#so maybe I should just go with the flow without overthinking

[meliohy]

GUESS WHO IS GETTING A FULL ARM TATTOO?

[atlasthegreatest]

More Than Pretend / Daniela Avanzini x Gender Neutral! Reader

Daniela needs a last-minute Valentine’s date to prove to her nosy friends that she's totally over her ex. She ropes Y/n—her long-time friend, to pretend to be her date, expecting a night full of playful banter— until real sparks fly, leaving her wondering why she didn't see it sooner.

Word count: 1755

Warnings: Best friends to lovers. Fluff.

Daniela had exactly four hours to secure a Valentine’s date.

It wasn’t like she cared about Valentine’s Day. She didn’t. But after weeks of her friends poking and prodding about whether she was actually over her ex, she was done. She needed a solution—fast.

This is why she was now standing outside Y/n’s apartment, an expectant (and slightly desperate) look on her face.

“You want me to be your date?” The tall person asked, arms crossed as they leaned against their doorway.

“Yes. Obviously,” Daniela huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Look, I know it’s last minute, but it’s just for show. We’ll go to dinner, maybe hold hands, you tell everyone I’m thriving without my ex, and boom—problem solved.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow. “And what do I get out of this?”

Daniela blinked. “…The honor of being my incredibly attractive date?”

Y/n stared at her unamusingly.

The Latina sighed. “Fine. Dinner’s on me. And dessert.”

“Sold,” Y/n said, grabbing their coat.

————————

The restaurant was dimly lit, filled with couples who were either madly in love or pretending they weren’t on the verge of an argument. Daniela, dressed in a sleek red dress that should have been illegal, sat across from Y/n, sipping her wine as she surveyed the room.

“Okay, act natural,” she murmured.

“You do realize we’ve been friends for years, right?” Y/n teased. “I think I can handle pretending to like you.”

Daniela smirked. “You’d be surprised how many people fold under pressure.”

Y/n leaned in, resting their chin on their hand. “Oh? And what about you? Can you handle pretending to like me?”

For the first time, Daniela faltered. She opened her mouth—then closed it, suddenly hyper-aware of how close Y/n was. She had expected playful banter, light teasing, and a dramatic display of “look-how-over-my-ex-I-am��� energy.

She hadn’t expected her heart to trip over itself when they looked at her like that.

The conversation flowed easily, just like it always had. But the way Daniela’s fingers brushed Y/n’s when they reached for their glass? The way she listened when they talked about their latest project? The way her laugh sounded softer, more real?

None of that felt fake.

—-———————

As they walked out of the restaurant, the night air crisp against their skin, Daniela let out a deep breath. “Well, that was painless.”

“Yeah,” Y/n said, shoving their hands into their pockets. “Almost… fun.”

Daniela scoffed. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.” But she was smiling.

Y/n turned to face her. “So? Did we convince them?”

Daniela hesitated. Her friends had bought the act completely. But that wasn’t what was on her mind anymore.

What was on her mind was the way she didn’t want to let go of Y/n’s hand. The way her stomach flipped every time they looked at her.

What was on her mind was them.

“I think we convinced me,” she muttered.

Y/n frowned. “What?”

Daniela groaned, rubbing her temple. “Ugh, nothing—just—shut up.” And before she could overthink it, she grabbed Y/n’s face and kissed them.

Y/n barely had time to react before she pulled back, cheeks flushed. “…Crap,” she whispered.

Daniela was in trouble.

Real, undeniable, heart-racing, stomach-flipping trouble.

Because when Y/n kissed her back—when they smiled against her lips like this had been inevitable—something inside her clicked. And there was no pretending anymore.

She pulled back, just enough to look at Y/n. Their grin was impossibly smug, but their eyes were warm. Playful. Knowing.

“So,” Y/n murmured, still close enough that she could feel the warmth of their breath, “does this mean I get a second date?”

Daniela scoffed, stepping back and crossing her arms like that kiss hadn’t just rewired her entire brain. “You act like you’re the one who did me a favor tonight.”

“Oh, I did,” Y/n teased. “I helped you get over your ex and I looked good while doing it.”

She rolled her eyes, but the heat creeping up her neck betrayed her. “Shut up.”

Y/n laughed, tucking their hands into their pockets as they started walking. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

Daniela hesitated for half a second before falling into step beside them. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows on the pavement, but the air between them felt lighter now.

“So,” Y/n started, nudging her shoulder, “when did you figure it out?”

“Figure what out?”

“That you like me,” they said easily.

Daniela nearly tripped over the sidewalk. “Excuse me?”

Y/n gave her a knowing look. “I saw the way you looked at me at dinner, Dani. That wasn’t ‘fake date’ behavior. That was ‘I’m just now realizing I have feelings for my best friend’ behavior.”

Her face burned. “First of all, rude. Second of all—” She huffed, shoving her hands in her coat pockets. “…Maybe dinner next week isn’t the worst idea,”

Y/n smirked. “So you do like me.”

Daniela groaned. “I swear, if you say one more word—”

“Relax,” Y/n said, bumping her arm. “We’ve got plenty of time to talk about it over dinner. Real dinner. Not ‘fake date’ dinner.”

The Latina woman bit back a smile. “Fine. But if my friends start getting nosy again, I’m blaming you.”

“Gladly,” they said.

And as they walked side by side down the quiet street, Daniela realized something.

Maybe her friends’ teasing had led to something good after all.

——————-

Daniela had been on dates before. Real ones, fake ones, ones that blurred the line between the two. But nothing had ever made her this nervous.

It was ridiculous. Y/n was her best friend—her safe place. And yet, now that she knew the feelings were mutual, she couldn’t shake the butterflies that had taken up permanent residence in her stomach.

This is why she was currently pacing her apartment, phone in hand, trying to psych herself up to text them.

“What time are we meeting tomorrow?”

She hovered over the send button for longer than she cared to admit before finally pressing it.

Seconds later, their response came in.

“You tell me. But fair warning—I’m showing up looking like the best date you’ve ever had.”

Daniela snorted, rolling her eyes. Typical.

“Oh, please. You couldn’t outshine me if you tried.”

“We’ll see about that. See you at 7?”

“7 it is. Don’t be late.”

As soon as she sent it, she flopped onto her couch, exhaling sharply. This was fine. Normal. She could do this.

——————-

The restaurant was a little different this time—less about proving a point, and more about just being there with Y/n. Daniela had been so caught up in appearances before that she hadn’t let herself feel anything. Now, she didn’t have that excuse.

And the way Y/n looked at her across the table? Like they’d been waiting for this longer than she had? Yeah. That was dangerous.

“So,” Y/n said, swirling their drink. “How does it feel? Going on a date with someone who likes you back?”

Daniela rolled her eyes. “I always go on dates with people who like me back.”

“Yeah, but you like me back this time,” they pointed out.

Daniela’s face warmed, but she refused to give Y/n the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Y/n grinned. “Too late.”

And just like that, all the nerves disappeared. Because this was them. The person who had always been by her side—who had seen her at her best and worst and still stuck around.

Maybe it had taken her too long to see it. But sitting here, watching them smirk at her like she was their favorite thing in the world, Daniela knew one thing for certain.

This?

This wasn’t pretend anymore.

Bonus Chapter:

The night wasn’t supposed to end like this.

After dinner, Daniela had planned to go home, overanalyze every second of the date with her girls, and probably scream into her pillow for a good five minutes. What she hadn’t planned for was ending up on Y/n’s couch, wrapped in a blanket, sharing a pint of ice cream at midnight.

“You know,” Y/n said, spoon in hand, “for someone who insisted this wasn’t a real date last week, you sure looked like you were having fun tonight.”

Daniela shot them a glare, though it held no real heat. “I was having fun. But that doesn’t mean I need to give you the satisfaction of admitting it.”

Y/n chuckled, shaking their head. “Classic Dani.”

The Latina woman rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned back against the couch, letting her head rest against Y/n’s shoulder. She told herself it was just because she was comfortable—not because she wanted to be close to them.

The silence stretched, warm and unhurried, until Y/n spoke again.

“Be honest. When did you realize you liked me?”

Daniela stiffened. “Who says I do?”

Y/n nudged her side. “Dani.”

Daniela sighed, twirling the spoon between her fingers. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe it was when you showed up to dinner looking like that. Maybe it was when you wouldn’t stop teasing me, and instead of wanting to strangle you, I just—” She groaned. “I don’t know. I liked it.”

Y/n was quiet for a moment, and Daniela forced herself to keep talking. “Or maybe it was before that. Maybe it was every time you were there for me when I didn’t even have to ask. Maybe it was the way you always made me laugh, even when I was mad at you. Maybe it was when I realized I never actually wanted to go on a fake date with anyone else.”

Silence.

Then, softly—

“You should’ve said something sooner.”

Daniela swallowed hard. “Would it have changed anything?”

Y/n turned, gently tilting the girl's chin up so she had no choice but to meet their gaze.

“Yeah,” they murmured. “Because I would’ve kissed you a long time ago.”

Daniela’s breath caught as Y/n’s lips brushed against hers—soft, unhurried, and real. She melted into it, gripping Y/n’s hoodie like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

When Y/n finally pulled away, they grinned. “Took you long enough, Avanzini.”

Daniela groaned, burying her face in Y/n’s shoulder. “I hate you.”

“You love me.”

She didn’t answer. But the way her fingers curled around theirs, lacing them together?

That was the answer.

[crossvise]

Summary; reader and Phil have a fight and says some hurtful things but they make up in the end.

Warnings; some swearing and some hurtful words

angst ( with a good ending )

Recovery was hard and painful both physically and mentally, it was challenging and sometimes, you were just upset at the whole world that it had to be you. Phil was barely back in the WWE and got badly injured on the first big event he participated.

That night, you were there backstage, watching the men’s Royal Rumble, you saw that DDT and how Phil was different after taking it. You could’ve sworn something was wrong- the way he kept reaching for his elbow, you were honestly more worried about this than the outcome of the match.

When he came back after losing against Cody, your fears were confirmed as his elbow was wrapped in ice. At that time, you didn’t even know how bad it truly was, yet your heart broke for him- he didn’t deserve to go through that. He was finally back and his moment was taken away from him.

Before you even had the confirmation that Phil’s injury was a torn tricep, you promised him you’d be there for him for each step of recovery- no matter if it would be a short or long one. Sadly, what was suspected ended up being right, your boyfriend would require surgery for his torn tricep and would be out for months.

It had been a couple of weeks since the Royal Rumble and Phil’s injury, it hadn’t been easy but you had been there for your boyfriend- you tried your best to make his life easier wether it was bringing a few more cushions on the sofa so his arm could lay comfortably or do chores that weren’t easy with one arm.

However, the last few days were getting harder, mostly for Phil but you were the one who had to suffer through his bad mood. You knew he probably didn’t even realize he was being an ass, so you just let it flow, you didn’t want to cause an argument as you never had a big one with your boyfriend and you wanted it to remain that way.

Today, Phil had been in a particularly bad mood- everything seemed to annoy him, even your mere presence. You didn’t say much and just let him be for the time being. When you came back from work, Phil wasn’t back from rehab for his elbow- which was unusual. It became a routine for you to get back home and be greeted by your boyfriend, then you’d go on a walk with Larry.

It wasn’t without your heart feeling heavy that you went on a walk with Larry. Phil adopted him years ago, way before you, but from the start of your relationship, Larry became so important to you, in a way, he was like your son. You tried not to overthink during your walk but it was hard- you were wondering if you had done something wrong? Perhaps, it was worse than that and Phil didn’t love you anymore.

Larry and you made it back home at the same time as Phil but you didn’t address him a single word until you were sitting on the couch- you were too upset with him to start a conversation.

Phil probably realized something was wrong as you didn’t initiate a conversation or even ask him how rehab had been today, “ how was work? ”

“ Fine. How was rehab? ”

“ Fine too.”

You nodded, not having much to say but a part of you was also being petty and chose to give him as much energy as he gave you. Phil sighed, “ are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“ There’s nothing going on.”

“ I’m not stupid, y/n. You usually ask me right away how rehab was, you always talk to me but not today?”

You shrugged, hesitating a few seconds, wondering if you should bring up his behavior for the past few days- it couldn’t keep going like this, “ I don’t know, you’ve be an ass to me for the past few days and I don’t get why. I don’t get it, I’ve been doing my best to make sure you’re not in pain or doing something that could hurt you more.”

“ Didn’t you consider that maybe I don’t need you to do all that? I’m not helpless, I’ve been through plenty of injuries and surgeries. It’s sweet that you want to help me but honestly? You’ve been suffocating.”

Those words stung like hell, you didn’t really expect to hear that in all honesty, all you wanted was to make it easier for him, “ and you couldn’t just tell me I was doing too much instead of being an asshole?”

“ Oh come on! I was not an asshole, I’ve just been annoyed with you.”

“ Okay, I won’t do anything for you anymore.”

Phil rolled his eyes dramatically, accompanied by a loud sigh, “ that’s not what I said, don’t dramatize it. I just want to breathe, to be left alone and not have someone babying me as if I’m not a grown ass man.”

“ This someone happens to be your girlfriend Phil, and I was not babying you. I’m sorry if it seemed that way, I just wanted to help.”

“ Well, if I had known you’d be like this when we got together, I would’ve thought twice before asking you out.”

If you had been shot at that same moment, you were sure it would’ve hurt less than Phil’s words, from the look on his face, he also realized what he said but it was too late to take it back. You choked up on your words as only a “ oh ” came out. Maybe you had been right when you wondered if he didn’t love you anymore, it sure seemed the case at this moment.

Tears in your eyes, you got up and rushed to your shared bedroom- you didn’t think much but if there was something you knew, it was that you didn’t want to see Phil’s face anymore today. You grabbed an empty sport bag and shoved a couple of clothes in it, you’d come back to get more if needed later.

Once you were done, you headed to your car but not before giving Larry a kiss on the top of his head. Phil rushed after you as soon as he saw you leaving with a bag, “ baby, please wait! ”

“ Fuck you, Phil.”

With that, you drove away from the place you called home- you hadn’t really planned where you’d go for the night, you just drove for a while to cool off and ended finding a hotel to spend the time. You had friends you could’ve crashed at for the night but you didn’t want to burden them with the fight you just had with Phil.

It was only later in the night when you were laying in the hotel’s bed that you finally dared to look at your phone- Phil had tried to call you countless of times and texted you a couple of times asking you to come back, that he was sorry and begging you to, at least, tell him you were somewhere safe.

Which you did, you replied with a simple and short “ I’m safe, sleeping at a hotel.” as soon as you hit the send button, you shut your phone off for the night and tried your best to fall asleep. It wasn’t an easy task, the fight you had with your boyfriend replying in your head for a majority of the night until exhaustion took over and allowed you a few hours of sleep.

The next morning, you found it hard to get up from bed, not only you had only gotten a couple hours of sleep but they also had been terrible- this bed wasn’t as comfortable as the one from home and honestly, sleeping without Phil next to you was hard. When you looked up at your phone, mostly to call in sick for work, you had a few more texts from your boyfriend.

Some were more apologies, other were begging you to come home or to give him the address so he could come to you to talk. Did you want to see and talk to Phil again after yesterday? You weren’t sure but you needed clarity- you wanted to know if he still loved you at least or if you were over.

The latter thought broke your heart a bit more than it already was, you didn’t really imagine your future without Phil in it- that’s why you ended up texting him the address of the hotel you were staying at for now.

Only an hour later, Phil was knocking on the door of the hotel room you were staying in- you had taken a shower and ate a little in the meantime but let’s be honest, you looked like a mess. You took a deep breath before you slowly opened the door and let Phil in with a barely audible “ hi. ”

Your boyfriend came with a beautiful bouquet of your favorite flowers, “ these are for you, sweetheart. ”

“ Thank you, they’re beautiful. ”

“ Not as beautiful as you.”

You dramatically rolled your eyes at this, these one liners wouldn’t be enough to have you forgive him, “ yeah, I look miserable today but thank you still. ”

“ You look beautiful even when you look tired. ”

“ So… you wanted to talk?”

Phil stayed silent for a second, as if he was carefully choosing how to words what he wanted to say, “ I’ve fucked up, I know it and I’m so sorry for everything I’ve said. I didn’t mean it, these past few days, I’ve grown really frustrated but not with you. With myself. I’m frustrated to have to stay back and miss many events, I thought this year was finally my year- that I’d get to main event Wrestlemania and keeping it all for me wasn’t the right move because I ended up lashing out on you when you just wanted to help.”

“ You should’ve talked to me, Phil. I don’t mind giving you space, I just needed to know that.”

“ I know and again, I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re suffocating, I like that you care so much for me, sometimes it’s a bit too much but that’s on me for not telling you to stop.”

You nodded, you were glad that Phil was finally opening up to you, that’s all you needed from the get-go. Yet, there was still a thought lingering on your mind and you needed clarification on it, “ do you still love me?”

“ What? Sweetheart, of course I love you! You’re the love of my life, you are so important to me. I’m sorry for being such an asshole that you thought I didn’t love you anymore.”

Pain could be read in Phil’s eyes and his words managed to reassure you, a small smile tugging you your lips, you said, “ this was the worst night in my life, I don’t think I can sleep without you anymore.”

Phil laughed at this and gently pulled you into a hug, you had missed him so much.

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

a personal post/reflection on ai use

some of you reading this may have seen the message i received accusing me of using ai to write my work. i wanted to take a moment to talk about how it made me feel and, more importantly, the impact that accusations like this can have on writers in general.

I won’t lie: seeing that message in my inbox, being told that the stories i spend hours writing aren't “real", that my effort and creativity don't belong to me, was really disheartening. then i had to defend my own writing against these accusations and that wasn’t exactly fun. and while i know i shouldn’t let it get to me, the truth is that it does, because I'm a real person!

It’s made me overthink everything i write. I already reread my fics multiple times before posting, checking for flow, consistency, and coherence, but now, i find myself second-guessing every sentence. Does this sound too robotic? Is my phrasing too formal or too stiff? Or maybe it’s not polished enough? Maybe it's too polished. What if i accidentally repeat a word or structure a sentence in a way that someone deems “ai-like”? Will i be accused of this again?

I want to be clear also that this isn’t about seeking sympathy. I just feel it's important to remind people that fanfic writers are real people with real emotions. We write because we love it, because we want to share stories for others to enjoy for free. And yet, there are people out there who treat “spotting ai” like some kind of witch hunt, who feel entitled to send accusations to complete strangers without any basis for it.

And I don't say this to be elitist, but for some context, I have a master’s degree in computer science. I work in tech every day. I specialize in machine learning. When I say there is no reliable way to tell whether a passage of text was written by ai or a human, i'm not just making shit up. ai detection tools are completely unreliable. they give false positives all the time, and they are, quite frankly, complete bullshit.

And I get that there are legitimate concerns about ai-generated work in creative spaces, especially when it comes to art, writing, and other forms of expression that people put their hearts into. I have taken ethics courses in ai for this reason. I understand why people are wary, and i’m not saying that those concerns aren’t valid. But this is exactly why we should be mindful of how we engage with content. If you don’t like something, if you suspect it was ai-generated and that bothers you, the best thing you can do is simply not engage. don’t read it, don’t share it, don’t support it.

But going out of your way to harass people, to send accusations without evidence, to act like you’re some kind of ai-detecting authority is not just absurd, but it’s harmful to real people because you will inevitably get it wrong!!!

At the end of the day, this is fan fiction. no one is paying for this. no one is being scammed. so why do people act like they need to police something that’s supposed to be fun, creative, and freely shared? if you love stories written by real people, support those writers. but please, stop making this space even more stressful for the people who are already here, giving their time and creativity to share something they love.

And if you still think making accusations about people using AI for their writing is the correct and virtuous thing to do, I invite you to read this online thread of freelance writers discussing the legitimate harm that has come to their livelihood due to the false positives of ai detection tools and false accusations.

[negans-lucille-tblr]

My Worthless Love || Part Three

Summary: At first, Dean can’t believe his luck that he gets to date a porn star, but soon the cracks start to show, and Dean gets to see a totally different side to the industry that bursts his bubble and leaves him torn. 

Rating: 18+

Part Tags: Fluff, seduction, smut, slightly domme!Reader, slightly sub!Dean, second base, blowjob, p in v, mentions of porn, mentions of sex work, slight angst

Part WC: 2874

My Worthless Love Masterlist || Read this fic in full when you subscribe!

Dean’s POV

Dean lost feeling in his arm about half an hour into the movie, but he hasn’t said anything, enjoying the feeling of Y/N snuggled into his side far too much to make her move. Though, he can’t help but feel a little relieved when he sees the credits start to roll, meaning it’s finally over and she might move and give him his dead limb back. But after a few moments, he realises she’s not going anywhere, and looks down at her to see her eyes are closed, and she’s fallen asleep. He’s careful to shift his weight under her, removing his feet from the coffee table and sitting up a little straighter, scooping his free hand under her head to stop it from falling as he finally moves his trapped arm and attempts to lay her head down on a couch cushion instead, readjusting the blanket to cover her shoulders and arms. 

Standing up to his feet, Dean swings his arm around to encourage the blood flow to return, and reaches down for the TV remote to turn the movie off. He stares down at her for a moment, considering if he should attempt to move her to her bed without disturbing her once all the feeling has returned to his arm, or whether he should just leave her on the couch. Her couch is fairly big and comfortable, and it’s hardly cold, so the soft blanket draped over her frame will be enough to keep her warm throughout the night. He’d been careful in the three weeks since finding out about her work that he didn’t overstep any boundaries, determined to prove to her that he really is different. Dean just can’t quite work out if putting her to bed is a line he can cross or not. 

Maybe he’s overthinking it, but he decides it’s safer he doesn’t do it, just in case it is a boundary she’s not ready for him to break through yet, and takes a deep breath, clearing away the empty bowl that had popcorn in it not long ago, and gathering the empty beer bottles to clear away into the kitchen. When he returns, Y/N is still asleep, and so he decides he’s going to head home, leaving a text on her cell to explain his absence for when she wakes up in the morning. Not that he’s stayed the night yet, anyway. 

He reaches for his jacket and heads towards the door, trying to open it as quietly as he can so as not to disturb her, but the bolt on her door is pretty sturdy, and it clunks loudly when he tries to open it. He doesn’t look back, just keeps going, finally getting her door open and hoping he’s not woken her, when he hears her voice. 

“Sneaking out on me?” she accuses, and as Dean turns around he sees a soft smirk on her lips. 

“I didn’t want to wake you, and it’s pretty late, figured I’d outstayed my welcome,” he explains sheepishly. 

“You could never outstay your welcome,” she reassures him, sitting up and hugging the blanket to her body. 

Dean figures that now she’s awake, he can at least say goodbye the way they’ve grown accustomed to, and steps back into the apartment and closes her door, heading over to her to lean down and kiss her lips softly. 

“Goodnight, sweetheart, go back to sleep,” he tells her quietly, but before he can straighten up, Y/N reaches out and clutches the front of his shirt. 

“Wait, I’ve got something for you,” she tells him with a slight smirk, biting down on her bottom lip before throwing the blanket off of her body and getting up. “Wait there, okay?” she commands playfully. Dean holds his hands up in defense to indicate that he’ll do as he’s told, and perches himself on the arm of the couch as he waits. 

“Why don’t you give it to me tomorrow, you clearly need rest,” he calls through to her as she disappears into her bedroom. 

“No! I want to give it to you tonight, I planned it out!” He hears her call back. 

Dean’s not really sure what to expect, they’ve not exchanged gifts before, if this is even a gift at all, but he waits patiently, honouring the fact that whatever she’s about to give him, she wants to do right now. All he was going to do was go home and begin his binge of page four of her movie catalogue, anyway. He’s got to stop himself from going crazy somehow, and just seeing her has been enough for now. Sure, he’s counting down the days until he can do more than just see her, but he meant it when he said he wanted to take it at her pace, and he plans to stick by that. He’s not about to be one of those assholes that pressures her into something she’s not ready for. 

Dean’s snapped out of his thoughts when Y/N re-emerges from her bedroom, now dressed in a robe. He realises her hands are empty, though, and begins to grow a little confused. That is, until Y/N reaches for the tie on her robe, and starts to slowly tug it loose, and as the silk material begins to fall open, it reveals matching black lace underneath. Dean’s mouth automatically falls open at the sight. Thanks to her job and his new found obsession with supporting her work, Dean’s seen it all already, but never in person, and fuck, it’s so much better through his own eyes than a camera lens. 

“I was hoping you’d stay the night,” Y/N explains, playing with her robe, beginning to drape it over her shoulders and down her arms. “Unless you’d rather get home,” she adds, the slight smirk on her face giving away just how ludicrous she knows that idea is already. 

“Fuck,” Dean chokes out. “I mean… are you sure?” he manages to think to ask just in time. 

“I think I’ve made you wait long enough,” she nods, before smiling. “I trust you, Dean.” 

“I am so glad you do right now,” Dean admits, unable to take his eyes off of her. 

She giggles, dropping the robe completely to the floor. “So are you coming?” she prompts, nodding her head towards the open door of her bedroom, and Dean can’t get to his feet and clamber after her quick enough. 

Finally. 

That’s all that’s racing through Dean’s mind as he places wet, messy kisses along Y/N’s collarbone, feeling her hand push under the elastic waistband of his boxers, her fingers wrapping around his throbbing cock. He moans almost involuntarily, his one hand exploring every dip and curve of her body, the other digging into the pillow beside her head, holding his weight off of her. His wandering hand settles between her legs, his fingers pushing the soft lace out of his way so he can toy with her wet, warm pussy. 

Y/N moans and arches her back further into him, her grip on his length tightening a little, and Dean smirks against her skin at the response he’s been able to elicit from her. He’s fairly confident from his hours of what he’ll now call research that he knows what is going to make her make all those noises that have filled his bedroom the last few weeks. He’s imagined himself in place of whatever guy that has been lucky enough to accompany her. Now he just needs to put it into action. 

Dean slips a finger inside her, feeling her clench around him wrapping him in warm, soft velvet, and then he steadies himself on his knees between her legs, using his free hand to softly wrap his fingers around her throat. 

“Such a naughty little girl,” he growls, making her laugh breathlessly. 

But Dean’s surprised to feel her hand slipping out of his boxers, and he pulls away to see if he’s done something wrong. But Y/N is still smirking, and she places both her hands flat on his chest as she sits up. 

“Why don’t you lay down?” she suggests, though there’s something in her voice that makes it seem like maybe it’s more of a demand. 

Dean’s not complaining one bit, in fact his cock throbs in response as he eagerly moves to lay flat on his back like she’d told him to, looking up at her with his chest heaving. 

“That’s better,” she purrs, biting down on her bottom lip as a darkness washes into her eyes and she climbs further down the bed. She hooks her fingers into his boxers and begins to tug them, pulling them off of his legs completely and throwing them to the floor, his cock springing free and bouncing up to lay on his stomach, completely hard and begging for attention. 

He whimpers as he looks down his body at her, feeling completely at her mercy. This is so different to how she is in her movies, but Dean’s fairly sure that this is better. Especially when she slowly climbs back onto the bed, crawling up his body, mischief in her eyes, and Dean can’t wait to find out why. 

“Just relax,” she whispers, her hot breath ghosting over the shell of his ear. “Let me take care of you, baby.” 

Dean groans low in his throat, pushing his head back, deeper into the pillow beneath him as Y/N’s mouth leaves his ear and begins to travel south. Barely there kisses are placed over his chest and down his torso, and then he feels her wrapping her hand around his erection once more. The soft, sponginess of the inside of her lips encases his tip and Dean moans, his hand automatically reaching for the back of her head, but her own hand reaches out to grab his wrist, pushing it away and pinning it to the mattress at his side, before she begins to take him deeper into her mouth, swirling her tongue softly and beginning to suck a little harder. 

He clenches his hands into fists at his side, not knowing what else to do with them, and Y/N chuckles around his length when he assumes she notices, withdrawing and sitting up, Dean’s cock slapping against his stomach now completely spit sodden and even more desperate than it had been before. He almost whines when he sees her crawling backwards and climbing off the bed, but he cuts it short when he sees it’s only for her to remove the black lace underwear that she’d surprised him with. Now completely naked, she gets back on the bed, not taking her eyes off of his as she climbs a little higher up his body. 

Dean thinks his heart might beat out of his chest, and his lungs might explode – and his cock too for that matter. This is not how he ever envisaged it would go, but it’s so much more than he ever realised he needed. He watches as Y/N slowly straddles his waist, keeping her hips raised to begin with, and he hesitantly lifts his hand, wondering if he’s allowed to touch her yet. She doesn’t stop him this time, and so his hand reaches for her waist first, squeezing softly, before reaching up further, ghosting over her breast before settling on cupping the side of her face. Y/N leans into the touch and smiles gently before biting her bottom lip and resting her hands on his chest. 

“Are you ready?” she asks, like she needs to. 

Dean doesn’t even dignify the question with a response, and Y/N clearly wasn’t looking for one, anyway, because she reaches between them and guides him towards her core, beginning to lower her hips so he slides inside. She settles and doesn’t move for a moment, her nails softly digging into the soft muscle on his pecks, and then she wiggles her hips slightly and gasps for breath, before leaning down and kissing him breathlessly, and Dean can’t stop himself from wrapping his arms around her tight to keep her close.

“You’re quiet,” Y/N’s voice breaks the silence, and she slowly lifts her head from Dean’s chest to look at him. “What’re you thinking about?” 

Dean licks his lips, wondering if he should even voice his thoughts out loud. He doesn’t want to spoil their moment, not after something that incredible, but he also doesn’t want to lie to her, or make her think he’s closing off. 

“That was different to how I imagined it,” he finally admits, hoping he’s worded it right. 

Y/N cocks an eyebrow as a smirk begins to grace her lips and then she scoffs. “You’ve been watching my movies, haven’t you?” she accuses. 

Dean’s impressed she can read so far between the lines, but he instantly feels bad about the fact. “I’m sorry, look I won’t watch any more if you don’t want me to,” he reassures her immediately. 

She giggles slightly and shakes her head. “It’s fine, Dean. I did make you wait a long time, and I guess you were curious.” Dean doesn’t reply, a little ashamed by the fact still, but Y/N pushes through. “So how many have you seen?” 

“Urm, a few,” he attempts to lie, but immediately regrets his decision. He should just be honest with her, it’s for the best. “Okay, three pages of them.” 

“Jesus, Dean,” Y/N gasps and then laughs in disbelief. “That’s a little more than curious.” 

“What can I say? I got carried away, I guess.” 

Y/N scoffs again, shaking her head, “I’m surprised you wanted to watch that many. Didn’t you get jealous?” she pries. 

“Oh fuck yeah, I hate every single guy you’ve filmed with,” he admits unashamedly, making her laugh some more. 

“I kinda do too,” she whispers, like it’s a secret. 

Dean laughs this time, but then it dies a little when he considers what she’s actually telling him and why she might feel that way. He doesn’t like the thought of her having sex with men she doesn’t even like, even if that is good news for him and his jealousy. 

“Why do you do it?” he wonders, hoping he’s not crossed some kind of line. 

Y/N shrugs and climbs off the bed, reaching for another robe draped over the couch in the corner of her room. “It’s good money, and I’m good at it,” she explains. 

He doesn’t want to push further than that right now, especially not when he had promised her he’d never ask her to change for him, and any direction this conversation might go in could seem like he’s trying to talk her into quitting. They’ve barely been a real couple long enough for him to be entitled to any kind of opinion on the entire thing. 

“How did you get into it?” he asks next, lifting his head and tucking his arm underneath it. 

“I… needed money so I started dancing at a club, and there’s always scouts there, one approached me, I took the offer, here I am,” she briefly concludes. 

Dean can sense that she doesn’t really want to talk about it anymore, so he decides to stop playing twenty questions. He’s not really brought up her job much since the first time they talked about it, and while after sex seemed like a good time to start asking these things – especially when she brought it up in the first place – Dean’s now realising that him suddenly showing a big interest in her work after having sex with her might play on her insecurities about men using her. 

“Listen, Dean,” Y/N sighs, beginning to play with her fingers in front of her, and Dean worries that maybe she’s read too much into his curiosity and this isn’t about to go well. She approaches the bed and climbs back on, sitting alongside him as she continues to focus on her fingers. “I’m not that girl in those movies. I purposefully made her nothing like me so I could deal with it all easier,” she explains. 

Deal with it all? Deal with what? Dean wants to ask, but he’s done enough prying for today. 

“If that’s what you’re looking for then you’re wasting your time here.” 

“What?” Dean chokes out, suddenly realising her insecurities are about something very different. She thinks she’s not enough for him? “No, no sweetheart,” he sits up, rushing to reassure her. He reaches out and grabs her arm softly. “Hey, listen to me,” he encourages, waiting for her to lift her face as she looks him in the eye. “Tonight was better than I thought it could be. I prefer you… the real you.” 

A small frown flits over Y/N’s features for a second. “Really?” 

“Yeah, definitely,” he scoffs. “If I’m honest, at the start, I was just trying to give you what I thought you wanted,” he adds with a blush. 

Y/N laughs softly, shaking her head. “I just want you Dean, exactly as you are,” she confirms.

“Good, because I want you too,” he smiles, before kissing her softly.

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[movingmusically]

Caught Feeling - Chapter 9

Synopsis:

A dinner with Natalie leads to an impromptu visit to Hank’s bar. As the night unfolds, Y/N is confronted by Natalie’s concern over Hank’s drinking, sparking doubts she hadn’t anticipated. Despite the fun and intimacy of the evening, Y/N can’t quite shake the questions lingering in the back of her mind.

Word count: 4,676

Masterlist

It had been a month since the last time all of us managed to get together for one of our girls dinners. Life had a way of pulling us all in different directions—work, relationships, everything else that kept our schedules jam-packed. But somehow, we made it work. Tonight, though, it was just me and Natalie. The others couldn’t make it, and honestly, I didn’t mind. It gave me a chance to catch up with her one-on-one, something we hadn’t done in a while.

As I walked to the restaurant, I found myself reflecting on how much had changed in that month. Hank and I had been seeing each other regularly, but it wasn’t just about the dates anymore—it was the little things. The way he’d text me out of the blue just to ask how my day was going. The way we’d spend quiet evenings together, talking about everything and nothing, or sometimes just enjoying the silence. It all felt so… easy.

I wasn’t the type to jump into relationships, but with Hank, it never felt like jumping—it felt like I was finally finding my footing. There was something steady about the way we were together, like we’d found a rhythm without even trying. And as much as I tried not to overthink it, I couldn’t help but wonder how we’d managed to get here so quickly. It wasn’t overwhelming or scary, though. Just… right.

The restaurant came into view, and I spotted Natalie waiting by the door. Her dark hair gleamed under the streetlights, and as soon as she saw me, she waved, her familiar grin already in place.

“Hey, you,” I called as I approached.

“Hey yourself,” Natalie replied, pulling me into a quick hug. “I’m starving.”

Inside, we found a cosy corner table. It was a little quieter than usual tonight, which suited me just fine. Natalie and I hadn’t had a proper catch-up in ages, and I was looking forward to a laid-back evening.

We settled in, ordered drinks, and caught up on the usual—how work had been going for her, all the madness happening at the clinic for me, family. It was easy, like it always was with Natalie. She was one of those people who never seemed to need anything from you, but she was always there when you needed her. Solid, funny, and just the right amount of sarcastic.

As the conversation flowed, Natalie leaned back, taking a sip of her wine and eyeing me with a raised brow. “So, how’s it going with Mr. Bartender?” she asked, a glint of curiosity in her green eyes as she sipped her wine.

I felt that familiar warmth in my chest, the kind that had become a constant over the past few weeks. “It’s going really well,” I admitted, unable to keep the smile from creeping onto my face. “It’s just… easy, you know? We’re spending a lot of time together, and it doesn’t feel forced. We just… fit.”

Natalie’s dark eyes lit up with curiosity. “So, no red flags yet? No skeletons in the closet?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Not yet, no. He’s kind, thoughtful… and okay, yes, he’s really hot. But it’s more than that. We just get along so well, and it doesn’t feel like we’re trying too hard.”

Natalie raised her wine glass, smirking over the rim. “Sounds too good to be true.”

“Maybe,” I shrugged, though my smile didn’t falter. “But I’m not overthinking it. It feels good, and I’m just… going with it.”

Natalie’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “I don’t know if I should be happy for you or jealous. You’re practically glowing, you know that?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Shut up.”

“Seriously though, he sounds amazing. And you look… really happy,” she said, her tone softening just a little. “I know we give you a hard time, but you deserve someone who makes you feel like this.”

Her words hit me in a way I hadn’t expected, and I felt my chest tighten with gratitude. Natalie wasn’t one for heavy emotions, so when she said something heartfelt, it always carried weight.

“Thanks,” I murmured, glancing down at my glass of wine. “He’s really… he’s been really good to me. Better than I thought possible, if I’m being honest.”

“So,” Natalie said, leaning forward, her tone shifting back to playful. “When do I get to meet this mystery man? You can’t keep him hidden forever.”

I chuckled, swirling the last of my drink. “Soon, I promise. It’s just—”

Natalie wasn’t having it. “How about now? Let’s go see him at work.”

Her suggestion caught me off guard, and I looked up, surprised. “Now?”

“Yeah! Why not?” she grinned. “I’ve heard so much about him. Plus, I want to see this ‘easy-going, thoughtful’ guy in action. Come on, let’s go check him out.”

I hesitated for a second, but I couldn’t deny the little spark of excitement in my chest. “I mean… I guess we could.”

“What do you mean, you guess?” Natalie teased, already pulling out her phone. “Let’s go. Call him and let him know we’re coming. I’m dying to see this guy.”

With a small laugh, I pulled my phone out of my bag and scrolled through to Hank’s number. My heart did a little flip as I tapped his name, the phone ringing in my ear. After a couple of rings, he picked up, his voice instantly familiar and warm.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

“Hey,” I said, my smile growing. “So, Natalie and I just finished dinner and were thinking about stopping by the bar. Is that okay?”

“Of course,” Hank replied, his voice lighting up. “I’d love to meet her. I’ll be here all night.”

“Great,” I said, feeling that little flutter in my chest. “We’ll see you soon, then.”

“Can’t wait,” he said, and I could practically hear the smile in his voice before we hung up.

I looked over at Natalie, who was watching me with a raised brow and a knowing grin. “He sounded happy.”

“He’s always like that,” I said, slipping my phone back into my bag. “Just… warm.”

Natalie waggled her eyebrows. “Well, I can’t wait to see for myself. Let’s go.”

I laughed, shaking my head at her antics, but I couldn’t deny the little buzz of excitement I felt as we headed out of the restaurant and towards the bar. Seeing Hank while he was working, introducing him to Natalie—it all felt like the next step in whatever this thing was that we were building. And despite my nerves, I was ready for it.

We left the restaurant and made our way to Paul’s, Natalie chatting animatedly beside me about her week, the conversation flowing effortlessly. My mind kept flickering between her words and the upcoming introduction. I’d never brought a friend to see Hank before. It felt like a moment of significance—an intersection of two parts of my life that had yet to fully overlap.

The bar came into view, its soft glow spilling out onto the street. Natalie nudged me as we neared the door, a grin plastered across her face. “You ready for this?”

I laughed, though I could feel my stomach fluttering. “I guess we’ll see.”

Inside, the bar was bustling, but not so packed that it felt overwhelming. The low hum of conversation filled the room, and I spotted Hank behind the bar, his tall frame moving easily as he served drinks. He was wearing that same confident expression I’d come to love, his blonde hair slightly tousled, like he’d just run his fingers through it.

“There he is,” I murmured, nodding in Hank’s direction. Natalie followed my gaze, her eyes lighting up in appreciation.

“Holy shit, Y/N. You didn’t mention he was that gorgeous,” she said, her voice low, though there was a teasing edge to it.

I blushed. “You don’t need to tell me that.”

She grinned. “I mean, come on. That smile? He’s like something out of a movie.”

As if sensing our gaze, Hank’s eyes found mine from across the room, his face breaking into a warm smile. He raised a hand in greeting, then signalled for us to come over. My heart skipped a beat, and I nudged Natalie playfully. “Come on, let’s go meet him.”

We weaved through the crowd until we reached the bar, Hank already leaning forward with that easy, confident posture. “Hey,” he greeted me, his voice carrying that familiar warmth. “Glad you came.”

“Hey,” I said, smiling up at him. “This is Natalie.”

Hank’s gaze shifted to Natalie, his smile never faltering. “Nice to meet you,” he said, extending a hand.

Natalie took it, her expression playful but clearly impressed. “You too. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she teased, shooting me a sideways glance.

“Oh yeah?” Hank’s eyebrows lifted in amusement. “All good, I hope?”

Natalie winked. “Mostly.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks, but Hank just chuckled, his attention flicking back to me. “You want a drink? It’s on the house, of course.”

“That’s why we came,” Natalie chimed in before I could answer, grinning. “Drinks and to check you out in action.”

Hank laughed, grabbing a couple of glasses and expertly mixing our drinks. Natalie leaned closer to me as he worked, whispering, “Okay, now I see why you’re glowing. He’s a total catch.”

I couldn’t help but smile, watching as Hank slid our drinks across the bar with a smoothness that made it look effortless. “For you, ladies.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking my drink and feeling that familiar warmth spread through me. Hank always had this way of making everything feel easy, even in moments like this.

“So,” Natalie started, taking a sip of her drink and turning her attention back to Hank. “Y/N tells me you’re pretty great. But I need to know—is she right, or is she just being nice?”

Hank chuckled, leaning against the bar with that lopsided grin. “I guess that depends on who you ask.”

Natalie smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Well, you’ve passed the first test. You’re as charming as she said.”

Hank’s usual easy smile flickered for a split second, just the slightest pause before he replied, “Good to know,” his voice smooth, but a beat too late. His gaze flicked away momentarily, as if trying to find something else to focus on. But then his eyes landed back on mine, and the familiar grin was back in place like nothing had happened.

“You sticking around for a while?” he asked, his tone lighter, but I didn’t miss the subtle shift.

I nodded, feeling that little spark of excitement again. “Yeah, we thought we’d hang out for a bit, if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is,” Hank replied, his smile widening. “I’ll come check on you between orders.”

As he moved off to tend to a group at the other end of the bar, Natalie nudged me again, her grin impossible to miss. “Okay, seriously, he’s even better in person. I totally get it now.”

I laughed, sipping my drink. “He’s something, isn’t he?”

Natalie nodded, her eyes tracking Hank as he worked. “Yeah, and you guys seem to click. Like, really click. It’s nice to see.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and contentment settle in my chest. “Thanks. It feels like it’s going really well.”

We found a couple of seats at the bar, tucked away at one end where it was a bit quieter, but still close enough to the action. It gave us some privacy while keeping us right in the middle of things.

The place was buzzing, but not overwhelmingly so, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses creating a comfortable backdrop. Hank moved easily behind the bar, tossing drinks together with an effortless kind of grace. Every now and then, he’d glance our way, and when our eyes met, that familiar, easy smile of his would tug at the corners of his mouth.

“I can’t believe you’re not here all the time,” Natalie teased, nudging me with her elbow. “If I had a guy like that making me drinks, I’d probably be living in this bar.”

I laughed, taking a sip of my drink. “Trust me, it’s tempting.”

Hank came over again, this time leaning against the bar a little closer, his grin just as playful as before. “You ladies doing okay? Need another round?”

“We’re good for now,” I said, smiling up at him. “But don’t let us keep you from your work.”

Hank winked. “Work’s more fun with you two around.”

Natalie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his charm. “Well, aren’t you smooth? No wonder Y/N’s head over heels.”

There it was again—that small flicker of hesitation in Hank’s smile, almost imperceptible. He covered it quickly with a laugh, but I saw the way his hand clenched the bar just a little tighter. “I just call it like I see it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, rolling my eyes, though the warmth in my chest didn’t go unnoticed.

We exchanged a quick look, that familiar spark of something passing between us, before Hank straightened up, grabbing a beer from under the counter. He cracked it open with one hand, taking a quick sip before setting it down behind the bar.

Natalie’s eyes tracked the bottle, her brow furrowing just slightly, but she said nothing.

As the night went on, Hank stopped by a few more times, each time with that same easy smile, teasing both of us with playful banter. Natalie kept up her end, shooting back comments that had me laughing, and Hank would respond with that quick wit of his, never missing a beat.

But as the drinks kept flowing for the customers, I noticed Hank grabbing another beer here and there. At first, it was subtle—a quick sip in between mixing drinks, his movements so smooth you wouldn’t catch it if you weren’t paying attention. But then Natalie leaned over, lowering her voice just enough for me to hear.

“Is he drinking while he’s working?” she asked, her tone light, but there was a hint of something more beneath it—something uncertain.

I glanced at Hank, who had just taken another swig from his beer before setting it back down behind the bar, out of sight from most of the customers.

“I… don’t know,” I murmured, suddenly feeling a flicker of discomfort. “Maybe it’s just one beer?”

Natalie’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she shrugged it off, forcing a smile. “I guess. I mean, it’s not like he’s getting drunk or anything.”

“No, of course not,” I agreed quickly, though I couldn’t shake the small knot forming in my stomach. Hank didn’t seem drunk—far from it. He was still sharp, still himself. But something about Natalie’s observation stuck with me.

She gave me a small, reassuring smile, her hand resting on my arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Just wanted to check in with you.”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile in return. “It’s probably nothing.”

Still, as Hank returned to the bar, flashing us both that same charming grin, I couldn’t help but feel like there was a subtle shift in the air—a question I hadn’t thought to ask, one that was now lingering in the back of my mind. I pushed the thought away, determined to enjoy the rest of the evening, but Natalie’s words stayed with me, hanging in the space between us like a quiet reminder that things weren’t always as simple as they seemed.

The bar had quieted down a little, the earlier buzz settling into a comfortable hum. Hank found a few moments here and there to stop by, leaning against the bar with that effortless ease I’d come to expect. He slid into our conversation naturally, throwing in a few quips that had Natalie laughing along with him. Everything felt easy, fun, like it always did when Hank was around.

But then, Natalie glanced down at the beer Hank had been nursing on and off throughout the night. Her laughter faded slightly as she raised an eyebrow. “So, do you get to drink on the job, or…?”

Hank followed her gaze to his drink, his smile never faltering. “Perks of the job, I guess,” he said with a wink. “Just a few beers to take the edge off when it’s a slow night.”

Natalie chuckled, though I caught the brief flicker of something in her eyes—something questioning. “Seems like a pretty laid-back gig.”

Hank shrugged, taking another sip and leaning in a little closer, his voice dropping into a playful tone. “Laid-back when I want it to be, crazy when I don’t. Keeps things interesting.”

I laughed lightly, trying to keep the mood light, but Natalie wasn’t quite done. “You don’t think that might be, you know, a bit too much sometimes?”

Hank’s grin never wavered, but there was something tight in his eyes, a flicker of something uncertain, maybe even defensive. “Trust me, I’ve got it under control. Besides, one or two beers never hurt anyone.”

Natalie nodded slowly, her eyes flicking over to me for a split second before she took another sip of her drink. “Sure, just curious.”

There was an unspoken tension in the air now, subtle but undeniable. I glanced between them, feeling the small knot of unease forming in my stomach. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it—it wasn’t a big deal, right? Hank seemed fine, totally in control, and Natalie was probably just being protective. Still, her question lingered in the back of my mind.

As the night continued and the bar buzzed with its usual energy, I noticed Hank’s glances becoming a little less playful and a little more introspective, especially during those quiet moments when he thought I wasn’t watching. It was subtle—he’d serve a drink, smile at a customer, then his gaze would flick over to me and Natalie, and for just a second, I saw something… heavier behind his eyes. But every time I tried to catch his gaze, he’d flash that easy smile and the moment would disappear.

At one point, as he brought over another round of drinks, Natalie leaned over and joked, “You’re going to have to step up your game, Y/N. This guy is setting the bar pretty high.”

Hank’s smile faltered for just a moment before he quickly recovered. “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, his tone light but not as confident as before.

I laughed it off, but the quick shift in his expression stuck with me. I knew Hank wasn’t one for showing vulnerability, but something about the way he brushed off Natalie’s compliment made me wonder if there was more going on beneath the surface than I’d realised.

Trying to shift the focus back to something lighter, I smiled at Hank. “So, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened while you’ve been working?”

Hank immediately grinned, leaning a little closer, and I could see that familiar mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Oh, I don’t even have to dig too far back for that one. Remember Lisa’s birthday?”

I groaned, laughing as the memory rushed back. “Oh no, don’t remind me.”

Natalie’s interest piqued. “Wait, what happened?”

Hank jumped in before I could even start to explain. “Well, it started as your usual birthday celebration—everyone having a good time, you know? But by the time the shots started coming in hot, it turned into a full-on circus. Drinks spilled everywhere, and someone decided that dancing on the bar was a good idea.”

Natalie’s eyes lit up as she laughed. “Oh God, that sounds familiar! This one,” she nodded towards me, “used to be just as bad in college. If there was a party, you could count on Y/N to be right in the middle of it. We were a dangerous combination.”

“Oh really?” Hank raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this revelation. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for the party type.”

Natalie snorted. “Oh, she had her moments. Theme parties were our thing, weren’t they?”

I nodded, unable to hold back a smile. “Oh God, remember Aisling’s birthdays? The cowgirl theme? And her ‘sexy army’ party?”

Hank raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Sexy army?”

Natalie laughed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Yeah, Y/N was in a full-on cowgirl get-up one year—boots, hat, the whole thing—and another year, we did the whole camouflage thing with tiny shorts. We looked ridiculous, but we thought we were killing it.”

I covered my face, laughing despite myself. “We spent more time on the floor than anywhere else, though. We never knew when to stop.”

Natalie nodded in agreement, raising her glass in a mock toast. “We always ended up half-dressed, too drunk to stand, thinking we could handle just ‘one more shot.’ We were a disaster.”

Hank was practically doubled over at this point. “You two were trouble, huh?”

“Total trouble,” Natalie said proudly. “But we survived. Even if it meant we spent half of our college years hungover.”

I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “Well, we had fun, didn’t we?”

“The best kind of fun,” Natalie said, her grin softening slightly as she took a sip of her drink. “We were always there for each other too, no matter what kind of nonsense we got into.”

Hank, still chuckling, looked between us with a newfound appreciation. “I’m starting to understand why you two are so close.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Natalie said, giving me a fond look. “Y/N’s one of the good ones, even if she tried to convince everyone otherwise with her rebellious phase.”

I shrugged, pretending to look modest. “It’s because I’m so shy, I needed some Dutch courage to help me out, I’ve mellowed out since then. I think.”

Hank shot me a teasing glance. “I don’t know… You’ve still got a bit of that wild side.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, unable to hide my smile. “I’m very well-behaved these days, thank you very much.”

Natalie laughed, lifting her glass in a mock toast. “To good times, bad influences, and surviving college. And hey, Hank, maybe one day you’ll get to see just how rebellious Y/N can be.”

Hank grinned, leaning in a little closer. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The playful banter between us lingered, filling the air with laughter and lightness. Even though Natalie’s earlier concerns still floated at the back of my mind, the atmosphere had shifted back to something fun, something easy, the way it always seemed to feel when I was with Hank.

The evening passed quickly after that, the conversation flowing between the three of us with an easy rhythm. Hank kept the jokes coming, and Natalie even seemed to relax a bit, though I couldn’t quite tell if she had fully let go of her earlier concern. By the time she checked her watch and announced she needed to head home, the bar was starting to wind down, and a comfortable quiet had settled over the room.

“I should get going,” Natalie said, pushing her chair back and grabbing her bag. “Early start tomorrow.”

I nodded, standing up to walk her out. “I’ll make sure you get a cab.”

Hank gave her a quick smile. “It was nice meeting you, Natalie. Hope to see you around again.”

“You too, Hank,” she replied, flashing him a smile before turning to me. “Ready?”

We stepped outside into the cool night air, and I noticed the way Natalie’s shoulders relaxed once we were away from the noise of the bar. She glanced up and down the street, spotting an approaching cab before turning to face me.

Natalie shot me a sympathetic look. “I wasn’t trying to be a downer about the beers,” she said gently. “But… just keep an eye on that, okay?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle into my chest. “I will. I promise.”

Natalie gave me a quick, reassuring squeeze on the arm as the cab pulled up to the curb. “I’m sure it’s fine. He seems like a great guy, really. Just… you know, look out for yourself too.”

“I will,” I repeated, managing a small smile. “Thanks for tonight.”

“Anytime,” she grinned, pulling me into a quick hug. “And text me when you get home, alright?”

“Will do,” I said, stepping back as she climbed into the cab.

I watched as the car pulled away, disappearing down the street. For a moment, I lingered outside, breathing in the crisp air and letting Natalie’s words sink in. She wasn’t wrong—Hank did drink while he worked, and maybe it wasn’t ideal, but he seemed fine. It didn’t seem like a problem, at least not right now. But the fact that she had noticed, that it had been enough for her to mention it… it gnawed at me.

And then there was something else too, something I couldn’t quite shake—those fleeting moments of hesitation in Hank’s smile tonight. It wasn’t like him to falter, not even for a second. But I’d seen it—the way his expression had shifted ever so slightly when Natalie called him a “total catch,” the way he seemed to brush off compliments like he wasn’t sure he deserved them. It was subtle, but it was there.

Shaking off the unease, I turned and headed back into the bar. The warmth of the place wrapped around me as soon as I walked in, the familiar hum of music and chatter bringing me back to the present. Hank was leaning against the bar, talking to one of his colleagues, but his eyes lit up when he saw me coming back. He smiled, that same easy smile, but now I couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on beneath the surface. Was it as easy for him as he made it seem? Or was he feeling the same quiet questions that had started to stir in me?

“All good?” he asked as I approached.

“Yeah, she got a cab,” I replied, sliding into the barstool closest to him. I gave him a teasing smile. “She thinks you’re charming, by the way.”

Hank chuckled, resting his arms on the bar and leaning toward me. “Is that so? I’m glad I passed the friend test.”

“You did,” I said, laughing softly. “She’s protective, though. You’ll have to keep impressing her.”

He grinned, leaning in closer. “I’ll make it my mission.”

We shared a quiet smile, the kind that felt easy and familiar, the connection between us palpable even in the midst of the noise around us. For a moment, I forgot about Natalie’s concerns. I forgot about everything except the way Hank’s gaze seemed to soften when he looked at me, the way his presence had become something I looked forward to at the end of the day.

“She wasn’t too tough on me, was she?” he asked, his tone light but laced with a hint of curiosity.

I shook my head, brushing it off. “Nah, just… you know, asking the usual questions. She’s just looking out for me.”

He nodded, understanding. “I get it. Friends are supposed to do that.”

I hesitated for a second, still feeling the weight of Natalie’s words pressing at the edges of my thoughts. But I didn’t want to turn the conversation into something heavy, not tonight. Instead, I leaned forward slightly, giving him a teasing smile. “I think you did pretty well. She liked you.”

“That’s good to know,” Hank replied, his eyes twinkling. “Because I was definitely trying to impress her.”

I laughed softly, leaning against the bar. For now, the moment felt right, and I wasn’t going to let anything ruin it. Whatever concerns lingered in the back of my mind could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, I just wanted to enjoy the way Hank made me feel—like everything was easy, like things were falling into place without me even trying.

Masterlist

[liminalpebble]

Lock and Key: Part 1 of 2 (A Professor Pine Story)

Part 2 link

AN: Part 1of 2, older/ instructor/Jonathan Pine x student/agent/femme reader

CW: Minors DNI. Smut in the next part, my loves.

“Again,” said Pine, glaring down at you through the dark frame of his glasses.

You slammed down the lock and picks in frustration, then rubbed at your temples where a headache was creeping in. Your hands reeked of metal and WD40. You'd been at this, stuck in his office, all afternoon.

“It took 10 minutes, Pine! That's not half bad.”

“Professor Pine...and it's not half good either. Ten minutes is too long in field work.”

“Jesus Christ,” you muttered, as he simply stared you down.

Silences never felt awkward for him, never seemed to make him the least bit uncomfortable. He had a way of observing so closely and quietly that it was absolutely preternatural.

“Do you ever blink?”

That actually did make him laugh, a tiny puff of a thing under his breath, the slightest flex of a smile on his unbearably handsome face. He fidgeted with his glasses; one of his few tells. It communicated, without a word, that the stoic Jonathan Pine was deeply concerned.

The addition of lenses to his face was a recent, not to mention reluctant, one. He told himself that was the cause of his frustration, his unease; just that annoying little touch of plastic against his skin, a tiny chafe reminding him that he was older now. He told himself that's all it was, that it had nothing to do with you. He wasn't fooling himself.

Pine didn't think you'd notice, but you did.

You noticed a good deal more than he thought.

He moved toward the stopwatch again, then neatly and precisely placed the utensils back in front of you. His deft, practiced, fingers reset the lock in no time. He raise an eyebrow, his finger hovering over the button, silently asking if you're ready yet again.

You sighed and stretched your neck and back, rolling out a few sharp creaks and pops. You wiggled your fingers and took a deep breath. He tried not to notice the curve of your throat and collarbones as you moved, the way your deep breaths raised and lowered your soft chest in a mesmerizing rhythm.

“Can I at least talk to you this time? It might make it easier to get out of my head...find some kind of flow. I'm overthinking and I'm panicking...maybe...I don't know.”

He grimaced. Ideally, this should be silent. It would have to be on an assignment and he worried about that; about you.

That's why you were here, after all. Pine demanded your attendance in office hours because he was concerned for you...more than he ought to be, more than he had any right to be as your instructor. It had grown into much more than a professional interest.

It weighed on his conscience. In this line of work, he knew better than anyone how fatal attachments could be. You were a firecracker and he watched you in splendid wonder, even though you could burn him to the ground. His feelings for you were his deepest secret, and he kept it guarded like Fort Knox.

Jonathan combed a hand through his curls. They were growing quickly, getting unruly and it irked him. Pine wasn't used to wearing the styles and trappings of another man's life yet; he was a spy...the spy that took down Richard Roper, and now he was a man behind a desk, lecturing to future agents. It felt strange to be replaced in the field. He missed the adrenaline, the pumping blood, the danger...all things he was now beginning to associate with you.

Finally, after the deafening silence of his ruminations, he put his hands on his hips and huffed out a, “sure, okay. But just this once.”

He pushed the button and the clicking began; the regular, measured ticks of the watch versus the more firm and frenzied clicks of metal against metal as you finessed the pins.

“Gently!” he advised placing a hand on your shoulder. The sound of his crisp baritone and his proximity were doing nothing to help your focus. “I'm going to start calling you Attila the Hun!”

“What?”

“You work in a frenzy, you know? You're whip-smart but you're...reckless.”

click....click click

“Hrmm. Well, Director Burr seems to remember a time when you could be reckless too.”

He frowned and stopped his pacing. “She told you that?”

Click. Click. Tick tick tick.

“Hrrmm...not in so many words. I read between the lines. Do you like this new life? Are you less...reckless...*click* these days?”

Pine crossed his arm and resumed his slow journey to nowhere.“We're not here to talk about me, we're here to make you a competent field agent.”

You shrugged. “Well, that's going swimmingly, isn't it? *click click* I don't see why you're so obsessed with this analog stuff. I can bring a Fortune 500 company to its knees with a few keystrokes and you think this is something that I'll need to do?”

“Hacking can't help you if you're beaten and locked in a cellar.”

“Come on, that doesn't happen anymore.”

A needle-sharp, blue-eyed glare met yours.

“Does it? Did it happen to you?”

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“Time” he declared, ending the conversation, to his great relief and your frustration.

You gave a cocky little twitch of your head, meeting his appraisal with a smirk. You gestured to the lock.

“There. Open in five. Acceptable?”

He sat down next to you and brought it closer to his face.

“You've stripped it completely though. You might as well have used a bolt cutter.”

“So?”

“So, it's best not to leave evidence.”

“No one would notice that!,” you argued indignantly.

“I did.”

“You're....you're...an evolutionary anomaly.”

He chuckled, really chuckled this time, and it startled you. “What? I beg your pardon?”

“You're...different, Jonathan. You're too...everything...”

Your mentor sat, scooting closer. You could smell his aftershave. You could see that his pullover was not, in fact, black, but a subtle navy blue...fine and soft. Fine and soft as that vulnerable skin peaking out at the collar, the milky, pale, dip between his throat and his chest.

God, you wanted to touch him, wanted to run you tongue along that valley and devour him, feel his deep groans through the skin and sinew of his long neck as you'd kiss it...suck on it.

Your throat went dry and you cleared it to speak quietly, more uncertain than he'd ever heard you.

“You...you're perfect. You can't understand what it's like to struggle like this.”

“I assure you, I am very far from perfect...If you only knew.” He shook his head sadly, recalling some scar of a memory you couldn't discern.

You turned to face him, mere inches from each other.

“If I only knew what, Professor Pine?”

His Adam's apple bobbed with a swallow and he forced his breathing to slow. “That I am very...very...far from perfect. I'm only human. I make mistakes.”

Those lovely ocean eyes flicked from your eyes to your lips.

“And I think I may be about to make another one.”

@smolvenger and @muddyorbs and @gruftiela this is for you! I don't know who else might give a fuck, but feel free to share if you like it! Thank you for reading! Part 2 (the last one) coming soon. I promise not to leave you hanging too long.

[heartrpmusings]

MAGGIE LINDEMANN - HEADSPLIT lyric starters

RIP MY HEART OUT

"i ripped my heart out to give you life."

"you're the blood that flows through my veins."

"i'll be the shield that takes all your pain."

"i've been searching for a lifetime."

"every part of you is all mine."

"it's a foreign feeling - my wounds are healing."

"no one can shine as bright as you do, baby."

DIE FOR

"i'd hold my breath so you can breathe."

"reach out for my hand and follow me."

"find who you'd die for - that's who you live for."

"hold on to me now - 'til we're six feet in the ground."

"if you leave - would you find your way back?"

"without you - all the lights fade to black."

"guess that's why they say love is pain."

"you are the future - the vision i see."

"hold on to me now."

DEPRECATING

"how can you sleep in the dark when you're killing someone that is harmless?"

"believe in the bullshit you're lost in."

"how could you lie when you promised?"

"now karma's a bitch."

"if you love me, will you let me go?"

"if you loved me, you would let it show."

YOU HOLD MY LOVE

"you guard my heart from breaking."

"i've seen the truth beneath the lies."

"a part of me was left to die."

"trust has been my weakness."

"my soul has been too generous."

"for you, i'll always risk it."

"the love i feel for you's alarming."

"next to you is where i'm staying."

"nobody makes me feel like you do."

ONE LAST TIME

"the reaper's knocking - say your goodbyes."

"i'm losin' track of who i once was."

"think i'm scared i'll never love me."

"i try to hold on, but i'm losing grip."

"i'm going back to where i came from."

"i know it's easy to forget me."

24

"i can't catch the dreams i'm chasing."

"maybe i'm a little unstable."

"can i turn back the clock - just to make it stop?"

"i should be celebrating."

"add a year, blow out your candles."

"why am i tolerating?"

"what if i don't have a purpose?"

"this is what makes me feel worthless."

HOSTAGE

"hold me close - i overthink."

"hold me close - when my voice gets shaky."

"be patient with me."

"you bring me to safety."

"silence my thoughts."

"start to believe what i've been told."

"you keep me warm - my mind was cold."

"when you're next to me and i take your hand the fears let me go."

"when my mind feels lost and you shelter me - it sets me free."

"i'm in my head and it drives me crazy."

TAKING OVER ME

"anxiety is killing me."

"why can't i just let it be?"

"just another fuckin' day i'm drowning in these sins."

"hello, paranoia, acting like my best friend."

"i hear voices in my head - i bet they'll never end."

[rafecamerons-national-anthem]

Crossed Scripts-Drew Starkey

Chapter 9

∘₊✧────────────────────────✧₊∘

Cassie woke up with a jolt, her heart racing as she glanced at the clock. It was just past 9:30 AM, she had less than an hour to get ready for her coffee date with Drew. She'd spent the whole morning overthinking everything: What should she wear? How much effort was too much? What if she looked too dressed up or, worse, underdressed?

She stared into her closet, frustration building. Her mind was spinning with endless options, but nothing felt right. She needed to look casual, but still put together. It had to be effortless but not sloppy. Her palms started to sweat. She couldn't help it. This was...weird. Drew was just a guy she met during auditions, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she hadn't felt this nervous before a date in a long time.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her phone and shot Drew a quick text.

Cassie:

"Hey, what kind of outfit are you thinking? I'm freaking out over here trying to figure out what's casual enough but not like I just rolled out of bed 😂"

It only took a minute before his reply came through.

Drew:

"Haha, don't worry about it! Just casual, something comfortable. I'm sure whatever you wear will be perfect."

Cassie let out a sigh of relief. Drew's message was comforting and gave her the confidence to settle on a simple outfit: a white graphic tee and dark jeans. She was going for a relaxed vibe, not too much, just enough to feel herself. After throwing her hair into a messy bun and applying minimal makeup, she was ready to go.

She glanced in the mirror one last time. Her outfit wasn't groundbreaking, but it was exactly what she needed to feel confident without overthinking it. She grabbed her bag, feeling her nerves flutter in her chest but trying to push them down. It was just coffee, after all.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Cassie walked into the café, looking around. It wasn't crowded, which was a relief. She spotted Drew almost immediately, he was standing near the counter, scanning the menu. He looked casual but put-together, his eyes lighting up when he noticed her.

"Hey!" he greeted, his voice warm and friendly.

"Hey!" Cassie replied, trying to hide her nervousness behind a smile. "We really are going for the same vibe, huh?" she said, glancing down at his outfit, he was wearing a white graphic tee and dark jeans, too.

Drew chuckled. "I guess great minds think alike," he said, offering her a grin. "Or maybe we both just don't like putting in too much effort."

Cassie laughed, her nerves easing. "Exactly," she said, feeling more comfortable now.

"So, what's your go to coffee order?" Drew asked, glancing at the menu again.

"Definitely a cappuccino," Cassie said, feeling the conversation flow easier now. "I like my coffee strong but not too crazy. You?"

"I'm a latte kind of guy," Drew answered, smiling. "No frills."

They both ordered their drinks and found a table near the window. As they sat down, the conversation flowed effortlessly, from their favorite movies to funny audition stories. Cassie felt herself relax more with every passing minute, her anxiety about the date slowly melting away.

By the time they finished their coffee, Cassie felt good. It wasn't overly serious, just two people enjoying a conversation. It was refreshing.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

After their initial conversation and coffee, the minutes seemed to fly by. Drew and Cassie had fallen into a comfortable rhythm. They talked about everything, from acting struggles to childhood memories, the movies they loved, and even their favorite random hobbies. It felt natural, easy, and surprisingly fun.

Cassie couldn't believe how much time had passed. She glanced at her phone, and her jaw dropped. It was already nearing sunset, the light outside dimming as the day turned to evening.

"Wow," she said, looking out the café window. "I didn't realize we were here that long."

Drew followed her gaze, then looked back at her with a grin. "Time flies when you're having a good conversation, huh?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "Guess we should probably call it a day soon..."

But neither of them made a move to leave. There was something about the way the evening had unfolded that made both of them reluctant to part ways. Drew shifted in his seat, tapping his fingers against his coffee cup.

"Do you have any plans for the rest of the night?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cassie shook her head. "No plans. Just...typical Tuesday night stuff. Probably just Netflix and some snacks."

Drew grinned. "Well, I'm not quite ready for this to end. What do you think about a movie marathon at my place? We could grab some drinks, order some junk food..."

Cassie felt a spark of excitement. "That sounds way better than Netflix and snacks alone," she agreed.

"Great," Drew said, standing up. "Let's go grab some liquor and make it a proper night. But first...you down for McDonald's? I'm craving fries."

Cassie chuckled. "I'm always down for fries."

They both walked out of the café, the evening air crisp around them. They slid into Drew's car and headed toward the nearest McDonald's. The drive through line was short, so they didn't have to wait long before they were ordering.

"Two large fries and two McChickens," Drew said casually when they reached the window, just as Cassie was about to say the same thing. She stared at him, surprised.

"Are we...are we that in sync now?" she asked with a laugh.

Drew grinned, handing her the bag of food. "I think so. Great minds, remember?"

They both laughed as Drew drove toward the liquor store. Cassie leaned back in her seat, feeling the relaxed energy between them. It was easy. So easy. She felt like she could stay with him forever, like everything in the world was just falling into place.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

After stopping for a couple of bottles of wine and some whiskey, they headed to Drew's apartment. It wasn't huge, but it had a cozy feel to it, one of those places that just felt like home the moment you walked in.

"So, what's the plan? What are we watching?" Drew asked as they set the drinks on the kitchen counter and cracked open the wine.

Cassie thought for a moment. "I've been meaning to finish Outer Banks. I started it, but never got around to the last few episodes."

Drew raised an eyebrow. "You haven't finished it? But it gets so good toward the end!" He gave her a mock gasp. "What kind of fan are you?"

Cassie laughed, feeling playful. "The kind who gets distracted by other shows...and life. What can I say?"

"You're lucky I'm not judging you...much," Drew teased. "Alright, we'll watch it. But I'm making you watch all the way through now. No stopping in the middle."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Deal."

⊹ ࣪ ˖

They settled onto the couch with their snacks, fries, McChickens, and a glass of wine each. The familiar intro of Outer Banks played, and Cassie found herself completely drawn into the show once again. They talked between episodes, laughing and sipping on wine, but as the night wore on, the conversation grew quieter. The atmosphere between them was laid-back and warm, the comfort of the couch and the low hum of the TV filling the space between them.

The wine had kicked in, and before long, Cassie could feel the alcohol settling in, a pleasant buzz in her system. Drew was more relaxed than she had ever seen him, his usual playful energy taking on a softer edge.

At some point, they both got so caught up in the show that they didn't notice how late it was getting. As the final episode of the season came to a close, Cassie stretched, realizing just how much time had passed. She glanced at the clock, darkness was creeping in through the blinds.

"I can't believe we watched that much," she murmured, feeling a little fuzzy from the wine. "I didn't think I was gonna make it through the whole thing."

Drew laughed softly. "I knew you would. You can't resist Outer Banks for too long."

Cassie felt her eyelids grow heavy, the combination of the wine, the late hour, and the comfortable warmth of the apartment making her want to sink into the couch.

"I think I'm about to pass out," she said, her voice drowsy.

"Me too," Drew replied, glancing over at her. "I'll just...give you a minute."

But instead of getting up to leave, Drew shifted closer to her. Without thinking, Cassie let herself lean into him, and Drew wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer.

The heat of his body and the feel of his arm around her made her heart race in a way she hadn't expected. She didn't want to pull away. Not now, not after everything they'd shared that night.

"Are you staying?" Cassie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Drew's response was soft, his lips close to her ear. "I'm staying," he whispered back, pulling her closer until her head rested on his chest. His arms wrapped around her in a protective, familiar way, and they both relaxed into the couch, the TV now just background noise.

The last thing Cassie remembered before drifting off was Drew's steady breathing and the comfort of being in his arms, a sense of peace settling over her. They had spent the whole day together, and yet it felt like time had just begun to slow down. The world outside faded away, and all that mattered was the warmth between them.

As the movie credits played and they both finally fell asleep, the first light of dawn crept into the room, marking the end of their impromptu, perfect night together.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

cassie_yeager just shared a new story!

Replies:

username1: "Wait, is that Drew Starkey? 😱 How do you two know each other?!"

username2: "Hold up, you guys are hanging out?? This is the collab I never knew I needed 😂"

username3: "OMG, I'm literally jealous. I wish I was at that store. Can I trade places with you for a day, please?"

username4: "I cannot believe you're hanging out with Drew, what's going on?? 💀👀"

username5: "I'm just here to say, I need Drew to be MY new friend 😩"

username6: "Not me getting jealous over this. But, like, I get it...😩🔥"*

username7: "Cassie, you lucky girl. How did you pull that off? 😏"

username8: "Is this real life right now?! How did you two meet?? Spill the tea!!"

username9: "Girl, that's Drew from Outer Banks...I'm screaming!!! 😭🔥"

username10: "Okay, but like...is it just me or do you two have serious chemistry? 👀💘"

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Cassie laughed at the flurry of DMs she received, feeling a little bashful but also enjoying the attention. She couldn't help but smile, reading how shocked and excited her followers were. 

Then, she posted another story with a cheeky wink emoji, hinting that maybe things were just starting to get interesting.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

[kalolasfantasyworld]

It's time… Chapter 8 reading time!

Chapter begins with some simple re-establishing. Helena's occupation and likes get a mention. And we see her in clothing that shows her becoming more a part of House Silva.

The interaction Helena starts with Nozel is very fitting. She's the one that finds him and starts the conversation. And though he isn't vocally receptive, neither is he vocally dismissive.

Helena was in her own world.

I understand this line is specifically about her drawing in the moment, but it's not so different from how she is overall. She's in Clover Kingdom, developing her skills and meeting new people, but as least in my perspective, Helena is very much still in her world. She's coming at everything from how she's been raised and taught. She gets offended at disrespect towards her and conducts herself in ways that would be most beneficial to her. It's not narrow-minded or selfish of her. It's just that she really is still new to Clover and narratively, she ought to stay within her own worldview before she learns and changes.

Helena's offense at Nozel not remarking on Gabriel's good looks. I suspect it's a mix of her being offended on her brother's behalf and also being offended because she and Gabriel look similar. So if Nozel doesn't acknowledge Gabriel's good looks, then is he not acknowledging hers? 😆

Nozel being the one to press on the matter of Helena's family also caught me off-guard. Helena is classier than to just blab but going into the scene, I would think that Helena would be the one to reason how she knows more about Nozel's family and thus he should be allowed to learn about hers, and not Nozel himself. Then again, their dynamic would become stale fast if Helena had to initiate every interaction and conversation. Plus, with Nozel's own inability to show care as an older brother, Helena's very obvious affection would pique his curiosity. Ah! And the mention of Noelle shuts things down! Alas. That reveal will have to come later!

Now we see Helena in her element: healing! You're not letting that aspect of her be forgotten and I can only wait to see where this part of Helena will go. Also, can't remember if I said this before but, the idea of an oc specializing in physical healing being involved with a family like the Silvas who are in desperate need of psychological and emotional healing is a chef's kiss~!

But for the time being, Helena is focused on a different royal family! With Fuegoleon and Leopold also accidentally being roped into the secret of Helena's identity at the hospital, I have to wonder how big of a scene this is building up to. I can't see the truth coming out on a large scale and it being brushed aside. But I also don't see it being a make or break deal for Helena. I'm also seeing something between Helena and Nozel. They're both keeping secrets for the sake of their pride. However, Nozel doesn't want his name dragged down by his curse and the burdens he put on himself; he wants his pride to be preserved. Helena, meanwhile, doesn't want her name to be something that causes people to prop her up; her pride is something she wants to be able to do without. But still... Maybe I'm reading too deep into it. Then again, I like it when people read deep into what I write so hopefully you don't mind me overthinking things, Lola~!

Now since the Vermillions are present for a moment, there's a thought I want to air out now. See, I don't expect the Vermillions to get too much of a highlight, especially as the story goes on. While the Vermillions, early on, are a good way of showing the dysfunction of the Silvas compared to a more open family dynamic, I want to see the Drazels become the new topic the Silvas are compared with. Beyond Luciana and Acier's old friendship. Beyond Helena and Nozel's future romance. I want to see how the families put each other in perspective.

Hi!!!

I admit I was pleasantly surprised to see your comment in my inbox 💕

Basically I'm trying to show here some flow of time, because it passes. Asta and Noelle manage to go on a mission with Magna and then to the Dungeon. Here Helena is just slowly adapting to her new "family". In the meantime both her and Nozel spend time in the same place. It's natural for her to try to reach out. She doesn't like to be alone, so presence of another person is welcome. And she's nosy.

As for Nozel. He pretty much doesn't care. As long as she doesn't actively bother him, she can sit there. There's some respect and he doesn't dislike her anymore after the banquet.

I like how you interpreted that sentence, because yes I specifically meant it here for the action, but it really fits the state of her being at this point of the story. She's getting to know Clover (which was also my idea for readers not familiar with BC to learn about it with her).

Yes that looks comment obviously got her agitated 😂 Helena's used to receiving compliments especially when she prompts them. Here Nozel didn't get the memo.

So Nozel is actually slightly curious as well. He certainly won't admit it, but the fact that their mother's were friends interests him just as it did Solid and Nebra. And you're noticing one of my favorite contrasts! The eldest siblings who are on the complete opposite points of the spectrum.

Mentioning Noelle means an end to the conversation, it's just the way it is 😭

Thank you! I'm really happy I chose her to be a healer not a magic knight. So much of the plot relies on it actually, so it's important her work and in a way something that separates her from the Silvas won't be forgotten.

A little detail Leo breaks his right arm... (this is not even good foreshadowing 😂)

Hah I'm glad you're thinking and analysing. Just as Nozel has his reasons for keeping secrets Helena has hers and they will be revealed later on. Her character makes sense, so keep on thinking 😂 It's more personal really.

Back at writing that I admit I planned to have more of Vermillon's later on 🤔 Some focus shifted, but I'm still glad I put them here, because it's a build up to what happens later. And yes the Drazels are an even bigger contrast to the Silvas considering family relations, but it's simply too early to bring them back into the story, which as you are aware happens later.

Thank you so much for your comment <3

As always your analysis is amazing and I love how in depth you dive in here.

[shockmastervoidstate]

Manifested my vacation – "You are in Barbados"

In August, I decided to go on vacation in September.

However, I had a certain budget and I underestimated how sought after September vacations are.

It's because the weather is perfect. Slightly cooler than August, but still hot enough to enjoy the beach.

Finding a place to stay wasn't easy. A lot of hotels and vacation homes asked for very high prices.

But I wanted these things:

- a private home

- a balcony with beach view

I couldn't find what I wanted within my budget, and I almost compromised. I thought if my stay was a little bit shorter or I get a home without balcony or beach view, I could make it.

Then I remembered Neville and Abdullah.

I remembered the legendary story of the door slam.

When Neville wanted to go to Barbados, but didn't know how, and Abdullah just slammed the door in Neville's face when he asked what he should do.

Abdullah just said: "You are already in Barbados"

So Neville pretended to be in Barbados, and the rest is history.

I got inspired and pretended to be already standing on the balcony.

I remember when I visited my mom in hospital (don't worry, she's fine now) and I went to the balcony.

The view was crappy. You could just see a parking area, some old, ugly buildings and a few nurses smoking cigarettes in front of the entrance. It smelled like disinfectant and cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes and you could hear cars accelerating and honking occasionally.

That didn't stop me from using my imagination.

I imagined I was standing on the balcony of a vacation home, looking at the waves, smelling the beach, feeling a nice breeze on my skin.

I relaxed, as if I was happy to be where I wanted to be. I even said to my dad and my sister jokingly, look at the beautiful beach! Don't you smell the sea?

My dad and sis just laughed and said I have a very vivid imagination.

Indeed, and I got what I wanted.

I just started trusting myself and I kept looking for homes and kept sending messages to landlords with interesting homes.

Finally, I found a very nice apartment. I'm in it right now as I'm typing this.

It was close. I almost ran out of time or compromised, then I remembered Neville and acted as if my desire was already there.

I'm just enjoying life and thinking about what I want to manifest next.

Perhaps I'm overthinking. Maybe I should just go with the flow and turn any desire that comes to me to reality.

Maybe I want to live here permanently? Maybe I want a new car or something else. So many choices.

-shockmaster

[akuaya-eng]

(Main story) Chapter 4 - Episode 7

- OMENS OF CALAMITY -

Kai

We need to hurry to the Forbidden Room…! Mere should be there.

Tis

… But how much of what we heard earlier is true?

Kai

What do you mean?

Tis

I mean, Rosé always says weird things. Isn't this just a joke or him exaggerating?

Kai

I don't know… but it didn't sound like a joke this time.

Tuner

(thinking) Claude and the others were talking about it too, so it must be true… though it's probably best if I don't say that as the Tuner.

Kai

In any case, we have to report to Mere. He'll make the right judgment.

Tis

True, there's no point in us overthinking it.

Kai

………

Tis

Hey, Kai? What's wrong, are you tired?

Kai

No. I'm just a little concerned… if Rosé were to cause a calamity, that means the Belladonna family is behind it. If that's the case… I wonder if brother Rath is involved too?

Tis

Ah… what do you think? Maybe. I don't know. But I'm also curious about that weird scene we saw with Espada and Oscar earlier.

Kai

What was that? It looked like Oscar was killing a human…

Tis

But he doesn't seem like the type to do that. Despite appearances, he's quite serious.

Tuner

Do you talk to Oscar a lot?

Tis

Not a lot, but sometimes. I often meet him when I slack off and go to the human world to hang out. Oscar knows a lot about fun places and shops. He said he slacks off from work too.

Kai

So, you're slacking buddies? It doesn't seem like what a serious person would do.

Tis

But hey! Even though I slack off at work, I'm not a bad guy.

Kai

… I get what Tis is trying to say. I don't think Oscar is a bad person either, just rough around the edges. But, if you say that, the same goes for Espada…

Tis

Come to think of it, we didn't see what Espada was doing clearly in the water mirror earlier.

Kai

Yeah. It's not unusual for a devil to kill a human, but I don't think he's the type to take lives unnecessarily.

Tis

Why?

Kai

Because he found the plushie I dropped in the river earlier.

Tuner

In the river…?

Tis

Oh, is that the story where Kai was caught fishing in the river, Kai?

Kai

No. It was my plushie that got caught. Tis, you never listen properly. Anyway, I think Espada and Oscar must have had a reason…

Tuner

I think so too… I want to believe that. (vision goes blank) …!? What's this…? An image is flowing from the Drop of Wisdom--

----------

Mere

… To think that curses are overflowing even in here. Are these curses born from an angel...? There's no choice, I'll have to purify them with my own hands--

----------

Tuner

(thinking) Mere is purifying inside the Forbidden Room…

Tis

… Tuner? What's wrong, it looks like you're in a daze.

Kai

Yeah, you weren't here with us. What happened?

Tuner

It's just--

Spirit of Wisdom

Don't talk about it. You already know without me saying it, don't you?

Tuner

…!

Spirit of Wisdom

That's right, you must keep quiet. Revealing someone's secret is a taboo for the Tuner. Now, deflect the conversation. Here, I'll give you back your words.

Kai

Tuner?

Tuner

… It's nothing. Let's hurry to Mere.

Tis

…? Strange.

----------

Mere

There are too many curses… I can't believe such strong emotions were born from the angels.

Cursed angels

Oh, oh… Lord… why…

Mere

… Good grief. Without the power of purification, I wouldn't have been able to get into this place. What on earth is hidden here…

[odysseywritings]

The Better Sister

@flashfictionfridayofficial

My older sister came over for the first time since Dad's funeral. We talked about important things over the phone but we stopped being close by the time she moved to the city with a lucrative career lined up for her. It was strange seeing her outside of a holiday, and when I asked her why she visited, she said it was something to do while her boyfriend visited his own family. She helped me pick up branches scattered in the yard after a nasty storm.

"So," Cheryl said in between the cleaning, "have you kept up with painting?"

"A bit," I replied with little energy. "Not many people here really want what I make. And it's hard to get anyone on the Internet unless I'm a great marketer."

She nodded and added, "You know, Dana, if you're looking for extra money, you could go into programming like me."

"I tried, but it's too complicated, even with beginner courses. I just wish there was more stuff here where I could... I don't know, feel successful and happy."

"Honestly, that probably won't happen if you stay here. If you want my opinion, Dana, you should put more faith in yourself. Otherwise, you'll be stuck here feeling miserable."

I don't know why I was so mad at her for that. It wasn't wrong, but how she said it, like it was so obvious. Maybe things were just easier when she was the smarter and prettier one and didn't get why I might've struggled more. I just wish she helped me more before she left. I grit my teeth and put on my best face.

"Maybe. I do try, though. I recently got a raise at my job despite the headache it's giving me, haha."

"That's good to show some ambition. Glad to see you coming out of your shell. Looks like we're done anyway so let's get back inside."

"Okay, but it's not looking good. Mom got worse with the hoarding after Dad passed away."

"God. Is she home now?"

"No, out shopping. Kinda glad because we can just relax."

We walked on a clear path surrounded by mountains of CDs, books, movies, tools, food cans, magazines, newspapers, and other items that merged into towering mounds of junk. I cleared up some room on the couch as we channel surfed. Mom's cat Robert Scritchum jumped up to greet Cheryl with needy affection as she made voices and messed with his fur. I'd feel more like that if we got him while the house and our mental states were in better condition.

We ended up watching a bad b-movie about an alien failing to kill a bird with a laser gun to keep things breezy. The mindless movie just made me overthink about the future. Would things be alright if I moved out and left Mom alone? Should I stay and try to tough out my issues?

I just wasn't cut out for this dilemma with my mental and physical issues. Every view into the window hurt my heart no matter what I chose. Cheryl would've handled this better. She was always the smarter one. The flow of overwhelming thoughts burrowed into my brain with an absentminded "It should've been you who stayed."

I looked back at the TV and then at Cheryl. She heard me say that aloud.

"You want me to stay here?"

My face burned and my gut sank. That wasn't supposed to spill out and now she'd think I was guilt tripping her.

"I didn't mean it, it just came out!"

Cheryl's face was hard to read and fixed on me. Her shoulders relaxed and put her hand on mine to calm my nerves. My heart rate slowed and I could breathe and think easier.

"I just had a bunch of thoughts and one of them accidentally came out. It's like... You were the responsible, rational sister. Thinking about the future of the house and Mom and your career. You would've handled that way better than me. I'm trying, it's just..."

Tears rolled without realizing it, and her hand held mine tighter, and she looked at me with gentle eyes.

"Hey, Dana, look. I appreciate what you're saying, but it's not that simple. I just can't come back to this life. Not with how I've been living now. And you shouldn't have to burden yourself with this. I don't know the right answer for you, but you've got a lot of resilience to put up with a lot of this and still be you. No matter what, Mom and I will support whatever you choose. Just please don't stress too much about it."

I sniffled and leaned over to hug her, trying to not get my runny nose on her shirt. I don't know how much of that solved anything but it was nice to just say it and to hear her without judgement. Whatever tension there was went away as we continued watching the cheesy movie and could laugh more freely. For the first time in years, we felt like sisters again.

[bobbiworks]

Beyond the Bell Chimes | Part 30

RIIZE Fanfiction: Wonbin, Seunghan, Eunseok, Sohee, Shotaro, Sungchan, Anton, Original Characters Genre: Teen romance, high school romance, fluff, angst, friendship

As autumn swiftly faded, winter took its place, casting a cold spell over everything. The world transformed into a canvas of snowy whites and dark hues, with bustling streets adorned by stalls offering steaming hot soup and snacks to thaw frozen souls.

Jiwoo strolled to the bus stop flanked by the two boys. Despite their confessions, everything felt unchanged. Unspoken competition lingered between them, leaving Jiwoo yearning for the effortless camaraderie of the past. Overthinking crept in — would they remain friends?

"Guys," Jiwoo interjected, halting their steps. They turned to her, awaiting her words. "We're almost done with the school year. Do you think we'll stay the same next year, and the next, and so on?" Anxiety gripped her as she pondered their future together.

The boys exchanged glances, offering sincere smiles. "We're friends no matter what, Jiwoo," Wonbin reassured, prompting a teary-eyed response. "What's wrong? Did I mess up?" he panicked.

"It's just that I don't want us to drift apart because of our feelings. You guys are my best friends, and I can't imagine high school without you," Jiwoo admitted, tears flowing freely. The boys chuckled, patting her shoulder.

"You're not responsible for our feelings, Jiwoo," Seunghan assured. "Maybe one day, we'll grow out of it, or maybe one day, we'll grow more into it," he added with a wink.

"Wow, you sound like a dating expert," scoffed Wonbin.

"Of course! Found it in a bookstore," Seunghan shot back, earning a playful shove from Wonbin. "You should go now," he said, ushering him to his bus stop.

Seunghan bid Jiwoo farewell, leaving her alone with Wonbin, who gazed at her with the softest expression.

"Finally, I get to be alone with you," Wonbin sighed, almost pouting. Jiwoo chuckled, fixing his hair.

"I don't know why Suyoung's been clinging to you. I can't even stand a chance," he confessed.

"Well, she said she likes me more than you do," Jiwoo quipped as they headed back to their bus stop.

"We've got a long break coming up. Any Christmas plans?" Wonbin inquired.

"I'll spend time with family and help out at Shotaro's restaurant. I need to pay for something," she explained. "Still got more than half to go."

"Can I help you? My mom doesn't spend much time with me on Christmas," Wonbin admitted.

"That must be tough," Jiwoo sympathized, patting his back. "I'll ask Shotaro if he needs more help."

"Okay," Wonbin nodded before hesitating. "Would you like to go on a date with me on Saturday?"

Jiwoo blushed. "Ehh?"

"A date. I'm sure others asked too. We've never really been out," Wonbin said, lips almost pouting.

"But I've never been on a date!" Jiwoo panicked. "Yes, they asked, but I've never gone out… I…" She was interrupted by Wonbin's chuckle, his shy and adorable smile easing her nerves.

.

.

.

The maids trembled in fear as Yuri unleashed her wrath, hurling belongings in a wild rampage. Everything she touched seemed to shatter, a physical manifestation of the chaos within her. Fuming with rage, she cursed Eunseok for the predicament she found herself in, a situation where most schools refused her due to her tarnished records at Segye High School.

"D*mn you, Eunseok!" she bellowed, the force of her anger reverberating through the room. Faced with a one-month ultimatum to secure enrollment or face expulsion from her influential family, Yuri's frustration reached a boiling point. Her family, deeply rooted in legislation, wielded considerable influence, but even they couldn't match the might of Song Eunseok's powerful lineage.

Eunseok, meticulously gathering evidence of Yuri's misdeeds and the brave victims seeking justice, had cornered her. Despite her parents' attempts to wield their authority to shield her from the consequences, Yuri's relentless actions proved too much.

During a shopping spree with college friends, Yuri's financial world crumbled when her credit card was unexpectedly locked by her concerned parents. The series of humiliating declines left her exposed, a stark contrast to the facade of affluence she tried to maintain.

"I'm going to break every one of you!" Yuri's scream echoed with a vengeful determination. In her quest for retaliation, she sought to wound Eunseok where it hurt the most. Despite their brief romantic history, Eunseok had always seemed impervious. Today, Yuri vowed to uncover his vulnerabilities and make him pay for the turmoil she found herself in.

.

.

.

Shotaro diligently wrapped up the reports in the council room when an unexpected duo, Eunseok and Sungchan, walked in. Miyoung warmly greeted them, offering seats as they entered.

"What brings you here?" Shotaro inquired.

Eunseok, surprising everyone with his directness, asked, "Can I have Jiwoo's address? I miss her."

"Uh…" Shotaro blinked, a shared astonishment evident among the group. "Are you joking?"

Eunseok, with his typically stoic expression, responded sincerely, "What do you mean I am joking? I just said I missed Jiwoo, so give me her address… please."

"My answer is no," Shotaro smiled. "You're my friend, but I won't give you her address."

Eunseok sighed, frustration creeping into his expression. "Why?"

"I don't know. Are you a player?" Sungchan chimed in, taking a seat beside Shotaro and Miyoung. "But come to think of it, Eunseok has never dated anyone after breaking up with Yuri."

"Brrr… Just hearing her name gives me chills!" Miyoung exclaimed, her disdain for Yuri evident. "What's the update about her?"

Sungchan explained, "She tried applying to Hanrim High and other schools, but she got rejected. All Eunseok wanted was for her to apologize and pay for her actions."

"That seems too much for a spoiled brat," Shotaro nodded. "Is the police involved?"

"Mr. Do hired a private detective, just in case," Eunseok revealed. "I know Yuri won't stop unless she hurts something I care about."

"Tell me about being in love," Miyoung mumbled. "I told you not to date her, Eunseok! Look what she did!"

Eunseok sighed in agreement with Miyoung's words, acknowledging his mistake. "So, for the third time, can I have at least her phone number or address?"

"I'll have to ask first," Shotaro replied, emphasizing his respect for Jiwoo's privacy. "You'll have to wait."

"Speaking of Jiwoo, did you see how she kicked her ex-best friend?" Sungchan asked, recalling Jiwoo's impressive act of bravery.

"What do you mean?" Eunseok inquired, having missed the incident.

Everyone's attention turned to Shotaro, who chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I'm warning you, Jiwoo can be a little fragile on the outside, but she's scary when angered."

"Why?" Miyoung pressed. "Have you ever made her angry?"

Shotaro shook his head. "No way. I guess constant bullying in her previous school led her to learn Muay Thai and other self-defense."

"M-Muay Thai???" Sungchan and Miyoung exclaimed, their eyes widening in disbelief. Slowly, they turned to Eunseok. "Heol…" they scoffed. "If he really did annoy her, she would have punched him by now," they said in unison.

"I never annoyed her," Eunseok shot back. "Whatever. That means she's a strong girl, and that's what I like about her."

"Pervert," Miyoung spat.

Eunseok snapped but maintained his composure. "Okay? I said it in the most endearing way. If you don't believe that I like her… then it's you."

"But she likes Wonbin, though," Shotaro added, provoking laughter from the other two. Ignoring their banter, Eunseok left the room.

[airi-mtsm]

prompt 3 - free write

Summer sun draped down her cheekbones as Hero Penrose, Warrior of Light, savior of several worlds, found herself in the middle of Old Sharlayan unable to muster clear enough thinking required to buy a book.

What kind of book would he like? He’s probably read everything at this stall… Still, I should give him something. Maybe he’d appreciate it. What if he doesn’t? But it’s the thought that counts, right?

Overthinking. Lovely.

What prompted her to buy him a gift, and that of something he’s likely already come into possession of at some point in time? By the Twelve, G’raha Tia was a scholar! An Archon, at that! What in the gods’ name was she doing!?

Okay, okay, think. What hasn’t he likely read before? Nothing about history—that red cat was a historian, so that was off the table from the start.

Doesn’t he usually spend hours at book stalls? He’s probably knowledgeable on everything, with all that time spent. Not that Hero wouldn’t either, mind you—her only entertainment as a teenager were the dusty tomes in her father’s library.

How about…?

“Oh, if it isn’t Hero! What brings you here?”

“Eep!”

The little Lalafell, the top of her head barely skirting under 3 feet, jumped to a familiar voice to her left and turned just as quickly to a Miqo’te dressed in all—or mostly red and black.

“G’raha! H, h, hi! Hi there!!” she stuttered, stumbling through her words before the Allagan scholar. Gods, why did her train of thought always stop dead whenever he was around? That silly smile of his, and the way he’s so relaxed, and-

Think, Hero, think! Calm down! Think. That’s right, regain your composure.

“Oh, did I surprise you? My apologies.”

“It’s fine! I was just a bit… lost in my reading,” she replied carefully, chuckling nervously. “I was planning to buy a book to read on slower days… but… um, I’m not very good at deciding.”

Nailed it! Excellent improv work there.

“I could provide you my input, if you’d like?” G’raha replied, a shine in his eyes growing apparent. “I haven’t freely looked around a book stall in a while. Perhaps I could-”

“Of course! I-if you’d like!” Hero blurted out without a thought in her head.

Why.

“Wonderful! Now, let’s see what selection we have today…”

Wait, what?

Is this a win for her? Sure looks like it. Her heart fluttered in place being riiight next to the man she had loved for so long.

“If you only look to idle away the time, I would say the history of the star is a fine topic,” the red Miqo’te started. “It’s very easy to get lost in them. On the contrary, if you should seek to learn something—in theory, that is—there’s plenty of other topics that fit your needs, such as medicine, or magicks, or…”

Gods, he was so cute. It took everything in her to ask a simple question.

“I’m… um, w, what would you recommend?” Hero asked, her voice shaky. “Um, I mean, I, we, um…”

Get it together, girl!

“The history of the star, and that of its occurrences and peoples. It’s a personal preference,” he replied. “I read and read but I never tire of them. Long have I desired to go on an adventure to see sights I’ve never before, and stand next to the heroes of eld!”

“Oh! That’s a rather lovely dream!”

“It’s thanks to you it has been fulfilled.”

…Huh.

Hero did not have a thought in her head. Any thoughts currently going through ceased to flow. She did not wish to misinterpret that line of dialogue.

Oh, Raha. Always so straightforward.

“I-I’m glad…?”

Yep. Not a thought.

“I think I’ll take this one after all,” Hero finally breathed out, heart racing as she exchanged a couple gil for a small volume on the Sixth Umbral Calamity. “I, um, well, if you like it, then… um…”

“That I do. And I think you will as well—but, if there’s anything you require of me to explain, I would be more than happy to do so.”

Is this a chance?

“Th-then, we could read it together! Or something!” she exclaimed, surprised at her own volume. “I-I mean, only if you want. I’d never force you to! Um, that is to say, it’d be nice if you…”

“Of course we could!” G’raha agreed, outstretching a gloved hand. “Come. Let’s find ourselves a spot under a tree, and I’ll walk you through everything. Would that be alright?”

“Oh! Of course!”

Taking his hand, the little Lalafell gripped her small book in hand as the two of them trotted down the streets of Old Sharlayan, finally on…

A date? Could you call it that? No, of course not.

But even if it weren’t, being around G’raha Tia made her heart swirl in a beautiful way.

[esshetic]

December Decider

December Psychic Reflection Energy Readings

The last year of the month, the top of the zodiac wheel yet the darkest of days we have to endure to get on the other side.

Death is strongly on my mind, I keep on swinging from wanting to live to wanting to die. This is the energy, death is strong in the air wanting something inside to die to be reborn, a mask to be shed so that you can finally be free.

Alternatively the dark days with no sun makes me want to die, it seems like a never ending dull grayness, why does winter drag every year?

Anyways lets check in, which photo are you drawn to and the message is for you.

n underwater deep-sea diver—calm under pressure, flowing with the currents, navigating the rollercoaster of life.

If you’re drawn to this image, it signals that you’ve chosen to let go and allow the crashes to happen, to let the missed opportunities slip away, and to face the worst-case scenarios as they unfold. The chaos of the world is inevitable, and this energy invites you to embrace it—to dance in the rain and surrender to the deepest fears lurking in the darkest corners of your mind.

It feels freeing to release the burden of worrying, especially when so much is beyond your control. By adopting this mindset, you’ll move through December with greater self-confidence and clarity. Without the noise of frustration over how things “should” be, you’ll hear God—or your intuition—more clearly.

Life is calling you to engage with it as if you’re playing a game, uncovering new clues and tasks each day. And if you don’t know the clues just yet? That’s okay. Trust in the process.

You need a nap—take it.

Life feels boring, gray, and uninspiring right now, but your soul is urging you to express your vibrancy. Create. Paint. Draw. Be chaotic, because this is your natural state. Yet, the society you live in dictates your tastes and desires. The pressure to conform has overridden your own inner sense of joie de vivre.

Minimalism, maximalism, quiet luxury, loud labels—these are trends we feel compelled to follow to gain worth, status, and validation among the crowd. But you, my dear, were born to stand out, to march to the beat of your own drum. That’s where you feel the most you.

You’re being called to reconnect with yourself, to break free from the mold, and rediscover the beauty of your individuality. Tap back into your essence and set yourself free.

Thinking, overthinking, strategizing, and trying to map out and plan for your future—it’s kind of driving you insane right now, isn’t it? There’s a lot of fear surrounding you: fear of staying still, staying stagnant, staying where you are. What is this fearful belief? Whatever it is, it’s blocking you from being content in the present.

It’s hard to be content with the present reality if things aren’t going the way you’d like, or if you feel threatened or unsafe in your life. It feels easier to keep running, convincing yourself that you’ll find safety in the future once you’ve reached a specific, designated “safe point.” But the constant running is wearing you down.

Maybe now, as the year draws to a close, it’s time to stop strategizing and simply be in the moment. By being in the now, I mean truly accepting your reality and where you are, instead of running away. Breathe life into your current situation—acknowledge it, embrace it, and begin to change it from a place of presence.

Yeah, it’s difficult to smile. When was the last time you genuinely smiled from your heart or laughed from your soul? It feels like a really long time ago, doesn’t it? What has happened? What is your story? Write it down. Your hurt is righteous—you are not ridiculous for feeling rage, hatred, or bitterness. These huge, so-called ‘bad’ emotions and thoughts are beginning to tear through the mask of peacefulness you present to yourself and others.

If you find yourself engulfed in these emotions lately, do not shame yourself or label yourself a bad person for feeling this way. This is a passing storm, and once it clears, it will make space for deeper emotions to emerge. One of the big ones might be jealousy or envy—emotions we’ve been taught to ignore or suppress. But feel them. These emotions, as uncomfortable as they may be, are part of what makes the world turn. They’re woven into the fabric of our desires.

Let’s breathe through them together.