#thank you so much for your super cool asks!!!!!!

[wvyik]

quit pouting, winchester’ d.w. ꩜ .ᐟ

dean winchester x fem! reader

summary; dean gets all jealous over something super dumb (he’d never admit it though), and ends up pouting until you kiss him to make him stop being so ridiculous.

warnings; a hint of possessiveness, jealousy with unreasonable doubts, (duh) make out sesh, but other than that — just pure fluff, because this man is soft for you no matter how much he tries to act tough. don’t kiss and drive kids!!

notes; this is my first fic ever!! send some love. thanks so much for reading through my yap sesh. ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

words; 1008

Dean Winchester is pouting.

And, yeah, he’d probably rather die than admit it, but it’s so obvious it’s almost embarrassing. Arms crossed, jaw tight, barely sparing you a glance as he sulks in the driver’s seat of the Impala. You’d think you just crashed Baby into a brick wall with how pissed he looks.

“De.. what is wrong with you?” you finally ask, leaning against the window to look at him.

“Nothin’,�� he mutters, gripping the steering wheel like it personally offended him. Nothing, my ass.

You narrow your eyes. “Dean.”

“Nothin’, i already told you.” he repeats, this time with even less conviction.

You huff, shifting in your seat so you’re fully facing him now. “Oh my God, you are such a bad liar.”

He scoffs. “I’m a great liar, trust me.”

“Not to me.”

And, that shuts him up for a second. His fingers tighten on the wheel, his mouth pressing into that stubborn, self-righteous little frown he gets whenever he knows he’s losing but refuses to admit it.

You smirk, slowly realizing what could be the cause of his state. “Oh my God, you’re jealous.”

Dean’s head snaps toward you so fast you think he might give himself whiplash. “What?”

You lean in, grinning now. “You totally are.” you say with a soft chuckle, as if the thought of him being jealous is the most hilarious thing in the whole world.

He rolls his eyes, trying so hard to play it cool, but his ears are so red. “Pfft. Yeah, right.”

“You so are.”

Dean exhales sharply, turning his attention back to the road like the empty highway is the most interesting thing he’s ever seen. You can practically hear the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out how to dig himself out of this one.

“You’re acting all weird,” you point out, watching him squirm. “You’ve been quiet for the last hour. You barely even yelled at that dude who cut you off.”

Dean clenches his jaw. He knows you’ve got him.

“So,” you press, “what’s got your panties in a twist, huh?” As if you already don’t know.

He grumbles something under his breath. Oh, he’s embarrassed. You could tell.

You blink. “What?”

More grumbling.

“Dean.” you repeated, hoping for him to finally speak up.

He exhales roughly, hands flexing on the steering wheel. Then, finally, he mutters, “Nothin’. Just— dude was flirting with you, ‘s all.”

You blink. Then blink again. “Are you talking about the gas station cashier?” Dean says nothing. Which is an answer in itself. Oh, this is too good.

You burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Dean, he barely said two words to me.”

“Yeah? And he was lookin’ at you like a damn puppy,” Dean grumbles. “Like he had a shot.”

You shake your head, biting back a smile. “That is so stupid.”

“Yeah, well.” He shrugs, jaw still tight. “‘S stupid to you.”

And okay, yeah, now you kind of feel bad, because he’s being ridiculous, but also kind of… sad about it? Not that he’d ever admit it, but the way he’s gripping the wheel, the way his lips are pressed tight like he’s trying to keep everything in—he actually cares about this. About you.

Which means he deserves to suffer just a little longer.

You scoot closer, pressing your chin to his shoulder. “You know you’re the only one I want, right?”

Dean stays silent, but you feel the way his grip on the wheel loosens. His jaw twitches when you press a slow, lingering kiss to his cheek. You smirk. Oh, he’s melting.

So, you push further, brushing your lips along the sharp edge of his jaw, taking your sweet time. You can feel the tension in him shift— not gone, but different. Like he’s holding his breath, waiting for what you’ll do next.

He clears his throat, but his voice comes out rough. “Yeah. ‘Course.”

You hum, letting your lips trail just a little lower. “Then quit pouting.”

“I ain’t—”

You shut him up with a proper kiss.

And at first, he barely moves—like he wasn’t expecting it, like it takes him a second to catch up. But the second he does, oh, you’ve got him.

Dean exhales through his nose, tilting his head to meet you fully, and then he’s kissing you like he’s making up for lost time. His hand finally lets go of the steering wheel, landing firm and warm against your thigh, fingers flexing like he’s grounding himself.

You don’t hesitate to deepen it, shifting in your seat to turn toward him, your hand moving up to cup his jaw. He’s warm, rough with stubble, and you take your time exploring it, feeling the way his breath stutters when you scrape your nails lightly along the edge.

Dean groans— low, quiet, but wrecked— and then he’s pulling you closer, his other hand coming up to cradle the back of your neck. The Impala swerves slightly.

You pull back just enough to whisper, breathless, “Dean, focus.”

“Tryin’,” he mutters, voice low and strained. “You’re makin’ it real hard, sweetheart.”

You grin, fingers tangling in the short hair at the nape of his neck. “Ain’t that the point?..”

Dean exhales sharply, like he’s trying so hard to keep his cool, but he’s losing. And you? You’re having the time of your life watching him come undone.

You lean in again, kissing him slow and deep, dragging it out just to make him suffer. He sighs into it, fingers pressing just a little tighter into your skin, like he doesn’t want to let go.

Eventually— reluctantly— you pull back, just enough to look at him. His pupils are almost brown in this lightning, lips pink and kiss-swollen, chest rising and falling a little faster than before.

You smirk. “Told you you were pouting.”

Dean exhales, shaking his head with a grumble—but the way he looks at you? The way his thumb traces absently against your knee, like he’s memorizing the shape of you?

Yeah. You definitely won this one.

tysm for reading! more works incoming @ library. ⊹₊⟡⋆

[no-144444]

melbourne- o.piastri

summary: your first season as an f1 driver doesn't start the best, and you quickly realise McLaren doesn't like women very much. On top of that, your race engineer is as smug as the rest of them, and you have to deal with him all the time.

pairing: race engineer! oscar piastri x f1driver! fem! reader

warnings: lots of misogyny, lando is an asshole in this, illusions to ed behaviour, reader is not in a good head space, all of mclaren is super sexist, mentions of crashes and injuries, mentions of panic attack and crying (in this part)

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six | part seven | part eight | part nine | more to come...

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“Oscar?” The awkwardness in your voice wasn’t lost on you, but you’d rather have Oscar see you in your bra  (or lack thereof) and underwear than have to be in that dress one moment longer. 

“Yeah?!” he called from the other room.

“Can I have some… help?” you asked and held his footsteps approaching. 

“Everything alright?” He asked, poking his head into your room. He made eye contact with you in the mirror and smiled. 

“Can you unzip my dress?” you asked, shy and uncomfortable. 

He swallowed. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Sure.”

He tried to act cool about it, but he was shitting himself. He apprehensively started pulling on the zip, one of his hands on the curve of your back. 

“Can you… close your eyes Osc?” you asked, feeling humiliated. “I’m not wearing a…”

Oh. “Yeah, of course,” he smiled and closed his eyes, gently pulling the zipper down. God almighty he was hard. No bra under the most gorgeous dress he’d ever seen on you? He was glad he’d been your ‘date’. He felt you quickly pull on a hoodie and the loss of contact made him frown. 

“Coast is clear,” you chuckled awkwardly. “I’m dressed.”

He opened his eyes and saw you standing in front of him, the image of exhaustion, but you still looked beautiful. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, his mouth moving before he could think. 

“Goodnight Oscar.”

He couldn’t read the expression on your face. The disappointment, o-or was it happiness? Were you annoyed by him? Did you want him to stay?

“Goodnight,” he smiled, pressing a kiss to your cheek and going back to his room to have a mini-freakout. 

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Funnily enough, Kigali to Australia is a 22 hour-long flight. A long, warm, uncomfortable 22-hour flight, even though you were in business class with Oscar beside you. 

“Why is it so hot?” you complained, fanning yourself with your hand. 

“You’re wearing a fleece,” he pointed out, a hint of laughter in his voice. “Of course you’re warm.”

“I don’t have any other clean clothes,” you sighed. 

“I have a t-shirt if you want it?” he offered, taking it out of his hand luggage.

“You just have a t-shirt in your hand luggage?” you questioned, taking it out of his hands and pulling off your own fleece, replacing it with his t-shirt. 

“Yeah,” he answered, shrugging. “It didn’t fit in my suitcase.” 

“Well, thank you anyways,” you said, putting your headphones back on. “I’m going to try and get some sleep.”

He nodded, trying to seem casual. He was anything but casual. You were wearing his shirt. In what world would he be casual about such a momentous occasion? He let himself stare at you as you closed your eyes, turning toward him to lie down, and he just… admired. He didn’t know how long it had been until the overhead lights went out and the plane went into low-lighting, so as to let people sleep.

You opened your eyes to see Oscar looking at you. “Can’t sleep?”

He nodded. Lie.

“Want a panadol?” you offered, getting out the cold medication that was infamous for knocking you out. 

“Yeah, thanks,” he yawned, taking one from your hand. You both tried to ignore the way the touch gave both of you shivers. “Night.”

“Night,” you smiled. 

It was going to be a long Christmas break. 

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Honestly, the first few days in Australia were hectic. You got past the run-up to the holidays without any more awkward incidents between you and Oscar, mostly because his sisters ‘stole’ you from him. While he wasn’t totally happy about that, it was nice to see you have a bit of freedom and enjoy yourself. They showed you all around Melbourne, brought you shopping, brought you to the beach, and everything else. 

But you slept in Oscar’s bed every night. Not enough room in the house meant you had to share and despite your offer of getting a hotel, he insisted. You two brushed your teeth together in silence and then fell asleep together, every single night. It was slightly maddening for him, and you, but neither of you spoke about it. It was all so… intimate. Quiet nights with him behind you in the mirror, listening to him go on about his day with his friends or family, nodding your head slowly as you drifted off, helping him with his skincare, or him helping you dry your hair. It was nice. It was very you. 

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Oscar woke up to the sound of sharp breaths and hiccuped sobs beside him, and he knew something was wrong. Immediately, he turned around to see you sat up in bed, your hand over your chest as you tried to calm down. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting up beside you. 

“I… I can’t breathe,” you choked out, tears streaming down your face. 

He felt his heart break for you. “It’s alright,” he whispered, he wrapped an arm around your waist and situated you in front of him before taking one of your hands and letting you squeeze it. “I want you to breathe with me, alright?” he guided, his voice as calm and smooth as it usually was. He took a deep breath and you tried to match it, hiccuping as you did so. He exhaled, you followed suit. 

Inhale. You squeezed his hand.  Exhale. You relaxed. Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax.  Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax.  Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax.  Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax.  Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax. Inhale. Squeeze. Exhale. Relax. 

Until you had your breathing back to a normal rhythm. 

You took another deep breath, leaning your head on his shoulder as you wiped your tears on his t-shirt. “I’m sorry,” you whispered. 

He shook his head, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you closer to him. “You have nothing to be sorry for,” he told you. “Nothing.”

“Okay,” your voice was smaller than usual, exhausted from the panic attack. 

“What happened?” he asked, his voice gentle and he smoothed a hand down your back. 

You were quiet for a moment. “I had a dream about the crash. I get them sometimes. It’s just… a lot.” 

The crash. Of course. He knew he should’ve insisted you see someone about the mental impacts of it. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” you shook your head. 

“I know, but I’m still sorry,” he smiled sadly. “I wish I could do more to help you.”

You took your head off his shoulder. “You do everything to help me,” you reminded him, a hand on his cheek. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.”

He shrugged. “I still wish I could do more.” 

Both of you just sat there for a moment, staring at each other with sad eyes. Neither of you could deny whatever was brewing between you two, especially not after tonight. The electricity between you two was ridiculous, and you genuinely couldn’t deal with your heart beating 30x faster than it should. Oscar was safe. Oscar wouldn’t hurt you. Oscar was… well, Oscar. Perfect, sweet, kind, gentlemanly, hilarious, talkative Oscar. He loved you like it was breathing. 

“Do you remember Abu Dhabi?” you whispered. 

“Me getting drunk and you having to take care of me?” he chuckled. “Yeah, I do.”

“Do you remember what you said to me?” you asked, your eyes transfixed on his. He looked at you confused. He could feel the weight of the moment, feel the atmosphere change. He just hoped it was for the better. 

He shook his head, his hands still soothing you, going up and down your back. 

“You said loving me was as easy as breathing,” you repeated the words for the first time, and though they felt strange and foreign on your lips, when they’d come out of his, they sounded beautiful. “Did you mean that?”

He was stunned by his drunk self, artistic and pathetic, impressive. He nodded gently. “Yes.”

“I don’t want you to hate me,” you whispered, your eyes drifting down towards his lips. “But I want to give this- us a try,” your voice shook, but you said it regardless. “Is that something you’d be interested in?”

He could’ve sworn he’d died and gone to heaven. Never in a million years did he ever think that he’d be sitting with you on his bed, with you telling him that you wanted him. His brain short-circuited, but his mouth had always worked faster than his brain anyway. 

He leaned down and pressed his lips to yours and everything that had been building for around a year exploded. 

He was all passion and love, you could feel it in the way he kissed you. He wasn’t doing this just to kiss you, no. He wanted this. He’d yearned for this. He’d waited for this moment, and he wasn’t letting it go, letting you go. Your hands on either side of his face were cautious and delicate at the beginning, but once he kissed you, your hands were suddenly in his hair, pulling. Adding the perfect pressure to the kiss. His hands held you in an almost bruising grip, digging into the back of your neck and your side. It was everything either of you had ever wanted. 

You broke apart, a smile on both your faces.

"Yes," he smiled, answering your question. "I fucking love you."

You just kissed him again. You could do that anytime you wanted. He was yours.

And, the most important thing, you were finally letting yourself be open. You weren’t scared of him or how he’d react when he’d learn certain things about you. You had finally let yourself breathe. Let yourself love. 

What a fucking wonderful feeling.

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[oskea93]

Kansas Anymore (4)

Tyler Owens x OC

Summary: In which Riley Owens, the ex-wife of the infamous Tornado Wrangler, has 36 hours to come to terms if moving to a whole new country with their small daughter is something she truly wants to do.

Warnings: Cursing, angst, suggested smut, fluff. ✶ Chapter One ✶ ✶ Chapter Two ✶ ✶ Chapter Three ✶

■ A/N: You guys are amazing! I just want to say thank you so much for loving this story and following the tale of Riley and Tyler ❤️ ■ Taglist is available - just drop a comment! Would love to hear your thoughts, questions, or maybe just drop by to say hello! Can't wait to hear from y'all

Word Count: 11491 ( super long flashback!)

TL:  @ellesmythe @18lkpeters @hookslove1592, @djs8891, @smoothdogsgirl @queenslandlover-93 @imjustamehbleh @love2write2626 @lt-jakeseresin @starcrossedtrek @kmc1989 @lauraseresin @freyagallileaevans @silscintilla

November, 2022

“Nicholas needs those prints on his desk no later than six tonight so he can get them sent to the designers in Japan.”

I nodded my head as my assistant rambled off the various tasks that awaited me as we walked back to my office. “Neve is asking that you meet her for lunch tomorrow around noon and then you have that meeting with the fashion head at the London branch at 2:45.”  

As we rounded the corner to my office, the rhythmic click of my heels against the polished floor came to a sudden halt. My breath hitched, my heart skipping a beat as my eyes landed on the uninvited and unannounced visitor who had made himself far too comfortable on my couch. There he was, lounging as though he owned the place, one arm draped casually along the backrest, the other holding a phone he was in the process of slipping into his jacket pocket. 

His sharp, green eyes found mine immediately, lighting up with a glint of amusement. A slow, knowing smile crept across his face, curling at the edges like he had been waiting for this exact moment. If he noticed the way my grip tightened on the folder in my hands, he didn’t let it show. 

“Hello, darlin’,” he drawled, his rich voice filling the room with a warmth that felt entirely out of place in the cool, professional space of my office. 

I didn’t move. Couldn’t, really. My brain was still processing the audacity of him sitting there, legs crossed, exuding the kind of confidence that bordered on arrogance. The faint scent of leather and something smokier—cologne, perhaps—lingered in the air, mixing with the faint hum of the heating system. 

“I wasn’t aware anyone was waiting for you, Ri—” Charlotte’s voice faltered, her nervousness evident as her eyes darted quickly between the two of us. “Clara didn’t mention anything about a meeting or a visitor.”

“It’s fine, Charlotte.” My response was clipped, my tone distracted as I glanced toward Tyler, who stood there with a self-satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “If you can just give me a minute to deal with this—” I gestured toward him, my hand vaguely waving in his direction, as though dismissing an irritating inconvenience.

“Deal with me?” Tyler interjected, his voice sharp with mock indignation. “Gotta handle me like I’m some dog and not her husband.” His sarcastic tone dripped with bitterness as he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Not like we weren’t together for seven years or anything.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened considerably as the weight of his words sank in. “This is your husband?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper, her gaze flitting back to me, searching for confirmation and clarity.

I turned sharply to face Charlotte, who now looked as though she'd accidentally walked into a war zone. Her fingers hovered nervously over the clipboard she always carried. The poor girl was still new, and this was far from the kind of situation I wanted her to deal with on a Tuesday afternoon.

“Yes, Charlotte,” I said briskly, trying to maintain my composure. “This... is my husband. Ex-husband, technically.”

Tyler’s smirk widened as he leaned back comfortably on the couch, his arms stretched along the top of it like he owned the place. “Ex-husband, current headache. You know, same difference.”

I shot him a glare before turning back to Charlotte, who looked as if she were trying to decide between fleeing or melting into the floor. “Why don’t you take an early coffee break,” I suggested with a tight smile. “I can handle this.”

“But the prints—” she started, glancing between Tyler and me like she was weighing whether leaving me alone with him would be a mistake.

“I’ll have them done on time,” I interrupted, my tone firm. “Just give me a minute.”

Charlotte hesitated for only a second longer before nodding and scurrying off down the hall, her clipboard clutched protectively to her chest. Once she was out of earshot, I turned my full attention to Tyler, who was now making himself at home by casually flipping through one of the glossy fashion portfolios on the coffee table.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, crossing my arms.

“Good to see you too, darlin’,” he said, not bothering to look up as he flipped another page. “I like what you’ve done with the office. Very... you. Cold, professional, and just a little intimidating.”

“Cut the crap, Tyler,” I snapped. “How did you even get past security? Last I checked, my assistant doesn’t schedule appointments for ghosts from my past.”

He finally set the portfolio down, his expression softening just enough to make me suspicious. “Relax. I told the guy at the front desk that I was here to surprise my wife. Guess they’re suckers for a good romance.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Romance? That’s rich, coming from you.”

His smile faltered, just for a second, but it was enough to remind me that underneath all his bravado, Tyler was as human as the rest of us. Not that I was about to let him off the hook.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I pressed. “Why are you here?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked up at me. For a moment, he seemed almost... serious. “I needed to see you.”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, I sighed and moved behind my desk, needing the physical barrier between us. “If this is about the divorce papers, I already signed them. You should’ve gotten them weeks ago.”

“It’s not about the papers,” he said quietly.

“Then what?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. “Because unless this is about something important, I really don’t have time for whatever game you’re playing.”

“Would it be bad for me to say that I fucking miss you? That I miss my fucking kid?” His voice cracked slightly, the anger bubbling up but laced with something raw—pain. He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident in the way his shoulders rose and fell with heavy breaths. “I mean, when you take a guy’s daughter away from him, make it near impossible to see her in person, and then act like I’m the bad guy for feeling this way, what do you expect? You can’t blame a guy for trying to see his own kid. For trying to see the woman he—” He stopped himself, closing his eyes for a second as if steadying his resolve. “The woman he loves. But obviously, she doesn’t love him back.”

His words hit like a series of punches, each one sharper than the last. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, more for protection than defiance, my nails digging into my skin as I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “Tyler, this isn’t fair,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady even though I could feel the cracks forming. “You don’t get to just show up here and make this about you.”

“Make this about me?” He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “How the hell is this about me? This is about her. About the little girl who barely gets to see her dad. About the family we had—” His voice broke on the word, and he quickly cleared his throat, trying to mask the vulnerability that had slipped through. “The family we were supposed to have.”

I felt my chest tighten, guilt mixing with anger in a way that made it hard to breathe. “You think this is easy for me?” I shot back, my voice rising despite my best efforts to stay calm. “You think I wanted things to end up like this? That I wanted to—” My voice caught, and I had to pause, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears threatening to spill. “You don’t know what it’s like, Tyler. To feel like you’re constantly the one holding everything together while someone else gets to just… walk away.”

“Walk away?” His voice was louder now, the anger fully surfacing as he took a step closer. “You think I walked away? You think I wanted to lose everything? To lose you? To lose her?” His green eyes burned into mine, the weight of his words settling heavily between us. “I didn’t walk away, Riley. You pushed me out. You built a wall so high that I couldn’t climb it, no matter how hard I tried.”

I shook my head, unable to look at him, because if I did, I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep the tears at bay. “This isn’t the time, Tyler,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “This isn’t the place.”

“When is it ever going to be the time, huh?” he challenged, his voice rising again. “When are we ever going to talk about this? About us? Or is this just how it’s going to be? You pretending like I don’t exist, like I’m some stranger who doesn’t have the right to see his own family?”

“You don’t get to stand here and act like you’re the victim,” I snapped, the frustration spilling over despite my best efforts to keep it contained. “You don’t get to show up out of nowhere and throw this all in my face, like I’m the one who ruined everything.”

“Then who did, Riley?” he shot back, taking another step closer. “Because it sure as hell wasn’t just me.”

The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. I didn’t have an answer—not one that I could say out loud, anyway. Because the truth was, he wasn’t entirely wrong. But admitting that felt like opening a door I wasn’t sure I’d be able to close again.

Tyler let out a bitter sigh, running a hand down his face as if trying to collect himself. “I just… I just want to see her,” he said, his voice softer now, the anger giving way to something more vulnerable. “I just want to be her dad. That’s all I’m asking for. Is that really too much?”

“It’s not up to me to decide���that’s what the courts are for, and that’s what the lawyers are going to discuss in a couple of weeks.” My voice was steady, though I could feel the strain in my chest as I spoke. I didn’t want this conversation, not here, not now. “I’ve never stopped her from talking to you, Tyler—”

“It’s not the same as seeing her in person, Riley!” he snapped, his voice rising before he caught himself. He glanced around quickly, realizing we were in a public space, and lowered his tone, though the frustration still simmered in every word. “Seeing her on a computer screen is *not* the same as seeing her in person. You know that. I’m not going to let her grow up without a dad—no matter how many miles are between us.”

I sighed, trying to keep my composure, but his words hit me in places I didn’t want to acknowledge. “You think I don’t know that?” I hissed, leaning in slightly so our conversation wouldn’t draw the attention of the people nearby. “Do you think this is what I wanted? For her to have a relationship with her dad through a screen? For us to be having this fight in the first place?”

“Then why?” he demanded, his voice lower now but no less intense. “Why does it feel like I’m the only one fighting for her? For us? Why does it feel like I’m the one who has to jump through every goddamn hoop just to be a part of her life?”

“That’s not fair,” I shot back, my voice trembling slightly, though I wasn’t sure if it was from anger, guilt, or a mix of both. “Do you think this is easy for me, Tyler? Do you think I wanted to uproot her life, to make her live in two different worlds? I didn’t make these decisions lightly, and you know that.”

“Yeah? Well, it doesn’t feel like you thought about me at all,” he said bitterly, shaking his head as he leaned back, running a hand through his hair. “Or about what it would do to her, growing up without both of her parents in the same place. You say you didn’t make the decision lightly, but it sure feels like you didn’t think about anyone but yourself.”

I flinched at his words, even though I tried not to let it show. “That’s not fair,” I repeated, though it felt weaker this time, less convincing even to myself. “You don’t know what it was like for me. You don’t know what I had to weigh, what I had to sacrifice—”

“And you think I didn’t sacrifice anything?” he interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward slightly, his voice growing more intense despite the quiet. “You think I didn’t lose everything the day you left? You took her, Riley. You didn’t just take my daughter, you took my family, my home, my—” He stopped, clenching his jaw as if the words were too heavy to say out loud. “You made the decision for both of us. You didn’t even give me a chance to fight for us.”

“I gave you plenty of chances, Tyler,” I said sharply, my own anger bubbling to the surface now. “But you didn’t fight then. You didn’t fight for us when it mattered.”

His face fell, and for a moment, I thought I’d managed to shut him down. But then he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head as he stood up fully, towering over me. “That’s rich, Riley. That’s real rich. Blaming me for something that was just as much your fault as it was mine.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he held up a hand, cutting me off. “You know what? Forget it. I’m not here to argue with you about the past. I’m here for her. I don’t care what you think about me, or what you think I deserve. She deserves to have her dad in her life, not just on some damn screen. And I’m not going to stop fighting for that.”

“You think I want to keep her from you?” I said, my voice shaking now, the walls I’d built around myself beginning to crumble. “You think I want her to grow up without her dad? I’ve done everything I can to make this work, Tyler. I’ve tried to make it fair, to give you access to her even from a distance. But this—this isn’t just about what you want. It’s about her. It’s about what’s best for her.”

“And you think what’s best for her is growing up with her dad as a visitor in her life?”

I shook my head, exhaustion heavy in every movement. “I’m not going to continue this here. Not in my office. Not in front of all these people.” My voice was firm, but the weariness bled through despite my best efforts to keep it together.

Tyler didn’t even flinch. He stood there, arms crossed, his jaw set in a way that told me he wasn’t letting this go. “No,” he said, his voice calm but resolute, “but we are gonna continue it tonight when you get off.” He spoke as though it was a fact, not a request, his tone leaving no room for argument. “There’s a bar down in the lobby of my ho—”

“No,” I interrupted sharply, shaking my head and holding up a hand to stop him. “I’m not meeting you at some hotel, Tyler.”

“It’s not—” He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to keep himself calm. “It’s not about the hotel, Riley. It’s about having a damn conversation where we’re not surrounded by your coworkers or random strangers.” His voice softened slightly, but the frustration was still there, simmering just beneath the surface. “Somewhere neutral. Somewhere we can actually talk.”

I crossed my arms, my stance defensive, but it wasn’t enough to mask the crack in my resolve. “We don’t need to talk. Everything that needs to be said is being handled by lawyers. That’s the whole point of this process, Tyler.”

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Lawyers? Really? You’re going to let lawyers decide what’s best for our daughter? For us?” His green eyes burned into mine, and for a moment, I had to look away. “You can’t just hide behind them forever, Riley. At some point, you’re going to have to face me. You’re going to have to face this.”

“I’m not hiding,” I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. “I’m doing what I have to do to protect her. To protect us. You think this is easy for me? That I enjoy dragging this out in a courtroom?”

“Then stop dragging it out!” he countered, his voice rising again before he quickly brought it back down, mindful of the people nearby. “Stop making this harder than it has to be. Just meet me halfway, Riley. That’s all I’m asking.”

I let out a shaky breath, my arms dropping to my sides as the weight of his words settled over me. “I have been meeting you halfway. I’ve done everything I can to make this work. But you—” I paused, swallowing hard as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “You’re the one who keeps pushing. You’re the one who keeps showing up like this, making demands, acting like you’re the only one who’s hurting.”

“You think I’m just making demands?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “You think I like showing up here, practically begging to be a part of her life? I’m trying, Riley. I’m trying so damn hard, and it feels like no matter what I do, it’s never enough for you.”

“It’s not about me,” I said, my tone softening despite myself. “It’s about her. It’s always been about her.”

“Then start acting like it,” he said bluntly, the words cutting through me like a knife. “Because right now, all she’s seeing is two parents who can’t get their shit together. And if we don’t figure this out—if we don’t fix this—she’s the one who’s going to pay the price.”

The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of his words settling heavily between us. I glanced around the room, noticing the curious glances from a few of my coworkers, and felt a fresh wave of anxiety wash over me. This wasn’t the place for this. He was right about that, at least.

“I’ll think about it,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m not promising anything.”

Tyler studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, though it was more out of resignation than agreement. “You’ve got my number,” he said simply before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving me standing there with a knot in my stomach and a thousand emotions I didn’t know how to process…

I pulled the umbrella closed as I stepped through the door, the soft patter of rain fading into the background as the sound of muted voices and gentle laughter floated through the lobby. The warm light of the space contrasted sharply with the chill I’d carried in from outside, but it did little to ease the knot in my stomach. The signs leading to the bar area guided me forward, my footsteps slow and deliberate despite the tension urging me to turn around and leave.

From the time Tyler had walked out of my office earlier that day, up until twenty minutes before I finally left work, I’d been locked in an internal battle with myself. My thoughts had spun in circles, bouncing between anger, guilt, and reluctant understanding. I didn’t want to be here—didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he’d won, that his persistence had cracked my resolve. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about Caroline.

Tyler was her father. The man she adored. The man she looked up to with those bright, wide eyes that lit up at the sound of his voice. No matter how much history there was between Tyler and me, no matter how much bitterness lingered in the spaces we couldn’t seem to bridge, I couldn’t deny that bond. And I couldn’t deny that she needed him.

I never wanted to be one of those moms who cut their child’s father out of their life just because the relationship had ended on a sour note. It wasn’t fair—to him, to her, or to the family we’d once tried so hard to build. Caroline didn’t deserve to pay the price for our mistakes. She didn’t deserve to grow up carrying the weight of our failures.

This wasn’t about me. It couldn’t be. My relationship with Tyler, as complicated and fractured as it was, was between him and me. Caroline didn’t ask to be caught in the middle of it. She didn’t deserve to feel the tension that lingered in every strained phone call, every awkward handoff. And no matter how much easier it would have been to keep him at arm’s length, to shield myself from the pain of reopening wounds I hadn’t fully healed, I couldn’t do that to her.

As I stepped into the bar area, the soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses greeted me. The warm amber glow of the overhead lights made the space feel inviting, but it didn’t calm the nerves that twisted in my stomach. My eyes scanned the room, searching for him, and it didn’t take long to find him seated at a small table near the back, his posture tense but his gaze steady as he watched the door. He saw me before I saw him, and as our eyes met, I felt a flicker of something I couldn’t quite name. Relief? Sadness? Maybe both.

He stood as I approached, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. “You came,” he said simply, his voice low and careful, as though he didn’t want to push me away before the conversation even started.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet. Instead, I slid into the chair across from him, setting my umbrella against the side of the table and brushing a few stray droplets of water off my coat. The silence between us was heavy, but not unbearable. It felt like an unspoken truce, a tentative step toward something neither of us could quite define.

“I wasn’t sure if you would,” he admitted after a moment, his gaze flickering down to the table before meeting mine again. “I half-expected you to blow me off.”

“Believe me, I thought about it,” I said, my tone dry but not unkind. “But this isn’t about you or me, Tyler. It’s about Caroline. It’s always about her.”

He nodded slowly, his expression softening as he leaned back in his chair. “I know. That’s why I asked you to come. I’m not trying to make this harder on you, Riley. I’m not trying to pick a fight. I just… I just want to figure out how to make this work.”

I studied him for a moment, searching for cracks in his sincerity, but I didn’t find any. He looked tired—more tired than I’d seen him in a long time—and the weight he carried was written in the lines around his eyes, in the way his shoulders sagged just slightly.

“I want that too,” I said quietly, surprising even myself with the admission. “I want her to have both of us in her life, Tyler. But this… this isn’t easy. You know that.”

He nodded again, his jaw tightening slightly as he processed my words. “I know it’s not easy. But nothing about this has been easy, Riley. Nothing about losing you, losing her, has been easy. I just…

“I don’t want to talk about us—that’s not why I came.” My voice was firm, though I could feel the tension in my chest, the strain of holding back everything I wanted to say but knew I couldn’t. I watched Tyler as he nodded slowly, his jaw tightening for a moment before he exhaled and leaned back in his chair.

“Fair enough,” he said after a beat, his voice quieter now, more measured. “I didn’t ask you here to dredge up the past, Riley. I just… I needed to talk to you. About Caroline” His eyes softened as he mentioned our daughter, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through the frustration that had been so present earlier in the day.

I nodded, forcing myself to stay grounded, to keep the walls I’d built firmly in place. “Good,” I replied, my tone clipped but not harsh. “Because that’s the only reason I’m here. For Caroline.”

Tyler’s lips twitched into something that was almost a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I figured as much,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and understanding. “I know where we stand, Riley. I’m not delusional.”

I raised an eyebrow at that, leaning back slightly in my own chair. “Do you?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. “Because showing up at my office like that didn’t exactly scream ‘I know where we stand.’ It screamed ‘I’m going to bulldoze my way through every boundary you’ve tried to set.’”

He flinched slightly at my words but didn’t back down. Instead, he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he met my gaze head-on. “I’m not trying to bulldoze anything. I’m just trying to be heard. You don’t make it easy, Riley. You’re so locked up in your own head, your own plans, that it feels like there’s no room for me in any of it.”

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists beneath the table as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “This isn’t about you,” I said quietly, though the edge in my voice was unmistakable. “It’s about her. It’s always been about her.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m here,” he shot back, his voice rising slightly before he caught himself and glanced around the bar. His tone dropped again, calm but laced with frustration. “Because I want to be a part of Caroline’s life, Riley. Not just some guy she talks to on a screen once a week. I want to see her. I want to know her. I want to be her dad.”

“You are her dad,” I said, my voice soft but firm. “No one is taking that away from you, Tyler. I’ve never tried to take that away from you.”

“Maybe not intentionally,” he said, his tone gentler now but no less pointed. “But that’s what it feels like, Riley. Every time I have to fight to see her, every time I have to go through you or a screen or a lawyer just to talk to my own daughter, it feels like I’m being pushed further and further away.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I muttered, my voice low but steady, though I could feel the tension building in my chest. “But if you just saw things from my point of view, you’d understand where I’m coming from.”

Tyler’s jaw tightened, and he let out a quiet, bitter laugh as he leaned back in his chair. “Your point of view?” he repeated, his tone laced with frustration. “Riley, I’ve been *trying* to see things from your point of view for years. I’ve been trying to understand why you keep me at arm’s length, why you make it so damn hard for me to be a part of her life. But no matter how much I try, it feels like you’ve already made up your mind about me.”

“That’s not true,” I said quickly, though the words felt hollow even as I said them. “I haven’t made up my mind about you. This isn’t about you, Tyler. It’s about her. It’s about what’s best for Caroline.”

“And you think you’re the only one who knows what’s best for her?” he shot back, his voice rising slightly before he caught himself. He glanced around the bar, his shoulders stiff as he leaned forward again, lowering his voice. “You think I don’t want what’s best for her? That I don’t lie awake at night wondering if I’m doing enough, if I’m ever going to be enough for her?”

I looked away, unable to hold his gaze as his words hit far too close to home. “I know you love her,” I said quietly, my fingers curling into fists beneath the table. “I’ve never doubted that, Tyler. But love isn’t always enough. She needs more than that. She needs stability. She needs routine. And your job—”

“Here we go again,” he interrupted, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. “My job. The big, bad storm chaser who can’t possibly be a good dad because he doesn’t punch a clock in some office every day.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. “Don’t twist this around to make me the bad guy. You know exactly what I mean. Your job is dangerous, Tyler. It’s unpredictable. You’re constantly on the road, constantly chasing storms and putting yourself in harm’s way. How am I supposed to feel comfortable with her being around that?”

“You think I’d ever put her in danger?” he asked, his voice low but cutting, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward again. “You really think I’d be reckless with my own daughter? That I’d ever do anything to hurt her?”

“I’m not saying you’d do it on purpose,” I said, my voice trembling slightly, though I tried to keep it steady. “But accidents happen, Tyler. No matter how careful you are, no matter how much you plan, things can go wrong. And I’m not willing to take that risk with her.”

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression a mix of anger, hurt, and something else I couldn’t quite place. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair as he looked away. “You act like I don’t know that,” he said quietly, his voice softer now but no less intense. “Like I don’t think about that every damn day. You think I don’t know the risks? That I don’t lie awake at night thinking about all the ways things could go wrong? I know, Riley. I know better than anyone. But that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to be in her life.”

“I never said you didn’t deserve to be in her life,” I replied, my voice softening despite the frustration simmering beneath the surface. “I want you to be in her life, Tyler. I want her to have her dad. But it’s not that simple. You can’t just show up whenever it’s convenient for you and expect everything to fall into place.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” he said quickly, his tone defensive. “I’m trying, Riley. I’m trying to figure this out, to find a way to make this work. But you make it so damn hard. You keep putting up walls, and no matter how much I try to break through them, you just build them higher.”

I swallowed hard, his words hitting a nerve I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I’m not putting up walls,” I said quietly, though even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for her. That’s all I’ve ever tried to do.”

“And you think I’m not?” Tyler asked, his voice rising slightly before he caught himself again. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as his eyes locked onto mine, our faces mere inches apart. His frustration simmered under the surface, but there was something else there too—something raw and desperate that made it hard to hold his gaze. “Remember our dream?” he continued, his voice quieter now, though no less intense. “Two or three kids, a house with a picket fence and a wraparound porch. We used to talk about it all the time, Riley. Don’t act like you don’t remember.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I blinked away the tears that were beginning to well up. I hated that he could still do this—still drag me back into the past, to a time when things were simpler, and the weight of reality hadn’t yet crushed the dreams we’d built together. “Of course, I remember,” I muttered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “But that was a long time ago, Tyler. What we had is over.” I forced the words out, each one feeling heavier than the last, as though saying them out loud would somehow make them easier to believe.

“It doesn’t have to be,” he said softly, his tone shifting as he reached across the table, his hand brushing against mine. The gesture was small, almost hesitant, but it was enough to send a jolt through me. My instinct kicked in before I could think, and I jerked my hand back as though his touch had burned me.

“Don’t,” I said sharply, the word cutting through the space between us like a blade. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mix of anger and something I couldn’t quite name. “You don’t get to do that, Tyler. You don’t get to sit here and act like we can just go back to the way things were. Like nothing happened. Like you didn’t—” I stopped myself, my voice catching as the words threatened to spill out. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself before continuing. “What we had wasn’t enough. It’s not enough now, and it’s not going to be enough for Caroline either.”

His expression shifted, the hurt flashing across his face so briefly that I almost missed it. “That’s not fair,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t get to decide that. You don’t get to sit there and tell me that what we had wasn’t enough when it was enough for me. When it still is enough for me.”

I shook my head, my hands gripping the edge of the table as though it was the only thing keeping me grounded. “You don’t understand, Tyler,” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. “You’re still holding onto this idea of us, this picture-perfect version of what we were supposed to be. But that version doesn’t exist anymore. It hasn’t for a long time.”

“Why not?” he asked, his voice louder now, his frustration boiling over. “Why doesn’t it exist anymore, Riley? Because you gave up on it? Because you decided it wasn’t worth fighting for?” He sat back in his chair, shaking his head as he let out a bitter laugh. “You talk about me not seeing things from your point of view, but have you ever tried to see things from mine? Have you ever stopped to think about what it felt like to lose you? To lose my family? To lose the life we were supposed to have?”

His words hit like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to argue, to defend myself, to tell him that he didn’t understand what it had been like for me either. But the truth was, he wasn’t entirely wrong. I had made the decision to leave. I had been the one to walk away, to tear apart the foundation of the life we’d built together. And even though I knew, deep down, that it had been the right decision, that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“I didn’t give up,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t walk away because I stopped loving you, Tyler. I walked away because I couldn’t keep pretending that love was enough. We were falling apart, and no matter how much we tried to hold on, we couldn’t stop it. I had to make a choice—for me, for her. And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Tyler stared at me, his jaw tightening as he absorbed my words. For a moment, I thought he might argue, might try to convince me that I was wrong. But then he let out a heavy sigh,

“This was a mistake,” I said abruptly, my voice shaking as I scrambled to my feet. The chair scraped loudly against the floor, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables, but I didn’t care. I needed to get out of there. I could feel the walls closing in, the weight of Tyler’s words pressing down on me like a storm I couldn’t escape.

I grabbed my purse and umbrella in one swift motion, fumbling slightly as my hands trembled. “I shouldn’t have come,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. My heart was pounding in my chest, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Anger, sadness, guilt—they all swirled together, making it impossible to think clearly.

“Riley, wait,” Tyler said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency as he stood too. His movements were slower, more measured, as though he was afraid that pushing too hard would make me bolt entirely. “Don’t do this. Don’t just walk away.”

I shook my head, avoiding his gaze as I clutched my purse tightly. “I can’t do this, Tyler,” I said, my voice cracking despite my best efforts to keep it together. “I thought we could have a conversation, a civil conversation, but it’s always the same with us. It always comes back to this—to you and me and everything that went wrong.”

“Because it’s not fixed, Riley!” he shot back, his own frustration bubbling to the surface. He ran a hand through his hair, his green eyes blazing as he looked at me. “We can’t just pretend it didn’t happen, like it doesn’t matter. You think we can just keep sweeping it under the rug and everything will magically work itself out? That’s not how this works. That’s not how we fix this.”

I let out a shaky laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Fix this?” I repeated, my voice bitter. “There is no fixing this, Tyler. What we had is broken. It’s been broken for a long time, and no amount of talking about dreams or the past or what could’ve been is going to change that.”

“It doesn’t have to be broken,” he said, his tone softening as he took a step closer. “Riley, I know things weren’t perfect—hell, I know I wasn’t perfect—but that doesn’t mean we can’t try. For us. For Caroline.”

I flinched at the mention of her name, the knot in my stomach tightening. “This isn’t about Caroline,” I said quietly, though the words felt like a lie even as I said them. “This is about you not letting go. About you refusing to accept that sometimes, love isn’t enough. Sometimes, it’s not enough to fix what’s broken.”

“I’m not refusing to let go,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I’m refusing to give up. There’s a difference, Riley. I’m fighting for my family. Because I still believe we can make this work, even if you don’t.”

I stared at him, my chest tightening as his words hung heavy in the air between us. For a moment, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that it was possible to go back, to rebuild what had been lost. But I knew better. I knew that some things couldn’t be undone, no matter how much you wished they could.

“This was a mistake,” I repeated, my voice steadier now as I took a step back, putting more distance between us. “I shouldn’t have come here, Tyler. I thought we could talk like adults, but it’s clear that we’re just going in circles. And I can’t keep doing this. I won’t.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but I shook my head, cutting him off before he could say anything. “Don’t,” I said firmly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, don’t. I can’t do this right now.”

“Can I at least see my daughter before I head back to Arkansas?” Tyler’s voice was quieter now, but the weight of his words lingered between us. He wasn’t asking out of anger this time, or frustration—it was something softer, more vulnerable, and it stopped me in my tracks. His green eyes, usually so sharp and unrelenting, were pleading now, searching mine for any sign of compromise.

I froze, my hand tightening around the strap of my purse as I stood just a few steps from the door, the rain still pattering faintly against the glass. My heart felt like it was caught in a vise, squeezed between the exhaustion of this entire conversation and the guilt that his request stirred up. I wanted to say yes, to tell him he could see her, to give him that moment with Caroline that I knew he was desperate for. But another part of me hesitated, unsure if giving in would open a door I wasn’t ready to walk through.

“Tyler…” I started, my voice wavering as I turned slightly to face him. “You know it’s not that simple.”

His jaw tightened, and he let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back against the edge of the table. “It should be,” he said softly, his voice laced with a mix of sadness and frustration. “She’s my daughter too, Riley. I shouldn’t have to beg just to see her.”

I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. “I’m not trying to keep her from you,” I said softly, though my voice carried the exhaustion of repeating the same thing over and over. “It’s just… it’s late, Tyler. She doesn’t even know you’re in town. You showing up now will only get her hopes up, and then, come tomorrow, when you go off with the wind again, she’s going to be another sad kid who has to deal with her family not being together.”

Tyler’s face twisted, a mixture of frustration and hurt flashing across his expression. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, running a hand through his hair as he took a step back. His hands clenched into fists at his sides before he let out a slow breath, forcing himself to loosen them. “That’s not fair,” he said finally, his voice low but steady. “You make it sound like I just swoop in and out of her life without a care in the world, like I don’t think about what it does to her. Do you think I don’t know how hard it is for her? Do you think I don’t feel it every time I have to say goodbye?”

“I’m not saying you don’t care,” I replied, my voice softer now but still firm. “I know you do. I know you love her more than anything. But that doesn’t change the fact that your life isn’t built for this, Tyler. It’s not built for her.”

He flinched at my words, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out, but instead, he just shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You keep saying that,” he said, his tone quiet but sharp. “That my life isn’t built for her. That I’m not built for this. But do you-“

"Fine!" I snapped, my voice cutting through the hum of the city like a whip. My frustration with the entire conversation tipped over, spilling out before I could stop it. "Fine, you can come see her, Tyler. Because I’m done. I’m done having this same talk with you over and over again. I can’t do it anymore."

Tyler blinked, clearly caught off guard by my outburst. For a moment, he just stared at me, his lips parting slightly as though he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Then, slowly, his expression shifted, the anger and frustration melting into something softer. Something more cautious.

"Riley…" he started, his voice low, almost hesitant. He reached out as if to steady the situation, his hand hovering in the air between us. "I didn’t mean to push you like this. I just… I just want—"

"No," I interrupted, holding up a hand to stop him. "Don’t. Don’t try to justify it. I know what you want, Tyler. You’ve made that perfectly clear. And you know what? I want it too. I want Caroline to have her dad in her life. I want her to know you, to love you, to feel like she has both parents who care about her. But this…" I gestured vaguely between us, my hand trembling slightly. "This isn’t working. This constant back and forth, this fighting—this isn’t healthy for anyone. Least of all her."

Silence enveloped us for the first time tonight, thick and heavy, like the calm that settles just before a storm. Neither of us moved, the weight of everything we’d said hanging in the air between us. I could feel Tyler’s eyes on me, his gaze filled with something I couldn’t quite decipher—relief, frustration, desperation, maybe all of it at once. My own emotions were tangled beyond recognition, a mix of exhaustion, guilt, and an aching sadness I couldn’t seem to shake.

Finally, I broke the stillness, my voice low but firm. “You already have my address,” I said, not looking at him as I adjusted the strap of my purse on my shoulder. “Just meet me at my place, and we can go from there.”

I turned, my heels clicking softly against the floor as I started to walk away, eager to escape the intensity of his presence. But something made me stop, something deep in my chest that wouldn’t let me leave without one last parting word. Slowly, I turned back to face him, catching the faint flicker of surprise in his expression as I met his gaze head-on.

“You have an hour, Tyler,” I said, my tone sharper now, the edge of frustration creeping back in despite the exhaustion weighing me down. “I’d make it count if I were you.”

His brows furrowed slightly, as though he was trying to read between the lines of what I’d just said. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, only to close again. It was rare to see Tyler at a loss for words, and for some reason, it made the knot in my stomach tighten even more.

“Riley—” he started, but I cut him off with a small shake of my head.

“Don’t,” I said quickly, my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “Just… don’t say anything. Not right now. Just show up, okay? If you really mean what you’ve been saying tonight, if you really want to make this work—for her—then prove it. Be there.”

For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded, his jaw tightening as he seemed to steel himself. “I’ll be there,” he said quietly, his voice steady but laced with something raw. “You have my word.”

I nodded in return, not trusting myself to say anything else. Without another word, I turned and walked toward the door, my steps quick and purposeful even though my chest felt like it was about to cave in.

This wasn’t how I’d wanted things to go. I’d come here tonight hoping for clarity, for some kind of resolution that would make everything feel easier, lighter. But instead, I felt more conflicted than ever. Tyler’s words echoed in my mind, his frustration and pain mingling with my own until I couldn’t tell where his ended and mine began.

An hour. That’s all I’d given him. It wasn’t much, but it was all I could give right now. And as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me was scared—scared that he’d show up and prove me wrong, or worse, that he wouldn’t show up at all.

I took a deep breath, the cold air stinging my lungs, and started toward my car. One hour. That’s all I had to wait. And yet, it already felt like an eternity…

“Daddy has to go, but I love you so much, Sugar pie,” Tyler’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, as he rocked Caroline gently in the chair. The sound of the creaking rocker echoed faintly through the quiet house, blending with the muffled hum of the rain outside. He cradled her close, her small arms wrapped around his neck as if she could keep him from leaving just by holding on tight enough. The sight of them together in the dim glow of the nightlight was enough to twist something deep in my chest, but I stayed hidden in the hallway, my back pressed against the wall as I eavesdropped on their final moments together tonight.

The rocker creaked again; a sound I’d grown so used to in those first sleepless months when Caroline was just a newborn. Tyler had spent hours in that chair, rocking her back and forth, humming softly under his breath when she couldn’t settle. He’d struggled to put the chair together the week before she was born, insisting that he didn’t need the instructions, and I’d laughed as he cursed quietly under his breath every time he got a piece wrong. Now, watching him rock our little girl in it, I wondered if he remembered those moments as clearly as I did. If they hurt him as much as they hurt me.

“Why can’t you stay with me, Daddy?” Caroline’s small voice broke through my thoughts, and I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. Her words were so innocent, so full of the pure, unfiltered honesty that only a child could have, and yet, they carried a weight that neither of us could bear.

Tyler froze for a moment, his arms tightening around her as if he could shield her from the pain of the question. He pressed his lips to her hair, his eyes squeezed shut as he took a deep, shaky breath. “Oh, Sugar pie,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “You know I’d stay if I could. I’d stay with you forever if I could.”

“Then why can’t you?” Caroline asked, her small voice cracking with confusion and hurt. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him with those wide, tear-filled eyes that always seemed to cut straight through to his soul. “Why can’t you stay here with me and Mommy?”

I covered my mouth with my hand, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I listened from the shadows of the hallway. I knew this moment would come eventually—the moment when Caroline would start asking the hard questions, the ones we didn’t have easy answers for. But no amount of preparation could have made this easier. Hearing her little voice tremble, seeing the way she clung to him like her life depended on it, was almost too much to bear.

Tyler swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to find the right words. His hand came up to gently stroke Caroline’s hair, his fingers trembling slightly. “Sometimes, grown-ups have to live in different places,” he said finally, his voice soft and careful. “It’s not because I don’t love you, or because I don’t want to be with you. It’s just… the way things have to be right now.”

“But me and Mommy miss you,” Caroline said, her small voice trembling as she clung tighter to her father. Her words were simple, but the weight they carried was immense, heavy enough to make my breath hitch in my chest.

She was right—I did miss him. I missed him more than I ever wanted to admit, even to myself. Tyler wasn’t just Caroline’s father; he was my husband—well, ex-husband now—but that didn’t erase the years we had spent building a life together. The memories, the laughter, the love—it was all still there, lingering in the quiet corners of my heart, no matter how much I tried to push it away.

I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes as I fought the tears that threatened to spill over. I had loved him. I still loved him. And that was the hardest part of all of this. I never thought that our happily-ever-after would turn into a bitter divorce hearing, full of accusations and tears and lawyers who didn’t care about the life we had built together. I never thought we would end up here, two people who had once promised to love each other forever now struggling to figure out how to co-parent a little girl who didn’t understand why her family had fallen apart.

Tyler had been my everything at one point. The man who knew me better than anyone, who could make me laugh even on my worst days, who had held my hand through every high and low. He was the only man I had ever truly loved, and watching that love slip through my fingers had been one of the most painful experiences of my life. It was like trying to hold onto water—no matter how tightly I tried to grasp it, it always seemed to find a way to escape.

And now, as I listened to Caroline’s innocent, heart-wrenching questions, I felt that pain all over again. But this time, it wasn’t just my pain. It was hers too. She had been caught in the middle of something she didn’t ask for, something she didn’t deserve. And that broke me in a way I couldn’t even begin to describe.

“I miss you and Mommy too, bug,” Tyler said softly, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he cradled Caroline closer. He brushed a stray curl from her forehead, his hand lingering as though he couldn’t bear to let go. “But I promise, just because I’m not here with you in person, doesn’t mean I’m not with you. I’m always in here.” He tapped her chest gently with his finger, right over her heart.

Caroline tilted her head, her big, tear-filled eyes locking onto his as she asked, “In my heart?”

Tyler nodded, a small, tender smile breaking through the sadness etched into his face. “Yep,” he said, his voice warm and reassuring. “Every time you miss me, or feel sad because I’m not here, just remember that I’m right there in your heart. And nothing—*nothing*—can ever change that.”

Caroline sniffled, her little hands clutching at his shirt as though she might fall apart if she let go. “But what if I need to talk to you?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What if I want you to hug me and you’re not here?”

Tyler’s expression tightened for a moment, the pain of her words flickering across his face like a shadow. But he quickly steadied himself, his hand moving to gently stroke her back. “You know what?” he said softly, leaning in a little closer. “If you ever need to talk to me, all you have to do is ask Mommy to call me. She can call me anytime, bug, and I’ll answer. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I’ll stop everything to talk to you. I promise.”

“Whenever I want?” Caroline asked, her voice brightening just a little, though her tears still glistened on her cheeks.

“Whenever you want,” Tyler confirmed, his smile growing as he kissed her forehead. “You’re more important than anything else, Caroline. There’s not a single thing in this world that matters more to me than you.”

Caroline seemed to consider this for a moment, her little brow furrowing as she processed his words. Finally, she nodded, her grip on his shirt loosening just slightly. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice still hesitant but a little steadier now. “But I’m still gonna miss you, Daddy.”

Tyler’s smile faltered for a split second, and I could see the sheer effort it took for him to hold himself together in that moment. “I’m gonna miss you too, Sugar pie,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I already do. But missing someone just means you love them a whole lot, and I love you more than anything.”

Caroline seemed satisfied with that answer, her head resting against his chest as she let out a tiny sigh. Tyler rocked her gently in the chair, the motion soothing both of them as the room fell quiet for a moment.

I took that as my cue to step back into the kitchen, retreating quietly so Tyler could have a few more moments with Caroline. My footsteps were light, careful not to make any noise that could pull either of them out of their private moment. As much as I wanted to stay rooted in that hallway and soak in the tenderness of their exchange, I knew this wasn’t my moment to intrude. This was for them—just a father and his daughter, sharing a goodbye that neither of them truly wanted to say.

Leaning against the kitchen counter, I exhaled slowly, the tension in my chest refusing to loosen. I had been holding my breath since this conversation started, and even now, with the faint sound of Tyler’s voice drifting down the hall, I couldn’t seem to relax. My emotions were too tangled, too raw.

I busied myself by tidying up the already clean counter, wiping away crumbs that weren’t there and straightening the edge of a dish towel. It gave my hands something to do, gave me a distraction from the ache that lingered deep in my chest. But nothing could drown out the quiet hum of Tyler’s voice or the occasional soft murmur from Caroline. Every word, every sound, seemed to wrap itself around me like a thread, pulling me back into a web of emotions I wasn’t sure I could untangle.

The rocker creaked faintly again, the noise carrying through the stillness of the house. I imagined Tyler holding her close, whispering reassurances that he would call her soon, that he loved her more than she could possibly understand. I imagined him tucking her back under her blankets, smoothing her hair, and kissing her forehead like he’d done a hundred times before. And I imagined the look on his face—the mixture of love and pain that always seemed to linger whenever he said goodbye to her. It was a look I knew all too well, one that had been etched into my memory from the day we decided to end our marriage.

I leaned my elbows on the counter, covering my face with my hands as I tried to steady myself. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. None of this was supposed to happen. We were supposed to be a family, raising Caroline together, making memories in the home we’d built. But somewhere along the way, things had unraveled, and now here we were—two people who used to love each other, trying to figure out how to co-parent without breaking her heart in the process.

The sound of Tyler’s footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts. I straightened quickly, brushing my hands down the front of my shirt as though that could somehow mask the fact that I was barely holding it together.

He appeared in the doorway a moment later, his shoulders slightly slumped and his hands stuffed into his pockets. His eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, neither of us said anything. The silence between us wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t comfortable either. It was heavy, filled with all the words we couldn’t say, all the emotions we couldn’t bring ourselves to admit.

“She’s asleep,” Tyler said finally, his voice low and quiet. “Knocked out as soon as her head hit the pillow.”

I nodded, my throat feeling tight as I tried to find the right words. “Thank you,” I said softly, my voice barely audible. “For being here. For… for making time for her.”

He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, but he didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he leaned against the doorframe, his gaze drifting toward the hallway where Caroline’s room was. “I hate leaving her,” he admitted after a moment, his voice cracking slightly. “Every time I walk out that door, it feels like I’m leaving a piece of myself behind.”

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. “She knows you love her,” I said, my voice trembling. “She knows how much you care, Tyler. And that means the world to her. Even if she doesn’t always understand why you have to go.”

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head as he looked down at the floor. “I just wish I could do more,” he said quietly. “I wish I could be here for her the way she deserves. The way you’ve been.”

My eyes drifted to the floor, unable to hold his gaze any longer. The faint sheen of pink nail polish on my toes caught my attention, a distraction so small yet so necessary in this moment. My chest felt tight, my emotions threatening to spill over as tears pricked at the edges of my vision. I blinked rapidly, willing them away, but the lump in my throat only grew heavier.

I didn’t want to cry—not now, not in front of him. Not when I’d spent so much time building the walls I needed to keep myself steady, to protect myself from everything this moment was dredging up. But the weight of the evening, of his words, of everything was becoming too much.

Seconds passed in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken emotions that neither of us seemed brave enough to confront. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw his boots step into view. Worn, scuffed, and familiar in a way that made my chest ache, they stopped just inches from my bare feet. I froze, my breath catching as I felt the distance between us shrink to nothing.

And then his hand—calloused, warm, and unmistakably his—came into view. His thumb hooked softly under my jaw, the rough pad of his finger just brushing my skin as he tilted my face upward. The gesture was gentle, unassuming, but it carried a weight that made my heart stumble in my chest. I resisted at first, my instinctive defenses kicking in, but his persistence was quiet and steady, and eventually, I gave in.

When my eyes met his, the floodgates I had been so desperately trying to hold back threatened to burst. His gaze was steady, searching mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. For a moment, neither of us spoke, but the silence was deafening. His green eyes—so familiar, so full of emotions I couldn’t quite name—seemed to reach straight into the parts of me I’d been trying to bury.

“Riley,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. It was the way he used to say my name, back when things were simpler, back when we were still us. Back when the love between us was enough to drown out the noise of the world. Hearing it now, like this, felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

I blinked, a single tear escaping down my cheek despite my best efforts to keep my emotions in check. His thumb shifted slightly, brushing the tear away with a tenderness that made my breath catch. “You don’t have to do that,” he murmured, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—regret, longing, maybe both. “You don’t have to hide how you’re feeling. Not from me.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I tried to find the words that would make this moment less unbearable. “It’s not that simple,” I managed, my voice trembling as I spoke. “None of this is simple, Tyler.”

“I know it’s not,” he said quietly, his thumb still resting gently against my jaw. “But that doesn’t mean you have to carry it all on your own. You don’t have to be so strong all the time, Riley. It’s okay to let someone in.”

I shook my head, the motion small but firm, as though it was the only thing keeping me grounded. “I can’t let you back in, Tyler,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to steady it. “Because if I do… if I let you back in, I won’t be able to get back out.”

The words hung between us like a fragile thread, the truth of them raw and exposed. I looked away, my gaze dropping to the floor as I tried to ignore the way his presence seemed to pull me in, like gravity refusing to let me go. My chest felt tight, my breathing shallow, and I could feel the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over if I wasn’t careful.

Tyler didn’t respond right away, but I could feel him—feel the weight of his gaze on me, the way his towering frame seemed to close the distance between us without him even moving. A moment later, I felt the heat of his breath against my skin, warm and steady, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. His body was now mere inches from mine, close enough that I could feel the faintest brush of his presence, yet still far enough that he wasn’t crossing the line. Not yet.

“Riley,” he said softly, his voice low and rough, like the sound of distant thunder. It wasn’t just my name—it was a plea, layered with all the things he wasn’t saying. The sound of it sent goosebumps racing across my arms, and I hated myself for the way my body reacted, for the way my heart betrayed me by pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

It happened so fast that I didn’t even realize it until we were both connected, his lips on mine as our bodies moved together in a rhythmic, unspoken harmony. The tension that had been building between us for so long finally cracked open, spilling out in waves of heat and desire that neither of us could contain. His hands gripped my waist, firm yet tender, as if he was afraid I might slip away, and I found myself pulling him closer, desperate to feel every inch of him against me.

The world around us seemed to dissolve, the noise, the chaos, the rational thoughts—all of it dimmed until there was nothing but us. His breath mingled with mine as his lips trailed from my mouth to my jawline, down to the sensitive hollow of my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Each touch, every movement, felt like a spark igniting something deep within me, something I hadn’t realized was there until now.

We moved together, our bodies speaking a language that words never could. It was raw, electric, and unrelenting, as if we were pouring every ounce of the unspoken tension we’d carried for so long into this moment. Hushed moans escaped between stolen kisses, the sound of them reverberating in the stillness around us. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, grounding myself in the reality of what was happening, even as it felt like we were floating somewhere far beyond the confines of this world.

For a fleeting moment, I opened my eyes to look at him. His gaze met mine, dark and intense, filled with something I couldn’t quite name but felt in every fiber of my being. It wasn’t just passion—it was something deeper, something that terrified and thrilled me all at once. And just like that, his lips captured mine again, drawing me back into the storm of us, where nothing else mattered but this connection, this release, this undeniable pull that had finally consumed us both…

[rat-n-atty]

The last gift 🎁

Animation and some soppy rambling from yours truly!

( featuring in order, @stillnothereforanyrealreason @hyperbaguette @chaosisunderratedd @fandomgoesahhhhhhhhh @echostarsys @livzees (Hi wife!) @sakuwura-meow-meow @xcoffeebomb @cookiepopcat @axelcx11z @coralalala64 @tiredsmashbros @its-a-me-mango @libbytwq @bear-boi-5 @bluestrawberrybunny @briandraws )

BOOM!

REDESIGNS ONCE AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME ATTY APPARENTLY HAS LOST HER WRISTS (jk, but now her hands float for some reason, not Rats tho...)

Okay now it's time for me to rant about all the wonderful people I have made in the animation :D

@stillnothereforanyrealreason , @hyperbaguette and @chaosisunderratedd y'all are...the best friends I had ever got the chance of meeting. We have been through the deepest shit ever in our life and yet we all still managed to still be friends and that really surprises me. You guys are my truest friends that I don't mind rambling about redeemable villains with or maybe even share some shitty humor or go to y'all for some art inspiration but overall just have a really fun time.

I want to thank you for all these crazy 2 years we have been friends for and hopefully we still continue that crazy questionable bond 💜💜💜

@fandomgoesahhhhhhhhh and @echostarsys y'all are a bunch of freaks tbh /silly but you're bestest mates that I could ever ask for! I love hanging out with you guys and yapping about who knows what whether it be Smg4 or it be your Aus! I love how passionate you two are and I love how you guys support my own small projects as well! You guys have made me feel comfortable talking about my interests in a really long time and I just want to thank you for that 💜💜💜

You guys are amazing and I hope you two never stop being you (except maybe Tari...stop being rude /silly/j)

@livzees HI WIFE YOU LOVABLE BEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET YOU!!!!!! You are the best person I have ever had the chance to meet and get to know! You're super funny and your art is really cool and I love all that you do and create including your Rivalry Au! You don't mind if I yap too much or send you the dumbest things, you make me feel seen and noticed and I am so happy I can be silly with you (considering I proposed with an onion ring)

Seeing you pop up on my screen makes my day and being with you in VC trying to make you laugh at my dumb jokes makes me happy! I love you sm (/p) and always keep being your amazing lovable you ❤️❤️❤️❤️

@sakuwura-meow-meow , @cookiepopcat and @xcoffeebomb YOU GUYSSSSSS UGHHH WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?????? You 3 are the coolest people ever in my eyes, even though I tend to make fun of you a lot...you mean a lot to me. You listened, you laughed, and you supported me when I felt like no was. You made me feel like I belong and that I mattered.

You all helped me get out of my shell which I am grateful for (but you should also be terrified about too, I have breeched containment and cannot be held for much longer /hj) I hope you 3 never stop being your amazing selves and I hope you know that you all hold a very special place in my half dead bitchy heart ❤️❤️❤️

@axelcx11z and @coralalala64 YOUUUU!!!! THE SILLIES!!!! YES YOU!!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!! I'll have to admit...talking to you guys at first was so nerve-racking for me because I look up to y'all but after some chats...I realize y'all are just a bunch of the silliest people ever lol but I love that about yous.

Cora, you are the first person I saw on my page and instantly had to follow because I thought your art style was so cool and I think your Aus and your own characters and creatures (as deadly as they can be, one of them gave me rabies /hj) is the wonderful silly aspect about you that I love 🫴👑✨

Axel, you're the chilliest guy I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and I love how you even consider me your doppelganger considering how little we interact lol (sorry, I'm just too shy) . I still totally love all that you do tho no matter what fandom you're in; I fell in love with your style when I first saw it so never stop creating dude 🫴👑✨

@tiredsmashbros , @its-a-me-mango and @libbytwq or as I call you, the holy Smg4 Trinity /silly. It was such an honor to finally meet you all in the TSB server but to be honest I was also on the verge of having a panic attack because I was overwhelmed being surrounded by a bunch of people I look up to the most. I know I'm not active much and I barely have anything to say (unless it's about AJR or my cursed hear me outs) But I absolutely enjoyed any interaction I got.

You guys are the biggest inspirations in my life and I hope that one day I'll be able to achieve what you do (but not today lol) you guys are awesome, I love your rants and your complicated lore and most of all, I love your art and I hope you never stop doing what you love 🫴👑👑👑✨✨✨

@bear-boi-5 HI! HELLO! IT'S ME! YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I LOOKED UP TO! When I first joined Tumblr, I remember your pretty little masked face /silly showing up on my screen and I immediately saw and loved it! You are such a master at traditional art and I love how detailed it is and how cool it looks!

When you first made fanart of my Smg5 I was absolutely shook considering at the time I was still a fairly small creator with only like 50 followers lmao but I want to thank you, if you didn't draw my Smg5 I probably wouldn't have drawn her much either assuming that people just hated her.

Meeting you in the TSB server was the coolest thing in my life because you're one chill dude and I hope that maybe when I overcome my overbearing shyness we could get to know each other better lol

🫴👑✨

@bluestrawberrybunny and @briandraws Brian, you're a freak /pos like HOW???? HOW DO YOU HAVE THE TIME, AND THE PASSION AND THE ENERGY FOR WHAT YOU DO???? Honestly if I ever had the amount of energy you have, I would be in a bloody coma. You are the first person I ever had the chance of actually connecting with a Tumblr moot (and realizing how unhinged they are /hj) but I just wanted to say thank you for tolerating me this long lol. Your an amazing artist and even an amazing author (even though I think you should be sentenced to a mental hospital for flooding the server about your Marware obsession /j )

And you! Blue! I love all your work as well! I love apprenticeship and I love your tangents! Having you and meeting you in the server has been a treat but it's also nerve racking because I'm still shy lol. I think your art is so cute and I hope you never stop!

🫴👑👑✨✨

Because of the song I couldn't add as many people as I wanted but here are some honorable mentions!

@deltaruinedcoco37 @purpdrawsthings @hamlos @chaoticlad @bow-and-aro-child @theartistisme43 @b-r-i-n-g-x @grinnames @strange0-0storm @goofy-goobers-things @arco-doodles @artist-heart83 @sspacesillyy @hi-imlooneybirdie @pisschxn @rainstormsart and PLENTY MORE BUT TUMBLR FUCKING HATES ME SO IF YOU SEE THIS THEN I LIKE YOU TOO

I love all that you guys do wether that be art or writing or theories or ANYTHING ELSE just know that you'll always have a supporter 🫴👑✨

Now this brings me to the end of my birthday party sadly, I hope y'all liked it and I hope y'all didn't eat all of my birthday cake and thank you for all the birthday art and wishes but before y'all go...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

The many joys of sharing your birthday with a holiday, it's often overlooked lol but I hope you guys enjoy it whether you're alone or you have a partner. Practice self love too because you're also important ❤️❤️❤️

Okay that's it

BI Y'ALL!

[chocodile]

Hi ! I’ve been a massive fan through the years, seeing you develop Hyden and his world and how full of life and wonder and details is so awe inspiring and cool! I really love your work and your style is so vibrant and electric! It always makes me happy when I see your posts pass by

I wanted to ask if you had any advice about wanting to share your stories with the world. I get so anxious that no one will care and I’ll just be posting to no one. I don’t want fame , just mutual interaction or have people genuinely curious , hear about others stories and be able to tell my own

How did you start? I don’t want to assume , but you do have so much confidence and are very well spoken in the way you explain your lore, what helped you get over any fears or worries?

Gosh, thank you so much for the compliments! That's so sweet of you to say… it means a lot to me that people enjoy my stuff.

My thoughts on your other questions about sharing stories are long, rambling, and disjointed… apologies in advance for the length, I swear I tried to edit this down:

Regarding sharing stories, I'd say the most useful thing you can possibly have is to have at least one friend you share story stuff with who is totally on board with it and having fun too. I've been coming up with stories and characters my entire life, and only twice have I really had an audience for it. Every other time it was just me and my sister, or me and a couple friends, or me and my wife doing creative stuff semi-privately just for the joy of the craft.

(Of course, I know that's easier said than done… but if you do have creative friends, organizing some plans to share stories with each other, ask questions, create AUs where your OCs from different stories interact with each other, etc can be very psychologically nutritious.)

Regarding feeling anxious, I suppose I never felt much anxiety about it myself, so I'm not sure how to advise there… I was a teenager on Neopets where putting massive amounts of work into character stories that nobody might ever read was the norm… unless you were astronomically popular, it was expected that you would probably never hear from your audience and would never know how many people read your stories. Everything was primarily for your own entertainment, and I carried that approach forward into other creative works. Of course, it's hard not to feel a little self-conscious these days, when you can easily see what people are saying and see who is getting "engagement" and who is not... but I do think that aiming to entertain yourself (and perhaps one or two friends) first and foremost is the healthiest approach. Plus, if you are really invested in something and constantly producing lots of art and info about it, people tend to pick up on that positive energy.

Apologies if this isn't super useful... I know "just don't care and also happen to have a bunch of friends with very specific interests!" is not very helpful advice in itself.

I have many other thoughts on "launching" a story, how to meet other OC creators, and trying to build an audience who interacts with your characters... it's something I've thought about a lot. I can share my insights for others in this boat, if anyone's interested? I'm unsure if I should include them here since it might feel lecture-y to Anon (and also this post is long enough, PHEW). Let me know if you're interested in hearing them though!

[itsonlypolite]

hhi. I. Look up to you. A lot. And. I dunno if you saw this but. I. Uh. Drew your smitten. Cause i like. Hhim. A lot. Ttake as much time as you want if you would like to answer thhis.

(sorry if you did see it and im just seem kinda rude rn lol u can ignore this if u want-)

(yes that watermark is right its a side acc i promise im not stealing lol-)

THIS IS GORGEOUS!!!! MY BOY!!!!!!!!! I DID NOT SEE THIS THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! I love how you drew him so much!!!!!!!!!!!! And the pose!!!!!!! Thank you :D

[housederiva]

Your art is FANTASTIC and the random observations/polls/interjections you make have really helped to fuel the DA fandom in positive ways! Which it definitely needed after Veilguard's release, lmao. It's always a pleasure to see you on my dashboard!

That's very kind of you to say oh my gosh thank you so much. I'm just bumbling around and every once in a while I say something people think is worth sharing, and I like sharing what other folks feel/make too! I'm glad I'm a not too much of an annoyance xx

I think my favorite thing about having this blog is the notes I see on other peoples posts I rb, it’s nice seeing all sweet things get things sent an artist way or conversations/theories carried on in a rb chain

It’s a big ol show n tell and it’s a wonderful reprieve from my normal day to be able to see other folks stuff too ✨

[ssreeder]

I'm so looking forward to iroh and zuko properly talking and seeing irohs reaction to zuko being gay.

Like we all know he doesn't agree with the fire nation rn but how will he react?

Will he not support him cause sokkas a guy? Will he not support him because it's SOKKA? Will he accept him? Will he reveal he's known for years zuko was gay?

Especially with everything that happened with zhao, regarding to what jee said to bato on their date. (Which is a very understandable perspective, zuko just got out of this very sexually traumatising situation and almost immediately starts a relationship (his first relationship) with sokka, but then again it is a very unique situation)

One thing I love about some atla fics is how they portray the FNs thoughts on queerness, cause on one hand they were one of the only country's (I think) that treated men and women the same but then again it's also the fucking fire nation.

And I also think zukos whole canon arc can be very comparative to queerness,

His dads an asshole and after speaking out against him he throws him out, and zuko try's for 3 years to regain his father's love and acceptance, and then faced with the opportunity of regaining it takes it immediately regardless of who or what he may hurt (iroh, his own morals etc) but once he makes it back home realises how fucked up everything is and eventually confronts his dad and openly tells him he doesn't agree with him then runs aways.

I also wonder if iroh secretly knows jee is queer it doesn't seem that likely to me but it also is iroh so who knows.

<3

I do think Iroh’s reaction will be a big moment for not only the story but for Zuko’s character development. Right now, Zuko’s technically still a prisoner, holding himself there by assuming Iroh will not understand or judge him when in reality he’ll never know what his uncle is thinking until they TALK ABOUT IT. (Which the FN royal family is just sooo good at healthy communication I don’t understand why this is so hard for them lol?!)

I do agree that the suddenness of the relationship combined with the intensity from both zuko and Sokka is very alarming for people looking at it from the outside (I mean we all totally get it cause we were there but others are like uhhhh hmmmm ok this might be concerning) so I get them gossiping and wondering if this is truly real or what the fucks going on with those boys.

I love Zukos canon arc because there’s just so much about zukos story that can be relatable no matter who you are and I think that’s why he is a fan favorite (it doesn’t explain why we torture him the way we do but ehhhh it’s fine haha)

Hmmmmmm does iroh know Jees gay? Depends on how saucy those music nights got ;)

[plushie-rater]

Can we send requests of our own plushies for you to rate? :)

Thanks so much for asking first of all. I’ve been thinking about this a whole lot (even before I drew the first plushie here) and I think I’ve finally decided that at least for now, I won’t be taking submissions for plushie ratings. Without getting too serious, the main reason is that I’m afraid that it will stop feeling as fun as it does now. I also really enjoy how happy people seem to be when they see a surprise rating that they weren’t expecting, which would happen much less often if I was spending time drawing submissions, too. I really hope that everyone understands

[crossbackpoke-check]

Dysprosium, Mary Soon Lee

dysprosium, AN 66, is a silvery-white rare earth metal. its name is derived from the greek dysprositos, meaning “hard to get at”, owing to the difficulty in separating and isolating this rare earth element. dysprosium is used to measure neutron flux, to fuel reactors, and to activate phosphors. terfenol-d is a magnetorestrictive alloy, meaning that it changes shape when a magnetic field is applied, and is used to manufacture underwater acoustic systems.

jason “robo” robertson, dallas stars #21 for @simmyfrobby’s nhl periodic table poems <3

[ghostieblotts]

Lycan mentioned to me they saw you at a con, so just sorta here to say I hope you had an awesome time, and that you've been taking care of yourself <3

Hi Kaiden!! Thank you so much!! I had SUCH a good time, it was incredible! Very tired now haha, I need to get some proper sleep this week lol. I appreciate it bud, and I hope you're alright and looking after yourself too <3

[silent-sentinels]

ok SO. hiii first off <22 <33 we don't have EVERYONE assigned a Pokemon just yet but we've got a good chunk assigned!! Let's seeee, we'll send about 2-3 per ask when we feel like infodumping if that's cool? Much shorter descriptions but it'll go by quicker; we'd love to give each facet's assigned Pokemon a whole rambly ask but that would. Take forever RIP FHFNDJDFJ

SO! starting off in no order, we've got Chamomile's Pokemon! (Some of y'all remind us of MULTIPLE pkmn btw jsyk FHDNSJFJD) Jigglypuff, the Frillish line, and Munna! Jigglypuff because of the anime, it's well known for putting others to sleep (and getting PISSED when they do fall asleep lmao), Frillish because it's a jellyfish :3c, and Munna, because, well.

Munna is known for eating dreams! Specifically, nightmares! From X&Y: "This Pokémon appears before people and Pokémon who are having nightmares and eats those dreams." It's one of the very few sleep based Pokemon we can recall, and it holds a very special place in our heart <2 <3!

Next we've got Oath's Pokemon!! The Honedge line!

Honedge is a cool one, it's a living sword! Its dex entries are... Rather dark, as shown in Sword & Shield: "Honedge's soul once belonged to a person who was killed a long time ago by the sword that makes up Honedge's body." HOWEVER. IT IS A LIVING SWORD. As are its evolutions but I'm focusing on just the one HDHDJDJF

We chose Honedge because it is just Very Cool. There's other Pokemon that fit the knight aesthetic (Armarouge and Celruledge, Lucario in a way thanks to the movie Mystery of Mew, and the Pawniard line, for example!) but... What's a knight without a Cool Sword tbh /silly

We'll slooowly get to everyone else of course and these asks will probably become a bit more frequent, but that's all for now! We lov you! <2 <3

-Siam☄️

hiii Siam!! :D <22 <33 omg, that's a-okay!! like its wild (/positive) that y'all have a chunk assigned already, take your time if y'all need it :0!!! that sounds perfect to us, whenever or however much you'd like to infodump, we'll be happy to listen!! :D <33 <22

Chamomile hummed agreeably! (<- read: sleepily hjlkj) HGKJ jigglypuff is very amusing, why is it pissed when people go to sleep? :0 does it not want that? hglkjg frillish is lovely, we love the pretty jellyfish :3c

cham's very pleased to be associated with munna, we always associate munna with y'all whenever we see it!! that's literally so sweet that it eats nightmares, only sweet dreams!! :D munna the beloved <33 (we also think Mantine might work, though more for aesthetic than powers <33 <22)

[POINTS EXCITEDLY] FUGKICNG SWORD!!! HELL YES!!!!! the fact that it's removing its own scabbard to attack is so badass hgkj Dad seems fond of it, though more in a peacefully vicarious "i'm glad everyone likes this for me" kind of way (because the rest of us think this thing is kickass hgjkl)

armarouge/ceruledge are also fucking SICK, we fuck with ceruledge's aesthetic, but with armarouge's dex entry :3 <33 lucario is our little sibling's main in smash and that's basically all we know about it, that's so cool that it's knight coded in the mew-vie though!! :3 pawniard is such a little guy omg hgkj but we ABSOLUTELY agree, COOL SWORD FOR OATH!!! >:D

!! o7 sounds great! :D we'll be delighted in any future assignments, and we're always so happy to hear from y'all <333 <222 we lov y'all too!!!!

[malleleothreesome]

YOUR MALLEUS POST IS JUST!!!!! AGDKFFLSVFL!!!! WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES I RE-READ THAT THING BUT IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT!!!! 😫😭👌🖤💚

I'm so late to this but thank you so much Knight!! 🖤💚🖤💚 I'm so happy you enjoyed Blindfolded Malleus... I was so excited for you to read it, and I'm very happy it lived up to the hype and anticipation!!! Truly, I am so honored and grateful that you would re-read something so long 🥹 it amazes me how supportive you are!! I hope I can continue to write things that you enjoy! One day in the [regretfully] far future I swear to you that I will put out an Idia fic just for you hehehe. I'm so overwhelmed by the amount of things I am excited to write, but I guess that is a wonderful problem to have! I only wish I had more time in the day to write, but alas, such is life. Why the fUCk am I writing so formal right now daiohssadoi;hdSAO not me saying BUT ALAS. SUCH IS LIFE????? It is so.

I'm actually taking a TWELVE DAY vacation from work starting on the 22nd so I might actually do a little request event where people can send me like kink prompts or something. I think that'll be fun!

Okay and FINE I'll do some fluff prompts too for the fluff people but please don't judge my fluff too harshly, I'm still learning!!! For some reason smut just comes naturally dhaDSAHIDDASijdsan I'll start gathering some prompts and we will do a little ask game or something.

📣 By the way FELLOW HONEST THIGH RIDING ANON if you SEE this first of all, ONCE AGAIN: I wish to express my undying devotion to you and your exceptional thought process. I am positively frothing at the mouth over your request and I am PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE I am finally making good progress and it WILL be out soon. We WILL make him cum in his pants. We WILL make him cry, whimper, and moan.

[dj-wayback]

"heres the drawing hope you think it's" cool- Dual of mind

[BROADCAST_ERROR — CONNECTION_TERMINATED]

[gu6chan]

99% just my autism speaking here but something ive been noticing lately that im sorta kinda 😶 about is when ppl are like "I think you'll like this" but not bc they ACTUALLY think you'll like it, rather they just got into it and want you to also get into it so "I think you'll like this" is a nice personal hook. i love chill stuff as much as any other person ofc but given i don't divulge that EVER, what makes you think my berserk reading, made in abyss watching, drakengard playing ass would like YURU CAMP????

[alish-artie]

What are your thoughts on my Mario OC Geranium? She is Geno's girlfriend in my lore. What if Geno met her?

Oh, she's cute ! I like her colors !~

Also sorry, but I’m not really great about romantic relationships haha, so I don’t really know !

Thank you for showing me your oc though !