course was sea scallops, with a side of celery root, grapefruit and fennel. It was of Charlotte's opinion that the food got better at each course. Throughout the interim of her second course Charlotte had willed this familiar stranger to turn his head, either to confirm that yes, he was the man she had run into in the lighthouse, or that her persistent loneliness had finally caught up to Charlotte and she had begun going into delirium. Charlotte's misery was cut short as the mystery man suddenly turned his head, his penetrating blue eyes framed by mousy blond tendrils circling in on the sat figure that was Charlotte from across the room. So that is Bobby, she thought.

Oh no, the poor man must think I'm some crazed stalker following him around the cape, I wouldn't be all that surprised if he got up and left right this instance, Charlotte mused inwardly. However these thoughts were put to rest as Robert made his way across the floor, with the beauty and grace of a seasoned Juilliard trained ballerina.

"Funny place to find you Charlotte, I mused you as more of a diner girl, I guess I thought wrong now didn't I?" He chuckles in a self-conscious way designed to defuse the unmarked tension between the pair.

"Oh how wrong you were Bobby, how very wrong" Charlotte admonishes in jest, giggling in her delivery. Charlotte could practically hear the voice of her mother urging that such a sound should not come from a dignified woman over the age of twenty. But she couldn't find much in herself to care at the moment, not when the man in front of her brought out feelings that Charlotte couldn't yet assign a name to.

"Would you mine me sitting down a moment, I'm afraid I've been on my feet since 4am"

"Four am?" Charlotte nearly spills her drink in her dumbfounded delivering--"What on earth kind of employer has you filling in those kinds of hours?"

"Working for my brother that's who" Bobby states with a reverent look of pride in his eyes.

"Oh your brother, would I know him by chance?"

"Maybe-maybe not" Bobby remarks in a tone not dissimilar to a school boy who had just set up a prank for his teacher. Despite this Charlotte finds charm in it.

As the third course is brought out the pair continue talking about trivial things, while Bobby shovels small amounts of parmesan into his mouth while effortlessly keeping up conversation.

To the unbeknownst eye, or to bypasses at the Inn, the pair looked as though they had been lovers for as long as they had been alive.

But evidently they had not, and so the questions begun

"Now what's an girl with a ring on talking to a guy like me for" he states, while motioning his hand towards the sapphire oval ring set in 18-karat white gold glimmering on Charlottes fourth finger of her left hand.

Shoot, Charlotte thought. Her daily routine of putting on her wedding ring had stuck, even after the divorce. "It's not what you think, I promise. I've recently got divorced and y'know old habits die hard I guess." She says while chuckling nervously, bracing herself for Bobby to be completely turned away by her awkward and rambling justification.

But instead he simply smiles in a manner so disarming that it seems to immediately regulate her nervous system. "Not a problem with me at all. I have certainly had my fix of lovers quarrels Charlotte, I'll tell you that".

"Oh really? do tell Bobby please it's only fair" Charlotte pleads.

Bobby immediately concedes and goes into a particularly hilarious tale of him trying to ask a girl to homecoming, only to find out she had already been asked out by two of his own brothers.

This prompts Charlotte to ask about his luck in love after high school, to which his whole demeanour seems to shift as he quickly rushes out that he fell in love with a girl who then, as it turns out, fell in love with her ski instructor instead, leaving him at the altar of nineteen fifty.

At this revelation Charlotte decides to back off and move onto lighter topics. Here she learns of Bobby's two dogs that he fathers; a Newfoundland named "brumes" and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named "freckles".

By the fourth course, steelhead trout and coconut lime sage, Bobby and Charlotte's chairs are now paralleled with each other and increasingly close. As Charlotte looks up to somewhere other than the man in front of her for the first time in what she could imagine could've easily been two hours, she sees that the time is bordering on 8pm. Bobby catches on, and draws his eyes to the clock.

"I guess we should head out before they kick us out huh, Wouldn't want to be banned from Carvée now would we?" Robert remarks.

"Oh the horrors it would be!" Charlotte laughs.

As the pair reaches the driveway of the Inn, a tense silence falls upon the two. No, not a silence born out of boredom but of yearning.

"So--shall we go back to my place?"

End of Chapter Three

[reblog-house]

Made For the Job

Written for Hermit-a-day-May, day 9: Skizzleman!

Wc: 444

Ao3: Here!

Some people would think it hard, being part of a salmon mafia, the wood collective, and one of the only two members of the Permit Office Enforcement team. Skizz doesn’t think so!

The mafia is just something he does to have some fun and mess with Doc (poisoning that salmon he ate truly was genius from Beef! He tried to be humble saying he didn’t do anything, what a guy!). The wood collective makes just enough sales to get by and he doesn’t have to restock all that often (although restocking when needed…). And well, being a POE POE is still something very new, but the few moments he’s had of running around the server putting notices on people’s shops alongside Scar have been very fun.

Call him a bit vain, but his outfit is probably the best part. Really makes him feel CONFIDENT, man! Truly amped up! Should he grow a mustache? He likes the look of it on his face, even if it’s fake. 

No, no, he couldn’t do that. If he did, he’d get confused with Mumbo. They already have the same backs, he can’t go and steal his whole brand! 

…Well, minus the redstone. Skizz can’t do redstone. Not that he’s practiced much, but oh, it’s just not his forte. It fascinates him, though. He’s in love with the concept of it and all the contraptions and mechanisms that could, and HAVE, come about from it. Makes sense he’d be close-knit friends with three very talented redstoners: The witch-farmer, the Decked Out master himself, and Zedaph.

Sometimes, he feels a bit like an impostor. Looks at everyone around him and all the great things they’re able to accomplish in such short periods of time and feels a bit inadequate.

But when he looks himself in the mirror now, the short-shorts he wears, his POE POE insignia, his thick mustache, and his perfectly combed hair, he feels the doubt go away. They chose him for this. They brought him in for his social abilities, all the ways that he enriches the server by just interacting with others and his ability to know exactly how to play the part. Beef needed a Mafia associate and he was more than on-board with it from the start. Finding out Doc had most of the wood permits and now Big Salmon had to cooperate with their enemy was perfect and he loves highlighting their enmity for the comedy of it all. 

And now, he was chosen to enforce the rules of the shopping district (well, Permit Office. Same thing) alongside Scar.

Grian said he’d chosen the best people for the job, and he was right.

[innytoes]

I read prompt 51 in Reggie’s voice, so please - with whoever else you think!

- @anotherfantom

Set in the Cat!Reggie and Sugar Salmon!Daddy verse.

Reggie was lounging on Caleb's bed, waiting for the guy to get out of the shower. He kind of regretted not joining him, but he'd still been in Cat Mode when Caleb got home, curled up in the middle of the bed in the perfect pool of sunlight, and he'd been too cozy to move.

It wasn't like he lived here, or anything. It just wasn't like he didn't live here, either. Caleb had installed a magical cat flap that only let him in, and he had his own drawers in Caleb's drawer, with fancy outfits Caleb had gotten him, and a toothbrush in the bathroom, and all his cat stuff around the house. But he was free to come and go as he pleased.

He just happened to like to be here at times he knew Caleb would get home. Especially if he was going to be naked. So sue him. His boyfriend was hot.

He perked up when he heard the water shut off, changing back to human so he could fully enjoy the view. He was still in the cozy patch of sunlight, except it only covered part of his back. The light on bare skin was different than on his fur, but also nice. He was just wearing some cute cotton shorts Caleb had gotten him as he lazed on his stomach, kicking his feet in delight when Caleb came out of the shower, still toweling off his hair.

"Hello, Kitten," he said, leaning over to kiss Reggie.

"Hi," Reggie said, a little breathless after the kiss, and the view. "How was your day?"

"Oh, simply awful," Caleb said, as he rooted around his drawers for some comfortable silk pants. Reggie enjoyed the view while it lasted, though Caleb in silk was also nice. "The Council is all up in a tiff because apparently the pixies that have roosted in my Club are 'illegal' and 'not supposed to be there'."

"You don't mind them?" Reggie asked, making grabby hands at Caleb until he sat back down on the bed. Okay, so he only did it to put on his socks, but he was still shirtless. Jackpot. Reggie draped himself over the man's back, enjoying his warm, clean skin against his own. Caleb happily leaned back.

"No, if you give them something to do they're actually quite helpful. Also they've been ah, deterring staff who keeps trying to use my props room as a make-out spot, which is ever so helpful."

"So how are you going to gaslight gatekeep girlboss your way out of this?" Reggie asked. From Caleb's rants - he did them less when Reggie was human, but he loved grumbling about it when Reggie was a cat, especially when they hadn't yet officially established Reggie could be human - the Hollywood Wizard Council were pretty much sticklers for the rules they themselves made up.

"How am I what?" Caleb asked, turning to him. He looked adorably confused, which was a new expression on him. Reggie kissed his nose, and he wrinkled it even more adorably. And handsomely.

"It's a thing," he shrugged. "An internet thing."

Caleb turned to kiss him properly. "It's a good thing you make me feel so young, darling, because you just made me feel very, very old."

"Oh, I'll make you feel young, alright," Reggie grinned.

The silk pants came off again, and they had a very, very nice evening. Later, when Reggie was curled up on Caleb's chest, feeling like he'd be purring if he was in Cat Mode, he looked up. "Okay but how are you going to get the Council off your back about the pixies?"

Caleb looked down. "Oh. I drew up a contract and had them sign it. They're now officially employees of the Hollywood Ghost Club, paid in room and board and one shiny button a month. They negotiated hard for that last one."

"You do have a lot of nice and shiny buttons," Reggie mused.

"Is that girlboss gamer gatelight of me?" Caleb asked, and Reggie laughed so hard he accidentally turned back into a cat.

[levi-supreme]

Hi REIII

Can i request Levi taking me to a park at night to see the cherry blossoms for your Valentine's event? Ty😘

Hi Megan my dear!!!!! Thank you for this lovely request!!! I'm sorry I took forever, but yay that it's still hanami and sakura season right now, so this date will be absolutely fitting for the occasion <3

I wrote this in a non-Japan context so it would be more relatable for you hehe. Also, since you didn't mention any outfit, here's your outfit that I chose for your lovely date!!

Rei’s Ask Games: Valentine’s Day Special (closed!!)

It was finally spring, and everyone was basking in the beauty of the season. Cherry blossom products were being sold everywhere, and the flowers were also in full bloom. Every year, Levi would bring you out on a flower viewing date, but this year, Levi decided to switch things up and bring you out for a night flower viewing at the local botanic garden instead.

Knowing that it might be cold at night, you wore a soft blush pink cardigan over your dress before putting on your lip gloss, preparing to leave the house. It was a white floral dress you bought last year, but you never had the chance to wear it. Levi was already waiting for you by the door, coincidentally matching you in a white button shirt and light pink trousers.

"You look lovely, sweetie." Levi chimed as he saw you come out of the room, unable to hide the small smile on his face. You bashfully looked away and wore your shoes, not forgetting to praise how handsome he looked as well.

Smiling, Levi took your hand and walked you to the car, driving to the botanic garden. It was only 6:30pm when you both reached, yet there was already a long queue outside the entrance.

"Good thing you bought the tickets early, love," you mentioned as Levi took out his phone, looking for the e-tickets that he already downloaded, "I can't imagine trying to get a ticket at the very last minute." Levi grumbled and complained that even so, it was too crowded for his liking. You giggled after hearing him.

Soon, the both of you gained entry into the botanic garden, and one of the staff gave you both a pamphlet for the night flower viewing event. The pamphlet had a map of the entire event's layout, the timeline of performances, and also a list of things to do and good spots for taking photographs.

"Are you hungry? We can try out the bento dinners first before the performance." Levi gestured towards the food stalls nearby and you nodded. Levi ordered a miso chicken bento for you while he got himself a salmon bento with cherry blossom dressing. You found an unoccupied table underneath the cherry blossom trees, the beautiful flowers forming a sea of pink above you. The sky was gradually turning darker as well, and the bright pink flowers formed a lovely contrast with the evening sky. Taking out your phone, you snapped a few photos of the scenic view and sent them to your closest friends. Soon, Levi came back with your dinners.

"Mmm, this tastes so good!" You marvelled after eating. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, and the side dishes were tasty and refreshing. Levi's salmon was really fresh and good as well, despite him commenting about the weird combination of cherry blossom sauce and salmon. Once the both of you were done, you took a walk around the garden, looking at all the blossoming flowers.

"Levi! Over here!" You cheered and ran forward, standing underneath a cherry blossom tree. "Take some photos for me, please?"

"Tch, I was already planning to do that, brat." Levi smirked before taking out his phone, getting you to pose nicely before snapping photos of you. After you were satisfied with the photos, you and Levi continued walking around the garden, taking lots of beautiful photos of the flowers and scenery. There was a small pond in the middle of the garden, and around the pond were display boards explaining the significance of flower viewing, the best time to watch the flowers, and also how to differentiate between the cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, and peach blossoms. There were many patrons taking photos, and you got a passerby to help you and Levi take some photos as well.

At around 15 minutes to 8pm, Levi and you started walking to the main event area where there would be a cultural performance of traditional Japanese folk dance and traditional Japanese music. The both of you managed to get decent seating and at 8pm sharp, the emcee started introducing the performers and the cultural performances started. It was an eye-opener and you thoroughly enjoyed the performances.

Before leaving for home, Levi brought you to the other side of the garden where there were bonsai plants and other souvenirs for sale. Levi told you to take your pick, and you excitedly looked through the wide range of products on sale. After 20mins of shopping, your basket was filled with bottles of cherry blossom jam, notebooks, fridge magnets, keychains, and also a few photo frames. You also took some postcards to gift to your friends as well. Levi even chose a small bonsai plant to display at home. The both of you left the garden with cherry blossom-patterned paper bags.

"Today was absolutely amazing, love, thank you," you beamed as Levi entered the car after keeping the bags in the boot, giving him a swift kiss on the cheek, "I had so much fun." Levi helped you buckle up before planting a soft kiss on your forehead.

"I'm glad you did, sweetie." Turning on the ignition, Levi drove out of the parking lot with your hand in his. "Next year, let's come back here again, hmm?"

You gave him a huge grin, "for sure."

[sparkysparkspops]

Human Resources

Welcome to HR. I never intended to work for a fashion company but a month after I started here, the company owner suggested I lay off my direct report and add her pay to my salary. So I decided to stay. 

This office uses an open floor plan. There are no wall dividers. Employees can see and hear each other from anywhere in the building. Once, an accountant tried tapping a poster board to the edge of her desk to hide behind. I immediately confiscated it. It's still in my office.

Over there is Kamille, Senior Textile Designer. Kamille eats only one bowl of leek soup a day to lose weight before her wedding. If you must speak to her, open the conversation with a quip about how thin she looks. Across from her is Marie, the new Assistant Textile Designer, fresh out of college, twenty-three, who is very thin despite eating pasta every day. Half the women in the office do not like Marie because of this.

The Senior Women’s Wear Designer, Estelle, sits in the corner over there. On her desk are two teacup Maltese that she dresses in different outfits every day. She bought them on the internet one night while online shopping after her gynecologist told her that she couldn't have children. Both dogs have deformed jaws making their tongues hang out the sides of their mouths. 

Claire, Associate Women’s Wear Designer, sits at the adjacent desk. Last week we celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday in the office with acai popsicles. Her fifty-year-old boyfriend drops her off at work because she’s afraid to drive. He also pays for her apartment. The other Associate, Chrissy, shares a one-bedroom apartment with three other girls. She sometimes eats canned salmon, straight out of the can. If you smell something like dog food around lunchtime, it's probably her. 

Be sure to wear at least one article of clothing from the company every day. Doing so shows that you support the company, and will help you fit in with the culture. Jeans start at $250 and blouses at $220.

The bathroom walls are floor-to-ceiling mirrors. In the handicap stall, you can watch yourself pee. Take all the time you need to look in the mirror. Correct any imperfections before returning to work. Ignore the sobs coming from the center stall. That's Marie, the new assistant. She’s here almost every time I have to use the bathroom.  Sometimes she’s pacing the room, other times she’s staring at herself, hyperventilating on the wall. “Why doesn’t my hair grow anymore?” I’ve heard her ask to her reflection. Another time I came in to see her applying eyeliner with a shaky hand while crying. Her tears washed away the makeup faster than she could redraw it. Black pools ran down her cheeks as she continuously reapplied in between whimpers. I told her waterproof eyeliner would solve her problems, but this just made her cry even harder. I don’t know why I even bother. 

Paul, I.T., is in the center of the building. If your laptop is having technical problems, I recommend trying to fix it over email. If you go to his office, he tends to stand very close to women when he talks to them. 

Over there is Andrea’s desk, the owner. She likes to be in the open space with the rest of the designers. She usually comes in around 11 am and leaves by 1 pm. Today, she is back in the office after being out all last week. She has vases of dead roses on her desk. They were gifted to her by her husband before she caught him with a younger woman in their bed. Her desk faces Marie, the Assistant Textile Designer. I’ve noticed Andrea glaring at her.

Now, we see Marie, still teary-eyed, walking from the bathroom towards my office. For the last two weeks, her sleep paralysis demon has been following her to work. It towers behind her desk as she works at her computer.  I immediately emailed her the employee pet policy, saying that she must first register the pet and that all pets are required to wear a flea collar. This is a fashion house full of clothing, for peat’s sake! Bed bugs and fleas would be the end of us. Last week I tried slipping a flea collar on it as it bent down to fit in the office entrance, but I couldn’t get the collar past its ears. 

Kamille, Marie’s boss, has requested I make her leave the company and Andrea agrees. Lay her off? Heavens no, if we laid her off we would be liable for severance! When she walks into my office her boss and I will greet her with a printed list of grievances. One of the bullet points says she takes too much time off for doctor's appointments. Another says she sometimes forgets to ask her boss for permission to leave at the end of the workday. None of the items on the list are violations of her contract, but that doesn’t matter. After she reads the list, I’ll tell her this requires disciplinary action and give her a two-week work suspension, no pay. This is her first job out of college, we can get away with these types of things. She can’t survive two weeks of no pay, so she’ll quit, on the spot. 

And that's exactly what happened. 

“I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to work here.” she croaked as she started sobbing again. This was all choreographed perfectly and I got what I wanted. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Her former boss and I watched her for a minute. Eventually, her breathing slowed, her eyes closed and she slumped into her chair. Her sleep paralysis demon, who had been waiting outside my office door, reached its hand in and dragged the girl by her shirt collar out of the chair, across the floor, past the designers’ desks, and out the main entrance. That's the last time I ever saw her. I assume she found another company that was a better fit for her. 

[fatallyfalling]

Bitter Water 0.01 ~ ♆

“ Survive, “

{{ Finnick Odair x Reader }}

{{ previous part || next part }} {{ masterlist }}

warnings: typical Hunger Games violence/trauma/themes, language, blood, injury, insinuation of forced prostitution, enemies to lovers, slow burn, Finnick is a bit of an ass, thoughts/mention of death, slight food aversion, reader has a panic attack, etc.

{{ word count }} 3.1 k

{{ outfits }}

{{ prompt }} Following the 67th Reaping and a tearful goodbye you board a train to the capital. There’s new faces, new rules, but you only feel more like a caged animal being hauled to slaughter.

{{ a/n }} Finnick appears at last! Granted he is a bit of an ass - but he’s a teenage boy with newfound wealth and arrogance at this point in time and Reader is understandably prickly as well considering the circumstances. This chapter is a bit longer than the prologue - enjoy!!

You weren’t sure when your ears had started ringing.

Maybe it was from the throb at your temple, or the lightning strike of adrenaline coursing through your veins. You didn't know. A wet warmth slid down the side of your face, more blood. Cold metal pressed between your shoulder blades, begrudgingly forcing your body towards the stage. The wails of your siblings above had been quickly stifled. Your father must be trying to avoid more trouble. “Good,” You thought.

“Keep them safe.”

Your jaw set as you shakily ascended the three stairs of the stone platform. The Capital escort held a too-wide, plastic smile that had your stomach twisting. People shouldn’t smile like that. The escort puts out a hand, but you don’t make any effort to reach out, invoking an irritated scoff and a forceful twist of your wrist above your head as if you had won something. You didn’t feel like you’d gained anything at all.

“Our female Tribute!”

Bile threatened to rise in your throat as the horror continued, not quite setting in. Your hand is dropped after a mechanical camera flash temporarily obscures your vision. You don’t notice the disgust on the escort's face as they notice the blood now coating the palm of their expensive glove. Your gaze had moved to stare down at the concrete before you. You didn’t dare look up as a Capital camera flashed again, making you flinch with a scrunch of your nose.

“Now, we’ll select our male Tribute.”

The escort plucks a handkerchief from their breast pocket to wipe their glove. The pale fabric stains red as they move to the pristine crystal bowl on the left side of the stage. Your eyebrows knit together as you see the gesture from your peripheral, thinking it would have been easier to remove the glove.

But the Capital doesn’t touch district hands without protection.

Another show is made of swimming their fingers through the slips of paper, and a dramatic selection brings the stocky-built escort back to center stage once more. The phlegmy cough of the escort earns another scrunch from your nose. “Ahem,” Their voice has a slight gravel in their drawl. Blood smears on the white paper as the identical black seal is peeled away and unfolded to present the name. Your stomach twists again.

A boy’s name is called. You don’t know him. He must be from one of the southern ports by the looks of his tanned skin. The large auditorium remains silent as the Reaping is concluded. The two tributes are presented once more to the population of the seafaring district. Automated cameras snap pictures in bright flashes. You can’t help wishing one of those flashes was a gun.

The barrel of a Peacekeeper’s gun presses behind you once more as you’re turned away from the audience and led off the stage to be paraded down the center aisle as if you were a prize-winning salmon. You wanted to scream.

The heavy double doors of the hall slam shut behind your small procession, earning another flinch and your eyes to squeeze shut. This was happening.

This was happening and there was nothing you could do to stop it.

You're aggressively pushed and prodded down another series of hallways before being led into what appears to be an office and left to your own devices. A muffled shuffling outside the closed door indicates you've been confined to the room with Peacekeepers just outside. The office was professional in appearance. Large mahogany bookcases lined one of the pale blue walls, and a large, matching wooden desk posed in the center of the space with an inky leather chair behind it. There was an array of potted, district-native plants and a miscellaneous collection of knick-knacks and other capital paraphernalia. Two deep blue velvet loveseats sat against the opposite wall with intricate wood trimmings on the polished hardwood floor. Lastly, on the wall parallel to the bookshelves, hung a large portrait painting of the President of Panem.

Coriolanus Snow.

It felt like the wind was sucked from your lungs as your flightless eyes held the tyrant's stare of icy blue. Clenching your jaw, it was all you could do not to lash out and scream at the canvas. You debated tearing it from the wall and shredding the intricate brushwork, but you had no idea who was watching or if the consequences would be deterred on your family once you left. You hated the snowy-haired man. Every fiber of your being burned with a bitter hatred, but that hatred quickly died as the reality of your situation once more weighed heavy on your conscience. You had no clue how you were going to survive. Your mind began to reel with "What ifs" surrounding your fate.

Tears began rolling down your cheeks like clockwork as reality finally set in.

Furiously, you smeared the salty liquid from your eyes with the back of your hands. Silently cursing yourself for cracking like this. You had to stay strong. You wouldn’t dare cry in front of the younglings. You couldn’t bear the thought. Inhaling deeply, you tried to ground yourself. There wasn’t any room to crumble. You just had to get through this one goodbye.

Goodbye.

The idea of farewell brought more tears surging from your eyes. A choked sob racked through your chest as your face fell into your bloody hands. The marks from your fingernails had clotted by now, irritating your tear-streaked skin. How would you ever get through this? You couldn’t die. You couldn’t abandon your life here for the twisted pleasures of the Capital.

“You have three minutes.”

Surprise punches through your senses, bloody hands leaving your face as the office door opens and a Peacekeeper barks just as two heads of matching hair break into the room making a beeline for your legs. You crouch to meet the younglings, hugging the bleary-eyed twins close. “It’s okay, it’s gonna be okay,” you coo as the twins spew questions in quick succession to one another. Your father loomed in front of the door, his eyes had a faraway gaze. You spared a troubled glance his way while trying to soothe your siblings.

“Why are they taking you away?”

The nickname you’d had since the pair learned to speak came out in a choked sob. It broke your heart to witness them so distraught and upset, petting their hair and holding the boys close. “I-I just have to go away for a while. I know. I-I know, I said only a few minutes, but it’s going to be longer than that now.” you stumble over your words as you try to keep yourself together. You couldn't crack in front of them, not like this. Your heart squeezes to the point you feel suffocated as you lie through your teeth. “I’ll be back, I promise.”

There was no way for you to keep that promise in the end. It was a foolish idea, really.

Nobody ever really came back from the Games.

“I’ll bring home the seaweed buns you both like, okay? The ones shaped like little fish.” You try to reassure them while simultaneously wiping the toddler’s eyes. The pair sniffle but allow small nods as you look into one another’s eyes. “You two need to look out for one another while I’m gone, okay? Take care of Dad as well. Promise me that, okay?” You let go of the boys and hold out your pinkie fingers, each twin lacing their own with yours and giving a tight squeeze.

“Pinky promise,”

“Good,” you nod, mustering a weak smile and kissing each of their foreheads before rising to meet your father by the door. “They can’t be neglected. Teach them to help or ask Marjorie to teach them to weave. I- I know things are going to be hard without me, but you’ll manage. Ask for help if it’s needed. There should be some money in a jar behind my dresser that I saved in case this happened. Utilize the underground trade a-and-“

Your rushed instructions are cut short as the office door opens once more. Your broken heart lurches into your throat as the guard tells you your time is up. The air feels like it’s been ripped from your lungs all over again as you startle forward and cling to your father. His good arm wraps around your shoulders, and the younglings wrap themselves around the both of you. You almost don’t catch the gruff whisper through your father’s whiskers.

“Survive..”

A cold encapsulates your form as stark white Peacekeepers move to tear your family from your embrace. The twins shriek, calling out for you as they’re all but dragged from the room. You call back for them in an equally broken sob. A Peacekeeper barricades the doorway of the office with their body. Your father’s words hang in the air like lead, an order in the form of a match to strike the inferno of that bitter promise you’d made during the reaping.

You will not die.

No more tears spill as Peacekeepers surround you once more. The extra security is a tad, daunting, if not oversaturated, as you’re led away from the judicial complex through a dimly lit garage. You’re loaded into a steel armored vehicle with your District Partner and two guards to ensure nothing gets prickly on the trip to the train station.

The ride couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, albeit bumpy on the cobblestone roads. Your eyes take a moment to adjust to the glaring sunlight after only being in dimly lit spaces following the Reaping. The thrum in your temple has gotten exponentially worse thanks to the hydration in your body escaping through tears. The cold metal barrel of a Peacekeeper’s gun meets your shoulder blades as you hop down from the armored truck and are pushed towards the sleek grey metal locomotive destined for the capital. The short escort from the Reaping is there, providing a stiff wave as the two Tributes of District 4 get close.

“Welcome, welcome! My name is Thatcher Bellstone, and I shall be accompanying you both to our glorious capital and help prepare you to take your first steps into the arena!”

You fight the urge to roll your eyes, settling with a flutter of muscle in your jaw instead. You already weren't taking kindly to them.

“Now, we’re on a very, very tight schedule. Some faces need introducing!” Thatcher claims with a clap of their gloved hands. The fabric is a different color now, most likely swapped post-reaping to cleanse the Capital elite of your blood. If their accent and tone weren’t so snobby or irritating, you might have felt a tinge of guilt for the soiled garment. Regardless of your qualms, you’re shoved forward to the edge of the train platform and almost trip before catching yourself on a small railing over the threshold of the sliding door.

A silent curse crosses your mind as a coy chuckle fills your senses. Your brows knit together in aggravation as your gaze drags up to lock on sea-green irises. The last thing you needed on top of everything was humiliation.

“Careful now~ being clumsy won’t save you in the arena,”

The bronze-haired boy’s voice is all but a cocky purr. A cheshire smirk is plastered on his face sending your blood boiling as you straighten up with a huff. “I can handle myself just fine.” You quip, smoothing the hiked fabric in your clothes and swiftly crossing paths to get away from the victor.

Finnick Odair. Capital’s Darling, Golden Boy of District 4, youngest victor in the history of the Games, and whatever else the upper class decided to call him depending on the day.

You knew vague intel on who the 65th victor of the Hunger Games was. Finnick hailed from one of the southern ports much like your District Partner and had earned his fame and glory by using handmade nets and a trident gifted by a generous (more like bloodthirsty) sponsor to snare other Tributes and take them out. But other than what you witnessed during the mandatory viewing of the Games, you only saw an egotistical Peacock flaunting his wealth earned in the blood of children.

You didn’t bother with more conversational pleasantries as you found yourself in what seemed to be a dining car. The train car looked more like a luxurious house than a mode of transportation, in your opinion. Everything in the space was ornate. Deeply curved royal blue velvet chairs, dark wooden accents, side tables, and more. Crystal wine glasses and fine cutlery donned an ivory silk-covered dining table. The extravagance of just a simple train car made you uneasy. If this was a train, how ostentatious was the rest of the Capital?

“Come, come, let us be seated.” Thatcher piped up to break the tension, clapping their hands again. You share a fleeting, awkward glance with your fellow Tribute before hesitantly moving towards the long dining table. Every plate had a name card. You would have found them holding the knowledge of your name a bit creepy if it was any other occasion. This was the Capital of Panem. You found your place on the left side of the table next to the head chair where an older woman whose card read “Mags” was already sitting. You felt the anxious tremble in your fingertips returning as everyone was seated. Much to your dismay, Finnick slid into the seat across from you, his cheshire smirk only widening. Your pointed glare in his direction grew more menacing in return.

You didn’t appreciate the boy’s demeanor. Or his showboating attitude. Apparently neither did the older woman beside you, Mags, who gave the victor a small thwack to his shoulder with a pointed look, and Finnick sheepishly dropped his gaze, murmuring a sincere apology to the mentor.

“Interesting,” you thought, your eyes dancing between the pair before Thatcher offered a signature phlegmy cough, and your attention was averted toward the other end of the table. Your District Partner sat alongside you, with whom you assumed to be his mentor at the other head of the long table. Thatcher sat on Finnick’s right.

“There is much to be discussed before we arrive in the Capital tomorrow evening. Let’s try to get there all in one piece.” Thatcher explained, glancing your way about your trip earlier at the last part. You simply avert your eyes down to the plate before you. There was a fair amount of steaming food, some of which you’d only read about. There was a piece of grilled fish with what smelled like a citrus glaze, a small bed of rice, fragrant roasted asparagus with a delectable seasoning mixture, and a small bowl of seasonal fruit to the side. You weren’t sure how to approach the plate, let alone if you could stomach finishing it.

Thatcher soon launched into an extended spiel about manners, expectations, and rules while on the train, off the train, entering the Capital, etc. You didn’t understand why there were so many rules, nor why it mattered how you sit or stand or breathe, as a matter of fact. You felt like an animal snared in a net to be hauled off to slaughter. Your mind started to feel like mush as you only pushed bits of food around your plate. You hadn’t taken a single bite. Meanwhile, everyone else had practically finished eating. It was hard to absorb any of the escort’s blabbering. The anxiety crushing your chest started to become unbearable as your gaze turned to tunnels that bore into your plate. The food suddenly appeared very unappetizing. Honestly, you were beginning to feel a bit sick.

“I-I need to be excused..”

You’re barely able to utter the words as the acidic taste of bile starts to rise in your throat again. Abruptly standing, you all but run from the dining table and through a door to the connecting cars. You didn’t stay long enough to catch the annoyed scoff that left Thatcher’s glossed lips or the crease that appeared between Finnick’s brows as he shared a look of mild concern with Mags. You didn’t know where you were going, let alone where your personal room was, but you knew you had to get away from the sick “normalcy” of that table.

A hand claps to cover your mouth as you stumble into an empty room, finding the nearest waste basket and dropping to the ground to heave what little substance had been left in your stomach into it. Your throat burned as you hurled again, a choked sob raking your shoulders as you felt yourself start to crumble full force. As the acid churning in your stomach subsides, you scramble for a tissue to wipe your mouth before curling into a heap beside the sullied waste basket. Your cries come in waves, harsh enough to shake your shoulders and squeeze your chest painfully tight. Panic surges in a suffocating hold, your eyes screwed shut as your hands threaded through your hair.

You fell apart completely.

The small lifeboat holding your sanity wasn’t any match for the hurricane inside your mind. Constricted breaths came out in hiccuping sobs. Your throat felt as if it were closing. With your eyes shut so tightly and your thundering heartbeat overwhelming your senses, you didn’t notice the sound of the door sliding open and shut. Your awful attempts at gasping for air failed to fill your burning lungs, making things worse. You needed to breathe. You couldn't open your eyes either as the fear kept you in a chokehold.

It took a minute for the chaos in your thoughts to register the soothing thumbs moving on your cheeks as human contact that wasn't your own doing. Someone was kneeling in front of you, witnessing your breakdown, and for once, there wasn't any violence or harsh words. The shrieking storm inside your chest slowly started to ebb away as a soft pressure met your forehead. Soft circles traced your flushed skin, wiping away the tears and slowly the pain clouding your senses. Minutes pass before you're able to open your eyes.

It's Mags.

Her touch is soothing, drawing your consciousness out of the fog and into her hands. Tears are still flowing freely down your cheeks but you manage to take a gasping breath of air. The older woman's scent is like sea salt and wildflowers with a hint of cracked peppercorn. It's comforting. Mags' forehead gently rests against yours, looking into your ears as she helps guide your breathing. There isn't a word spoken but you feel as if you're an open book in her palms. You feel safe.

You can't remember the last time you felt safe.

Safe.

{{ taglist }}

@emerald-09 @reader-bookling123 @finnickodaddy @thehairington86 @darlingsoulbeautifulthoughts

[trulyhopelessromantic]

Comfort Tag Game!

tagged by @lumiereandcogsworth

comfort movies: hmmm B&B 1991, Tangled, The Nutcracker Prince, The Haunted Mansion... Most of my favs are comfort, honestly. Just depends on the mood. Depends what sort of comfort I need at that time.

comfort food: oh baby uh popcorn fo sho, chocolate, tea (that counts right?), hot chocolate (especially peppermint) and mochas, soft ice cream (vanilla mostly), Peanut Buster Parfaits, what the English call a “Sunday night dinner” which is essentially roast beef, mashed potatoes and (mushy) peas but I also enjoy creamed peas... Love me a good cheese and bacon burger also. McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets are fantastic, love me minced pies, shortbread (whipped shortbread especially)... And Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents’ which is mostly composed of Polish foods like homemade perogies, salmon and/or fish, cabbage rolls, mushroom sauce... Ok I’m gonna stop coz there are a lot of comfort foods and honestly I’m making myself hungry XD

comfort clothes: starting to really be into my cozy sweaters especially slightly oversized over the last few yrs... and leggings. Or just dressing in my fav outfits that are beautiful (most of which also remind me of characters I love/shows I love)

comfort songs: ooo this is hard. I’ve been thinking to make a playlist for this for years now and never do. Because in the moment that I need comfort it’s hard to remember which song(s) to turn to. The B&B ‘91 soundtrack always gets me a smile and in those moments I usually skip “Gaston” and all the villain associated songs honestly. Love me “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. Keane and Coldplay are bands to turn to... Love songs except when I am in need of feeling better about being so lonely...

comfort books: Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre are two long time favs that will always be a part of me as well as King of Shadows by Susan Cooper (who I wrote to thanking her for her book’s effect on my life!) Also Inkspell by Cornelia Funke which I read in high school. There aren’t many books from my later reading years (teens, adulthood) that have had such an impact or if they have they don’t readily come to mind as much as the aforementioned titles. Plus some of my other fav books are good favourites but not really of the comforting kind haha

comfort game: oh man this is hard coz usually I don’t really play many games these days. All the electronic games I’ve played a lot of are either out of development (looking at you, Harry Potter Wizards Unite) or I grew out of (Pokemon Go!) or are on systems that I currently don’t own (Goldeneye on N64, Rockband and Kingdom Hearts on PS2...) or I can’t easily plug into (My LotR game, Just Dance and Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles on Wii)... And as for board games most require more than one person to play so my favs such as Clue, Life, Call of the Spirits and others aren’t ones I can easily just do when wanting to XD haha

tagging: consider yourself tagged by me if you wanna do this!!!

THANK YOU LYDIA FOR THE TAG! COMFORT FOR THE WIN!

[beautifulscreaminglady]

Ooh ooh ooh I love this kind of discussion! Gansey is very obviously traditional Preppy style - I mean hello, boat shoes and polo shirts on the weekend and salmon colored pants! But also he's a guy who walked for miles along lay lines - his clothes are sturdy and worn in. His sweaters have holes.

Henry is the ultra-cool Asian rich kid - think of the more experimental outfits that come out of NYC Looks. Think K-pop star fashion. Vintage alternative designers like Vivienne Westwood paired with high quality slow fashion basics. Bright colors, metallics, leather, lace, and band tees all together. He'll wear nail polish and skirts, and get super expensive haircuts.

I like the idea of Declan's clothes being an armor or an almost alternative identity that doesn't quite fit - lifts in his shoes to make him taller, padding in the shoulders to make him look broader. He has a Casio watch because it's not flashy like a Rolex. He collects vintage ties from eBay. He irons his shirts every morning. I bet he shops and J. Crew and Banana Republic. He's on his way to wealth and power but he's still a teenage boy (!).

I don't know much about punk fashion so I can say less about Ronan but he probably gets his basics from Tractor Supply and mixes them with Docs and random jewelry he makes from junk around the house or the hardware store. Ancient rubber boots that belonged to his dad and idk some knit hats his mom made thrown in the mix too, because goddamn he loves his family.

Adam's clothes come from all over. Some stuff from Walmart, some from the thrift shop, some stuff he got from other boys rooms one time when he made a little money cleaning out the Aglionby dorms after the boarding students went home for the summer. He definitely Feels Something wearing Tad Caruthers old button down and would die of embarrassment if Tad recognized it, but Tad never does. Tad actually thinks Adam looks quite nice these days...

if trc was a visual medium and I was a tiktoker i would go insane talking about quiet luxury and how Declan and Adam both fall into this position of people with OBJECTIVELY less money compared to their peers and how both of them are trying to replicate luxury (ie: clothing=persona/identity) to varying levels of success. adam wears old gifts from the ganseys and declan is very clearly called out by other characters to be overcompensating. neither are fully seamless and even though thats not an overt plot point it is DEFINITELY very significant since plenty of their story beats echo each other down to their relationship with ronan, who is a different fashion debate (eg. how punk can you get off of a bank account you dont need to look at and a shaved head which needs to be constantly maintained and a BMW you stole w no repurcussion). again I DO think stief implies fascinating plot points that she doesn't focus on but her display of class and economic variation is very very cool & obviously people w more context of specific USAmerican culture can have this debate better than I can

editing to link the video that finally helped me put this thought into words

[tajlibracreations]

Divine 9 Sorority Graduation Caps & Gowns by TajLibra Creations

Walking across the stage to get your college diploma is a major achievement, so is joining a Sorority. Proudly walk across the stage representing your Sisterhood.

CAS DOWNLOAD - Hat & Full Body Outfit - Graduation Outfit  Cap & Gown

TajLibra_MathcopeTS3toTs4Conv_D9_Graduation_Cap_AF

Outfit Type: Hat

Hat Type: Brim

Fashion Choice: Feminine

Age: Teen to Elder

All Occults

Custom Swatch

Occasions: Everyday, Formal

Versions: Black cap with 2 Tassels choices per Sorority

Four Variations:  AKA (pink/green). DST (red/white). SGR (blue/gold) & ZPB (blue/white)

8 Swatches/Designs

Disallowed for Random

Recolor designed by TajLibra Creations

Mesh: required - Graduation Outfit Cap by Matchcope on 🖱️Sims4Studio

TajLibra_MathcopeTS3toTs4Conv_D9_Graduation_Gown_AF

Outfit Type: Clothing Full Body

Sub part Type: Robe, Long Dress

Fashion Choice: Feminine

Age: Teen to Elder

All Occults

Custom Swatch

Occasions: Everyday, Formal

Versions: Black Gown available with White Shirt & Pants, Black Shirt & Pants and Colored Shirt & Pants based on Sorority with 2 versions of each stole per Sorority.

Four Variations:  AKA (pink/green). DST (red/white). SGR (blue/gold) & ZPB (blue/white)

24 Swatches/Designs

Disallowed for Random

Recolor designed by TajLibra Creations

Mesh: required - Graduation Outfit Gown by Matchcope on 🖱️Sims4Studio

Thanks to @MathcopeSims on Sims4Studio of Converting these from TS3 to TS4!

Models Credits - Photography by @tajlibra

Sororities:

AKAs Ivy Leaves & Chartreuse Salmon

Deltas Scarlet Ivory & Ruby Cotton

Rhos Feral Poodles & Rhoyal Sun

Zetas Dove Creme & Blu Snow

POSES:

Duo Graduation Poses by KM & Tamararoberts

Group Floor Pose by @beto-ae0

DOWNLOADS:

DOWNLOAD Divine 9 Sorority Graduation Caps & Gowns on 🖱️Patreon

File Names:

TajLibra_MathcopeTS3toTs4Conv_D9_Graduation_Cap_AF

TajLibra_MathcopeTS3toTs4Conv_D9_Graduation_Gown_AF

Don't forget to download the Mesh on Sims4Studio. Please message me if you have any issues downloading the mesh.

Uploaded on 02/28/2022  by @tajlibracreations @tajlibra

Want a creation for your Organization? Let me know!

DISCLAIMER: These creations are for The Sims 4 as custom content. This is content is purely for fun. Many simmers love having a piece of reality in their games. Some images were obtained from various online sources and their credit remains on the image. Please do not share disrespectful images or videos using these Divine 9 creations.  Organizations mean a lot to their members.

TajLibra Creations Terms of Use (TOU):

Do not sell or place MY custom content behind paywalls or on paysites. My content is not for sale. Link directly to my Patreon, tumblr, or simfileshare link.

Do not re-upload, re-edit, and/or then claim as your own! Please credit designs to me.

Do not include my content in pay to download lots, rooms, and/or households. Separate my content and provide it as a free download or link to my page.

I credit mesh creators and link to required meshes whenever possible, you should as well. My goal is to never use a mesh that requires payment to download.

Feel free to tag me when you use my creations. @tajlibracreations @tajlibra

Please let me know if links do not work or if you have problems with my content working in your game.

Social Media:

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Twitter: @TajLibraCreates

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Itch.io: Click Here to view Unreleased Commission Items

[rwbysworld]

A Dragon and his Demoness

(Closed rp blog with @itashiro-hitsuchiha )

Ever since Natsu's outfit minus his scarf from Igneel got absolutely ruined by a Dark Mage wielding Explosion Magic a few days before,he decided to wear dark forest green pants,brown boots and a red sleeveless vest as well as a strap on his left forearm,bandages and a silver bracelet on his right forearm as he walked to the Fairy Tail Guild;his home.Natsu walked into the guild as Happy was resting back at the house.the salmon haired Dragon Slayer immediately went up to the request board as he looked over the differently labeled pieces of parchment until his eyes fell on one,mentioning a 'monstrous dragon' roaming around so he grabbed it and tried to look for a certain Redhead Knight.

"Where is she?"

He mumbled as he went over to the guild bar where the beautiful and busty Mirajane Strauss was.

[scarletarosa]

Belial

One of the goetic demons and is a king who serves under High King Lucifer in his domain. Like all other goetic demons, Belial is a deity who served the Source as an Angel many ages ago. This information was shared to me by Belial and also learned through my workings with this magnificent infernal god. 

Rulerships: politics, law, rhetoric, tactics, strategy, diplomacy, prosecution, truth, and justice/retribution

History: In the distant past many eternities ago, Belial was created as the second being within this Universe, many ages after Lucifer (the First-Born) came into existence. These two and the rest of the elder Angels were all directly created from the Source, the supreme god, who is formless and incomprehensible. The Angels were all created to manage the Universe and be agents of the Source and his feminine counterpart, the Queen of Heaven (who created some Angels as well). As the first-born deity of this Universe, Lucifer is the most complex, so he became leader of the Angels and was at the head of the Seraphim order. As the second-born, Belial was in charge of the Cherubim (the second-highest order of Angels) and was appointed as an Archangel as well. This lasted for countless ages until the corrupted Aeonic god, Jehovah, entered the Universe from the Void; leaving behind his duties of forming Universes in order to usurp our Universal Throne.

After arriving, he immediately began causing mass destruction and giving out malicious orders to the Angels. Lucifer began a rebellion against this, with Belial being the second Angel to join him in the Fall. After a long traumatic war, Jehovah defeated the rebels and threw them into Hell; condemning them all to this bleak wasteland. Once here, the dark and twisted energies of Hell began to alter the essences of the Fallen ones, making their energies dark as well. Their wings blackened, they grew horns, and some developed red eyes, spikes, claws, or other strange features. They were now a race that came to be called “demons”, and the strongest of these became the three High Kings of Hell: Lucifer, Satan, and Leviathan.

Since Belial had always followed close to Lucifer’s own values, he joined his kingdom and was made one of the kings. And due to Belial’s natural talent for persuasion and finding the truth, he was also appointed as Lucifer’s Truth Tester, or General Investigator. Overtime, Belial gradually became just as much connected to deceit as truth, since he realized the convenience of lies and their many uses. With deception, he often uses it as a method to teach truth (similar to how Lucifer does at times), test whether someone is telling the truth, but also lies whenever he feels the desire to. For this reason, the Christians began calling Belial the “Father of Lies”. Besides this, there was a time in the past where Belial was fond of the Samurai of Japan and encouraged their ideas of Bushido. Yet this was not to last since the Samurai were eventually all killed off by their Emperor. Nowadays, Belial does not much care for humanity in general and has very low expectations of others since people constantly make the same mistakes.

Rank: King

Elements: Air and Fire

Colours: Cream, Black, Vermillion, Metallic Grey, and Peridot Green

Appearance: An elegant gentleman in his late 30’s with short, wavy black hair, dark brown eyes, and light skin. He wears classy outfits or suits that are usually black in colour and wears leather dress shoes. Normally, Belial doesn’t manifest his horns and wings but tends to do so when angered. During battles, he wears elegant dark armour and his choice weapon is either a longsword or katana.

Personality: Belial is very confident, suave, intelligent, strategic, sophisticated, and is a connoisseur of refined tastes. He speaks smoothly and can be sarcastic, though never reveals much about himself to others. He is also willing to speak to anyone of any religion as long as they don’t waste his time or are interested in seeking truth. Belial especially loves speaking to Abrahamists in order to challenge their perspectives (which he never fails at) and takes great amusement in the terror they feel when their veils of ignorance are being lifted. Yet this is too easy of a challenge for him since it doesn’t take much for Belial to convince others of things. So far, the only one who can match Belial in the intellectual art of persuasion is Lucifer.

Overall, Belial tends to have very little patience with humans and doesn’t wish to be disturbed unless someone is serious. He wishes to either provide truth (if he chooses) or assist in certain matters. Otherwise, he won’t show up and does not like to stay around people just to be friendly. For those who work with him, Belial may act as a pedagogue and will have patience for those who try to succeed, even if they fail. However, if a person complains about things without ever trying to make things better, he will have no patience for them at all. As for those who try to sexualize Belial against his will, he severely punishes them and does not forgive it. The same thing goes for those who mock him, call him nicknames, or make him appear “soft”.

In regards to politics, Belial strongly prefers to cunningly solve things through diplomacy and making intelligent maneuvers towards prosperity (even if we must manipulate or deceive in the process). Therefore, Belial may also teach that lies have their place and are not as bad as we have been taught. He also says how truth is the most hated of all virtues because this world is in love with lies. Those who speak the truth wholeheartedly are often called liars and are usually murdered in the end. Because of this, lies are often very necessary and can be used to gradually teach certain truths that would not usually be accepted. Along with Lucifer, Belial is a master strategist able to create incredibly complex plans in order to make the best future possible. He is even in favour of space colonization, provided it is done intelligently and not greedily. For this value of progress, he tends to share his plans of a better world to promising politicians (which is difficult since the majority of politicians in every country are corrupt). Besides strategy and rhetoric, some of the other things Belial tends to enjoy are elegance, classical music, sword fighting, martial arts, horse racing, chess, the game “Go”, expensive things, Versace fashion, luxurious libraries, stock markets, Rolls-Royce cars, satin sheets, mahogany, and the following instruments: violins, pianos, clarinets, and saxophones.

How to call him: Speak to Belial as you would with any other god, be polite and considerate. Contact him through telepathically speaking in your mind, directing the words to him (you can do this verbally, but if malicious spirits hear, they may pretend to be him). When inviting a Goetic demon to you, try to dress well for them since they are divine and royalty.

What he can help with: mutually served interests and dynamic progress through smart resolution and maneuvering. Helps with resolving conflicts through strategy, silencing and/or harming enemies (if he agrees they should be punished), advises on intelligent political maneuvers towards prosperity, and teaches harsh truths

Belial’s Enn (for meditation or devotion): Lirach Tasa Vefa Wehl Belial

Offerings: champagne, pink champagne, expensive wine, spiced rum, dry gin, Irish coffee, beef liver, smoked salmon, lobster, caviar, truffle chocolates, veal, veal fillet, pigeon meat, ostrich meat, basmati rice, truffle mushrooms, ground black pepper, cinnamon, Siberian ginseng, red roses, white roses, black roses, daggers, katanas, longswords, mahogany writing desks, black marble, black tourmaline, black star sapphires, snowflake obsidian, peridot, expensive pens, expensive wristwatches, Italian leather men’s shoes, expensive men’s coats (high society), gold, gold foil in oil, silver, bonsai trees, fancy chess boards, black dice with white dots, fancy playing cards (preferably black and white), expensive colognes

*no pork or lamb offerings, he detests them

*also don’t offer chicken or turkey since he will not accept these

[maddiwrites]

Secrets of the Shore (Chapter 3)

Pairing: Pogues x OC, Eventually JJ x OC

Summary: This is just my rewrite of the show Outer Banks with my own twist by adding another main character which also happens to be John B’s twin sister.

Note: I’ll be honest, this isn’t my best chapter, so please don’t judge too harshly I swear it gets better!!! (: Again, forever grateful for all the kind feedback. I truly appreciate it. If you asked to be on the tag list and I accidentally forgot, please let me know! 

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: Slight insinuation to sexual assault.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 & Chapter 4

Like I said before, I'm good at advertising. Although the cell phone towers are still down, making it harder for me to get the word out about a party in the boneyard, I still know how to get around to the other teenagers on this island.

I sneak in an hour of surfing on the beach, afterwards finding Tourons and even some Kooks. These are the best people to go to when you want word to get around. They're rich and live for gossip. They have the internet and cell phone service, which means they can text their friends and send out tweets. And that is exactly what they do when I'm finished talking to them.

Later, I go with JJ and John B to get the kegs. As they work their magic, somehow securing two, I walk around the lot where most kids who live on the Cut hang out, hoping to score cheap booze from a stranger walking into the beer and beverage store. I use to spend a lot of my weekends here when my dad first disappeared. A small part of me still wants to. It was so easy to forget about my life falling apart when I was too wasted to form a complete sentence.

I tell them about the party and tell them to tell their friends and so on.

As I expect, the empty boneyard fills up quickly. To Kie's dismay, almost every kid has a red solo cup in their hand instead of a reusable one by the time the sun sets. Music and the chants of people playing drinking games fill my ears like a bird chirping on a Sunday morning.

Beer dribbles down my chin and onto my pink v neck crop top. JJ has his arm linked around mine, also chugging his drink, trying to down his before me. However, I beat him by one gulp and slam my cup on the sand as triumph.

"Seriously, Mar?" Kie scolds. She picks up my cup and throws it away.

JJ just smiles at me, maybe even looks at me with some kind of pride. It's hard to beat JJ in any drinking match, but I'm his biggest competition. I usually lose against him, but sometimes I have my nights where I'm undefeated.

He points his finger at me, pretending to be mad without losing the smile on his face. He takes a menacing step forward and bends down to lift me over his shoulder. I squeal in surprise and laugh against his back as he swings me around in circles.

When he sets me down, I shove his shoulders playfully. "Looks like you've finally met your match." JJ just shakes his head. "Get me another beer, loser?"

"You're lucky you're cute." He winks.

You can't understand the Outer Banks without understanding the boneyard. It's kinda like a three-layer burrito. There's us and our friends, working-class derelicts. Then, there are the Kooks, the rich second-homers. They're mostly from pouncy-ass boarding schools, just rich trustfarian posers. Our natural enemies. And then, there are the Tourons. Totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their families. Chum for the sharks. They're usually my first pick. A night with no attachments and a more than likely chance I'll never see them again.

I walk past Kie, who's sitting on drift wood talking to someone about zodiac signs and horoscopes. And when I pass Pope, I hear him talking about dead bodies and how TV doesn't portray the biological condition of them accurately. I giggle to myself when I see who he's talking to. A really pretty girl who wasn't expecting to get an anatomy lesson from the boy next to her. I make a mental note to work on Pope's flirting tactics.

As I make my way to the back of the beach, I see Sarah Cameron leaning off a fallen lifeguard stand. Her boyfriend, Topper Thornton, is right there with her, trying to get her to come down. Sarah Cameron's known as the Kook princess. Kiara's best friend in the ninth grade, worst enemy in the tenth grade. None of us know why she started hating her all of a sudden. She doesn't like to talk about it so we don't bring it up. However, John B works on Sarah's dad's boat thanks to me.

My teeth clench together at the sight of both of them. The two of them and their friends are the worst Kooks of all. Bad memories prickle my brain like a million tiny needles and the palms of my hands sweat against my solo cup.

I walk to the back of the beach and lean against a tree that's as close to a palm tree as this island is going to see. I like being back here when the sun goes down.  It gives me the perfect view of the party. Watching people laugh and have fun because of a night my friends and I put together makes me feel satisfied. Like I did something to make their day a little more enjoyable.

"Now what's the life of the party doing back here all by herself?" A voice that makes every muscle in my body turn to ice says.

I force myself not to look in his direction. My hands clench tighter around my cup until it bends and beer sloshes on my hand.

"Trying to avoid grimy wandering hands from pompous pricks," I say through clenched teeth. I'm surprised my voice isn't as shaky as I feel. "Go away, Rafe."

Rafe Cameron ignores me and moves to stand in front of me. His blonde hair is slicked back with a gel that's probably more expensive than my entire outfit. He's wearing a salmon pink button up shirt and white shorts. The sight of him makes me sick and I don't know if I want to drink more heavily or throw up and call it a night.

"Oh come on, Marleigh. Let's not pretend like you don't want to finish what we started."

I stand up straighter, feeling bile rise in my throat. "I'd rather rip both of my eyes out with a spoon." My insult wipes his stupid cocky grin off his smug face. At first I take it as a compliment, but the look in his eyes chills me to the bone. "Get out of here, Rafe. I'm not going to tell you again."

Rafe jerks forward and pushes me back into the trunk of the tree. His forearm presses against my chest, right below my collarbone. I try fighting him off but he's surprisingly strong. His eyes swing back and forth with craze, his pupils large and dilated. He's gotta be on something. Cocaine maybe. I've heard rumors.

"You think you can talk to me like that? After what my dad did for your friends?"

"Your dad only helped them in hopes to cover up the mistake that you made," I seethe, trying to push him away again. I try to keep my breathing even and my eyes unblinking. I don't want him to think I'm afraid of him. Even though I'm scared enough to vomit on his two hundred dollar shoes. "I owe you nothing." There's a pause as Rafe considers his next words carefully. So I push even harder. "You know, if you keep bringing it up, people might overhear and start to talk. I don't know if even your dad could buy the entire island's silence."

"You seriously think you can threaten me? You're nothing but a dirty walking piece of trash Pogue. No one will believe the Cut's biggest whore." Rafe shakes his head. "Remember that next time you think about talking to me like that."

His words cut through me like a stab in the chest, but I try not to let him see that. I push against him, keeping my face pinched and my eyes unwavering. "I'm not the same girl I was eight months ago," I say, finally pushing him away from me.

Back then I was a messed up girl who's dad had just left after a big argument that resulted in him thinking she hated him. All I wanted to do was drown myself with drugs and alcohol in hopes to forget about him, even if that meant following Kie to a Kook party when she was trying to roll around in the Kook life. I was easy to manipulate and take advantage of...easy to hurt. But not anymore.

"You think I'm above hitting a girl?" Rafe breathes heavily, his hands clenched to his side. I struck a nerve. One more and he might actually attack me.

"No," I say honestly. "I don't think you're above anything...or anyone. Including me - a dirty walking piece of trash Pogue." I use his words against him.

Rafe jerks forward and raises his hand to hit me and I'm ready for the blow and a fight back, but someone's voice forces us to halt, stopping us like she just pressed paused on a movie screen.

Kie watches us with wide eyes and glances back and forth between us. She looks both scared and angry. Rafe doesn't even bother looking in her direction. He's more disappointed that she got in his way.

I stand up straight again and walk past him, making sure to shove him backwards with my shoulder. Kie wraps her arm around mine and pulls me in close as she guides me away from him. She looks behind us one last time to make sure Rafe isn't following us. When the coast is clear, she stops and turns to look at me with a stone cold expression.

"What the hell was that?" She says, trying to read my face. "Are you okay?"

I can barely hear her behind the screaming in my head. Dirty walking piece of trash Pogue. The Cut's biggest whore. Who would believe you?

"Fine," I shrug, feigning nonchalance. I look back to where I was just standing. Rafe's gone, but the nausea he left me with isn't.

"Marleigh."

"Seriously, Kie. I'm fine. Just some unresolved built up resentment coming out full-fledged. I can't say I'm surprised. Now that summer's started, we're probably going to see a lot more of them."

Kie sighs and looks at me sympathetically. I hate that look.  "You should tell the boys."

"What? No way!" I snap.

"What if he -"

"He's not going to." I glare at her.

"Why won't you just -"

"So they can think of me as some pathetic little girl who needs protection from some self-centered Kook? Besides, John B and probably JJ will go after him and the last thing either of them need is charges pressed against them."

The noise of people yelling at one another and some cheering stops Kie from fighting back with me. We turn to look towards the water, seeing a crowd form around two people fighting. Dread creeps up my chest. If I had one hundred dollars, I'd bet it all that one of my friends is the center of attention in that crowd.

Kie and I run to them, pushing ourselves to the front. My breath hitches in my throat when I see who's involved. John B and Topper are fighting ankle deep in the ocean, each one getting a few good punches in.

"John B, stop!" I yell. I don't care who started the fight or why Topper deserves to get beaten to shit. If John B gets caught, the two of us are more than screwed with DCS.

"We're suppose to be incognito, remember?" Pope yells at my brother next to me.

"Babe!" Sarah yells at her boyfriend, jerking back and forth, trying to grab him by the shirt to pull him back. But his movements are scrappy. Sarah would just get hurt.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The crowd around us cheer like it's a high school wrestling match and not my brother, the one that threw them this party by the way. I can't believe people find this as a source of entertainment. Half of them wouldn't even last a second if they were the one's getting beaten to a pulp.

Topper gets the upper hand and throws John B into the water. I flinch from the pain that must of caused to John B's back.

"Hey, John B, don't make me drown you like your old man, all right?" Topper says.

In that moment my vision turns red and a switch flips in my body. I picture my hands around Topper's neck and him begging for me to let him go - him taking back those words.

When I step into the water to reach him, arms wrap around my waist, stopping me from going forward. I glare at the blonde Pogue and try shoving him away from me but that only makes his grip on me tighten.

"JJ, let me go," I grunt.

"Sorry, pretty girl. Can't do that." His lips are so close that I can feel his breath.

John B tackles Topper to the ground and punches him in the face again.

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"John B, let it go!" Kie screams. "Stop, you guys!"

Topper kicks John B's feet from under him and just like that, JB is back in the water. The Kook kneels next to him and punches my brother across the face before shoving his head into the water.

"Topper stop!" I yell.

"Come on John B!" Pope yells.

Topper lets John B come up for air before dunking him back in. I feel my chest tighten when I realize what Topper is going to do, whether he means to or not.

"JJ, please! He's going to kill him! JJ!" I cry against his hold.

"Come on, Man!" Topper taunts John B, keeping his head under water.

I'm going to kill him, I think. The second JJ lets go, I'm going to rip Topper apart.

"Topper, stop! No!" Sarah cries.

"Pope!" JJ says, swinging me around before pushing me into our other friend's arms. "Hold her."

"What? No!" I fight back but even Pope is stronger than I give him credit for.

JJ disappears to God knows where and I'm left watching like a stranded duck. I feel useless, like I should be doing more to help my brother. Everything I said to Rafe only minutes ago goes straight out the window. Maybe I am weak and still a girl who needs protecting.

Then the world freezes. JJ holds the gun we found in the motel to Topper's head, not only making Topper pause, but the rest of the crowd too. Pope releases his hold on me and I stumble away from him. I only watch the scene unfold in front of me with wide eyes.

"Yeah, you know what that is," JJ says, clicking the safety off the gun. "Your move, broski."

"Come on!" Pope yells. "Chill dude!"

"Stop! JJ!" Sarah cries. "Put the gun down!"

"Did you say something princess?" JJ turns towards Sarah and points his gun at the sky.

"We're good. We're good." Topper stumbles away from my brother to stand in front of his girlfriend.

The second he backs away, I'm in the water helping John B. I pull his upper back into my lap and push his hair out of his face. He coughs up a couple gulps of water before relaxing against me.

"Kie! Can you check your psycho friend, please!" Sarah yells.

"Okay, everyone, listen up!" JJ addresses everyone else who still watch in fear. "Get the hell off our side of the island!" He fires two bullets into the sky, causing people to shriek and cry around me.

"Are you crazy?" Kie yells at him. "Why do that?"

"I'm saving his life, okay?" JJ yells back at her.

When people begin dispersing, Pope runs into the water to help me lift John B back to shore. He's in a daze and barely able to stand on his own.

The four of them help me drag him back to the Chateau, the party long forgotten. Kie covers John B with blankets and places a glass of water on the nightstand for when he wakes up. I don't say anything as the night wraps up. I'm not mad at JJ like Pope and Kie. He did what he had to do to save John B. Topper could have killed him and the police would probably chop it up as an accident and I would be left with no family.

"You guys should go," I say.

I just want to be alone. Between Rafe and Topper, all I can think about is sleep so I can wake up to a new day. Start over and try again.

"Are you sure?" JJ asks, looking between my eyes to find any sign for him to stay.

As much as I want JJ to stay the night and let me cuddle into him like the night before, it's best if I'm alone. So I reluctantly nod.

"You can stay at mine tonight, JJ," Pope offers.

I offer a weak smile before turning around to lock myself in my room. When I hear the door to the Chateau close one last time for the night, I sigh deeply and stare up at my ceiling. I'm restless, anxious, sweaty. As much as I want sleep, sleep doesn't want me. I toss and turn hoping for a wave of darkness to hit me but it never does.

I glance at my clock. 3:04 AM. I roll my eyes and groan to myself, pushing myself up against my bed's headboard. I tip toe out of the Chateau and make my way down to the dock. I dip my toes in the water and lay back against the wooden slacks. The moon's half crescent illuminates the water, dark with a mystery glint. It's cold against the night, feeling refreshing against my skin.

Even my mind isn't tired. My head wanders with different thoughts. Rafe, Topper, Scooter, the gun...my dad. His words echo through my ears like a skipping record. The night before he disappeared he told John B and I that he might have to vanish for a bit. This only caused a major fight to brew between my father and I whereas John B only nodded and said okay. I think this is why John B still holds on to hope that he's alive somewhere.

John B was always the loyal one to my father. Although they fought almost as much as my dad and I, they were quick to move on and pretend like it wouldn't happen again. Even though it always did. He tried to help my dad keep me on track with school, friends, and other activities. Most of the time, he just joined in on my antics. Sometimes I regret not giving my dad enough credit. He was a single father to Pogue twins with the distraction of his own obsession. My last words to him haunt me every day I pass his office.

"I hate you!" I screamed. I didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing my tears. I wanted him to know I was strong and that I didn't need him. I think my main intention was to hurt him like he hurt me, but I would do anything to take it back.

                                                  ~ ~ ~

I wake up to the low rumble of an engine and the crunch of gravel underneath some tires. I blink away the sleep in my eyes, looking out into the marsh. The sun is above me, warming the entire island with it's summer heat so early in the morning.

My back aches as I sit myself up. I twist to find the noise that woke me up.

"Shit," I curse when I see the cop car parked in front of the Chateau.

Sheriff Peterkin sees me walking up my yard and waits for me to approach her before barging into my house. I squint against the morning light. Even though I'm not in the mood for a pop in, I actually like Peterkin. She's the only one I trust to do her job right.

"I hope you brought some coffee," I say before opening the door for her.

"This will be quick," She says. I watch her eyes scan my kitchen and living room judgmentally. "Where's your brother?"

I point to his room. Peterkin gives me a look to go first. I sigh, knocking twice on the door before letting myself in. John B is still passed out. Half of his body hangs off the bed. His left eye is officially black and blue, a mark I know Peterkin won't subtly ignore. It's the first thing she sees and gives me a sideways glance. I cross my arms and look away.

John B blinks up at us when he hears our footsteps. His brows furrow in confusion, sleep still fogging his head.

"Get decent, sweetie," Peterkin says. "We need to talk."

As we wait for JB to get dressed, I sit on the pull out couch in my living room, fumbling with my thumbs until he appears, dressed in an open button up and swim trunks. He glances between Peterkin and I for some answers but neither of us give him any.

"Sorry to break in like this," She says, pacing the floor. John B stands next to me with his arms crossed. "But DCS called. They wanted me to check on you. See how you two are doing." Neither of us answer. "So, how are you, besides -" She points to JB's shiner and I hold myself back from rolling my eyes. So far so good!

"Oh, no, I'm - I'm great," John B says, shrugging like our life is just full of rainbows and butterflies. "Yeah, fantastic. Uh... thanks for coming by."

Peterkin just smirks. "I'm so glad to hear you say that, John B, but I heard a few things that worried me. Let me see if I can remember. Oh yeah. One of the things I heard was that your Uncle Teddy, your guardian, hasn't been in the state for three months."

"Yes he has -"

Peterkin cuts me off. "You don't have to say anything. I know it's true. I called the school. They said you used to be a good student," She says, looking at John B. Then she looks at me. "You not so much. But John they say now you're failing all your classes."

"No. No, I'm only failing one and it's history. He's a dick. He's out for me - "

"I heard," Peterkin continues, not giving a damn about John B's bullshit excuses, "there was a fight on the beach yesterday, and a gun was involved."

My eyes snap up to look directly at Peterkin. I feel my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. What else was she going to ask? Would JJ get in trouble? Are we going to jail?

"Okay, gun?" John B plays dumb. "No. Did I get in a  dustup? Yeah, but was there a gun? No. No way," He scoffs.

"That's okay I know who it was. I'll get to him. All I'm worried about right now is making sure you're in a safe home."

"Yeah," I say. "Super safe."

John B knocks the table next to him. "Super sound, sturdy. You know?"

"Uncle T's coming so..." I say to get John B to stop talking. He's a lot of things but a good liar isn't one of them.

"That's what he told you?" Peterkin looks at me with a raised brow.

"Yeah."

"If he is coming," Peterkin picks up a cigarette and sniffs it. "I think you should be allowed to stay."

"Thank you."

"But if I stick my neck out for you, you have to help me. Tit for tat."

John B tilts his head in confusion. "What - what does tat mean?"

I squeeze my eyes shut and let my head fall back. I swear I'm going to buy duct tape to keep this boy's mouth shut.

Peterkin ignores him. "Let me see, how can you help me? Oh, I know. So, a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Were you in the marsh yesterday?"

"Yeah," I decide to answer. "We were fishing for some drum."

"You catch anything?"

"Nah, we were skunked."

"Strange," She says, not believing me. "Fishing's usually good after a storm. All sorts of things get stirred up. You come across a wreck yesterday?"

"No." My heart falls deeper,  but I try to keep a straight face.

This makes Peterkin sigh and she glances between the two of us. "You two are skimmin' just above the surface. Now, down here is foster care, juvie," She says, dropping her hand to about knee length. "Pretty big drop for smart kids like the both of you." She moves her hand to eye level. "Up here is you and your little friends doing whatever you want. Outer Banks...or foster care on the mainland." I let her threat swim in my brain. "You one inch above the surface, Routledge. If I was you, I'd start flapping my wings." She looks at us one last time, no longer wanting to play games. "Now, you sure you didn't come across a wreck yesterday?" She looks at John B who's more likely to blab than me.

I look up at my brother, warning him that he needs to lie.

He shrugs his shoulder, the lie sliding across his tongue like silk. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure."

Peterkin looks between John B and I and nods slowly. "It's better if you didn't, you understand? I'm gonna look the other way as long as you stay out of the marsh." She runs her finger along the wooden kitchen table and rubs the dust between her fingers. "I got dogs living better than this. You might wanna think about cleaning' up."

Peterkin lets herself out without saying goodbye. John B and I don't say anything until her car pulls out of the driveway and only then do we just share a look that says how screwed we both are.

Tag List: @notyourcupofteax @acvross-the-universe @jjmaybankzz @jeeperky @realistic-breadstick @moniamaybank @urbinoutfiters​ @brebear121​

[anotherbeingsworld]

a step forward

pairing: bryce x f!mc (alessia lyxienne)

book: open heart: third year

rating: general

warning: a few curse words.

word count: 4163

summary: a rewrite of the final chapter of book 3 (3:16) as Alessia will be making a hard decision.

ps: tags and a/n will be at the end of the fic!

I love you…’

‘I love you too.’

Clinging to the profound happiness on the rooftop of Edenbrook, her eyes fall onto him. He’s smiling. Wider than any other smile she has ever seen, he was happy. He is happy, and she is too. It felt like an ending to a fairy tale where they lived happily ever after, but life is far from it. She lets out a sigh, before burying her head into his shoulder for the night – enjoying the bright lights below them. At this moment, she does not know what lies ahead – however, she knows that the feeling of being on top of the world is the best feeling one could felt.

-

“Have you told your friends about the offer?” The voice of Mr.s Lyxienne booms through the call – somewhat a tone of excitement in her voice of a proud mother.

She shakes her head, as an attempt to tidy up her room before the roommates' dinner to celebrate the board results in an intimate setting than before. The sigh escapes her lips, as she rereads the email.

…offer for a new position… head of the diagnostics team….Arizona. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

Dr. Donald Reegan.

“Haven’t told them yet mom.” She replies, before minimizing the emails tab. Somehow, the email came a day after the party, after she receives her happily ever after. Its been days since then, as tomorrow is her final day as a resident – and her final chance to make a decision.

Her mom didn’t say a word, somehow knows how hard it was to make a decision.

“I know whatever you decide, they’ll be happy for you Alessia.” Her voice is calm, yet there is a hint of boldness in it.

“I know…”

“I’ll have to go now and whatever happens - we are very proud of you.”

“Thanks, mom, I’ll talk to you soon.” After saying our goodbyes, she immediately changed her outfit for their roomie dinner with the others.

-

She was wearing a suit, somehow, she feels much more comfortable in it along with her Vans slip-on. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, as she was met with the others along with Bryce, Kyra, and Rafael.

She took a seat beside Bryce, as he immediately greeted her with a peck on her cheek – she smiles, somehow it didn’t reach the eyes. He took a second, observing her for a moment before they began to order, with his hands around her giving a gentle squeeze. He knew there was something wrong, yet he didn’t wanna pressure her, and she knows it.

The night goes on, as they reminiscing. Talked about everything from the good, the bad, and everything in between. Alessia smiled throughout it all, forgetting about the offer for a moment, as she was drowned by memories. It has become one of the reasons why she hasn’t made a decision yet, Edenbrook gave her the chance to fulfill her dream, yet – it traumatizes her. The senator’s incident suddenly made an appearance in her mind, letting out a shiver – as Jackie calls out her name.

“Hey, you okay? You zoned out there.” Jackie asked as she took a sip of the drink, all of the eyes fall onto her.

Alessia just shook her head, as a smile plastered on her face.

“I’m just, reminiscing. I just can't believe it's been three years, and our residency is almost done.”

Sienna nods in agreement,

“Hey, we did it. And, I’m happy to go through these adventures with all of you!” She lays her head on Jackie’s shoulder, as they all nod.

“Easy for you to say, I still have an extra year! But, then – I’ll be a big-shot surgeon.” Bryce stated as he smiles smugly before the others let out a laugh.

“So, have all of you thought on what the future after everything?” Rafael asked as both Bryce's and his eyes fall onto all five of them.

There was silence at the table, the thought is still processing. The future is coming very soon for all of them. The silence was drowned by the other diners, hush whispers as Alessia’s words got stuck on her throat, somewhat a feeling of confusion, dread, fear was mushed together into one.

“I think I’ll be leaving Edenbrook – somehow, maybe a new chance to start again without being in my aunt’s shadow again,” Aurora spoke, as the other nods and starts to congratulate her.

“Where will you be going?”

“Mass Kenmore, I feel like I got potential – and maybe lead the diagnostics team there; who knows.”

“Good for you, I think I’ll be staying here for a bit. The research team is quite a safe space for me, and I got Zaid and Baz on my side. I think it's definitely where I belong.” A satisfied smile on Elijah’s face can be seen, as Jackie spoke.

“I think I’ll stay, being chief resident – somehow feels just right. Did I get to boss the interns while doing a good job at it? Hell yes.” Jackie smiles excitedly as the others let out a laugh and a nod in agreement. Jackie was indeed a good chief resident – Sienna clears her throat to gain the other's attention.

“I’ll be staying too. I talked to Dr. Banerji earlier – about…” She paused, as she met Alessia’s eyes who nod supportively from the side.

“Changing my residency. There are times, I feel unhappy especially lately – maybe it’s the pressure but, after rethinking more than a dozen times. I’ll be taking the fast track of residency in peds and, hopefully, retake the board exam once more.” She smiles, proudly – a decision has been made as they all cheer in happiness for Sienna.

-

The table went silent once more, as Kyra shoots the final question her way. Alessia looks stiffened, somehow her tongue was tied, she was hesitant, somehow dreading the decision she has to make.

“I…honestly have no idea yet.” Before stuffing some salmon into her mouth, avoiding the stares at her way. She felt him staring at her as well, his eyes on her with a similar shock expression on his face before he jumps in to save the situation.

“Whatever you’ll be doing, it’ll be a great babe.” He says before placing a kiss on her temple, as the others drop the topic sensing the awkwardness that follows.

She was grateful for the save, as they spend the night away reminiscing again and again.

-

4:39 a.m.

The clock never stops ticking as she stood up from the bed. Bryce is still sound asleep beside her, as she smiles over the sight of him. How much happiness one human being can bring to this world, to her world. How much he lights up her world – the darkness suddenly was lit up by his smile, his encouraging words, his kisses, his hugs, and everything about one Bryce Lahela.

She examines him from afar, as the city of Boston was visible from his apartment window in the living room. A few cars were bustling around town, to begin an early start of the day. The sigh escaped her lips, the decision seems to haunt her once more. 2300 miles away from Edenbrook, from her friends, from…Bryce. It feels like a difficult decision – because she couldn’t imagine being away from him. What life would be like waking without his smile? What life would look like without the laughter of her roommates who have made her time at Edenbrook much worth it? How different it is to not be greeted with Bryce’s kisses at the peak of dawn? All of the thoughts swirling in her mind bring back to a conversation from her first day of the final year of residency.

“I know, we will never change. But, look what Leland did – this is where we are heading Alessia, our life is changing, medicine is changing and we can’t do anything about it. Life is about change – and like Edenbrook it changed alongside us.”

She lets out a breath she is holding upon the revelation from Bryce. It is the truth, and it’s gonna fall upon them anyways somewhere in the future. She wanted to deny but, she knows it’s the whole truth – as her head falls on his shoulders once more.

Bryce pulled her into his embrace, as he slowly strokes her hair – letting out a sigh along the way.

“But, tonight – the future can’t touch us and, we will always going to be us, Bryce and Alessia.” His words were soft and gentle, somewhat an attempt to calm her heart down.

“Tonight, it’s only us and that’s the only thing that I want to know.” Her lips met with his, as they enjoyed the night together talking about everything and nothing – as the feared was buried at the back of their minds. Somehow, it still leaves a bitter taste for them as the truth will come to face them very very soon; but for now… they have tonight.

She shivers at the memory, somehow the change had caught up to her. Change is going to follow them for the rest of their lives – and, if they were lucky; it will still be the same. Yet, she knows it's already different. The change has begun before her thoughts were interrupted by familiar footsteps letting out a yawn.

“Hey, it’s still early – c’mon, let’s get back to sleep.” His voice was hoarse, yet she smiles at the request pushing the thoughts once again as she finally got some sleep. A few hours at the least, before she has to be up for her final day as a resident.

-

Her steps lead her to Dr. Banerji’s office who smiles at her presence, somewhat surprise but content with her sudden arrival to his office.

“Dr. Banerji – I need some advice.”

-

The day went by quickly, as the final patient of the day was checked – and the cases have been handled throughout the day alongside the diagnostics team. She stayed behind, somehow admiring the diagnostics office, a feeling of nostalgia washes through her before her moment was ruined by the arrival of Ethan and Tobias himself – who looked surprised to see her.

“Alessia, good to see you here once again.”

She smiles,

“I know, I’m just admiring this office for the final time – I’m gonna miss this place.” She lets out a sigh, as Tobias smiles.

“Hey, you and me both. But, never be afraid to start again somewhere – because life does works in weird yet rewarding ways.” He winks as Ethan lets out a chuckle.

“You have gotten wiser over the years huh.” Tobias just smiles at the remark before they congratulate her once again – leaving her with the empty room again.

She whispers something to herself, before shutting the lights off in the room.

-

She stared at the offer that lies in front of her, a deep breath follows as she dialed the number. A decision has been made, like a pinch of pain filled her lungs, somehow pulling her to drown, yet she keeps on running.

-

She needed to tell them, needed to tell him. Alessia left her room with the feeling of dread, and fear swirling in her stomach – as she was met with them all laughing together as they were watching one of Elijah’s long list of movies. She took a seat beside Jackie, joining them in the fit of laughter. She is ready to let the truth roll out - well, ready as one will ever be.

“So…I have to tell you guys something.”

There it is – the truth all laid out. A series of ‘why's and clueless looks on their faces. Alessia remains calm for the whole demeanor, somewhat manage to rehearse the speech in her head as the movie plays in the background of her mind.

The room was silent, taking a moment to process it. She was immediately engulfed in a hug from her side, Sienna has her arms around Alessia.

“That’s why you were quiet at dinner right.” A knowing tone in Jackie’s voice, as Alessia nods in response.

“I needed to decide. This was an experience, but – I need to spread my wings. And, Arizona isn’t too far ahead guys. I can visit, maybe Edenbrook and The John Mayo Clinic can work together – and we will be together as always.” She attempted with a cheery tone.

“It wouldn’t be the same – and, that room of yours; will miss its owner.” Jackie points at her room, but she couldn’t help to smile at her.

“Hey, that room will always be yours. Well, as long as Farley allows us to keep it.” They all laugh before Sienna calls a group hug session – a familiar gesture for them all.

“Don’t forget us in the big leagues Alessia,” Aurora stated, as she shook her head. “Never – all of you are too hard to be forgotten” She smiles as they continue to discuss her new position with everything in between – before, the room went quiet once again. Everyone has fallen asleep, as she was wide awake; meeting Elijah who wheels in from the kitchen, somewhat startled at Alessia being awake at this hour.

“Want a cup of tea?” He gestures at the cup he is holding.

“Yes please.” She smiles, as they indulge upon the tea – a comforting silence follows.

“You are leaving soon huh.”

“I guess I am, I just…I feel like it's time.” The words felt painful on the tip of her tongue.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry for how I reacted before about the Dr. Ramsey thing – I shouldn’t have lashed out at you and, I’m sorry.” Elijah sounded genuine, as he smiles at her.

Alessia nods,

“I forgive you, but it still hurts you know.”

He lowers his head, somehow feeling ashamed about the reminder of it,

“Yeah, I feel bad afterward – and, my ego was quite huge at the time. And, I’m very very sorry.”

Alessia returns his smile, as they talked a bit.

“Does Bryce know?” He asked, somewhat with genuine concern.

She shakes her head, letting out a sigh.

“I wanted to tell him, but…we just got our happily ever after here. And, I just…I planned on leaving quietly but, I can’t do that to him.”

“Maybe you should go to him right now, I think he mentions a late shift earlier at the doctor’s lounge.” Elijah pointed out, as Alessia nods – finishing up her tea, and pulls Elijah into a hug.

“Thanks, Elijah.” She was about to leave before Elijah calls her out.

“Hey, Alessia, for what’s it worth - you’ll be okay out there.”

She nods in appreciation, as her foot was set out of the apartment.

-

“Alessia – hey, what’s up!” He greeted her, as she sat waiting for him at the hospital lobby.

“Hey.” She replies as she hugs him, clinging to him – as Bryce lets out a laugh at the sudden gesture which he didn’t push her away.

“Someone’s eager.” He teased her, earning a nudge from Alessia followed by laughter as they walked out of the hospital together.

Their steps fall into a rhythm, as they stopped by a 24-hour bistro; ordering themselves a box of loaded fries – a moment of déjà vu again; as she smiled at the memory. Bryce caught her smiling, as he took a bit of the fries.

“How’s your day been?”

“Nothing much I guess….oh - oh! I scored a major surgery today with Dr. Tanaka earlier – and the patient survives.”

She smiles at his enthusiasm even if it's at 4 in the morning; he managed to make even the saddest of souls smile, that was his power.

“So…what’s up? I mean, I’m not opposed to you visiting me at work or anything – but, this is the time where one should be asleep.” He raised an eyebrow at her, and she took a deep breath.

“We need to talk.” Her friendly tone has become serious, as the four-word which every human dread of hearing somehow become a wake-up call for him, as he sat up straight – the carefree expression has been wiped away with a look of concern, nervousness, and dread in between. She places her hand in his from across the table, giving it a gentle squeeze – calming him down before the truth was set free.

-

He blinked once, twice. As Alessia finished telling him – he was speechless, literally. The silence follows a few moments, somehow he is still searching for the words to say. Yet, all of the words in his mind have vanished. Zip, blink, nada.

She met his eyes, she looked worried, the expression of guilt was written all over her face. He manages a small smile, somehow – he didn’t say a thing. A part of him; still grasping upon the truth.

‘I accepted an offer from the Mayo Clinic at Arizona.’

His throat somehow went dry, as he took a sip of the remaining milkshake. Pulling himself together – and wished he has a guide upon facing these types of situations.

‘Oh..’ Was all that came out of his mouth, somehow…dumbfounded on how to respond to this sudden revelation.

After a moment of silence that follows – the sound of the instrumentals drowns the thoughts along with his hesitations upon the situation. He smiles, he smiles – which didn’t reach the eyes as much as he tries his best to. There was a mix of pride – of course, there was, he was proud of her. He wants her to be the best doctor she could be because she indeed is, it was one of the mantras from their first year.

He remembers the doubt in her voice, as they cling to one another at the on-call room. He looks at her and sees much more than what she sees in herself. And, this…its an opportunity for her. Yet, the sorrow in his heart began to grow; he wants her by his side – to be with him at Edenbrook. He wants to be with her every day, but; life never really gave him what he wants. But, one thing he knows – he is damn proud of her, as the sorrow has vanished in a second; as he stood– opening his arms wide for her, as she immediately sinks into his arms. No words were exchanged, as he kissed on top of her head; he was proud of her; he is – always.

But…

He shakes the thought away, as he holds her there. It felt like home, and he wonders – if she goes away, what would home feel like anymore?

-

He has suddenly been busier, life pulled them apart – excuses were made. She knew he was deflecting, she stopped going to the hospital after her final day ended, as the moving process began.

All of her stuff has been packed, as some were already transported the day her parents came down to Boston. There was a bittersweet feeling upon the situation, as she struggles to get a hold of Bryce. They haven’t seen one another in weeks, as the last day – she left his apartment as he went into work. They didn’t talk, it was a silent night; no words were spoken, as they lay side-by-side. He dreaded the silence, but it felt like the future that will occur to them very soon, he sighs – better get used to it now.

And, that’s the time he last saw her. He has been busying himself with surgeries, requesting extra work to the point where he could be living in the hospital. It was hard for him to face her, the decision was only a few words – yet, the power that came with it. It’s unbearable.

He checked his phone once again, there was a new message from Alessia. He sighs before shoving the phone in his pocket – repeating his whole routine for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, he has to change and get home every once and a while, and he did after his shift was over. He paused upon his footsteps, as he found Alessia waiting inside. The sad, gloomy expression is obvious – as he remembers, he gave her a spare key if she ever wanted to stay over for the night.

‘Hi.’

-

She stood up from the couch, keys in hand at the sound of the door opening. He looked like he hasn’t slept, as he saw her. It was an unexpected visit for her, as she was supposed to clear her final pile of stuff before it is shipped the next day.

His mouth open, as if to say something – which resulted in an exhausted ‘hi’ towards her way. She nods appreciatively upon the greeting.

‘Bryce, please – why have you been avoiding me?” She blurted out suddenly, the silence is killing her inside.

He didn’t reply, as he took a seat on the couch as she stood in front of him.

“I don’t know - I was busy with the surgeries…” He didn’t continue as Alessia feels a part of her was betrayed.

“Then, it wouldn’t even bother for you to reply to my texts? Or even text me, saying ‘hey, I need to take off some steam’… It's not hard Bryce!” He meets her eyes, somehow a pang of regret over his actions.

“I don’t know okay, it feels like everything is happening so fucking fast, and the fact that you’re leaving soon – I need to breathe. I need to clear my head, I…I can’t face you after that day.” His eyes fall upon his hands, somehow avoiding her eyes.

“Then face me now, tell me everything. Stop running away from me Bryce – as much as I am ready to begin the new journey; I’m dreading till the moment that we have to say goodbye.” She took a seat beside him on the couch, as he finally sees her. He finally meets her eyes, his brown one meeting her green ones. The wave of sadness in his eyes, mirrored with hers. Somehow they both have to say something – and they can't avoid it anymore.

“I…I was scared.” He lets out a light laugh, as she curled her fingers with his squeezing it.

“I never knew this would happen, I met somebody and that person made me feel terrified for once in a while. You made me scared of being without you – it felt like a norm, waking up with you beside me and our nighttime adventures. I…as cheesy as it is…” He laughs, as Alessia laughs along with him – the familiar air started to fill in the room.

“I was scared of not being able to wake up next to you again. My whole life; I have always been my own person – and then I met you. I was scared the shit out of myself on how much a person can mean a lot to me, how one person can change your life in a split second – and change it once more in a snap of a finger; and…I thought about it….” He paused meeting her eyes fully, somehow he was prepared. Weeks without her, made him think – made him wonder, made him realize, and everything in between.

He continues, “I want you to go, I don’t want to stop you cause you deserve the position Alessia. You are one of the best people I know, hence – the best damn doctor I ever know.” His hands land on her cheek, as she felt a tear shed, he smiles sadly over the sentiment wiping the tears away.

Alessia was about to reply before he silences her with a kiss. His forehead meeting hers, somehow – the words that follow, it made her heart happy.

“You deserve to be your person and be where you want to. I’ll always have your back, always have, and always will. I love you Alessia.” She smiles over the affection before she wraps her arms around him – relieved washed in her heart.

“I love you too Bryce…so so much.” She whispers to him, overwhelmed as she smiles again and again until the day she has to leave. She knew Bryce will be there for her always, and she will be there for him. Their story - it was a story for the ages of all ages - and it doesn’t have to stop as the universe was doing their thing; because in the end – if the universe allows them to be together, they will be together, because distance can be damned.

It won’t stop the story of Alessia Lyxienne and Bryce Lahela, because they both are too stubborn to let it go. There will be a pause – but never a stop button, and she is grateful for that, before she leaves Boston, into her new place. It wasn’t home, because home is a heartbeat with two eyes that lives 2300 miles away from her.

‘We got this.’ She whispers, gazing into her new place – as a new chapter begins for one Alessia Lyxienne.

THE END.

a/n: okay, so I'm finally writing something which is to be fair quite late for an open heart tribute - but, hey; despite how shitty it has become, this book will have a special place in my heart. I mean, it started my writing, and well, the rest are history. Bryce Lahela is one of the characters I loved to write and writing his journey with Alessia, is one of the most unexpected things I have ever done, and, well. Their journey is over now in the game, however - deep down I know they are living their lives in a different universe. I also wanna dedicate this to all who have been supporting me from the start even, and a special mention to my gurl nikka, who actually made me not stop writing again, and well, this fic happened! I love everything about this and the whole experience, and I think I won't stop just yet...but, the future is always uncertain. But, I know I have a good time for the last year of doing this. Thank you <3

tags:

@bitchloveskcbaseball , @mvalentine , @storyofmychoices , @princess-geek , @lahellacute ,   @annekebbphotography , @dcbbw , @choicessa , @fantasyoverreality98 , @baltersome , @ofpixelsandscribbles , @thundergom @starrystarrytrouble  @kelseaaa, @choicesficwriterscreations, @lalizah, @drethanramslay, @eleanorbloom, @openheartfanfics , @brycesgirl,  @freckles-spangledvampire, @agentnolastname, @adriansbiss , @appiomofchoice, @ariondevereux, @natureblooms24 , @robintora (comment if you want to be tagged or removed 💜💜)

[automaticphagic]

Idk headcannons are kinda cool so i thought id try it

(all of these apply to c! characters, not the streamers)

Purpled has the little glow-in-the-dark stars all over his room

There is redstone all over Sam’s base; it’s like glitter it just never goes away

Foolish walks along the beach and picks up shiny things to bring home

Wilbur has fangs and it hurts like hell when he bites his tongue

Ranboo will sing along to the songs Tubbo plays for Michael

Tommy hisses like a racoon if someone touches him without consent

Hannah is totally immune to the effects of berry bushes and the thorns enchantment on armor 

Fundy doesn’t like showers because the water always ends up getting in his ears

When Dream was free, he would go over to George’s house when the brunette had something important planned to help him pick out a color-coordinated outfit.

Skeppy brings Bad flowers when Bad’s mad at him. 

Fundy refuses to eat salmon

 Techno really likes board games; especially scrabble. 

Phil likes photography

Skeppy gets agitated when he’s wearing diamond armor

Fundy’s insomnia makes him really tired, right? He just falls asleep randomly around the SMP, but usually he’s curled up on top of something warm or on a patch of grass

Ant’s pupils dilate when his cat instincts kick in and it’s like a visible switch for “dumbass mode engaged”

Charlie likes following around Foolish, Fundy, and Purpled (woo slippery spy sliem on the job), but the thing is, is he makes way to much noise. He’s totally invisible, but you can always hear sloshing when he’s following you, but they have no idea it’s Charlie, they just think they’re loosing it. 

(Charlies the only one who knows Purpled as alien antennae)