#the guest look for the champagne to make a toast but all we have is Publix brand blackberry lemonade

[hillbilly---man]

Hell yeah, Publix cakes are good

I'm down

[pickingupmymercedes]

Blessed - Lewis Hamilton

Part of 1K Jukebox Event

song: Blessed - Daniel Caesar - @goldenroutledge

pairing: Husband!Lewis Hamilton x Reader!

genre: fluff (bc we need a lil breather from the news lately)

wordcount: +1k

As always, I'm open for feedback, come say hi!

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“Alright, alright!” The sound of a spoon tapping against a champagne glass drew everyone's attention toward the center of the room.

The reception room was glowing in warm hanging lights, the low hum of chatter filled the air as glasses were put down and chair were pulled closer. It was a night of celebration, of love and new beginnings – tale as old as time.

At the head table, the couple of the evening, Lewis and Y/n, sat side by side. Lewis’s arm draped protectively over the back of Y/n’s chair and she leaned into him slightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked out at their friends and family gathered around.

It had been a long road to get there. Everyone knew that.

Their love story wasn’t the clean, perfectly drawn-out romance people read about in books or saw in movies. It was messy. Complicated. And yet, they had made it there—newly married and completely in love.

Standing in the middle of the room, their friend held a mic in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. Her grin promised a toast that would be anything but typical.

“As much as I’d love to pretend I’m not emotional about this... y’all know me too well,” she began, casting a cheeky look at the couple. “But first... let me just say—finally!”

A wave of laughter rippled through the guests. Y/n chuckled, nudging Lewis as he grinned wide, squeezing her shoulder. Their friend raised her glass, eyes twinkling.

“No, seriously though. I’m not gonna lie. There was a point where I thought, ‘These two? Getting married? Yeah, no way.’ But hey, life has a funny way of proving me wrong.”

The guests laughed, nodding in agreement. She looked around the room, drawing everyone in as she spoke.

“See, Lewis and Y/n... they were that couple. The one everyone’s always asking about. Like, ‘What’s going on with them? Are they together? Are they on a break? Are they—” she paused, turning to the person sitting next to her and raising her hand for dramatic effect, “Are they fine this time?’”

Everyone laughed, nodding along. Y/n exchanged a smile with Lewis, who shrugged as if to say, She’s not wrong.

“They always had this... thing, right?” their friend continued, making an animated swirl in the air with her hand. “Like, they’d walk into a room together and, boom, all eyes would go straight to them. You could tell they were just... magnetic.” She turned to Lewis’s mom, who was laughing and nodding knowingly.

“Oh, and don’t get me started on the families!” She gestured to Lewis’s mom with a playful smirk. “Carmen, you knew Y/n was family long before this day, didn’t you? You were still having your spa days with her even when these two claimed to be ‘over!’”

The room burst into laughter as Carmen raised her glass with a playful smile, shrugging unapologetically. “She’s family, with or without him.”

“And you sir,” Their friend pointed a finger at Y/n’s dad, shaking her head with a grin. “You’re just as bad. I remember calling Lewis during one of their ‘breaks’—you know, the ones we had to keep a calendar for—and he’d be like, ‘Oh, I just got off the phone with Y/n’s dad. We were talking about the race.’” She shook her head, laughing. “You all knew they weren’t fooling anyone, didn’t you?”

Y/n’s dad chuckled, glancing over at the newlyweds with a warm smile. “Some people need more time to figure things out.”

The friend shook her head with an exaggerated sigh. “Honestly, who didn’t lose track at some point?” She turned to a nearby table. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever had to ask someone else if they were ‘back together’ or ‘taking a break’ this month?”

A few hands shot up in good-natured fun, the crowd’s laughter rolling even louder.

“Yep! See? Half of us here had charts,” she added dead serious. “And the funny part is, every single time they said they were ‘done,’ deep down, I think we all knew. Because no matter how ‘done’ they claimed to be, they’d somehow find a way back to each other. Every. Single. Time.”

Y/n shook her head, laughing softly as if the memories were flooding back to her—late nights of arguments, quiet moments of reconciliation, times they’d sworn it was over for good, only to realize that no one else quite fit the way Lewis did.

She paused, glancing between Lewis and Y/n, before taking a slow sip of champagne. “You two are a pair, alright. A little unpredictable a lot stubborn. But that’s what makes it funny—and honestly, kind of beautiful— because you couldn’t stay out of each other’s orbit if you tried.”

Their friend took a breath, her grin turning into a soft smile. “And as much as we all like to joke about how confusing it was trying to keep up, deep down, we all knew. Because whatever you two have... It was messy, yeah. But it’s real. And it’s the kind of love that survives the storms because you make each other better.”

Her gaze shifted to Lewis, sincerity pouring into her voice. “Now, Lewis... yeah, you’re a lot of things. A goat, some would say... but let’s be honest—when it comes to Y/n, you’re the guy who can’t help but light up when she’s around. I mean, look at you!” She waved her hand, pointing as he grinned, clearly caught.

Lewis laughed, shaking his head, but the warmth in his eyes as he glanced at Y/n was undeniable.

She then turned to Y/n, her eyes softening even more. “And Y/n, girl... don’t think I haven’t noticed how you let him in, even when you’re stubborn about it. He’s broken through those walls in a way that, frankly, I’m still kind of mad about,” she teased, winking. “He really made me share my spot as your only confidante.”

Another wave of laughter and cheers erupted, softer this time, filled with knowing looks and nods. Y/n’s hand founding Lewis’s under the table, fingers squeezing his as she took in her friend’s words.

“And it wasn’t until you both finally stopped running from this, that the rest of us got to see the magic happen,” their friend continued, leaving her glass on the table to be able to use her hands to motion to the couple.

“And now? Look at you two. You’ve found your rhythm. You’ve learned that yeah, sometimes you drive each other nuts.”

“And us too, to be honest.” She pointed out as she motioned to the rest of the guests

“Sometimes it’s not perfect, and it never will be. But that’s not the point.” She paused, letting the silence hang for a second before speaking again. “The point is... you two, you’re so blessed to be stuck with each other.”

Y/n’s breath visibly caught in her throat. She glanced at Lewis, and the warmth in his eyes met her own, creating a small, private moment between them.

“I mean, look at them, guys. There he is, looking at her with the same adoration he always had, even back when they weren’t even ‘official’. They always saw each other, didn’t they? Even when they didn’t see themselves.” Their friend chuckled as she took their little moment to get her point across, just to cease the moment and break the atmosphere with another tease.  

“Gosh, I remember when you two were in those other relationships,” she said, eyes glinting mischievously as she winked. “And they were great, don’t get me wrong... But we all knew they were temporary. Because there’s no one else out there for you two. You tried to move on, I’ll give you two that. But you were just lying to yourselves. The whole time, you were still orbiting around each other, waiting to collide.”

The crowd murmured in agreement. Everyone there had seen their journey. Everyone knew how hard they’d fought, how much they’d both been through to get to that moment.

“So yeah, you two might be a little messy sometimes” she added, a grin spreading across her face again. “But who isn’t? The important thing is... you bring out the best in each other. Lewis, you make Y/n smile like no one else can. And Y/n, you keep this man grounded in a way that nothing else ever could.”

And it was true.

Lewis was Y/n’s grounding force, the one person who could calm the storm inside her, even when she didn’t want to admit it. And she did the same for him, though he’d probably never say it out loud.

They weren’t perfect, but they were perfect for each other.

“To Lewis and Y/n. To all the highs and lows, to all the moments that got you here. And to the future, because if this crazy, beautiful love of yours has taught us anything, it’s that you’re in it for the long haul. Here’s to being blessed... and a little bit of a mess.”

The room erupted in cheers and clinks of glasses. Y/n’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she turned to Lewis, her fingers reaching for his over the table. When their hands touched, he laced his fingers with hers, giving her that same familiar squeeze he always did when words weren’t enough.

He leaned in, his voice low as he whispered against her ear “I am blessed to be stuck with you.”

Y/n smiled, blinking away the moist that had been threatening to fall. She turned to him, kissing him softly on the lips, savoring the moment.

Because their friend was right. It wasn’t always perfect. It wasn’t always easy. But it was real.

And maybe they were a little bit of a mess.

But they were each other’s mess.

And that was everything.

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TAGLIST - @saturnssunflower @xoscar03 @chocolatediplomatdreamerzonk @itsmrshamilton @vicurious28

@0710khj @thecubanator2 @neilakk @bigratbitchsworld @adriswrld

@fearfam69691 @cmleitora @goldenroutledge @timmychalametsstuff @jpgnsf

@priopp123 @strqirlhrts @hmmmmm-01 @bisexual-babygirl-mj @bebesobrielo

@hiireadstuff @f1-football-fiend

If you’d like to be added to my taglist you can leave a comment or send me a dm/ask.

[seospicybin]

TOO HOT TO HANDLE.

PART III

Hyunjin x reader. (s)

Too Hot To Handle Masterlist

Synopsis: You and Hyunjin become contestants in a reality dating show, Too Hot To Handle. (14k words)

Author's note: Feel free to vent in my inbox once you finished reading it :)

LANA: In order to test how committed my guests are to the process, I call for help from my former retreat guests: Felix, Chris, and Avery. Their mission is to entice them to find out if they're capable of following the rules outside the retreat.

-

Everyone is going around exchanging hugs and cheek kisses while telling each other's names.

You only remember it now, the name of the girl, it's Avery and she looks like a Malibu Barbie with an Australian accent.

When it's your turn to hug Chris, you have to actively tell your brain to stay calm and not think about how you have a secret crush on him.

"Chris," he introduces himself, opening his arm for a friendly hug.

It's a good thing that he's not shirtless or else, you'd be drooling by now but those big biceps are quite distracting.

"Hi, Chris," you manage to sound coy saying it.

You catch a whiff of his perfume as you exchange a hug and Gosh, he smells amazing. You're staggering as you walk backward to be with everyone else.

"The three of you are Australians," Edie innocently says.

"We' are Australia's sexiest export since... ever," Felix jokingly says then breaks into laughter.

Even his laugh is so attractive, It's sonorous and infectious, inviting you to laugh along with him.

"We came back because we learned so much on the previous seasons that we came to pass the lesson on to you," Avery says, then she glances at the guys standing on each side of her, "Right, guys?"

Felix puts his hand against his waist and puts all of his weight to one side like he's striking a pose in a photo shoot.

"Well, yeah," he says with his nose scrunched, "but also we came here to show you guys how to have fun!"

Chris pops open the bottle of champagne on cue, sending the content spurting out of it and he hurriedly takes a chug to stop it from spilling.

It's unfair how Chris can easily make you feel the slightest bit hot and bothered, just standing there with that wine dripping down his chin. You lick your lips while imagining licking the wine on his veiny neck.

Realizing that you're in the presence of other people, you hurriedly snap yourself out of it.

"Wait, wait, it's not fair that there's three of us and five of them," Avery says while adorably crossing her arms in front of her.

Felix puts his arm around her and brightly smiles, "Don't worry, we'll make it even," he says.

Your head starts looking around the boat, anticipating something and perhaps, anyone's arrival based on what Felix said.

"Give a warm welcome to the two new arrivals!" Avery cheerily announces.

With Lana, it can't be just a boat party, you can tell that she threw this party for certain purposes other than to introduce the new arrivals.

It's wise that you keep cautious with whatever you're doing at this party. You don't want to mess with either Lana or the money, and you surely don't want to mess it up with Hyunjin.

The new arrivals are looking hot and heavy, ready to fuck everybody. The girl is a gorgeous blonde with big, blue eyes named Emile and the guy is a Brazilian man with a chest tattoo, Gustav.

With Chris tirelessly filling the glass and Felix distributing it to everyone, they make sure everyone holds a drink in their hands and is ready for a toast.

"Cheers!" Everyone says in unison, raising their champagne flutes in the air before taking a sip of it.

Things get crazy whenever alcohol is involved so to be safe, you moderately drink your wine and sip as little as possible.

"Okay now we each choose someone to do a body shot with," Felix suggests an icebreaker to fully kickstart the party.

Avery is the one who enthusiastically welcomed that idea and she starts looking for someone to do it with. The boys must be buzzing and whoever gets chosen, he's lucky as hell.

"You," Avery says, pointing in your direction.

You look to the side at Edouard and elbow his side to make him aware of this one-of-a-kind offer.

"No. You," Avery says, talking to you.

Aghast, you unconsciously point at yourself and ask her back to confirm, "Me?"

Avery laughs at the way you reacted, "Come here, my darling," she puts away her drink, then holds her hand out at you.

Half disoriented, you reach for her hand and she makes you sit on the wooden floor with colorful cushions strewn around for people to lay about.

"Now, lay down," she instructs you.

Somehow, you find yourself obeying her words and putting yourself in a compromising position. You rest your head on your pillow and try to stay calm even though everyone is looking at you.

Avery grabs a glass of shot in her hand and she puts all of her hair away on one shoulder, she smiles as she lifts the shot before dripping it onto your chest.

"Oh, my gosh!" You shakily gasp the second the liquid makes contact with your skin, making you shiver from the cold.

But that's the least of the things you should be surprised by. Avery then leans down while keeping her hair down on her shoulder and drinks the puddle of alcohol gathered on the valley of your breasts.

Avery lands a long lick down your front, her tongue feels slick and hot on your skin, making you grip the cushion and try so hard not to squeal.

She seems to enjoy doing it and everyone else can only watch it with envy in their eyes. The laugh she lets out as she lifts her head confirms it.

"Now that's how you start a party!" Edouard says.

Without having to look, you know you're flustered and your hands fly to cover your face, embarrassed. Also, you must admit it gets you a little aroused as well and the party has only started.

-

YOU: In the middle of the sea, on a boat with these sexy, horny people and plenty of booze... [exhales] That's the recipe for chaos.

-

Hyunjin's head is all over the place. He can't stay still and when he finally does, all sorts of thoughts go through his head and they're all not helping him relax.

And he can't help but wonder is this how you felt when he was going on that date with Saskia?

He'll take it as his karma then but he's not the only one feeling restless, the others who are in couples are going through the same things but have different ways of handling it.

Andy, however, is not taking it well. He's going through five stages of grief around the villa.

"When I went on that date with Edie she made it clear that she only wanted to be friends and that she wanted to connect with someone else," Andy croons while tugging his blond hair.

Hyunjin nods to let him know that he's listening to his rant but has nothing to respond to that.

"I think it'll be good for her to connect with someone else," he says with a nonchalant shrug.

That would be nice of him to think so because Hyunjin could never think that way, he wants you to be happy but God, he'd hate to lose you to someone else.

Andy plops onto the lounger next to him and roughly runs his hands through his hair.

"I've already detached myself from her and I feel bad for still wanting to be with her," he grumbles.

"We've all been there," Hyunjin says, trying to sympathize with him.

Hyunjin almost forgot about that part where Andy broke up with Edie. Even though they're no longer a couple now, you can just detach yourself from people but the feelings, they're pretty much still intact.

It's even harder in the villa because the person is there and you have to deal with it face to face.

God, Hyunjin hopes he doesn't need to go through that much pain.

-

HYUNJIN: [Breathing deeply]

-

The boat party is in full swing.

Felix is making sure everyone's glass is filled, Avery is floating around with her wide, bright smile and Chris is playing some party music on his small DJ set-up.

So far so good, no one has broken the rules yet but 'yet' is the keyword here, you get the feeling that it's only about time until someone caves in, and when that happens, it will trigger a chain reaction.

You decide to sit this one out and watch the party from the side, avoiding any potential risk that would lead you to break the rules.

You're quietly sipping your wine while sitting against the big cushion and enjoying the nice, warm sea breeze when the temptation comes over to you carrying a bottle of champagne.

It's hard not to smile whenever he's around and he's smiling at you.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Chris asks.

"Not at all," you reply, scooting a little to the side to make space for him.

"Let me refill it for you," he says, offering to fill your glass with more wine.

In return, you take the bottle from him and fill his glass for him, having a toast to finally have a sip together. He's sitting so close to you, that you can feel your arms brushing together from the slightest of movement.

He looks out at the view of the sun that is slowly sinking into the horizon and delightfully sighs. Then he turns his head at you and asks you something that you're not ready to answer.

"Would you kiss anyone here?"

Well, there is someone you would like to kiss but he's off-limits.

"Oh, I would love to but uh..." you break into a laugh as your eyes meet his.

Chris licks his lips after sipping his wine, "Are you worried about the rules?"

Not the main reason why but yeah, that's one of the reasons. You chuckle and answer, "I've spent a lot of money already."

He cracks a laugh and his dimples appear on his cheeks, "Been there, done that."

As someone who went through this before, you're sure he knows how it felt because there's no other reason why he laughed.

"So, tell me about this guy you've spent a lot of money with," he asks.

You contemplate for a moment how much can you tell but since he's someone from outside of this retreat and went through the same thing, maybe he can give you some insights.

"Well, he kind of messed up a while ago actually," you share with him.

"Ouch!" He exclaims.

"But I found myself still liking him despite all of that," you continue, sipping your wine in between sentences, "It's actually scared me because I think I've lost my head a little."

It's been gnawing inside you, how you doubt Hyunjin will be the right one for you as you get haunted by this fear that he'll make the same mistake again.

Chris holds his drink in the other hand and slightly turns his body to face you, "Maybe losing your head means you're maybe in your heart," he warmly tells you.

You smile hearing his words and you really wish they're true, you're having this doubt because you want this to be something genuine.

"That's what I hope," he adds with a smile.

"Thank you, Chris," you sincerely tell him, clinking your glass with him for another toast.

When you said it's only about time, well, the time is here. As you look around for another bottle of wine, you see Edie and the new guy going at each other's faces like animals in heat.

But that's the least of your worries. When you turn your head the other way, you see Edouard doing body shots on Saskia.

It's not only about the money now, but also loyalty and friendships. You drain your wine glass empty and gasp, "We're fucked!"

-

YOU: They forgot everything! They forgot about the purpose, forgot about Lana, forgot about everyone.

-

Hyunjin can hardly think of anything when you haven't returned on dinnertime. He barely eats his food, he tries shoving a few spoonfuls but has a hard time swallowing them down.

"I'm not hungry," he says, pushing the plate away from him.

"Your plate is still full," Frida says, her voice tinted with concern.

He reclines in his seat and sighs, "I'm too tense."

"I know how you feel," Vic says as she's also waiting for Edouard to return.

Andy pats his shoulder and with a mouth full of food says, "At least you're not worrying someone who doesn't want to be with you."

Well, that's a way to look at the brighter side of things.

The longer you're away from him, the more he worries and his worries affect other people in the vicinity as well. However, there's one person in particular who is having fun in this situation.

"If Edouard kissed someone, would you be pissed?" Diego asks Vic who's sitting cross-legged on the single sofa on the terrace.

"Depends on who he did it with," she answers while picking at her nails.

"If he kissed Saskia, would you be pissed?"

"Very," she answers without a beat.

That gets Hyunjin more alerted, because what if you kissed someone? You know, like out of curiosity? Speaking of experience, he almost did it once with Saskia.

"Do you think they might do something?" Hyunjin nervously asks.

"What do you think?" Diego tosses the question at Vic.

"If I know him like I think I do, I think he won't kiss anyone," she diplomatically answers.

Hyunjin doesn't know how she's doing it but he must admire Vic's patience and calmness in handling this.

"They won't do anything," Andy says, perhaps still stuck in the denial phase.

"If I were with someone here and I went there, and people started kissing each other, I'd probably do it," Diego is here to fuel more gas into the fire.

Frida grabs him by the knee and makes him listen to her, "It is something that I won't do to you because not only it would affect us, but also my friendship with her."

That seems to work on putting some sense into Diego and makes him stop talking altogether.

Hyunjin always thinks highly of you, he knows you wouldn't throw away what the two of you have built together, and that gets him a little hopeful.

"I bet my ass they're doing stuff," Vic remarks out of the blue.

Hyunjin doesn't expect this change of mood, she seems to have reached her limit and can't keep her composure anymore.

Andy sighs and leans back on the sofa, playing with the cushion on his lap, twirling it in the air a couple of times.

"There's a lot at stake today. Relationships, friendships, the house, the money..." he pauses to turn his head to the side to look at Vic, "...Vic's ass."

Everyone laughs at that and it helps to lighten up the mood, the only one who doesn't take it well is Vic.

"Fuck you!" She curses while laughing, hurling a cushion at Andy.

-

HYUNJIN: I hope for the best. But I also expect for the worst [blows air]

-

"Okay, honestly, but there is one person I'd like to kiss here," you suddenly share.

That gets Chris' eyebrow raised in curiosity, "Yeah. Who is it?"

You look him right in the eyes and answer, "I'm looking right at him."

He closes his eyes and grins, from the way his ear reddening you can tell he gets shy from what you said which is why you said that in the first place. That, and because of alcohol.

"But I know you're engaged and all," you quickly add.

He grins wider, and he looks so cute and shy like that, if he weren't off-limits, your head would definitely take a hard turn.

"I may be bad but I'm not that bad," you further explain, giggling along with him.

"So, not because of the guy you broke rules with?"

That catches you off guard and you laugh in embarrassment, "Well, yeah, that too."

"In that order?" He asks again, bumping his shoulder against you.

"Exactly in that order. You then him," you jokingly say.

This time, his cheeks get all red and his dimples sunken deeper into his cheeks as he keeps grinning.

"Guys, let's swim!" Felix shouts at both of you.

To be honest, you feel comfortable sharing the space with Chris and want to stay in it a bit longer. You shake your head and kindly refuse his offer.

"No, I'm good," you tell him.

The screams and squeals of the girls jumping into the water startle you, more so, because they ditch their bikinis.

"Oh, come on!" Felix grumbles, coming over to you and taking you by the hand.

"You're coming too," he shouts at Chris.

He's forcing you to get up and join him, taking you by the end of the edge of the deck. Since everyone is going in anyway, you have no option but to follow suit but decide to keep your bikini on.

"Wait, wait, I have to take this..." you tell him, untying the outerwear you're wearing.

"I'll help you," Chris says, helping you to take it off of you.

You're shivering as his hands brush the skin on your back but it's nothing compared to when he's taking his top off. You don't think this moment will come but here you are, looking at his body in its glory with the golden rays of the sun hitting him just right.

Impatient, Felix gets ahead and jumps into the sea while shouting some gibberish words out loud.

"Do it together, yeah?" He offers.

"Yeah, okay," you nervous answers.

He holds his hand out at you and you take it without hesitating, he counts from three, and on one, you both jump into the water together.

Everyone is having fun, you see Pablo is going at it with the new girl and Edie is simply having the time of her life. She squeal when she finally acknowledges your presence, waddling her way to you and clinging to you.

"Did you see me kissing him?" she whines,

"You mean sucking his soul out?" You joke.

"I didn't know how many times I kissed him," she whines again, putting her hands around you.

"Don't worry. Lana will know," you tell her.

For this once, you don't want to think of the money. You let yourself enjoy it, this moment and the company you're with, and also the beautiful view of the sunset.

-

YOU: I must admit, I had a lot of fun. I really needed that party.

-

Everyone is already waiting in the cabana for your return from the boat party.

You don't know why you're nervous, maybe it's coming from knowing everything that happened at the boat party and you came back with your hair and bikini damp from swimming.

Since there's no space left, you take the remaining spot that is on the far end of the sofa, sitting far away from Hyunjin.

Lana chimes in not long after everyone has settled down.

"Welcome back," She greets everyone who just came back from the boat party, "And welcome to the two new arrivals."

No one seems to realize the new additions to the retreat until Lana mentions them.

"Thank you, Lana," Emilie says with a smile.

"To test your growth, I prepared a party on a boat with the illustrious presence of some of my former retreat guests: Felix, Avery, and Chris," Lana informs.

Frida reacts with a loud gasp, "Really?"

"Yeah. It was so nice to meet them," Edie answers.

"You had no idea. It was awesome," Saskia adds, making her more envious.

"Damn!" Andy quietly curses next to Hyunjin.

Which makes you glance at Hyunjin and he seems a little tense, his jaws are all clenched yet it makes him more attractive.

"As soon as you left for the party, your friends had to choose whether or not to bet on your loyalty to the principles of the retreat."

A scoff slips out of you because your guess is right, you're not new to Lana's hidden agenda, the boat party was a test and you may not broken any rules but you failed nonetheless.

"We can double the prize money you know," Diego says, "All you had to do was to not break any rules."

"Oh, no..." Saskia cringes.

"What did you bet?" You ask, feeling a little anxious if they choose to bet all of the money.

"We bet to put our trust in you," Andy answers.

And that's where you failed, you could have prevented anyone from breaking the rules but you let them happen.

-

YOU: I never thought that they would bet double, that we weren't going to do anything.

-

Hyunjin is nervous, anxious even but when he finally sees you coming, he feels so relieved. Now that you're back, a new question pops in his head: did you break any rules?

His faith wavers a little as he notices that your bikini is damp and so is your hair, and you sit on the far end of the sofa. He doesn't even dare to ask and waits for someone else to do it for him.

"It's a good time to tell us if you broke any rules," Andy says, taking the role to ask the big question.

Edie's hand raised in the air and the sheer smile on Andy's face falters, "I broke the rules. I kissed Gustav," she admits right away.

"We kissed, yes," the new guy, Gustav, confirms with a sly grin.

"I thought the rules didn't apply outside the retreat," Edie innocently says in an effort to defend her rule break.

"Felix and Chris, and uh... Avery, they were encouraging us to break rules, saying that Lana wasn't there," Saskia delivers a weak argument.

Hyunjin is getting more tense with every detail of the boat party getting exposed in this heated argument.

"We held back at first," Edie calmly remarks.

"But you did give in," Remy says, easily diminishing her remark.

"I regret to inform you that many rule breaks were detected," Lana spoils another detail.

"I thought it was only the two of you," Marie says, pointing at Edie and Gustav, "Was there someone else?"

Hyunjin looks around and deeply hopes that he doesn't see your hand raised in the air, he sees Pablo's hand instead.

"Emilie and I kissed," he admits a little too late.

"They threw away kisses," Andy sighs while pinching the bridge of his nose in distress.

Pablo tries to throw the blame back at Edie, "She kissed a lot."

"Everyone did body shots," Edie reveals another detail and her hand flies in your direction.

"I only did one body shot," you defend yourself, "And I don't think that counts."

Hyunjin is fine with body shots, he has done it a couple of times during parties but his concern is who you did it with.

"We also went skinny dipping," Edouard reveals another thing.

And now skinny dipping? He's so wrong to think that you won't do anything, he slumps in his seat, disappointed.

Frida groans out loud, also slumping in her seat.

"Lana, give us the bill!" Diego says, no longer enjoying this.

"Fuck! It's going to be bad, it's double," Andy says in distress.

It takes Lana a moment to calculate the rule breaks and finally comes up with the final result, "All of these rule breaks have cost the group $72,000."

A minute passes in eerie silence as everyone tries to process how much money have lost at that boat party. There were only five people invited and yet they were capable of spending that much money.

"It must have been awesome being there," Marie sneers with a scowl.

"Of course it was," Pablo unapologetically says, being insensitive to his surroundings.

"The prize fund now stands at $60,000," Lana updates the current prize fund.

There's not much money left and with the new guest, he can't guarantee that it'll stay on that amount for long.

"You have the opportunity to develop and learn to connect. Don't take the process for granted," Lana concludes the session with a warning.

-

HYUNJIN: We are paying the price for something that wasn't our fault. All I can do is laugh.

-

It's close to bedtime and you head straight to the dressing room to take a quick shower and put on a pair of comfortable clothes of camisole and white shorts.

You're not purposely avoiding Hyunjin because at some point you'll have to talk to him, you merely give yourself and him some time to process what happened at the cabana earlier.

As you're doing your skincare routine, you see him entering the dressing room with an apparent scowl on his face and you take this as a cue to talk to him.

As he walks past your chair, you grab him by the hand and look up at him, "Hey, let's talk."

He rather seems reluctant to your invite but you don't want to wait anymore, it's a great time to have a talk since the two of you are alone in the dressing room.

You pat the chair next to you where Edie usually sits, "Come, sit here!"

He obeys you without saying anything, sitting facing you and letting you hold his hand on his lap. You have told everything about the boat party but you know you have to assure him that there's nothing else happened other than that.

"What happened at the boat party, I've already said everything that I did. I only did a body shot and nothing else," you tell him, keeping your tone soft and calm.

He gets quiet for a moment and it's his turn to speak so you wait for him to say anything, rubbing the back of his hand with your thumb.

He slightly slumps on the chair, sending his long legs spreading open in front of you and you know it's not the time for it but you feel tempted to tease him.

"We were all talking about all of you and the things you probably do there," he says.

You let go of his hand and rest your hand on his thigh all the while your eyes are looking at him, "Yeah?"

"I said if it were me, I wouldn't do that because one, out of respect for you and what we have."

Based on experience, you doubt that his act would match his words but you give him the chance to finish his talk.

"Two, for the group," he continues.

He makes it sound like you are this selfish person who does things as she pleases and you don't care about him at all when in fact, you did nothing on that boat party except for that one bodyshot with Avery.

"It wasn't intentional, someone chose to do it with me," you tell him the reason why you did it, not because you wanted to.

"I'm just—" he abruptly stops talking as if he has a change of mind in the middle of a sentence.

"I know what I feel for you and it's just that I can't act like that I'm okay with what you did," he explains.

You retract your hand off of him and grip the edge of your chair, "I told you, I only did one body shot and nothing else."

"You wouldn't like it if I did it," he hastily replies, almost losing himself there as he gives you an intense glare.

You hate to sleep without resolving it but it's obvious that he's angry so it's best to give him time to cool down and you can talk it all out with clear heads the next day.

-

YOU: He almost kissed another girl on a date and what makes him think that he won't do anything at that boat party? [Scoffs]

-

It's when you wake up that you realize that some people were switching beds last night.

Vic is sleeping with Marie while Edouard sleeps with Andy so you guess she already knew about what happened between Edouard and Saskia. At least, she knew it from Edouard himself and not from someone else.

As for you, you're not going into the talk yet. You still cuddle him and give him a morning kiss, you treat him like usual to let him know that nothing changed between you and him. This is just another thing you need to overcome together and deep down, you know you will.

The morning continues with a mumbling mess that is Vic at the breakfast table.

"I'm only going to try again if he can actually win me over," she says, stirring the scrambled egg on her plate with a fork.

You don't have the energy to deal with drama first thing in the morning so you decide not to meddle and risk saying things that upset her more.

"Then let him win you over," Marie from two chairs over tells her.

"I don't think he understands that he really needs to do the work to win me back," Vic grumbles again, dropping her fork onto her plate.

"So tell him," Marie coyly responds.

Vic sighs and runs her hands through his dark long hair, "But I know I'm never going to work things out with Saskia."

You know it's better not to stay away from it but you can't help it when your friends are going against each other, especially over a boy.

You put down your cutlery and look at Vic, "Vic, I think that you're a grown woman, and whether you want to or not, you should work things out with her."

She subtly rolls her eyes in response, not taking your words when it's possible to do so if one of them is open to reconciliation.

"You could figure this out together," you assure her.

"I am not going to talk to this girl. If she wants to talk to me which she won't then I'll talk to her. But she won't," Vic says with her nostrils flaring in anger.

It's obvious that Vic is not open to reconciliation, moreover, it's tricky considering that she has stubbornness in her. Then there's nothing left to do but tell her which side you're taking and it's neither.

"I just want you to understand that I love you and I also like talking to her. I don't want you to think that I'm two-faced," you carefully explain not avoid getting your words twisted.

"I just want everything to be fine because I like you both a lot," you add.

In the afternoon, Lana called everyone to the cabana as usual and she prepared something for everyone there. There's a TV with the word 'Cinelana' on the screen.

"Cinelana?" Edie says in genuine confusion.

Marie puts all of her hair to the side before taking a seat, "Will it be...?" She wildly guessed with a raised eyebrow.

Not long after everyone has taken their seats, the melodic chime comes and the cone lights up to signify Lana's arrival.

"Hello, everyone."

"Hi, Lana!" Everyone replies in unison.

"How are you?" Lana asks.

"Poor," Frida shortly replies.

"Broke and scared," Saskia answers.

To be honest, you feel more scared than broke. Maybe it's coming from knowing that you didn't contribute to that money deduction.

"From what I can see from your behavior, some forms of physical contact can be more sexual than those prohibited at the retreat," Lana says.

You have a feeling that she's about to expose everyone with this Cinelana and that's what you're scared of.

"But it's better to show than tell."

-

YOU: I have no problem showing everything that happened. Showing the thing I did is fine by me. But when it comes to the others, I don't know.

-

"I want you to see yourselves through my eyes."

The ones who went to the boat party seem to be nervous and everyone pretty much knows what Lana is about to show. Hyunjin can only hope that he doesn't see what he doesn't want to see.

"What is she going to show?" Diego curiously asks.

"Is there popcorn?" Marie casually asks.

"May the first session of Cinelana begin," Lana announces.

Cinelana starts with them having a big toast and from there, things escalate quickly, everyone reacts with a lot of gasps and squeals, cheering when they catch someone doing the rule break.

Hyunjin's heart skips a beat when you come on the screen, a girl pours a drink onto your chest and proceeds to drink it straight from it. He sees that you cover your face with your hands, looking flustered.

He feels a little jealous but not the kind that makes him angry, It's the kind that makes him envy. It's even crazier that he doesn't which one he should be more jealous of, the girl who did the body shot on you or you.

"Calm down. This is just the beginning," you tell everyone.

It suddenly turns quiet when the footage of Saskia and Edouard doing body shots on each other. Hyunjin can't help but look to the side, at Vic who looks uncomfortable and displeased with what she's seeing.

Thankfully, the attention is shifted to Edie who's devouring the new guy with ferocious kisses that get everyone hysterically screaming.

"Wow. Edie!" Diego clicks his tongue at her.

The movie ends with them going into the sea naked and Hyunjin is relieved to see that you told the truth to him, in fact, he should be proud that you stick to the principles even though everyone around you doing the opposite.

"And that's why we're poor," Marie comments as the screen turns dark.

Lana chimes once more, "What do you think about the movie?"

"I liked it, Lana," Pablo jokingly says.

"Do you think this behavior is fair to the group? Would anyone act differently?" Lana asks.

That seems to make everyone turn quiet again, offending the ones who went to the boat party. He turns to the side and sees that you open your mouth to speak.

"For me personally, when I got on that boat, that's when it stopped making sense to me. I realize that I would much rather be here than be there," you say.

You turn your head at him and smile, an unexpected gesture that makes him feel touched. All of a sudden, he doesn't know why he's mad in the first place, you've told him the truth and that should be enough for him.

"I think I'd have acted differently if I knew how much it would affect some people here," Edouard adds with a defeated look on his face.

"Now is the time to think about how are you going to move forward. I really hope you try harder," Lana says.

In other words, Lana demands everyone to do better from this moment on. Hyunjin figures that he should do better too in building this connection with you, he doubted you when he should have trusted you just like you trust him.

"That's all for today," Lana concludes the session.

Now is the time to pick up the conversation from last night. He takes you to the firepit to get some privacy so the two of you can talk comfortably.

"So, what do you think?" You ask, folding your legs on the sofa facing him.

Hyunjin cracks a smile and answers, "I can't even be mad at that. That was so hot."

You burst out laughing and playfully hit his chest, he catches your hand to stop you, pulling you onto his lap. He looks up at you and brushes your hair to the side, "I think I was made because you were gone the whole day," he honestly admits.

A smile rises on your face, "You missed me?"

"So much," he shamelessly answers.

"You're so into me, mmh?" You ask, putting your forehead against his.

"I'm so into you," he shortly replies, ignoring how stupid he sounded.

"Me too," you tell him with your hand cupping his jaw, "I'm so into you."

It's one of those moments that Hyunjin wishes he could freely kiss you just to prove his words to you with actions and it stresses him that he can't do that.

As if you read his mind, you land a soft kiss on his nose to compensate for not being able to kiss his lips and smile when you pull away. It doesn't quite satisfy his needs but it's enough to make his heart pitter-pattering inside his chest.

"We're even now," he jokingly says.

You hit his chest again a little harder this time, "Excuse me? This was different!" You strongly disagree.

He laughs and pulls you closer, what he did that time with Saskia is far worse than someone doing a body shot on you. He nods and immediately agrees with you.

"Okay, okay, but you owe me a body shot," he says, trying to get something out of it.

"That's fair," you agree to it.

-

HYUNJIN: My honest reaction? I liked the movie. It's better than I thought [chuckles]

-

The drama between Vic, Edouard, and Saskia continues onto the next day.

It gets even messier when the girls are doing makeup in the dressing room, it was a nice and quiet afternoon until Vic starts a fight, unprovoked.

"Do you think Edouard was hitting on her?" She asks you, fully aware that Saskia is there on the opposite side of the vanity table, curling her hair in peace.

Hearing that she is being indirectly addressed, Saskia puts down her curling iron and looks at Vic.

"No, he wasn't hitting on me, Vic. It's not like that," she tells him.

Vic acts nonchalantly, she continues putting foundation on her face as she talks, "Then what was it like?"

"He wasn't hitting on me and I wasn't hitting on him either," Saskia remarks.

"If you were hitting on him, then I have a problem with that," Vic argues more instead of dropping the conversation there.

"You think I hit on him? For God's sake, Victoria, don't be silly!" Saskia says with a sarcastic scoff.

The fact that Saskia addresses Vic by her full name only means that she has struck her nerves.

"No, I mean it," Vic keeps arguing.

You hate to get caught in the middle of the conflict so does everyone else on the vanity table but to meddle in is not the best option either.

'Yeah, keep believing that men are so honest. Men always talk their way out of things and the woman is the slut, the woman is the whore," Saskia says, still managing to curl her hair despite being in the middle of an argument.

Vic roughly puts down her makeup brush onto the table with a clang, "But if you led him on—"

Saskia cuts her off to defend herself, "Everyone was drinking, and when you drink—"

And Vic cuts her off midsentence in return, "You led him to believe you wanted him."

Saskia scoffs again and stops doing things altogether, "Oh, so you mean I can't drink? I can't get excited. I can't have fun at a party?"

You grab Vic's hand to stop her from keeping going and escalate things further, filling the room with palpable animosity. You don't want to be seen as taking anyone's side but no one is trying to stop them from coming at each other and turning it into a whole fight.

Looking around for help, you have no one to turn to but the cone perched on the shelf in the dressing room. Before you can ask for help, she chimes in.

Things are getting out of hand that Lana has to intervene, she gathers the three in the bedroom to talk and hopefully, they get to work it out together.

Since there's a party tonight, you continue doing your makeup with the rest of the girls while hoping for the best outcome for the three of them.

You still feel a little tense from being caught in the middle of conflict and Hyunjin seems to notice it. He comes from behind you, putting all of your hair away to the side so he can kiss your neck.

With his hand wrapped around your neck to keep you still, he gently sucking on the skin. You're squealing as he keeps placing ticklish kisses along your shoulder blade.

"Oh, I'm jealous," says the new girl, Emilie.

Somehow, it feels good to know that your relationship is making someone jealous. Hyunjin places another kiss on your cheek before leaving for the bathroom.

"Let's be a throuple," Emilie says as she sits on Saskia's chair.

"A sincere relationship with three people," she explains as if you don't know what it means.

You almost broke up with him when you knew he almost kissed another girl and what makes her think that you'll be okay sharing Hyunjin with her? You give her a pass because she's new so you awkwardly chuckle in response.

-

YOU: Back off, girl. I'm not into this throuple business.

-

It's a real party when everyone is getting along well and having fun.

The talk seems to be a success with Vic looking so much better, she's back to her chipper mood and she's dancing with Edouard. On the other hand, you sense that things between her and Saskia are not doing that well but at least, they're staying civil to each other now.

Putting drama aside, you and Hyunjin are doing better than ever. You trust each other more now and your connection is getting stronger, the next plan is to show true growth in your relationship to earn a green light.

Hyunjin hoists you against his body until your feet are off the ground, you hurriedly cling to him by putting your arms around his shoulders and your legs around his waist.

"Is this how we're going to do it?" You jokingly ask with a sly grin on your face and your hand massages the nape of his neck.

"In front of everybody? Yeah, that's the idea," he playfully responds.

The fun time has to end with Lana being a party pooper as usual. Everyone knows what to do when the chime comes, heading to the cabana like animals about to get slaughtered. Considering that she crashed the party, she'd better have some good news for the group.

"Hi, Lana. Do you have another movie?" Diego jokingly asks.

"Do you want her to show yours?" Edie pokes fun at him.

Lana skips the casual greeting and goes straight into the talk, you hate whenever that happens because it means she's not pleased with something. But everyone has been behaving well, especially after that huge blow to the prize money at the boat party.

"I see how you talk a lot about finding a connection but I also see that some of you do little about it," Lana says.

There's still hope that this going to turn out well and you cling to that hope.

"Connecting is not necessarily trying to be a couple, but opening up to the process and being aware that mistakes are part of any learning process."

Everyone stays quiet, no one is saying anything but intently listening to what Lana says to know where this talk leads.

"Getting it wrong is one thing. Giving up on the process is another. And that can no longer continue to happen here on my retreat."

"Y-yeah?" Edie stammers, sensing that Lana is onto something, something unpleasant.

"I detected some of you have a lack of interest in new connections. Therefore I need to continue my work here without the presence of some people."

It's only a minute ago you thought about how you need to show growth in your relationship and now you're worried that you haven't done enough. Your hand immediately grabs Hyunjin's as you close your eyes, anxious.

"Two of you must leave the retreat tonight," Lana announces.

-

YOU: And we thought we'd get good news [exhales]

-

The tension in the room heightens as Lana is about to announce the two people being sent home tonight.

Hyunjin is nervous and so is everyone because, at this point, it could be anyone. Lana sees everything and he admits that he hasn't shown enough progress which puts him at risk of leaving the retreat.

"One of you has spoken many times about being a closed-off person, and couldn't see how the retreat would change that," Lana explains the reason why she chose this person.

Hyunjin can think of someone who fits that description, he turns his head to the side where Marie is sitting and she kind of guesses who it is as well.

"The second person I'm eliminating tried opening up to the process at first but it seems that they lost focus on the purpose of the retreat," Lana gives another explanation on the reason why she sent home the second person.

For this one, Hyunjin can't tell who it is but he prays inside that it's not him. He hopes that Lana gives him so more time to continue building this connection with you.

"Therefore, their stay at this retreat has come to an end."

He slowly inhales air and quietly lets it out while continuously wishing that Lana would not call his name.

"Exiting the retreat tonight are..."

He sees no one is feeling safe either because no one wants to go home yet.

"...Pablo and Marie."

He feels relieved that it's not him but it doesn't make him feel good either knowing that someone else has to go. He gets up from his seat to give Pablo and Marie a farewell hug for he found friendship in them.

"Pablo and Marie, it's time for you to leave the retreat," Lana orders.

Everyone standing up to send them off with a wave goodbye and sending well wishes their way.

Tonight started fun and it turned into the opposite in a flip of a switch, but that's life, we never know what's going to happen next.

What Hyunjin knows is that he's grateful that he's still here. He rests his head on your neck as the two of you lie on the bed still dressed in your party costumes, he puts his arm across your chest and pulls you close.

"I'm happy we still have each other," he softly whispers to you.

You endearingly brush his head and place a sweet peck on his forehead, "Me too, baby."

Lana has given him more time in the retreat when it could have been him going home tonight and for that, he feels grateful because he's not ready to go, he can't even imagine himself leaving you.

-

HYUNJIN: It's been hard, but at the same time, I... understand the situation.

-

This morning is the same as like other morning in the retreat.

The lights are on as a wake-up call for everyone at the same time every day. You wake up and see Hyunjin the moment you open your eyes, you give him a morning kiss on the cheek.

You run your hand through his hair and softly greet him, "Morning, baby."

He smiles in response and mumbles, "Morning."

He takes your hand, puts it around him, and leans in to make a trail of kisses on your inner arm, continuing it to your shoulder and neck.

"Morning, fam!" Edie cheerfully greets everyone in the room who is still stuck in their beds.

"It's crazy that sometimes I can see this mole of yours and sometimes I don't," you say in bewilderment as your index finger poked the faint mole under his left eye.

He closes his eyes and blissfully smiles at you, "Want to hear something crazier?"

"Yeah. What?"

"You're getting sexier and sexier every day," he answers while squeezing the flesh on your waist.

"Ouch!" You yelp in pain but that only encourages him to tighten his hold around you.

It's a peaceful morning until someone recognizes what is missing in this room.

"Wait, where's Lana?" Frida asks.

You scramble to turn on the bed to see the cone is missing from its usual place, she usually sits prettily on the small round table in the corner of the room but she's not there.

"Shit! Lana's gone," Edie says, her mouth stays open.

You exchange a glance with Hyunjin but he's also befuddled with Lana's sudden disappearance, well, a staff probably took the cone away while we were asleep but there must be a reason they're doing it.

"We're always in a throuple with her so it's weird Lana is not here when we wake up," Saskia says while cuddling with Remy on their bed.

"She's out on a date with Siri," Andy jokingly says with a satisfied laugh.

"Maybe Lana prepared breakfast for us," Diego wildly guesses, "she's in the kitchen being Lana Ramsey."

Everyone laughs at that one but it starts to get serious when everyone is getting their breakfast and Lana is not there, Andy goes to check the cabana just in case someone misplaced her.

"She's not there either," Andy returns with an answer.

"Do we have to find her?" Gustav confoundedly asks, not knowing what to do since he's still new in this retreat.

"Just don't make us dig sand to find her, please?" Edie grumbles, getting flashbacks from that first day we arrived at the villa.

"Do you think Lana's disappearance is good or bad for us?" Edouard asks, curious about what everyone thinks of it.

"Maybe she needs some time alone, guys," Saskia coyly says with a glass of orange juice in her hand.

Everyone comes up with various theories about Lana's disappearance and they react differently to it, some are nervous, a few are excited and the rest are a mix of both.

"Oh no, she's not here either," Emilie whines as she looks around searching for the cone in the dressing room.

"Maybe she's tired of us?" Frida coyly says, plopping onto her usual seat at the vanity table.

Vic hands you a bottle of sunspray and turns her back to you, "As long as she doesn't take the money with her, I'm cool," she says.

You turn on your chair to help her spray her backside evenly and make sure you don't miss a spot, you've been doing a very good job at it considering that her skin remains pale while everyone else has gotten tan lines.

"I think Lana is watching us from afar you know when you leave kids by themselves to see if they're going to misbehave or not?" Saskia comes up with another theory.

Her theory is the most plausible one, it's Lana we're talking about, just because she isn't there doesn't mean she's not watching. She wasn't there during the boat party yet she knew everything that happened.

"She probably sitting in the control room laughing at us right now," Edie jokes.

However, the scariest part of this is not the disappearance but what will happen with Lana not around to keep everyone's behavior?

-

YOU: This can't be good. She's just gone like that?

-

Wait, is everything allowed now?

With Lana disappearing this can only mean that the rules no longer exist as well and that gets Hyunjin excited. He's been good all these times so he thinks he deserves, at least, a little something for his good behavior.

"Lana is gone. The rules are off," Hyunjin mutters as he styles his hair next to Diego in the bathroom.

Diego chuckles and sprays some hairspray into his hair, "I don't know, man, I think that's a bad idea," he disagrees with him.

"Why don't we kiss to test the water?" Hyunjin boldly suggests.

Diego shoves him to the side in reaction to his crazy idea, he gets it that he's been careful with Frida ever since they got the green light. He then leaves the bathroom only for Edouard to come and take his spot.

"Lana's gone. What does that mean?"

Hyunjin's question is not merely a question, it's a test to find out which side Edouard is on: the side that wants to break the rules or the other side that thinks Lana is still watching.

"There's no rule, bro. Know what I mean?" Edouard says with a devilish grin as he combs his hair to the back.

This is the energy that Hyunjin seeks from someone and he feels more confident now knowing he's sharing the same brainwave with someone in this retreat, an accomplice to his mischief.

"Bro, I'm definitely breaking the rules tonight," Hyunjin boldly remarks with a wild, wide grin.

"Been holding it in for so long," Edouard says in continuation of Hyunjin's remark.

"This is going to be a mad night!" Hyunjin concludes with a wicked grin on his face. He raises both hands in the air at Edouard and claps their hands together for double high fives.

Tonight, Hyunjin wants to do a lot of things with you and he'll make sure that it's going to happen.

-

HYUNJIN: My plan for tonight is to give her the best night of her life [smirks]

-

"As soon as I found out Lana's gone, everything I learned from the retreat has gone out of the window," Vic openly admits.

The dressing room is buzzing and the girls are exceptionally energized tonight, maybe it's the fact that the cock-blocker is nowhere in sight. Vic's words are true, it feels like everyone is back to their default settings and forgot about the purpose of the retreat.

"Okay, but out of all of the boys, who is most likely to break the rules tonight?" Emilie curiously asks while swinging her mascara wand in the air.

"Pfft... I hope it's Edouard," Vic mumbles.

Edie smacks her lips together then places her hand on your forehand, "To be honest, I think it's Hyunjin," she says, sticking her face at you.

"Oh, yeah," Saskia agrees with an exclamation mark drawn on her face.

Frida chuckles and glares at you, "You better be satisfied tonight 'cause if you ain't, girl..."

"You'll be satisfied tonight," Edie teases you with a sing-song tone while shaking your shoulders.

Their assumption is only making you nervous because of how it comes close to the truth. Hyunjin is and has been ogling at you. Not that he never ogled at you before, he does it more often today and it's not hard to read his mind when he's acting like that the whole day.

Hyunjin chooses the firepit to spend some alone time with you, he makes you sit on his lap even though the sofa could fit seven people. You don't have to second guess everything, you know exactly what he's trying to do.

"Are you alright?" He asks, splaying the hand resting on the small of your back.

"I'm feeling good, babe," you reply with a convincing smile and hope it's enough to hide how nervous you are inside.

His other hand rubs down your thigh and plays with the hem of your skirt, all the while he's putting on this gaze that is soft yet intense and lustful.

"You look very, very cute," he compliments.

He touches the strap of your top and then your hair, "Cute dress, cute smile, cute everything."

Wow! He really is trying hard to win you over and put that sweet mouth to use, and you need to toughen up more.

"Thanks. You look gorgeous," you compliment back.

Hyunjin is wearing a plain white shirts and leaves the top three buttons open, exposing his firm chest muscles and soft skin, inviting you to touch.

Instead of giving in to your intrusive thoughts, you start buttoning his shirts.

"Why are you buttoning up my shirts?" He asks while chuckling.

"So you don't get cold," you simply answer with a suppressed laugh.

He ends up unbuttoning them again and parts the opening of his shirt wider to entice you more. You look away to keep your composure and look back at him when get yourself under control.

But Hyunjin steps up his game, he mixes his sweet words with some physical touches, weakening your defense system with each passing second.

He brushes your hair to the side and holds it there, "You know I never thought I'd meet somebody like you. You're such a lovely person," he mutters to you.

You reach for his hand and put it down, you're holding it on your lap after.

"That's very sweet of you," you reply with a smile.

He brings your hand to his mouth and then places a soft kiss on your knuckles, reminding you of how plush his lips are.

If this keeps going, you don't know how long you can restrain yourself.

-

YOU: I'm not sure if Lana's testing us, but I'm going to try really hard to not break the rules.

-

Hyunjin knows which side you're in.

You don't want to break rules while Hyunjin is doing exactly the opposite of that. He can see your defense is up, you're a little rigid, you're being cautious with everything you do, and trying so hard not to fall to his charms.

It's a good thing that Hyunjin has a lot of charms and a strong will to crack your defense. He did it once, he just needs to do it again, except that he needs to do it better this time.

He swipes his thumb across your lips and does it carefully to not smudge your lipstick.

"I miss kissing you," he says in his low, sultry voice, "I want to feel those soft lips again."

You nervously chuckle and slip your hand into the hair on the back of his head, "We've known each other better and I don't think we need to put pressure on ourselves to do anything," you tell him.

Hyunjin drops his other hand to your leg, resting it on the back of your thigh and lightly rubbing the skin with his thumb.

"We could do something," he says with a low laugh, "We can break the rules tonight. Like... why waste the opportunity?"

You chuckle again, tilting your head to the side, away from him to put a safe space between you and him. But, he only needs to close that safe space so he leans in.

"A little kiss, come on," he sweetly whispers.

You cup his jaw and fondly smile at him, "I'm rather suspicious that this is actually a test," you say.

He playfully pinches the skin on the back of your thigh and seductively smiles, "Just a bit of fun. No one will find out," he assures you.

He gets a move on by planting kisses on your neck, fluttering little kisses that he's sure make you tingling inside. He puts his hand on the nape of your neck so he can angle your head as he pleases.

He tilts your head to the side and presses his mouth to your ear, "You're so special to me."

He notices that you're slowly lowering your guard down, your eyes are fluttering shut and your hand helplessly gripping the front of his shirt. All it takes is a bit more of his charm.

"You're my special, special, special," he places a kiss along your jaw every time he repeats that one word.

"Special girl," he murmurs for the last time and then he crashes his lips against you

There is no way you will say no to his kiss, not when he kisses you so passionately, lathering your lips with his, soft on soft, slowly and tenderly.

He pries open your mouth with his tongue to taste you more, he uses his teeth to gently bite your lips and puts his hand in the right place to gain access to deepen the kiss.

You break the kiss first and immediately gasp for air, the next thing you do is wipe the lipstick mark around his mouth.

"Does the color look good on me?" He playfully asks.

"Yeah," you shortly reply.

"Put some more then," he teases.

This is only the first rule break of many and it's already a success.

-

HYUNJIN: Told you, Hwang Hyunjin always gets what he wants [nonchalantly shrugs]

-

Now that he's already got what he wants, you hope it's enough for him.

Honestly, you didn't know how you also needed that until he kissed you. You stay in the firepit while everyone else is starting to turn in for the night and the two of you are the only ones still outside.

He brushes your hair, putting it away from your face, and holds your head in his hands like you're a fragile object.

"Should we do something else?" He jokingly asks.

Gosh. You hope he's not seriously asking to do more than a kiss. You pretend to not hear it and take his hands in yours.

"It's getting late," you tell him with a pout and half-shut eyes, showing him that you're getting drowsy even though you're not.

He gently rubs your chin and softly asks, "Want to head inside?"

You nod and smile, "Mm-hmm."

It's a relief that Hyunjin stops trying, you feel like you can properly breathe now as you get off his lap. He gets up from the sofa too and leads the way back to the villa.

You may have failed not breaking the rules but you've tried your best to show some restraint until Hyunjin stops by the terrace and turns his head to the side.

"Want to check the suite first?" He asks.

You nervously chuckle and jokingly ask, "Is it even open?"

Your words only encourage him to take you there and check it. You deeply wish the suite is locked or else, you don't have any other reasons not to get in there with him.

To your dismay, the suite is unlocked.

Hyunjin opens the door and lets you in first. The suite looks exactly like the last time you've seen it, except, there's no chilled champagne, no rose petals on the bed and it's dim with no lit candles in sight.

He closes the door behind him and then goes straight to the bed, sitting on the end of the bed with his legs spreading open.

You're nervous to even get close to him, afraid of what it would lead to. You stand in between his legs, not sure what to do in this enclosed space with him.

Hyunjin puts his hands on each side of your waist and pulls you close, he then buries his head in your chest. You both stay like that for a moment with you softly scratching his head.

He then lifts his head and looks up at you, "I want it to do it," he straightforwardly says.

He loops his arms around your waist and closes the gap between your bodies, "Do you want to do it?"

You don't want to be a hypocrite by saying no when the truth is you want it, you want it so bad that you don't want to resist anymore.

"I do," you honestly answer.

"But it's a big decision," you add with a thin smile.

With Hyunjin, you know you want more than just casually dating each other, you want this to be a genuine relationship, and in a genuine relationship, having sex means taking a step further into a more established relationship.

"You know how I feel about you so let me show you that," he says.

He slightly rises from the bed just to place a kiss on your jaw, "I'm only waiting for you to say the word," he says.

The moment you step into the suite, you know that you've made up your mind and honestly, you're tired of pretending like you can resist him.

You take a deep breath and hold his head in your face, you look into his eyes to seek assurance that you're ready for the next step.

Instead of using words, you plant your lips on him and let your kisses answer it for you.

-

YOU: How am I going to resist Hyunjin?

-

Hyunjin wastes not another second, he takes your top off, exposing your half-naked body to him and he gladly buries his head in between your breasts. He takes one into his mouth while the other one is being fondled by his big hand with his fingers circling your nipple.

"Baby, be gentle, please?" You whine when he accidentally sucks too harder.

He keeps your words in mind but sometimes his body won't obey his commands, it's like it has a mind of its own, a mind that is so hungry for you and only knows a lot of ways to devour you.

He lifts your leg, making you straddle him to satisfy his need for closeness. He crashes his lips against yours again and again yet, can't get enough of it.

Without him knowing, you manage to undo all of the buttons on his shirt and he helps by getting rid of it for you, hurriedly tosses it aside so he can hold you again.

"You never cease to amaze me, baby," he tells you before roughly leaning in to kiss you again.

It's quiet in the room except for the sounds of his lips placing kisses all over you. Your skirt is all hunched up around your waist, your hands are cupping your breasts and Hyunjin keeps going down south, continuing the trail of kisses to your feet.

He then kneels on the bed and looks down at you, his dark lustful eyes traveling down your body, making him realize that you still have your skirt on.

He tugs his fingers on the waistband of your skirt and softly he says, "Raise your hips for me, baby."

You obey right away, raising your hips high enough to let Hyunjin pull your skirt down and off your legs, leaving you with nothing but lacy underwear, the fabric is so thin he can see through it, the thing that endlessly tantalizes him.

He grabs both of your legs, holding them close to his chest before parting them open. He turns his head to the side, bringing your ankle close to his mouth to kiss it. He doesn't stop there, the kisses continue to your inner thighs.

Hyunjin doesn't bother to remove it first, he dives right into your clothed cunt, his greedy mouth full of your flesh and your underwear soaked wet from his saliva.

He's enjoying, enjoying it so much that he puts your underwear to the side so he can taste you better, his slick tongue and his soft lips drenched in your wetness.

He can hear you moaning but it's somewhat muffled, he pulls away for a moment and looks at you between your legs.

"Moan louder for me, baby. I can't hear you with my head between your thighs."

Well, the only way he can make you moan louder is by pushing the right button. He adds his fingers to the combination, giving you the utmost pleasure by moving them in sync.

You keep arching your back and grinding at his mouth, enough to tell him that he only needs to continue his delightful assault to get you to your release.

"Baby, oh..." your voice cracks as your eyes screwed shut, overwhelmed with pleasure.

He kisses your inner thigh as he watches your cunt soaking wet with a mix of your essence and his saliva, but it's your gushing hole that makes him impatient to be inside you.

"Why are you so good with your mouth?" You ask in awe, half panting from all the moaning.

Well, Hyunjin takes pride in his prowess at giving head and it gives a boost of confidence to show you what else he's good at. He pulls the duvet until it covers both of your bodies so as to not expose yourselves to the cameras installed in the room.

Under the cover, he manages to take your underwear off without looking and plays with your bundle of nerves after, feeling it swelling and pulsating under his touch.

"I'm good with my hands too," he says.

You shyly smile and pull him for a kiss, but you show him you want the other thing. You put your hand inside his jeans and his boxer altogether, easily finding his hard cock and wrapping your hand around it.

"So hard. So big," you breathlessly murmur against his lips.

"So ready to be inside you," he finishes your sentence.

You crack a laugh and peck his lips, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

It's good to know he's not the only one being impatient here, but first, he has to get rid of his jeans and put

"Give me a minute to get a condom on," he gives you a peck before rolling to the side of the bed.

He sits on the edge of the bed, rummaging through the small drawers on the bedside table to find a condom, and then takes his jeans off. He unwraps the foil wrapper and carefully rolls the rubber down his length, it's not hard to do so when he's fully erect and it's all because of you.

Once he makes sure he properly put the condom on, he climbs onto the bed and gets under the duvet with you, arms instantly wrapped around you.

The only fear that still lingers in him is that he won't last long considering that he's been refrained from any sexual activities for these past couple weeks. What if he cum the second he put himself inside you? He wants to make the first time having sex with you a special moment, not a humiliating one.

"I want to do it with you," you tell him out of the blue.

It's as if you heard his mind, you assure him that this is what you and there's no pressure whatsoever, you merely want to do it with him.

"And I want to do it with you," he says back with a soft smile on his small face.

You put your hands around his neck and pull him for a kiss, "Let's do it together."

In that moment, Hyunjin gets hit by the realization that everything else doesn't matter. What matters is this moment with you.

He kisses you, fueling himself for what he's about to do next, and while brushing your hair to the side, he says, "I'm going in, yeah?"

You nod with a smile, permitting him to enter the most sacred part of your body.

It's tricky to keep the duvet from sliding off of him as he kneels on the bed again, he then takes your legs and parts them open. He starts by repeatedly rubbing his length against your slit, using your bodily fluid as a lubricant.

With the reminder to be gentle, he uses his tip to tease your entrance before slowly easing himself inside, little by little. You're breathlessly moaning as you keep taking his length so well that Hyunjin can only watch as his cock disappeared into you with your mouth agape.

The only time his eyes stray away from your cunt is to see you moaning with your eyes closed and your hands squeezing your breasts.

A moan slips past his mouth when he is fully sheathed inside your warm, velvety walls and he's not ashamed of it. He keeps groaning as the pleasure of being inside you gets to him, sending his brain close to short-circuit.

He glides his hand up your front and holds the hand cupping your left breast, "Do you see that, baby?"

Hyunjin is eyeing his cock fully buried inside you to the hilt, the image is being imprinted in the back of his head as he thinks out loud.

"I look so perfect inside you, don't you think?"

You nod in a way that is innocent but arousing at the same time which reminds him of how much he wants to ruin you.

He rubs his hand up and down your inner thigh, admiring the view of your body and how it's connected with him.

"You feel so good," he lowly mutters.

He glides his hand up to your chest and kneads on your breast, "I think I need a moment."

Hyunjin takes a minute to adjust himself inside you, how good it feels to be wrapped in your warmth, tight walls, and the way you clench and unclench around him in the slightest of movement.

He kisses you hard and deep to finally start moving and feeling his cock launches deeper and deeper for every thrust into you.

He keeps kissing you and when he's not, moans keep spilling out of your mouth, and calling his name in between those moans. Your bodies eventually move in sync and work together to chase that release.

When Hyunjin finally snaps, he has a moment of clarity. He couldn't believe that he managed to not do it the last time he was here, he had that much restraint in him but now, all bets are off and he's fully aware that it's his biggest gamble yet.

-

HYUNJIN: Best believe, I'm going all in tonight.

-

The next morning, Lana is still no-show.

You know she'll be back at some point but you feel a little relieved that she hasn't, you don't want to deal with that yet. You still want to live in this bubble together with Hyunjin.

"Good morning, angel baby," he sweetly whispers into your ear as he spoons you from behind.

You giggle as he places ticklish kisses on your bare shoulder and neck. He holds you close as he rests his head in the crook of your neck to get a little extra sleep.

The two of you returned late from the suite and sneaked into the bedroom while everyone else had fallen asleep. You see that no one is suspecting anything but Lana's sinister disappearance.

"Lana, girl, how long are you going to hide?" Frida asks while twisting her curly hair and securing it with a hair claw.

Thinking about Lana gets you a little uneasy, you break away from Hyunjin's hold and sit on the bed, offering your lap to let him rest his head on.

He gladly does that, resting his head on your lap and putting your hand in his hair, asking you to play with his dark, silky locks.

"Lana is not running away with our money, right?" Andy asks in a panic.

It's funny that he puts a sense of ownership over it when it's no one's money in the first place, and Lana has the right to run away with the money if she wants to.

"Did anyone break the rules last night though?" Diego asks around, scanning the room with his eyes.

Everyone is playing innocent, shaking their heads or completely ignoring the question like you and Hyunjin did. Avoiding it doesn't mean you're not free of guilt, it's there and it's pooling in the pit of your stomach, making you feel faint.

After lunch, you share the hammock with Hyunjin, simply enjoying each other's presence and the beautiful view of the sea.

"Last night felt like a dream," he says out of the blue.

You get butterflies whenever you recall moments from last night and you find yourself smiling like a fool, "Yeah."

The memories are still fresh in your brain, you remember every detail from the way he looked at you, touched you, kissed you, where he put his hand on your body, and oh... just everything.

He puts his arm around you and puts his head against yours, "I didn't regret doing it with you. It was special to me," he tells you.

"You made me feel special," you sincerely tell him because that's what he made you feel last night: nothing less than special.

"Last night, we took a big step in our relationship," he says.

You nod in agreement.

"Whatever happens, we're in it together," he says, pressing a kiss on your temple.

Of course, he knows that you need comfort and assurance, that's why he said those words. You gently hold his jaw and place a tender kiss on his cheek.

"We're in it together," you repeat his words back to him with a smile.

Hyunjin is right, whatever happens, you shouldn't be afraid because you're not alone, you're in it together with him.

When you walk back to the villa, Andy comes running toward the two of you, his blond hair bouncing on his head.

"What's going on?" You ask him.

"It's Lana. She's back," Andy answers.

-

YOU: I knew it was all too good to be true [exhales]

-

"Anxiety is back, my friend," Edouard shouts as he takes a seat on the curved sofa.

No shit. Your legs are shaking, your hands are sweating and you press your lips together so that it forms a thin line on your face. Even with Hyunjin sitting next to you, you can't seem to relax.

"Even though my conscience is clear, I'm tense," Frida says then lets out a sigh.

The cone is there on the table and she's quietly glaring at you. When she chimes, you almost jump on your seat.

Everyone is gasping in response to her return, even though you know no one is expecting she will be back this soon.

"Hello, everyone," Lana starts with her usual greeting.

"Hi, Lana," you weakly reply with your knee bouncing against the floor.

"Yesterday, I disappeared from the villa to test how you would behave when left to your own devices. Just as you will be in the real world after my retreat," Lana explains.

You do not like where this is going but you have nowhere to go either, you have to face the music.

"Despite my absence, my sensors kept monitoring your every move," Lana further reveals.

"I knew it!" Diego exclaims, triumphantly fisting the air.

Emilie shakes her head and sighs, "It was all too good to be true.

Your guess is not off the mark either, you were right that this was all just a test from Lana and you clearly failed.

"I am very disappointed to report that there were several breaches of the rules," Lana informs.

This is where the witch hunt begins, everyone is looking at each other and trying to spot any guilty faces. Somehow, you manage to keep a straight face despite your heart beating out of your chest.

"Anyone want to start?" Diego asks.

You see Remy and Saskia are glancing at each other and then she turns her head to face everyone again.

"We had a kiss," Saskia comes clean.

"We had a chat, we got carried on. Just once, I swear," Remy explains the details and ends it with a sincere apology.

"There was another breach of the rules," Lana will not stop exposing the rule breakers until they come out with the truth.

Remy and Saskia had it easy because it was their first time breaking the rule and it was only just a kiss. You can't compare it to what you've done with Hyunjin.

"We also kissed, Edouard and I," Vic immediately admits, not holding back from telling everyone about it.

"I just thought that the rules were off," Edouard coyly explains, but the grin on his face tells otherwise.

"Told you, Lana was watching the whole time," Andy tells him.

"I'm sorry," Edouard quickly apologizes to end the conversation.

"The prize fund now stands at $48,000," Lana updates the current amount of prize money.

Everyone must think that's the end of it, that no one else breaking the rules and losing $12,000 is the worst anyone could have done to the prize fund.

You hate to break it to them but they haven't heard the worst of it, you look at Hyunjin and he's pinching at his lower lip which is something he does whenever he's nervous.

"However, there was an additional, serious breach of the rules," Lana further reveals.

-

YOU: I don't know what's coming but Hyunjin and I might be in some trouble.

-

Hyunjin knows he's got to be a big boy and owns up to his mistake. Also, he can't stand seeing you all tense and anxious next to him.

Before it gets messy and uncomfortable for everyone, he leans forward in his seat and starts talking.

"Last night, we... uh," Hyunjin couldn't find any words that would help him soften the blow.

He takes a deep breath and tries again, "Last night we took a step further—"

He gets cut off as everyone else starts groaning in response, knowing the rest of the sentence without him needing to finish it. A few of them seem to have expected this to happen and most of them are disappointed in him.

"This is all my fault, I messed up and I do feel bad," he sincerely says.

He looks at everyone, each and every one of them eye to eye, then with all of his heart, he apologizes.

"I'm sorry," he earnestly says.

"You yet again failed to show any form of restraint and broke the ultimate rule of my retreat, sexual intercourse," Lana says.

Hyunjin didn't think that it would hit him this hard, he may have said he did not regret what he did last night but he regretted acting so selfishly.

"There was $48,000 in the prize fund but because of your numerous rule breaks last night, your prize fund is now at $0," Lana finally drops the shocking news.

There's no money left in the pot anymore and it is all his fault, he understands if everyone is disappointed in him or even hates him for it. He deserves it.

"The prize fund is at $0. However, there will be more tests and opportunities to replenish the prize fund," Lana suddenly shares uplifting news.

It's very rare for her to share good news after bad ones and the mood turns a little lighter, everyone is cheering and applauding for the good news.

"Yes, Lana!" Diego exclaims while clapping his hands together.

"Now I need everyone on their best behavior!" Frida scolds everyone.

But as we all know, happiness is fleeting because Lana hasn't finished with the announcement yet.

"But not for all of you."

Everyone knows what that means and it means she's going to send someone home. He hates to admit it but he has a feeling that Lana is going to send you and him out of here.

"Oh, my days!" Edie whines, fanning her face as she gets red all over from holding her tears.

"No, please, Lana," Saskia hopelessly begs at the cone.

His thought somehow manifests into reality as Lana calls both of your names and his heart drops to his stomach.

"Please stand up!" Lana orders.

Hyunjin can't even feel the ground beneath him as he gets up from the sofa and takes a stand, he puts his arm around you and holds you close, providing you comfort even though he knows you're just as anxious as him.

"As a couple, you have broken the most rules but one of you has shown more disregard for the rules than the other. And that person will be going home," Lana announces.

"Oh, my god," Edie whines again, burying her face in her hands.

"The person leaving the retreat is..."

Deep down, Hyunjin knows that Lana is sending him home, he looks at you and holds you tighter. He can see that you know that he knows.

"...Hyunjin."

-

HYUNJIN: At the end of the day, you can only point one finger and that's at me.

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[canirove]

My neighbour Rúben | Chapter 10

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Masterlist

"So... Yeah. Thank you very much for coming, and like Julia says... Happy early Christmas!" Lucy said, lifting her glass.

"Happy early Christmas!" all the guests replied.

"And now, my very talented friend will delight us with some music" she said, looking for me among the crowd.

"Break a leg" Rúben said, kissing my hand. We had made it just in time, Lucy almost done with her toast. 

"Oh, there she is!" she said, the crowd opening for me.

When I sat down in front of the piano, my hands were shaking. I had played this piece many times before, even with a crowd. Why was I nervous? Was it because I didn't want to ruin Lucy's night? Because Rúben was watching? Because of what we had been doing just a minute ago? But the moment my fingers touched the keys, it was just me and the piano. Me and the music.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"That was... simply beautiful" Rúben said when I met him again. It had taken me a while to get to him, most of the guests coming to congratulate me, some of them asking me if I would also play at their parties.

"You liked it?"

"I loved it. Everything. The music, the way your fingers moved over the keys, how beautiful you looked while playing, how you were feeling the music. It was... Breathtaking."

"Thank you, Rúben" I said, feeling something weird on my chest. Weird, but nice. No one had ever complimented me like that, not even my family. Or my dad. Especially not him. If they had, it hadn't been this sincere, this honest. 

"Should we get ourselves some champagne and celebrate your talent?" he said, offering me his hand. "When we are done we can continue where we left it earlier."

"Ok..." I said, my face definitely looking very red. 

We were waiting for one of the waiters to pour us some champagne when Rúben heard his phone ringing.

"That's weird" he said, looking at the screen and picking up, moving away from the other guests. And I couldn't help but stare at him. Again.

He looked so handsome with that suit. So perfect. So... Worried? Something had happened. Whoever had called him was giving him bad news.

"Who was it?" I asked him, joining him and forgetting about the champagne.

"It was from the hospital. My brother was on a car accident."

"Oh my God" I gasped. "Is he alright?"

"I don't know, they just told me they took him there. I must go" he said, quickly walking towards the door.

"Rúben, wait" I said, following him. But he wasn't listening. "Rúben. Rúben!" I shouted once we were outside the apartment, grabbing him by the arm and making him look at me. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you are not."

"Yes, I am. Look at you. You are shaking!" I said, taking his hand on mine. "Let me go with you."

"Fine" he sighed.

Once we made it to the lobby downstairs, we called for a taxi. He didn't have his car keys with him and he couldn't drive while feeling like this, with his mind somewhere else.

"You are gonna freeze in that dress" he said, taking off his jacket and putting it over my shoulders. It looked huge on me.

"Thank you. But what about you?"

"I'll be fine, don't worry." 

After what felt like an eternity, especially for Rúben, we finally made it to the hospital. 

"Hi, I'm looking for my brother" he said to the receptionist. "He was on a car accident and someone called me saying he was here."

"What's his name?" 

"Ivan Dias."

"Dias... Oh, yes. They are still running some tests on him. Once they finish, the doctor will talk with you."

"Can you at least tell me if he is ok?"

"I don't have that information, sir. I'm sorry" the receptionist said. "You must wait until the doctor comes back."

"Come, let's sit and wait" I said, giving his hand an encouraging squeeze and leading him towards the waiting room.

"I told him to take an early flight but he didn't listen" Rúben said once we sat down. "He had a date with some girl he had met and... I should have insisted. I should have."

"Rúben, don't. Don't you dare blaming yourself for what happened."

"But..."

"I said no. Don't make me scold you like I do with Julia."

"Is it too scary?"

"You have no idea. So repeat after me: what happened to Ivan isn't my fault."

"I..." he said, shaking his head.

"C'mon, Rúben. I'm not seeing those nice lips of yours moving."

"Do I have nice lips?" he said, the start of a smile showing. Good. I was distracting him, just as I wanted.

"That's not what I asked you to say. C'mon, Rúben" I said again, trying to sound and look as serious as when I'm with Julia.

"Ok, fine" he said, letting out a big sigh. "What happened to Ivan wasn't my fault."

"Pinky promise?" I said, showing him the little finger of my free hand, the other still holding his.

"Really?" he chuckled.

"I'm very serious when it comes to pinky promises."

"Alright then" he said, interlacing his finger with mine. "Pinky promise."

"You can't break it. Ever."

"I won't."

"Good" I said, resting my head on his shoulder. "Everything will be alright. You'll see."

"It will" he said, kissing my head.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Are you Ivan Dias family?" a doctor asked us around 20 minutes later.

"I'm his brother" Rúben said, getting up. "How is he? What happened?"

"As you probably already know, he was on a car accident. Another one hit the one he was in and one of his legs got trapped. Once he got here we ran some tests to see how bad his injuries were, and we saw that he has a head concussion and a broken rib, but nothing serious. The worst part is in his leg, tho. His hip and femur are broken, and the ankle is very damaged. He is about to go into surgery, but luckily, we have one of the best specialists in the country working for us, so everything should go well."

"It should" Rúben said, his voice sounding almost like a growl. I could feel his body tensing by the second, the grip of his hand on mine tightening.

"It will go well" I said, grabbing his arm with my free hand and massaging it, trying to comfort him somehow.

"What if it doesn't? What if he can't walk anymore?"

"Rúben, look at me. Rúben" I said, raising my voice a little. "You heard the doctor. One of the best in the country works here and will be taking care of Ivan. Everything will be alright, you must trust them."

"They are calling for me, the surgery is about to start" the doctor said. "But listen to your girlfriend, Mr. Dias. Everything will work out, your brother is in good hands."

His only reply was a nod, his eyes still focused on me. 

"You should probably go home and rest, come back in the morning. This is gonna be a long surgery and he'll be in intensive care once we are done."

"But..." Rúben protested.

"We are going home" I said. "Thank you very much, doctor."

"Of course" he said before leaving.

"I can't go home while Ivan is in there. He needs me."

"There is nothing you can do for him now, Rúben. But he will be needing his brother's support tomorrow when he wakes up, and if you are looking like shit because you've been trying to sleep in the most uncomfortable chair ever, you won't be doing anything. So let's go home. Please."

"Ok" he sighed. Though he didn’t sound very convinced.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Looks like the party already ended" I said when we arrived at our building.

"They usually end by midnight, and those who want to keep celebrating go to someone else's house or a bar."

"You won't happen to have a spare key of our apartment, will you? I left and didn't take anything with me" I said, following Rúben into his house.

"I do. But I was hoping you would stay with me."

"You... Want me to sleep here?"

"I don't want to be alone. I feel like I'll start thinking the worst and go crazy. So please say that you will stay."

"I will."

I couldn't say no when he was looking at me like that, almost with puppy eyes. Not even if just the thought of sleeping next to him made me extremely nervous.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Those are some nice pyjamas" I said when I left the bathroom. "Very on season."

"Don't make fun of me" Rúben replied, getting into bed. He was wearing some Christmas pyjamas someone had gifted him ages ago and that looked very small on him. "I'm doing this for you so you don't have another stroke if you see me in my underwear."

Because that's how he sleeps. Just on his underwear. Which means that he doesn't own many pyjamas, just the two sets we are wearing, and mine are even smaller than his.

"You are so thoughtful."

"Are you coming in or not?" he said, opening the other side of the bed for me. "Or do you prefer sleeping over here?"

"This side is fine, don't worry" I said, getting in.

"I don't bite, you know?" he chuckled. I was laying on the bed like a mummy, as far away from him as I could. "Come here." 

"I'm..." But before I was able to find an excuse, his arm was around my waist, pulling me closer to him. 

"Much better, don't you think?" 

"I guess."

"I guess" he laughed, the worried look finally leaving his face. "Thank you for staying."

"Of course. But you don't need to repeat it every five seconds."

"I'm sorry” he smiled. “Did you notice how the doctor called you my girlfriend?"

"Did he?" He did. He definitely did. And I hadn't stop thinking about it since I had heard it. Did we look like a couple? Really?

"Yep. Is it too soon to ask you to be my girlfriend?"

"What?" I said, my voice sounding all squeaky. 

"Yes, it is too soon" he said, laughing again. "But I would like it to be real one day. Because in case you haven't noticed, I like you. A lot."

"Oh… so that was it. I thought you just gave kisses movie worth it to everyone" I said, surprising myself with my boldness.

"I've been told I'm a very good kisser, so even if I'm not trying, I guess they all are movie worth it."

"Yes, sure" I chuckled. 

"Let me prove it to you."

"That you are a good kisser or that they all are movie worth it?" I said, finally daring to look him in the eyes. Who was this woman talking for me? Lucy? Had she possessed me?

"Both" Rúben said before closing the space between us and kissing me. And again, it felt like the best kiss of my life. So yes, I guess he was right and it was both.

[tailsbeth-writes]

🗺️ for Wilmon! Bonus points for background Felice/Sara, bonus bonus points if Felice is the one throwing Wille’s bachelor party. Please and thanks lol

Your wish is my (late) command! Read on Ao3 here.

‘To Wille and Simon!’ Felice toasts with a fierce grin. The crowd gathered echoes back the sentiment, Simon gathers Wilhelm by the waist as he nuzzles into his chest embarrassed. ‘Why are you embarrassed? This is to celebrate you.’ Sara asks, arms folded over her chest as she lazily sips champagne. She's a little wobbly on her feet, the fizz got to her quickly. ‘I’m just having flashbacks to state dinners where I feel like I'm being eaten alive,’ Wille retorts. Simon chuckles and kisses Wille’s forehead. Felice finishes chatting with some guests and storms over to the trio. ‘Sara, you need to get people on the dancefloor.’ she commands through a gritted smile. Sara rolls her eyes before tending to the guests. ‘So is this the bachelor party you dreamed of boys?’ Simon and Wille knew they didn't want separate parties, it seemed like an unnecessary expense and they had the same friends anyways. Felice was the first person they thought of to organise, knowing she'd pay attention to all the details and Sara could help curb her spending. The boys smile at each other and then back to Felice. ‘It’s perfect honestly, thank you for everything.’ Wille breaks from Simon’s hold and pulls Felice in a tight hug. ‘Well, the best is yet to come Wille!’ Felice winks at Simon and wanders off amongst the guests. Wille looks at Simon quizzically. ‘What are you up to?’ Simon shrugs with a smug smile. ‘Don’t know what you mean…’ Wille tugs Simon in close by his collar, his mouth hovering close to Simon’s. ‘I have ways of making you talk, Eriksson.’ Wille speaks in a low voice and Simon shivers. He breaks his stare, looking around. ‘Nobody’s paying attention to us… We could wander off and they wouldn't even know.’ Wille whispers in Simon’s ear. Simon’s face flushes as he takes Wille’s hand and hotfoots it out the room. *15 minutes later* ‘Where are they? Simon was supposed to sing! I've got the choir lined up.’ Felice snips at Sara who is using the wall to help stay up. Sara shrugs her shoulders, Felice legs out a long sigh before striding out of the room, all fake smiles. She passes the kitchen which smells of the most divine chocolate cake. She's about to turn off to another corridor when she hears a crash to the right. She slowly turns around. The sight is something to behold. She wants to scream but she bursts out laughing. Wille is on the floor, his fly undone and hair sufficiently unstyled. On top of him, Simon’s bowtie is undone, his shirt buttons half undone, his entire demeanour undone. On them and around them are toilet rolls, clothes and other cleaning supplies. The boys look up at Felice like two lost deer. ‘I thought you two got out the closet years ago…’ Felice said with a smug grin, making the boys’ panicked gazes crack into fits of giggles.

[mimisempai]

I'll find you at the end of the road - Chap 5/8

Chapter summary - Your now is not my now

They meet but how can a meeting go well when one knows and the other not...

On Ao3

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4 - Chap 5 - Chap 6 - Chap 7 - Last chapter

The Dirty Donkey - 2024

Eric exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday? We could have thrown you a little party or something. No one should be alone on their birthday."

Crowley replied with a lopsided grin, "I don't really like to make a fuss about my birthday. It's just the passage of time after all." 

Eric looked at him with piercing eyes and said gently, "You keep a lot to yourself, don't you?"

Even though he was beginning to open up a little more lately, Crowley couldn't argue with him, and besides, he felt strangely comfortable with the other man. 

There was no judgment in Eric's eyes as he continued, "There's nothing wrong with that. But sometimes I wonder what else you have in your life besides your work. Do you have a family? A girlfriend or boyfriend? Hobbies? A pet?"

Crowley was silent at first, but in the face of Eric's kindness, he finally began to talk about himself.

Furfur's house - At the same time - 2022

Furfur placed a glass of champagne in Crowley's hands. Still in a state of shock from the unexpected party, he let Furfur lead him to be introduced to his circle of friends. If one could call it a circle, when it gave the impression that half of the city was here. The next few minutes were nothing but toasts, hugs and congratulations. 

Now that the surprise had worn off, Crowley tried hard not to show that he was annoyed. 

They arrived near Aziraphale and Arthur, who had their coats in hand and were about to leave.

Furfur said in a high voice, "Crowley, I'd like you to meet Aziraphale and uh... Arthur. Aziraphale will help us find our lake house."

Crowley nodded at them and replied with a smile, "Hello. Thank you for coming."

The two men greeted him in return when suddenly, seeing that they were holding their coats, Furfur asked in a dramatic voice, "Are you leaving already?"

Aziraphale looked at them, his gaze slipping to Furfur's arm around Crowley's waist before he replied, surprising himself, "No, actually, we're staying."

He felt Arthur's irritated look on him, but decided to ignore it completely.

Furfur exclaimed, "Perfect! That's more like it. Come on Crowley, I've got some more people for you to meet."

Crowley gave a pinched little smile and followed his enthusiastic friend with a not-so-enthusiastic air.

A little later, Aziraphale was looking for a restroom and passed by a half-open bedroom door. Inside, Furfur was kissing Crowley. Aziraphale quickly stepped back and heard Crowley say, "Not here, not now. We have... guests... A lot of guests."

Furfur asked, "Were you surprised?"

Crowley replied in a tone that Aziraphale found more annoyed than pleased, "To be surprised, I was. When are they leaving?"

Furfur asked worriedly, "What is it Crowley?"

Crowley sighed and replied, "Nothing. I'm fine... It's just I've had a long day, plus the crowded train, I don't know. I guess I thought we'd be alone tonight. You know I don't like to make a big deal out of my birthday."

Furfur replied plaintively, "But they're my friends, babe. They'll be our friends. I want you to get to know them. We're going to make a life here."

Crowley sighed and said quietly, "I know. I know. And don't call me babe. I don't like it. And you know it."

The Dirty Donkey - 2024

"We moved in together after I graduated. He rented a big house. A beautiful place, north of the city. We were going to live there forever. That was the plan."

Eric, who was listening attentively, asked him softly, "What happened?"

Crowley shrugged and replied a little bitterly, "The problem was, it was his plan, not mine. It always was. I just followed. "

Eric nodded, looking understanding, and Crowley shook his head before continuing, "No, I'm not being fair. I thought I wanted it too. I don't know. Anyway, I ended it."

Eric put his hand on his arm and said soothingly, "It was and is your right, Crowley. You don't have to justify or apologize, whatever your reasons, you had the right to end the relationship. Maybe for a while you thought you'd be happy that way, and then you realized you wouldn't. Time has taught me that happiness can take many forms, you just have to grab it when it's there, but also know how to let go when it's gone."

They both took a sip of their drink and Eric asked, "So who are you writing to?"

Crowley didn't answer right away. 

He didn't know how to explain Aziraphale. 

Faced with Crowley's silence, Eric added gently, "Sorry. It's none of my business."

Crowley shook his head and replied, "No, don't apologize. You're right, there is someone. "

He twirled his glass in his hands to calm himself and added, "It's kind of a...long-distance relationship."

Eric's eyes lit up with interest as he asked, "How long?"

Crowley sighed, "A long time...sort of."

"How did you two meet? "

Crowley blushed slightly and replied, "We didn't meet. "

"What?"

"We just write letters to each other."

Eric laughed softly and replied, "Is that a joke?"

Crowley shook his head again and replied, "No, I promise."

"You mean it's like a pen pal?"

Crowley nodded and Eric laughed again, but Crowley didn't join in and drained his glass before continuing, a little sadly, "That's the story of my life. Keeping everything at a reasonable, safe distance. Everyone... The man who loved me, who wanted to marry me, I pushed him away, I ran away, I kept running away. Whereas now, the one man I can never meet... I want to give him my whole heart."

Eric shook his hand and looked at him sympathetically, "So you've never really talked to him face to face? "

"Nev..." Crowley paused, suddenly realizing something, "No. Wait.  Once..."

Furfur House - 2022

Crowley had to get out after his talk with Furfur because he really needed some fresh air. He felt more and more suffocated and knew that he was partly to blame. 

He sat down on the stairs and, after a heavy sigh, suddenly realized that he wasn't alone. 

Aziraphale, the blond guy in the old-fashioned suit, was there too, all alone.

There was silence, neither of them knowing what to say. 

Then suddenly Aziraphale just smiled and said softly, "Happy birthday."

Crowley grunted and replied, "If one more person comes and says that to me tonight, I'll kill them."

Aziraphale looked apologetic and stepped back a little in surrender.

Crowley sighed and sheepishly replied, "Sorry for the reaction, I know it's no big deal. Just another year. I guess I'm not really in the mood to party."

Aziraphale replied, "Me neither, actually."

Crowley raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then what are you doing here?" 

Aziraphale hesitated and replied, sitting down on the steps next to Crowley, "I was hoping... to meet someone."

"Who?" 

"Someone Furfur told me about."

Crowley hummed and said, "Oh, I see, like a reunion?"

Aziraphale chuckled, "Something like that."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Aziraphale sighed and replied, "Trying to find some courage."

Crowley smiled, "I understand. Better than you think." 

He wrapped his arms around himself, feeling the chill of the night, and asked, "So you're the one who's going to find us a house on the lake, right?"

Aziraphale replied in a confident voice, "Yes, I will.

Crowley was a little taken aback by the certainty of his answer and asked curiously, "Are you a real estate agent?

Aziraphale laughed softly and replied, "Me? No! Absolutely not. But I do have a lake house."

Crowley looked genuinely surprised now, and Aziraphale spontaneously added, "And you'll be renting it when I move out."

Realizing his mistake, he coughed and pulled himself together, "I mean, you could. If you want."

Crowley, finding the other man a bit odd, asked, "When are you moving out?"

Aziraphale replied, "I'm not sure. I guess when you get your degree in astronomy?"

Crowley gave him a puzzled look.

"How do you know?"

Aziraphale wanted to punch himself in the head, he really wasn't good at lying, so he tried to make something up, "Furfur said you were in college and that's what you were studying."

He paused and the silence was awkward.

Crowley looked truly puzzled, and Aziraphale felt like he'd lost the thread of the conversation, if there was one.

Then Crowley asked him, "What makes you think I or we would like it? How can you be sure?"

Aziraphale replied earnestly, "You'll like it. "

Jumping from pillar to post, Crowley asked, "Can you swim? "

Aziraphale replied, a little surprised, not seeing what the other man was getting at, "Sure, I took lessons when I was a kid. At least my father gave me lessons." 

Crowley shook his head and laughed before saying, "No, I mean, can you swim in the lake from your house?"

"Oh."

Aziraphale laughed with Crowley at his misunderstanding and replied, "Uh, no. We can't do that. It's an inconvenience. There's no path to the water."

"That's too bad."

Aziraphale nodded before adding, "Actually, I thought.... You'd have to see it, but since I've been there, I've had the idea that I could change it. Nothing major. But a few new elements could really change the house. A patio out back overlooking the lake. And stairs..." 

Aziraphale paused, embarrassed by his enthusiasm when Crowley shouldn't have seen the house.

But Crowley continued his sentence, "Stairs down to the water? "

Aziraphale nodded eagerly, "Yes. That's it, a gentle downward curve.... That way we can walk out the back door and down to the lake whenever we feel like it."   

"That sounds really nice. In fact, I think I might like it."

Then he turned his head toward the house, where the party was still in full swing, and sighed, "It's pretty late. Shouldn't you be getting back inside? If you want to find the woman of your dreams tonight?"

Aziraphale replied with a wink, "Actually, that would be the man of my dreams."

"Oh..."

"Surprised?"

"Oh no, not really, it's always nice to know that I'm not the only one swinging for the other side or a little bit of both."

Then Crowley gave him a teasing nudge on the shoulder and Aziraphale chuckled in response before adding, "To answer your question, I'm not interested in finding the man of my dreams, I'm much better off here."

Crowley blushed slightly at the implication of Aziraphale's words.

Aziraphale then asked him gently, "Crowley, have you read Persuasion by Jane Austen?"

Crowley gasped slightly and replied in surprise, "It's my favorite book. Why?"

"I have a friend who likes it."

Crowley replied with a half-smile, "Your friend has good taste."

"Yes, he has good taste." Aziraphale replied, a mischievous gleam in her eyes, before adding, "I've been meaning to read it. Could you tell me about it?"

Crowley paused for a moment and thought before answering. He wrapped his hands around his knees and began to speak, resting his chin on his knees, "It's about... waiting. These two people meet. They almost fall in love, but it's not the right time and they have to go their separate ways. Then, years later, they meet again. They have another chance. But they don't know if too much time has passed, if they've waited too long, if it's too late for things to work out.” 

Aziraphale replied quietly, "That sounds sad."

Crowley shook his head and replied, "Oh, no, it's not. Not at the end. I wouldn't have read it, I hate books that don't have happy endings. I'll tell you a secret, I don't look like it, but I'm a huge fan of romantic comedies, you know."

Aziraphale winked at him and whispered softly, "Thanks for sharing that secret with me. I swear I won't tell anyone."

They sat quite close together, thighs touching, and Crowley straightened a little before turning his head toward Aziraphale, not seeing that the other man had also moved his face closer.

They stared at each other in silence for a long moment before leaning towards each other until their lips met.

They kissed for a long time, forgetting everything around them. 

Crowley felt the sense of suffocation suddenly vanish, and Aziraphale felt he was where he belonged, both of them experiencing an incredible sense of adequacy, of harmony, at that very moment.

After a moment, they parted to catch their breath and Crowley moved back, saying hesitantly in a hoarse voice, "I don't know why I did it."

Aziraphale raised his hand and gently stroked his cheek, "We both did this, not just you, listen Crowley, there's something I need to confess to you, I..."

He was interrupted by the door opening behind them and they quickly separated before standing up at the same time, facing Arthur and Furfur.

There was an awkward silence until Crowley decided to break it, "Oh, Furfur, hi. Uh, Aziraphale was just telling me about his lake house. It sounds really great."

Furfur, his face set like stone, replied in an icy voice, "Great."

Crowley turned to Aziraphale and continued, "We're, uh, definitely interested. "

Aziraphale nodded and replied, "Good. I'll be in touch." He stared at Crowley for a few seconds, then whispered, looking at the ground, "I promise."

Arthur, his gaze dark, intervened, holding out his coat, "Aziraphale. It's late."

Aziraphale reluctantly followed, taking one last look at Crowley before heading to his Beetle.

The ride home was deathly quiet, and he dropped Arthur off in front of his house. As he closed the car door, the carpet seller said bitterly, "You know, if you didn't want to have anything to do with me, Aziraphale, you should have told me. I know I'm intrusive, but you never say anything because you never want to hurt people. But not saying anything can hurt too, you know".

Aziraphale now felt bad that he had really hurt Arthur's feelings, and he was really sorry, because even though he didn't want anything to do with him romantically, Arthur didn't deserve to be treated like that.

He said sheepishly, "Arthur, I'm really sorry. I... I'm not very good at this. I really like you as a... friend, but I don't want to go any further. I... I'm in love with someone else."

As he said it out loud, he realized his own feelings for the first time, and he knew in that moment that it was true.

He was in love with Crowley.

Arthur noticed Aziraphale's realization and his face softened a little as he replied, "It's going to take me a little while, but don't stop coming to the store or talking to me because of it, okay? I like you as a friend too, not just as a lover. I don't want to lose our friendship. So I'm probably going to give you a hard time for the next few days, but that's okay. We will be fine."

Aziraphale nodded, touched by Arthur's kindness and promising to treat his friend better, "I... I don't deserve it, but thank you. "

Arthur said nothing, closing the car door gently and heading home.

Aziraphale drove to the lake house, lost in thought, and was surprised to see the mailbox flag up.

He opened it and grabbed the note inside.

Oh, my God. It was you. 

I remember you. 

Why didn't you tell me who you were? 

I'm waiting by the box, I know you're home at this time because I remember what time you left Furfur's house. 

So you can answer me now. 

Please do.

And once again started two years apart, another conversation, punctuated by the movement of the little flag.

A: You would have thought I was crazy.

C: But I liked you. There was something between us. This was our chance. 

You should have told me.

A: What about your boyfriend?

C: What about yours?

A: He's not my boyfriend!

C:Well, he's not my boyfriend anymore!

A:He was then! I mean he is now. 

C:Your "now", not mine!  And maybe this "now" would be different if you'd said something then. Maybe now would have come earlier, or maybe now would be our now, not just my now, you know?

A: No! I don't know!

Crowley's apartment - 2024

Crowley reread their conversation, grumbled in frustration, crumpled up the letter, and threw it across the room in exasperation. 

A missed opportunity. 

Harry whirled around his feet and rubbed his legs as if to comfort him.

Lake house 2022

Aziraphale, equally frustrated by Crowley's lack of response, threw down his pencil and stomped toward the house. 

Once inside, he slumped back in his armchair, sighing and gazing thoughtfully out the bay window as Harry lay down and rested his head on his feet, sensing his owner's distress.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here

[slytherhys]

12 Days of Christmas - ACOTAR Edition

In the spirit of the Holidays, I will be writing & posting short stories about the ACOTAR characters for the next 12 days. Please note that some will be shorter than others and that this is simply meant to be a fun time for everyone that loves these characters as much as I do!

PS. I'm open to requests.

You can also find this story on my AO3.

9th day of christmas - solstice ft. high lady's birthday (i spent the 21st of december doing some christmas shopping so pls forgive me for posting this a day later)

A life by your side (A Feyre's birthday oneshot)

The High Lord of the Night Court had spared no expense in throwing a party to celebrate his mate’s 24th birthday. People from all around Prythian gasped with wonder as they entered the ballroom, surprised to see it so beautifully decorated for the winter solstice and the long night awaiting them.

The floors were so thoroughly polished guests could see their own reflections staring back at them in awe; white tulle drapes covered the archways leading outside, their fabric dancing as the wind flowed between them. The ceiling, too, reflected the night sky, but no cold touched the guests’ skin. The tables were covered in food and champagne tastefully decorated with both fairy lights and beautiful flower arrangements.

Feyre was by the champagne table with Mor, her sparkling blue gown making her easy to spot. It didn’t take long before guests were wishing her a happy birthday, toasting to the High Lady, and wishing the Night Court a prosperous year. Helion himself had already pulled Feyre away for a poorly executed waltz (entirely her fault), and Cassian had taken her for whatever disastrous dance the band had chosen to play.

Rhysand, however, was still nowhere to be seen.

Feyre tried not to frown, but Morrigan just sighed dramatically. “He’s just taking care of something, he’ll be here in no time.”

“What’s so urgent he couldn’t have given me a kiss before running away to Mother’s knows where?” Feyre grumbled, taking a sip from her champagne glass.

Mor narrowed her eyes, eyeing the glass in Feyre’s hand before saying, “I think you might be a little more drunk than what we first thought.”

“Good.” Feyre huffed. “Might make me a better dancer by the time my mate decides to grace me with his presence.”

Mor chuckled, eyes scanning the room as she presumably searched for her cousin. “I promise it’ll be a worthy surprise.”

Feyre perked up at that, setting down her empty glass on the table behind her. “A surprise?” She inquired. “What surprise?”

“I think that defeats the purpose.” She deadpanned. “Don’t you enjoy surprises?”

No at the moment, no. “Well, you’re no help.”

Having fun, my love? Rhysand’s voice rang down the bond.

Feyre frowned deeply. Where are you?

Doing something very important.

“Are you talking to him, right now?” Mor asked. “It kinda weirds me out when you guys do that.”

Feyre ignored her. What’s so important you can’t even bother to see me in this ridiculously expensive dress?

You look beautiful, came his reply a few seconds later. Feyre spined around, scanning the ballroom for him.

Can you see me or are you just guessing?

His scent enveloped her, an arm going around her waist as he pulled her against his chest. “Of course I see you, darling.” He said, lips gently pressed against her ear. Feyre turned around, cheeks heating as she found his eyes drunkenly taking her in.

Good. It had been a pain to fit inside the dress, so he might as well appreciate it.

“And that’s my cue.” Mor announced, quickly fleeing in the direction of a pretty female wearing a beautiful, black dress. Emerie, if Feyre recalled correctly.

She turned to Rhys. “You’re late.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”

Feyre narrowed her eyes. “Are you going to answer my question?”

He shook his head, a smirk on his lips as he watched her. “Dance with me.” He whispered instead.

Feyre was slightly taken back. “You wish to dance with me?”

“I wish to have you in my arms,” He smiled softly. “Even if it means sacrificing a few toes.”

Feyre pushed him playfully. “You’re an asshole.” Rhys chuckled, smoothly grabbing her hand and pulling her to the dancefloor without another word. Feyre let herself follow him, suddenly too giddy at the thought of dancing with him.

“Is it another house?” She eyed him contemplatively. “A palace, maybe.” She searched his face for a reaction, but Rhysand only smirked.

“Are your expectations that high?”

“You have no one to blame but yourself.”

He twirled her before pulling her body back against his. “A blame I can easily take.” His eyes softened as he looked down at her. “You really do look stunning.”

Feyre smiled primly. “I think so too.”

“Nothing I offer you can ever compare to how I feel when I see you smile.” He leaned down, kissing her softly. “But I can try.” He whispered before raising his head, his violet eyes focusing on the clear dome above them. Feyre looked around quizzically, quickly raising her head when she noticed everyone’s attention focused on the sky above them.

Feyre gasped, his hold on Rhys tightening ever so slightly as she watched the sky. A spectacle of lights seemed to dance in front of her eyes, fireworks of every colour and shade painting the night sky in a colourful display. Wherever she looked, different forms took shape – the stars, wolves… A message to her. For her. Tears filled her eyes.

Before she could even think to kiss Rhysand senseless, a door to her left opened with a flourish, a large cake making its way towards Feyre, quickly followed by a grinning Elain. People clapped, cheering for the lavish display of love, but Feyre could pay them no attention: not when her attention was on Rhys, who looked at her with something akin to adoration on his face.

“Not that long ago,” He said in a low voice meant only for her. “the stars made sure I knew you belonged right by me side.”

Feyre let out a surprised laugh, a tear running down her cheek. “Is this your way of reminding me how young I am?”

“Or a way of reminding you how old I am.” He smiled fondly, shaking his head in disbelief. “I have lived many years, but I have yet to believe that I deserve to truly have this life.” He reached for her face, gently swiping away a stubborn tear. “To have found the love of my life, to have our family around us.” He leaned down, his lips a whisper away from hers. “That I get to share a life with you.”

“Is it worth losing a few toes?”

Rhysand grinned. “Absolutely.”  He said, kissing her once more. “Happy birthday, darling.”

Feyre leaned her head into his chest as Rhys swayed them softly to the sound of a music only they could hear. “Happy Solstice, Rhys.”

[badger-bear]

please can we have 11. "Dear Diary,"...

Hello 😊

"Dear diary,

I met a boy today. Louis Tomlinson. His mates call him L-E-W-I-S but he didn't correct me when I said Louis. He's a bit older, just by a few years. He is so cool. He smokes, which is a nasty habit, but he looks so hot doing it I can't be that mad. He didn't laugh when one of his mates called me a dweeb and he even said see you later, curly. A nickname already! I hope I can see him again."

Harry's cheeks were a bright pink when Gemma finished reading his diary entry he wrote when he was sixteen. He was trying to hide his face with one of his hands since Louis had his other in a tight grip on his leg.

"I found that when I was snooping like every older sister does and took a picture of it. I figured at the least I could use it as blackmail so Harry would have to do my chores. I never thought I would be reading it at his wedding to the cool older hot boy who smokes. I have seen them both grow into themselves and together as the happiest and most loving couple I have ever seen. Here's to many more!" Gemma held up her glass of champagne along with everyone else and took a sip. "Before I go, I do have one last diary entry to read."

"No!" Harry whined from his seat at the wedding party table.

"Tomorrow I marry the love of my life. I have been wishing for this moment since I was 16, writing in an actual diary and practicing my signature as Harry Tomlinson. Now that it's finally here, I can hardly sleep. I can't wait to make all my dreams come true."

"I'm changing my phone password," Harry mumbled when his sister finished reading from her phone and passed the mic to the next guest to make a toast.

send me a number and i'll write a drabble!

[hotheadrednecksimmer]

Closer Tonight - Struck by Love Legacy Challenge - Season 2, Episode 21

Naomi called her mom, Star, Kaito, and Suzu to share the good news. She wanted everyone to know that she was going to marry Leo. And also let them know that she was seeing someone since she didn't fill them in while she was in summer bliss with Leo.

Suzu's due date was approaching fast and decided to throw a joint baby shower and engagement shower for Leo and Naomi.

Maeve: It's very nice to meet you face to face Leo, I know we've talked over the phone while Naomi called and put it on speaker. It's very nice to put a face to the voice.

Leo: It's very nice to meet you in person, Mrs. Pina.

Maeve: Please, that's too formal, Maeve is fine honey.

Leo: If my father heard me address you any different than Mrs. Pina, I'd get a stern talking to.

Kaito: Pfft, I've never heard anyone refer to her that formal before.

Maeve: It's kinda nice to be referred to something as formal as that, Kaito maybe I should have been more strict on that.

Kaito took a swig of his champagne muttering something under his breath. Surely having to do something with he was raised strict enough.

Leo exchanged glances with Hiro, but Hiro quickly looked away. Leo thought it was odd but continued on with the festivities.

Naomi: Thank you so much for throwing this for me, for us. I can't wait until your bundle of joy joins us. Do you know what you're having yet?

Suzu: When you told me you, YOU were getting married and you were in a happy relationship I couldn't believe it. I hope I'm not spilling secrets when i say that Kaito told me about your fears, and it's understandable after seeing what your mother went through. I'm just happy that you're giving love a chance Naomi, you deserve it. On the topic of the baby, we're having a little girl.

Naomi: A girl! That's so exciting! I'm okay with you knowing, well anyone knowing really, it was a journey that I wouldn't trade or else I wouldn't have Leo.

Suzu: Sometimes going through the hard patches makes the rewards worth it.

Naomi: Thank you Suzu, I'm grateful to call you my sister.

Leo clears his throat and everyone looks his way as he holds up his glass: I'd like to make a toast. To my beautiful fiancé, Naomi, thank you for finally giving me a chance to love you the way you deserve to be loved. Before I met you, my life was bleak and boring, when you entered my life, you gave me life, you became my light in the dark. Fate wasn't kind to us when we first met, not grabbing each other's information yet we ran into each other again. I have waited for you for what seems like a thousand years, but if it means I get to marry you, I'd wait a thousand more. To Naomi!

Everyone raised their glasses to toast to Leo's speech.

Kaito: To Naomi!

Maeve: To Nay!

Star: Cheers!

Everyone gathered to take a picture to remember this gathering.

Kaito: Okay, everyone say cheese!!!

Suzu: You're not even looking at the camera!

Kaito: When I'm controlling the camera, I don't have to babe.

Suzu and Kaito Kibo.

Leo Barlett and Naomi Kibo.

Leo found himself needing to take a breather for himself in the living room away from the other guests.

Star: I saw you sneak off and took the opportunity to speak with you, if you don't mind.

Leo: Of course, the other Mrs. Pina, right?

Star: Sure, if that's what you want to call me, I'd insist that Star is fine but I heard how well that went over for Maeve.

Leo: Yes Ma'am, my father raised me to be respectful to my elders. I didn't listen so much as a teen, but I've learned better. Especially to the parents of my beloved.

Star: Speaking of Naomi, I know it wasn't easy. I know she's stubborn. Don't ever give up on her, okay? She might push you away, she might fight you at every chance you get, but she loves you a lot. You're the first person she's let us meet. Plus you somehow convinced her to move in with you and marry you??

Leo: She deserves all the credit, she's had to overcome her trauma and her trauma responses, I'm just the lucky guy that loves her. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

Star smiles at Leo knowing that Naomi is safe with him and that she's always going to be taken care of and as a parent, that's the best she could ask for, for her daughter.

Leo and Naomi made their travel home discussing more wedding plans, visiting Kaito, Suzu, and the new baby when they could, and where they could spend their honeymoon.

Leo: I'm the luckiest man in the world.

Naomi: Why's that?

Leo: I get to love you for the rest of my life.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Season 1 | Season 2 First | Previous | Next

[chaosverseline]

The wedding of Yriaf and Edward Newgate.

Imu expectations is a wedding fit for a princess.

There will be a formal attire dress code.

Elaborate flower arrangements, especially the bridal bouquet, with only white flowers and pure white lilies.

There will be a fine dining reception menu and a large multi tier cake.

Imu: It’s going to be the wedding of the century!

However, Imu have to share the wedding planning with xebec.

And xebec dump the work to some of his crew.

Here is how the work is split:

Imu: flower arrangements, (some of) the guest list, and the wedding cake. And actually finance the wedding cost.

Shakky and stussy : the bride’s dress, the groom’s suit/tuxedo,the costume and makeup design.

Linlin: seating arrangements, chose the design of the bridesmaids outfit.

Streusen: the chef, plan the whole reception menu, he can’t bake the cake cuz imu put their foot down and said no.

Kaidou: every thing else, including the alcohol.

The reason Kaidou is the wedding planner is because the members of the rocks pirate (excluding the groom and the captain) spins a bottle to pick the main wedding planner (mostly cuz none of the male members want to do the wedding planning )and the bottle landed pointing to Kaidou .

Kaidou, of course don’t know how to plan a wedding, so he reached out to the girls for help.

So here is the reality breakdown:

Xebec crying

Gloriosa the bridesmaid and her snake are drunk

Shakky the bridesmaid holding a cardboard red heart saying, “for the newly weds privacy”

Yriaf and Edward Newgate making out.

Yriaf: I love you , Eddie!

Edward Newgate: I love you too, fairy!

Stussy the bridesmaid:what is this wedding?

Charlotte linlin the maid of honor has caught the throwaway bouquet /bridal toss bouquet. Also ate the entire cake.

Imu being salty: the wine taste like crap and linlin ate the entire cake that I sent.

Who ever planned this subpar wedding must be sacked.

And Yriaf ‘s groom looks….. homely.

Kaidou, super pissed cuz he tries so hard: Well excuse ME, your highness, HOW CAN WE GET GOOD WINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA?!

The wedding is on the rocks pirates ship.

The people attending the wedding are the rocks pirates, Imu, cipher pol agents, gol d Rodger ( for reasons unspecified), 2 out of the five elders and the world government commander in chief along with 3 important trio, sengoku, garp and tsuru. There are no other celestial dragons cuz imu believe they can’t behave themselves.

You would think it dangerous for two enemies in one ship. Fortunately, Imu brought a some super strong champagne and they all became black out drunk right after the wedding toast . They can’t remember much about the the wedding afterwards , Cuz by then , Imu drag all of the world government side back to their yacht and sailed away.

Imu build up alcohol tolerance over the years and a simple champagne won’t hurt them.

[callsign-owl]

Birthday Celebrations

Edinburgh, Scotland - June 2007

The grand ballroom of Archibald‘s estate glittered under the light of numerous chandeliers, their brilliance reflecting off the polished marble floors. The room was filled with the soft hum of polite conversation and the clink of crystal glasses as guests mingled, their laughter mingling with the strains of a live string quartet playing in the background.

Owl stood near the edge of the room, his bright red hair a striking contrast to the dark suit he wore. He stood out sharply against the more conservative attire of the other guests. Owl fiddled with the cuff of his black shirt, feeling distinctly out of place amid the grandeur. His eyes wandered to the elegant spread of hors d'oeuvres and the towering birthday cake that seemed more a work of art than something edible.

Archibald, tall and imposing even in his late years, approached his grandson with a rare smile. His neatly groomed hair and traditional suit were a testament to his timeless style and conservative values. He placed a hand on Owl’s shoulder, his grip firm yet surprisingly gentle.

“*redacted*,” he began, his deep-set eyes meeting the green ones of his grandson. “I’m glad you’re here. I know this isn’t quite according to your taste, but it’s important to mark these milestones properly.”

Owl nodded. The party might not be to his taste, but the gesture behind it, and the respect and affection from his grandfather, made all the difference. “Thank you, Grandfather. I do appreciate the effort. It’s… quite something.”

Archibald chuckled softly. “Yes, quite something indeed. You’re eighteen now, a man in your own right. It’s time you start thinking about your future, about the legacy you’ll leave behind.”

Owl shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the room at the unfamiliar faces. “I know, but I’m not exactly the legacy type.”

Archibald’s eyes softened, and he gave Owl’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You’re a part of this family. We all have our roles to play, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path as everyone else. I’ve always admired your intelligence and your unique way of seeing the world. Use that to your advantage and forge your own path.”

Across the room, Bartholomew stood near a cluster of business associates, his eyes occasionally flicking towards Owl with a look of mild disdain. He was there in body, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, more focused on maintaining appearances than celebrating his son’s milestone. Percival, ever the charming and sociable one, was engaged in conversation with a group of politicians, his laughter ringing out occasionally.

Archibald followed Owl’s gaze and sighed. “Your father and brother have their own ways of showing they care. Even if it’s not always obvious, remember that.”

Owl nodded again, despite not really believing his grandfather’s words. “I will.”

Archibald smiled, a rare, genuine expression that softened his stern features. “Now, let’s get you a drink. Eighteen is a significant age, and it deserves a proper toast.”

He guided Owl through the throng of guests, navigating with ease through the clusters of people. Owl couldn’t help but notice the way everyone seemed to part for his grandfather, their respectful nods and whispered acknowledgments a testament to Archibald's influence.

As they reached the bar that had been set up in a corner of the room, the bartender, a well-dressed man with a courteous smile, quickly poured two glasses of champagne. Archibald handed one to Owl a, his expression serious but warm.

“To your future, *redacted*,” Archibald said, raising his glass. “May you find your own path and leave a mark that is uniquely yours.”

Owl clinked his glass against his grandfather’s, feeling a surge of emotion he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. “To the future,” he echoed, taking a sip of the champagne.

As they stood there, sipping their drinks, Owl noticed Percival making his way towards them, a charming smile plastered on his face. “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour,” Percival said, clapping Owl on the back. “Eighteen, huh? Feels like just yesterday you were running around causing trouble.”

Owl smirked. “Still causing trouble, just on a larger scale now.”

Percival laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, little brother.”

Archibald chuckled at the exchange, his eyes twinkling with a rare warmth. "You two are quite the pair," he said, his voice carrying a note of pride.

As the three of them stood together, a hush fell over the room, signaling that a speech was about to begin. Bartholomew stepped forward, commanding the attention of the room with a mere raise of his hand. The murmur of conversation ceased, and all eyes turned towards him.

"Thank you all for joining us this evening," Bartholomew began, his voice steady and authoritative. "We are here to celebrate my son *redacted*'s eighteenth birthday, a significant milestone in his life."

Owl felt a mixture of anticipation and dread. Public attention was never something he relished, but he steeled himself, knowing his father’s speeches were always about appearances and not about genuine sentiment.

"*redacted*," Bartholomew continued, his gaze settling on his son, "you have always marched to the beat of your own drum, and while that has often caused... challenges, it has also shown your unique strengths and capabilities. As you step into adulthood, I hope you will find a way to harness those strengths for the greater good."

There was a polite round of applause, and Owl forced a smile, nodding in acknowledgment. He knew his father’s words were merely for show, a carefully crafted performance for the assembled guests. The empty praise and formal compliments were devoid of genuine sentiment, a façade that did little to mask the underlying indifference.

---

As the guests began to mingle once more, Archibald’s sharp eyes never left Bartholomew. He saw through the polished facade of his son’s speech, understanding the disapproval that simmered just below the surface. With a nod to Owl and Percival, he excused himself and made his way towards Bartholomew.

“Bartholomew,” Archibald said, his voice cutting through the chatter, “a word, if you please.”

Bartholomew turned, a flash of annoyance crossing his features before he masked it with a polite smile. “Of course, Father,” he replied, excusing himself from his companions. He followed Archibald to a quieter corner of the grand ballroom, away from prying ears.

Once they were alone, Archibald fixed Bartholomew with a steely gaze. “Your speech was well-received,” he began, his tone measured. “But you and I both know the truth behind your words.”

Bartholomew's smile faded, replaced by a cold, impassive expression. “Father, I don’t know what you’re implying. I simply wished to acknowledge *redacted*s achievements and encourage him to think about his future.”

“Spare me the pleasantries, Bartholomew,” Archibald snapped, his patience thin. “I’ve known you all your life. I see the way you look at *redacted*, the contempt in your eyes. Your disapproval of him is not as much of a secret as you might believe.”

Bartholomew's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, allowing his father to continue.

“*redacted* may not fit the mold you’ve crafted for him, but he is still your son. He deserves respect and support, not disdain and constant criticism.”

Bartholomew's eyes hardened, a stubborn glint appearing in them. “*redacted* is a disappointment, Father. He has no ambition, no drive. He refuses to conform to the expectations placed upon him, and that is unacceptable. Our legacy demands more than his half-hearted efforts and unconventional behavior.”

Archibald took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “And what has your treatment of him accomplished? Have your harsh words and rigid expectations shaped him into the man you want him to be? Or have they only driven him further away?”

Bartholomew’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I do what is necessary to uphold our family name. If *redacted* cannot rise to the occasion, then he will face the consequences of his actions.”

Archibald shook his head, a mixture of frustration and disappointment in his eyes. “You may be able to fool those around you with your public displays, but I see the damage you’re doing. *redacted* is more than capable of greatness, but he needs support, not condemnation.”

“Father, *redacted*'s behavior is a liability” Bartholomew insisted, his tone cold. “He needs to be shaped, molded into someone who can contribute to the family’s success.”

“And at what cost?” Archibald demanded. “Will you sacrifice his spirit, his individuality, just to fit him into your narrow vision of success? You’re pushing him away, Bartholomew, and you will regret it.”

Bartholomew’s expression remained unchanged, his resolve unshaken. “I will do what I must.”

Archibald sighed, a weary look crossing his face. “You may be set in your ways, but mark my words, Bartholomew: you are driving a wedge between yourself and your son that may never be repaired. Think on that before it’s too late.” With that, Archibald turned and walked away, leaving Bartholomew standing alone in the corner.

----

Owl watched as his grandfather and father moved to a quieter corner of the room, their serious expressions indicating a conversation he was certain he'd prefer to avoid. Percival, having fulfilled his brotherly duties with a few laughs and back pats, had wandered off to charm more guests, leaving Owl to his own devices.

Owl eyed the champagne in his hand with mild disdain. The bubbly liquid wasn't exactly his drink of choice, but it was what was available. Owl was no stranger to alcohol, despite the pretense of tonight's "coming of age" celebration.  He drained his glass and placed it on the bar, nodding to the bartender for a refill. The bartender quickly obliged.

Owl took the new glass and sipped it slowly, his eyes scanning the room. He watched the guests, their practiced smiles and polite conversations, the way they maneuvered through social interactions with ease. It all felt so foreign to Owl, like watching a well-rehearsed play where he didn't know any of his lines.

The celebration's lively atmosphere began to feel stifling for Owl. The constant hum of conversation and the pressure of maintaining appearances weighed heavily on him. With a sigh, he glanced around, ensuring no one would notice his departure, and slipped quietly out of the room, making his way to the one place in the estate where he felt a semblance of peace: his grandfather's library.

Owl walked through the grand hallways of his grandfather's estate, the sounds of the ballroom fading behind him. The walls were lined with portraits of stern-faced ancestors, their gazes following him as he made his way to the library. He pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside, breathing a sigh of relief as the quiet, book-lined room welcomed him.

The library was a sanctuary, filled with the rich scent of aged leather and old paper. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, housing a vast collection of books on every subject imaginable. A large, ornate desk sat near a tall window that overlooked the manicured gardens outside. Owl crossed the room and sank into a deep leather armchair near the window, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders.

He lost track of time as he sat there, the distant sounds of the party fading into the background. His thoughts wandered to his mother, May, and the stories he’d pieced together about her. He often wondered if she had ever felt as out of place in these grand settings as he did.

The soft creak of the library door brought Owl back to the present. He looked up to see his grandfather, Archibald, entering the room. Archibald's presence, though commanding, was softer here, away from the crowd and the facade of the celebration.

"*redacted*," Archibald said, his voice breaking the silence. "I thought I might find you here."

Owl straightened in his chair, feeling a mix of surprise and apprehension. "Grandfather," he replied. "I just needed a break from the party."

Archibald nodded, his expression understanding. He walked over to one of the shelves and ran his fingers along the spines of the books. "It can be overwhelming, all the socializing and expectations. This room has always been a haven for me as well."

Owl watched his grandfather, noting the weariness in his movements. "I didn't mean to leave the party so abruptly. I just... needed some space."

"I understand," Archibald said, finally turning to face Owl. "You are not obligated to fit into a mold that doesn't suit you. But you should know that your presence was appreciated, even if it felt uncomfortable."

Owl nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "I just don't belong in that world. I'm not like them."

"No," Archibald agreed, "you are not. And that is not a failing, *redacted*.  You see the world differently, and that perspective is valuable. It's something I admire about you."

Owl looked down, absorbing his grandfather's words. "It's hard to feel that way when everyone expects me to be something I'm not."

Archibald walked over and placed a hand on Owl's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "You are a *redacted*. But more importantly, you are yourself. Find your own path, and don't let anyone, not even your father, tell you what you should be."

Owl looked up at his grandfather, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. "Thank you, Grandfather. It means a lot to hear you say that."

Archibald gave a rare, warm smile. "You're welcome. Now, shall we return to the party? Or would you prefer to stay here a while longer?"

"I think I'd like to stay here for a bit," Owl admitted.

"Very well," Archibald said, patting his shoulder before turning to leave. "Take all the time you need."

[stingslikeabee]

Magnifico clicked his tongue thoughtfully and waved a hand. That dismissed the last of the staff members who were assisting him in the wine cellar, which was currently also serving as a sort of general storage of all of the hotel's spirits. The legendary party to ring in the New Year was only days away, and it was up to the self - named King to approve the drinks that would be offered.

After the scurrying footsteps were gone, Magnifico turned toward the last individual left with him. He smiled pleasantly for his wife. As always, she had exquisite taste ; the proposed menu, spread out before him in sparkling glasses, was exceptional. It would certainly live up to the memory of festivities past.

"You have a remarkable talent for this," Magnifico said, nodding smartly. "I'm sure our guests will very much enjoy indulging themselves on your selections."

After a moment, the manager reached out. He laid a hand gently on Melissa's rounded belly. Their first child moved beneath his palm. "I'm sorry you cannot do the same, mi vida. If only she had been a Christmas baby." Magnifico chuckled. His brilliant eyes flicked across the room, to his private stash that was never included in the official inventory.

" — but that is alright. Let her be safe in there, for a little longer. Besides, I have something special for our private celebration after she arrives. Did I ever tell you, Melissa ?? The champagne that we used to toast at our wedding . . . it was such a delicious small batch and so special afterwards that I couldn't resist. I tracked down every bottle left in the world and stashed them here, under our palace. " Magnifico drew his hand down, placed it on Melissa's hip, and sighed. Underneath the edge of his collar glittered the expensive chain that held his own mementos for their growing family.

"I'll open the next one the minute you ask."

unscripted asks . always accepting

It was remarkable how Melissa's reactions to the flattery offered in return for her job had changed over the years. As soon as the Continental traded hands, the concierge had been arrogant to the point of rudeness - of course she was splendid; the place would have burned down if she stepped away for five minutes considering the inexperienced management.

But now, after marrying the same man she once called 'impossible' and 'the bane of her existence'? The woman smiled pleasantly, and basked in the warm, soothing feeling of being appreciated. It was true that making the right selection of wine for such an important night and considering the menu to be offered was something Melissa took pride in, but even more so with Magnifico's approval.

At his following words and affectionate touch, the concierge smiled and joined him - palm over palm, both calmly experiencing the joy of new life in a world surrounded by so much death. A conscious choice to create a legacy and one that Melissa would fight like something feral to protect - but no longer alone. The manager's joke about the slightly delayed birth date was shared by his wife; but the revelation of just what type of bottles had filled his private storage area left the brunette speechless.

"Nicolás..." the true name of the man escaped under murmured breath, eyes scintillating under the subdued light of the cellar with a mixture of wonder and incredulity which eventually combined into fond resignation. But of course he had done it - it was just his style. Money meant nothing to someone in possession not only of a coin press but fortune like his; sourcing every bottle of that particular Dom Pérignon vintage should have been just another menial job for his exquisite tastes.

Melissa's right hand moved up, finding Magnifico's face and brushing a thumb over his cheek fondly; it dropped to the neck then, followed by the honeyed gaze of a content mother and wife, anxious and happy whenever she looked at his growing collection of pendants for his most precious treasures. Not gold in a vault, not this time - but the three of them and the future children they had talked about, if all went well.

A fitting legacy for a king and his queen.

"I cannot wait until the doctors clear me for that toast, my darling. Our wedding night was one of the best of my life - I would never refuse another sip of that champagne," the woman chuckled, moving in closer to press a kiss to his lips and enlace him around the neck. But, unlike their own special day when vows were exchanged, the embrace was much less intense in light of the daughter to-be-born in-between their bodies.

"You are impossible, my love," Melissa chuckled at long last, still reeling from his confession about the flamboyant gesture in selfishly keeping all that champagne for themselves. She would have thought him silly and insecure for it before - but now?

"And I adore you for it."

Melissa would kill (and die) for him.

[redbone135]

The Best Part of the Holidays: A Baby’s POV

My first people: For the first few months of my life I’ve been in quarantine. No shots = no people. Not that I know much about people: my world is this house and my social life is very limited to Mom and Dad. But Thanksgiving changes all of that. Mom and Dad are having company and they’re very excited. They’ve been in quarantine, too. Mom makes a feast - she’s cooking for three days to get ready. No expense is spared on turkey and pie and champagne for all of the guests to toast me and my health. Dad cleans like crazy - he puts a new table cloth in the dining room, buys new plants for the garden, even gets me a new turkey outfit to wear. They’re excited, and I can see why - because at dinner… people arrive. Like Mom and Dad, but different. They bring flowers and gifts and side dishes. But I couldn’t care less about those things - they also bring tickles and hugs and stories to share with me. I’m so excited for the new people who talk to me and snuggle with me that I can’t sleep. First, I skip my afternoon nap. Then my evening nap. Then, bedtime rolls around and I have to be swaddled in an effort to coax sleep from me. It doesn’t work. Because everyone is laughing and having fun and I don’t want to miss a second of it! And that’s when Daddy gets the call…

Grandma is holding me: My grandma is the best. She is warm and patient and happy… normally. But today she is not. She is holding me tight and kissing my head and I love that, but she isn’t smiling at me like she normally does. She normally looks at me and says “Monkey” - my family calls me Monkey - “you are my sunshine!” But today, my Dad puts a hand on her shoulder and asks, “You ready to go, mom?” and he is wearing black just like Grandma. He is not smiling, just like grandma. “Monkey,” she whispers, looking into my eyes - we have the same blue eyes - “Grandma just needs a little extra strength today.” And she looks so grim that I think maybe she has forgotten how to smile. So I show her how - eyes wide, lips parted, nose crinkled. Just the way she taught me to. And it is my first real smile, but I must do a good job with it because it works. Grandma remembers. Her whole face lights up. “Did you see that?” she asks my Dad. “He smiled at me!” And Dad remembers how to smile too. Mom goes to get the camera. “I needed that today,” Grandma says, giving me a little extra hug. “I need my boys…” “We’ll be here as long as we can, mom,” Dad assures her. And we are all smiling because grandma is holding me.

Lights: Turns out Dad can stay longer than Mom. Dad drags a folding table out from the garage and sets it up in Grandma’s attic with a computer and a headset. That is apparently all he needs to stay. But Mom has something called a job - she’s been talking about it for a few days now - and while I’m hazy on the specifics, apparently they don’t have these jobs in Tennessee. There is some debate about whether I need to go back to Florida with Mom or stay in Tennessee with Dad - but Grandma settles that debate the way she settles all my cries and fits. She hugs me tight and promises to take care of me. So I get to stay with Grandma and she takes me to look at Christmas lights in the nearest city. Christmas lights are the best thing ever. They sparkle and blink and change color and I can’t tear my eyes away. There are tons of people out, but none of them stop to look at the lights. They are rushing in and out of stores and talking on their phones and I can’t believe I am the only one mesmerized by these beautiful, miraculous things, like stars, but so close I could touch them. Every time Grandma tries to take me into the stores I cry - missing the lights so badly. “Monkey, don’t worry, I just want to get your picture with Santa,” she explains, but I don’t like it. Not until I see the blinking blue lights on the tree next to Santa. In the picture, Santa is smiling at the camera. I am smiling at the lights. Grandma is smiling at me. 

Singing: On Christmas Eve Mom and Dad take me to church for the first time. The pastor pulls Dad aside and asks about Grandma. Several of the congregation gather around Mom to ask her questions. I get fussy as they find their seats and try to get situated with me between them. I whine a little because I want Mommy to hold me. Then I whine a little more when she moves her necklace out of my reach. I’m not sure about this whole church thing… and then the most glorious thing happens. Everyone starts to sing, all together, like the Froggie Song Daddy sings when he tries to comfort me, but louder. And all together. With a piano. And bells. It’s beautiful and I start to nod my head along with the music. Even when they stand up and light the candles, I am still bobbing along. It is so nice of everyone to sing for me. On the car ride home mom asks, “Do you think Silent Night is a lie? I mean, newborn baby, lots of barn animals, it can’t have been quiet, could it?” But Daddy doesn’t answer, he has his head bowed in prayer. 

New PJs: When it’s time for bed, Daddy puts me in a new set of PJs. Unlike my old pajamas, these are fuzzy. They are also too big. Dad rolls up the sleeves so I can stick my little hands out, but there is nothing that can be done about the feet: they hang loose - past my toes - like little flippers, making me look less like their little Monkey and more like a frog. While I am getting used to the idea of fuzzy pajamas, I listen to Mom and Dad talk. “What kind of dad am I going to be - I couldn’t even get his pj size right?!” “So we’ll save them for a few months and then he can wear them.” “But it’s Christmas Eve, he’s supposed to have new pjs on Christmas Eve.” “So we’ll put him in one of the pairs your mom got him in Tennessee.” “You don’t get it.” "Is this maybe not about the pajamas?” I stretch my little fingers out and gently place them over the polka dots on the front of my jammies, running the soft, fur-like material over my palms. Suddenly, I’m a stuffed animal: soft and round and warm. I’m so happy I give a little kick. The feet on my new pajamas go “flip-flop”. It’s a fun noise, and the movement bounces my crib back and forth like it’s rocking. I do it again, harder. The crib rocks again. Without taking my hands from the soft fur - because I can’t stop petting the soft fur - I kick again, this time two in a row and the floppy noise from my flipper feet is so funny I give a little giggle. These are great - I wish all my jammies had flipper feet. “Honey, look at him!” “What’s he doing?” “Having fun.” “You think he likes them?” “I think he loves them. And he loves you. And your step dad loved you, too.” I fall asleep that night, little fists clutching the new soft pajamas, snuggled up so warm that I sleep for six hours straight. 

Bouncer: Christmas morning Mom and Dad take all the paper off the things that they spent the last two days putting it on. I don’t get it. They hold up each object for me to look at afterward. I don’t know what any of them are. Mommy picks up a new stuffed monkey - she wiggles it over my face pretending it is kissing me. I cross my eyes, trying to focus on it, but it’s still a little too fuzzy. Daddy helps me put a new dinosaur teething ring in my mouth. I suck on it for a minute or two and then spit it out, because if there isn’t any milk, what’s the point? After the parade of things, they put me in my bouncer to make tea and call Grandma. I’m relieved to be back in my bouncer and so I kick to get a decent bounce going, one foot and then two, until I’m laughing and having a great time. My Grandma put me in my bouncer the week they brought me home from the hospital. I was too small to bounce myself then, and so she would push it for me. But now I’ve really grown into it, and I’m so good at it. Mom takes a sip of her tea  from her new cat mug in the doorway and smiles. “All those new toys and the only thing he wants to play with is his old bouncer,” she chuckles as Dad joins her, putting an arm around her waist and offering her a bit of a Christmas cookie he’d been eating. “If it ain’t broke,” Dad sighs, and then with a sad smile, “I wish he could have had a better first holiday season.” But I don’t know what he’s talking about - I had the best holiday season!

[killerandhealerqueen]

I was tagged by @hils79 to post a snippet of a current WIP <3

Girl, I am so late, I'm sorry. But, here we go. Snippets from my current 3 WIPS

CSI: Miami - Oil and Water

Meanwhile, at the scene where Eric had gotten shot, Ryan and Calleigh headed to the stairs where the security guard said he saw the mysterious man hightail it out of there, both of them looking around before Ryan noticed something.

         “I found a paper clip” he stated, making Calleigh look at him.

         “Bag it.  You never know” she replied.  Ryan nodded before he knelt down and began taking pictures of the paperclip while Calleigh headed down the stairs, looking for anything when she noticed something in a trashcan at the bottom of the stairs, causing her eyes to widen.

         “Ryan!” she called out, making Ryan quickly grab his stuff before he rushed down the stairs over to her.

         “What?” he replied.

         “Jacket and hat” Calleigh declared as she placed her flashlight in her pocket before she reached into the trash can and pulled out the hat and jacket the security guard saw.

         “Well, it looks like our, uh, security guard was telling the truth” Ryan mused, Calleigh humming in agreement.

         “Guess the guy ditched his clothes in here after he saw the security guard” she stated.  Ryan then tilted his head.

         “So, what are the chances they belong to the guy who shot Eric?” he asked.

         “There’s only one way to find out” Calleigh replied.

Killer and Healer - 恨君不似江楼月|Killer and Healer

Meanwhile, back at the wonton stand, Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi were still drinking and eating when Chu Ran appeared before them, a bright smile on her face.

         “Hi!” she greeted, making Chen Yuzhi and Jiang Yuelou look at her in surprise.

         “Chu Ran?” Chen Yuzhi asked as Jiang Yuelou tilted his head.

         “What brings you here?” he asked.  Chu Ran smiled before she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the pictures she had printed earlier, placing them down before them.

         “I’m here to give you two pictures” she declared before she sat down on the empty seat as Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi picked up the photos, both men looking at them before they looked at each other with wide eyes, causing Chu Ran to tilt her head in curiosity.

Killer and Healer - CSI: Jing City

It was a bright and sunny day as expensive sports cars and fancy limousines drove around a rather lavish carport, paparazzi taking pictures as they drove by and as their guests got out.  The guests soon made their way into the large mansion, where they then gathered in the garden and by the pool for champagne and hors d’oeuvres.  As they were drinking and having a good time, a pretty young woman with blonde hair walked into the garden and began taking pictures with the guests before grabbing a champagne glass and walking over to a pedestal, stepping onto it.

         “Excuse me.  Excuse me.  If I may have your attention, everyone, please” she called out, having all of the guests turn towards her.

         “Thank you.  Thank you” she thanked before she cleared her throat.

         “Many people criticized my husband and me for wanting to turn prime, tourist-friendly real estate into a children's hospital.  But they don't understand.  Those young lives are the future.  Now, the wealthy often find it easier to part with their money than their time.  Right?  But in doing both, you have put your Jing City Beach counterparts to shame.  And so, a toast!  To you!  Cheers!” she cheered, holding up her champagne glass.  The other guests followed her lead while the servants popped bottles of champagne.  As the fourth servant popped the fourth bottle of champagne, everyone flinched at the abnormal sound of what sounded like a gunshot. They then all turned to see a tall man dressed in a white suit stumbling out of an upstairs bathroom and onto the balcony before falling over the edge and onto the decorative ice sculpture that was used to keep the champagne cold.

Tagging: @ahhhnorealnamesallowed @fourth-quartet @nineninepetals @marulo and anyone else who wants to give it a go!

[artdecosupernova-writing]

OC Kiss Week Day 1: Dance

WIP: Partners Pairing: Ben x Reagan Timeline: what is this...1954 I think? god I don't know. it's between installments 1 & 2 of the "trilogy" CW: none Rating: T Words: 1,257

***

Reagan paced on the flagstone patio of the venue, cigarette in hand and humming along with the soft, slow jazz bleeding through the glass door. The three flutes of champagne he'd imbibed were making a noticeable dent in his focus, and he lost himself within the peaceful thrum of the world outside, in the cool night air, as wedding guests and bride and groom danced inside.

He started to sing, knocking ashes to the floor and tipping his face toward the sky. The song didn't have words, but he invented them, deciding subconsciously that it was about a lonely traveler on the way to a destination that existed only in his dreams.

"That's gotta be a superstition, right?" a voice said from the door. "Singin' something like that at a wedding's gotta be a bad omen."

Reagan smiled and turned on his heel, taking a drag simultaneous to sweeping his eyes over his best friend's face, his neatly-pressed tux, the slight stiffness in his shoulders. "Hey, boy," Reagan said softly.

Ben closed the door behind him, shrugging out of his tux jacket and loosening his bowtie once he discarded the outer layer onto one of the tables. "Why do you look better in a yarmulke than I do? Never mind, don't answer that."

"What're you doing out here?"

"Should ask you the same thing," Ben said, stuffing the tie in his pocket. "...I had too much wine."

"You didn't bring your beautiful bride?"

"I just needed a minute."

"You look a little nervous."

Ben took his own cigarette out of his pocket, waiting as he always did on complete instinct for Reagan to light it with his shamrock lighter. Reagan watched him through the small flame, then glanced back through the glass door as Faye stood among the throng of guests, laughing with Ben's mother, Shoshana, and one of his aunts.

"I don't think I've ever been around this much family at once," Ben muttered, exhaling smoke as Reagan put the lighter away. He rolled up his sleeves. "It's bad enough I can't think over the music."

Reagan didn't feel the need to point out that as far as live bands went, that one was particularly quiet. Instead, he reached up to secure Ben's yarmulke better to his head.

"Somethin' on my mind, Reggie," Ben said after a patient silence and Reagan had finished his task. "That toast you made earlier..."

"Wasn't much of a toast, was it?" Reagan said.

"I'm gonna need you to come up with a better one."

"Stop the band and gather everyone back to the tables, then, you absolute idiot."

Ben wouldn't meet his eyes, Reagan just realized. His gaze darted all around the patio and across the woods behind the building, taking in nothing but darkness and the deep, solid blue sky. "...I just thought there would've been more to it."

"I said that no one deserves happiness more than you." Reagan stepped a bit closer. "And I meant it."

Taking another drag of the cigarette, Ben nodded. He didn't appear to want to participate in any sort of levity whatsoever at the moment, which provided mild discomfort. "I guess I expected more."

"I couldn't say anything else, Benny," Reagan said, dropping his own cigarette and squishing it out into the flagstone with his shoe. "It wouldn't have been new to you, anyway."

"Still would've been nice to hear."

Reagan tilted his head and plucked Ben's cigarette from his mouth, putting it out on the stone beneath his feet as well. The band started up another song, slow and warm. "Dance with me."

Ben blinked, finally looking at Reagan's face. "What?"

Reagan took his hand and pulled him close, curling an arm around his waist. He delighted in the feeling of Ben fully melting into him, lacing their fingers together and moving in easy circles across the patio.

"Here we go," Reagan said happily, sighing as Ben's other hand absently found his spine. "Nothin' wrong with the groom dancing with the best man."

"There's quite a bit wrong with this, actually," Ben said, though he made no move whatsoever to stop the shenanigans. He smoothed his hand down Reagan's back—very casually, but Reagan inwardly shivered. "Very clever, though."

"I thought so."

"Just don't try to bring me to your car. I think my wife might have somethin' to say about it."

"I've been swimming in champagne for the last half hour," Reagan joked. "I don't even know who you are right now."

Ben pulled his head back and made deliberate eye contact. "I think you do."

Reagan held Ben's hand closer to his chest, and the comforting din of the party behind them faded away. He smiled. "I like when you're close to me." They made their leisurely way to the other side of the patio. "...Nothin' wrong with that."

"What's your limit?"

Instead of responding to that directly, Reagan's smile widened, what was once feigned innocence becoming deep and private mischief. "This makin' you uncomfortable?"

Ben assessed the question, eyes roving over Reagan's face. "No. Have any words of wisdom to impart on the newlywed?"

The warmth began to leech from Reagan and the light chill of the night took only some responsibility for that. "...You should rethink marriage."

"That's fuckin' fantastic, Reggie," Ben exclaimed, though he had yet to stop dancing.

"I don't think I was cut out for it," Reagan explained. "I think maybe I'm askin' too much of Carolyn to stay with me when I've expected her to tolerate my sleepin' around so much."

"We'll chalk this up to the booze."

"You're right," Reagan said suddenly. "I can't be sayin' shit like that at your wedding; it's not fair."

They watched one another as they danced, wordless for a few minutes, forgetting—for better or worse—that anything else was going on, that anyone else could've ruined their moment at any time. Ben seemed to soften in Reagan's arms, to let an unseen barrier fall with each gentle step they took, and Reagan fought every instinct to coax that further along.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" Reagan murmured.

Ben screwed his eyes shut, his hold on Reagan's hand tightening. "Reagan..."

"Ben, all you have to do is ask, and—" His brows pinched. "...You called me Reagan."

"Oh, is that your name?"

Reagan grinned once Ben looked at him again. "That's the first time in the nearly thirty years we've known each other that you've ever called me by my actual name."

"Well don't make a big fuckin' to-do about it, Rían," Ben scolded, invoking Reagan's true given name to hammer it home. Then, more timidly, "...We ain't children anymore."

As abruptly as it had started, the mood shifted. They'd come to a halt and Ben leaned into Reagan's chest, fully anticipating Reagan holding him close, holding his head to him as they embraced in silence only broken by the festivities.

"Mazel tov," Reagan said softly into Ben's ear, pressing his lips to his temple. "...Love you."

There was a pause, and Ben held onto Reagan's waist for support as he leaned in to plant a firm, quick kiss to his mouth. Reagan brushed a thumb over his cheekbone before Ben stepped back, almost unwilling to look away until he was forced to, eventually rejoining his own celebration.

Reagan stood alone, hands in his pockets, willing himself to criticize the choice of flowers within the landscaping until he was no longer wracked with the urge to flee into the forest, never to be seen again.

[camaro-and-smokes]

Pretty (wo)man

Chapter 5: Dinner is served

Tags for this chapter: flirting, causing general mayhem. See rating, warnings and tags for the whole fic on AO3. General warning: This work as a whole includes themes related to and mentions of prostitution, sex work, and sexual abuse. I will add tags with every new chapter and notes when anything particularly nasty is being depicted, but if this kind of content isn't your cup of tea to begin with, please move on. Now, consider yourself warned. Please, proceed.

Other chapters on tumblr >>

Chapter summary: Causing mayhem was why Billy was with Steve on the Nero and, well, mission definitely got a good start.

::::::::::

Billy and Steve were the last to arrive at the dinner. Some guests turned to look, and Billy could feel the surprised gazes on him. He was wearing his hair in a high bun, one of the cocktail dresses he’d bought with Cassie - a black tight one that modestly covered most of his thighs - and a long earring dangling in his left ear. He knew he’d hear about the makeup later as well, and it made him smile.

An older, gray-haired man in great shape—and in a very expensive suit—got up to greet them, extending his hand for Steve for a shake. “Steve! Nice to see you!” “Nice to see you again too, sir.” “Nah, don’t call me that,” the man said, smiling and shaking his head. “It’s Charles. And this is...?” he asked, extending his hand to Billy, seemingly unphased of Billy’s unconventional appearance. “I’m Charles Hamlin, Amanda’s father.” Then he pointed at an older woman, who measured Billy from head to toe – and clearly didn’t fully approve. “This is Charlotte Hamlin, my wife and Amanda’s mother.” “Uh, this is William. William...” Steve started to introduce Billy and realized to his horror that they hadn’t agreed upon a last name. “William Harcove,” Billy said, smiling, and shook the older man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Steve glanced at Billy, surprised, but quickly returned the polite smile on his face. “Nice to meet you, William,” Charles said and pointed his hand at the end of the table, right across from Amanda and her husband-to-be. “Steve, William, please, have a seat.”

Charles clinked his knife to his champagne glass. “So, now that we’re all here, I’d like to welcome you all. Thank you for coming and taking part in this week long celebration for Amanda and Tom. We have familiar faces and some new ones here, but I hope to get to know you all over this week. It’s going to pass all too quickly, I’m know it, so let’s make every moment count. Now, a toast for Amanda and Tom.”

After toasting the room filled with chatter as the waiter poured wine and everyone was waiting for the first course to arrive. On one side of Billy, there was a heated discussion going on about the latest polo match and very well made ponies. Billy didn’t have any idea what they talked about except that it must’ve been about horses. On the other side of the table, two women were comparing their very expensive jewelry and how Bulgari was indeed better with Swarovski’s chrystals.

Billy had never felt so out of place before. He leaned on Steve’s shoulder. “So, who are all these people?” he whispered. “Well, you know Amanda. Next to her is her snobby boyfriend, Tom. He’s old money from England, and I’m sure Amanda is more than thrilled about it. I bet she is already dreaming of living in England.” “Not sour at all, are you?” “Not now that you’re here,” Steve smiled.

Billy chuckled. “So, what’s the thing with the old man? You two get along still?” “We do some business together. He’s a shark, though. Keep snark to a minimum when you talk with him. He smells the tiniest drop of blood from afar and bites hard.” “Duly noted. What about the mom?” “As you can see, she already has a glass of wine. Probably not the first one today, either. She’s a bored housewife. They really fit to each other though. Both equally unfaithful, and yet she’s unwilling to divorce him because she wouldn’t have anything if they’d split. How tragic.” “You really don’t sound sorry at all for not marrying to that family,” Billy chuckled.

“That’s because I’m not,” Steve smiled. “Ok, so then there’s Tom’s parents. I know nothing of them, which is probably a good thing. Then there’s Amanda’s best friends, Carol and Heather. Heather and I actually got along well when me and Amanda dated. I’m sure you two get along as well. Ok, so then there’s Amanda’s aunt and her husband, and these people around us I don’t know. Maybe they’re Tom’s friends.”

Billy shook his head. “Why on earth were you invited to this? I mean, I would’ve understood if it was a massive wedding, but there’s barely anyone here.” “To rub it in, remember? Ok, I know Charles was sorry about my and Amanda’s break-up, so maybe he wanted to invite me at least to get to have an enjoyable week on a very nice boat at his expense. When he told me that I was welcomed to join, he didn’t tell me why and I didn’t ask.”

“You could’ve just said no?” “Maybe,” Steve said, and took Billy’s hand in his. “But then you showed up and opened my eyes and...I just couldn’t pass the opportunity. You’ve already taken everyone by surprise, including Amanda.” Billy smiled. “Which was exactly what you wanted, wasn’t it?” Steve nodded. “Mission well on the way, then.”

The food was finally served. When the waiter set an odd looking plate with filled holes in front of Billy, he looked at it, frowning. “What is this?” he asked Steve, poking the filling in one hole. “Escargot,” Steve said. Billy was about to ask how he should eat them, but the man next to Steve asked something from him, and he got engrossed in the discussion.

Billy glanced around the room, trying to see if anyone else was eating already, but everyone was more interested in talking. He was hungry and looked back at the odd plate with holes filled with...some green herby stuff. From outside towards the plate, he reminded himself, taking a deep breath, and took the outermost tool, a funny-looking fork, in his hand.

He poked at one filling with the fork, and startled when it rolled around in the hole, revealing a shell. He froze as his first thought was that the food was still alive. But when the shell didn’t move, he poked another filling, and that remained in its place.

The shells seemed to be filled with something; the holes were over-poured, and he tried to catch the whatever was inside the shell with the fork, but then this shell too rolled around.

He cursed under his breath and looked around him again, making sure no one was paying attention. He pushed the fork between the shell and the hole in the plate and gently tried to pry it out. It worked, but the shell popped out of the hole with such force that it landed on the table, bouncing away from him like a ping-pong ball. He tried to grab it in mid-flight after the first bounce but missed, and he got up quickly, finally catching it on the third bounce. He sat down fast, frozen in place and squeezing the shell so tightly in his fist that it broke.

Steve turned to look at him. “Everything alright?” “Uh-huh,” Billy replied, nodding hastily, trying his best to hold back a laughter as he wiped his hand into his napkin. Steve looked at him curiously. “You sure?” “Yeah,” Billy replied, biting his tongue to force the laughter down his throat. “Sorry, I have to visit the bathroom.” “Alright,” Steve said, amused. “Ask the head waiter for directions. They’ll show you where it is.”

Billy got to the bathroom and had the door barely closed behind him when he started laughing uncontrollably until to the point of having tears in his eyes. When the laughter finally eased, he washed his hands and returned to the dinner table.

This time, Steve was paying attention. “You saw it, didn’t you?” Billy asked quietly as Steve showed him how to carve the meat out of the shell with the odd fork. “Yeah. It was a good catch though,” he chuckled, making Billy let out a laugh. “Don’t worry, it happens. They’re slippery sometimes.” Steve got the meat out of the shell and offered the fork to Billy.

Billy smirked and instead of taking the fork, he leaned in and sucked the meat slowly off of it, his eyes locked on Steve’s, enjoying the view of Steve’s mouth slowly opening ajar. Billy licked his lips with a lopsided grin when he let go of the fork. Steve raised his eyebrow, hunted another snail from its shell, and offered it again to Billy, who repeated the act with a smirk. “Oh, you’re such a bad boy,” Steve whispered, shaking his head slightly. Billy leaned into Steve’s shoulder. “Just the way you like it, don’t you?” he whispered directly at Steve’s ear, and placed his hand on Steve’s thigh, brushing the inner side slowly. Steve shivered at the hot breath of air in his ear and the hand on his crotch. He turned to look at Billy, whose face was barely an inch away. “If you keep doing that, I have no option but to take you away and punish you a little. And then you’ll end up going to bed hungry. Do you want that?”

Billy couldn’t hide his smile when he felt the tips of his ears heating. If it was anyone else saying him those words without previous agreement, he would’ve walked out the room on the spot. But because it was Steve, so out of character, it made his abdomen tingle pleasurably.

While Steve took the third snail in his fork and fed it, too, to Billy, he glanced over at Amanda. Not that her thoughts mattered to him at all not really—the pleasure he got from feeding Billy not at all subtly in front of her and the whole wedding party was enough as itself—but seeing her staring at them, outraged, it made it all even better.

Billy saw Steve look at Amanda, and turned to look at her too, licking his lips and wiping the corners of his mouth with his finger, finishing the job by sucking it unashamedly to get everything off of it. He smirked and winked at her as he sat up straight and took his own fork in his hand, fishing the snails out of his own plate.

The dinner lasted as long as only a three course meal could. While the rest of the dinner party continued the evening at the bar, Billy opted for a smoke.

Steve led them to the end deck of the ship. “After you,” he said as he opened the door to the deck, letting Billy walk through the doors first. “Wow!” Billy said as he stepped out onto the deck. The sun had just set, an angry slit of red between dark veils of clouds in the horizon as a last echo of its light before darkness would take over. There were no clouds above the ship, though, so when he looked up at the sky, he could see the North star. Steve walked to the railing, leaned his back on it, and looked at Billy. “Gorgeous.” Billy looked at him. “You can say that again.” “Well, the sky is pretty too, but I meant you. Gorgeous and sexy as hell.” Billy smiled a wide smile and walked to Steve. “Got my smokes?”

Steve took the pack from his jacket pocket and gave it to Billy. He held his lighter for Billy to light his smoke and when Billy gave the pack back; he lit one for himself, too. Billy leaned on the railing with his elbows and looked down at the darkening sea, shaking his head slightly. “This is fucking magical.” Steve turned around to lean his elbows on the railing too, taking a drag. “Yeah. It is.” He glanced at Billy. “So, what was that at the dinner table?” Billy smirked. “Don’t deny it. You liked it.” Steve leaned into Billy’s shoulder. “Yes. Very much.” “Amanda was outraged,” Billy laughed. “Mission accomplished.” Billy glanced at Steve. “Aren’t you afraid that she kicks us off the boat first thing tomorrow?” “She won’t. Charles invited me. It would be rude.” “Oh, and we’re not being rude?” Billy asked, raising his other eyebrow. “Now that’s different. We are going to do everything as rudely as possible.” “Don’t ask what you’re not willing to do, lover-boy.” Steve laughed. “I think I’m getting more and more willing to do bad things out in the open just to piss her off.” “I’ll keep that in mind.”

They stood in silence for a while, smoking. “So...” Billy started, “is this something that happens frequently in Steve Harrington’s life? Cruises in the Caribbean, fancy foods the names of which anyone else can’t pronounce but the French and wine that’s not available in every street corner?” “Food and wine, sometimes,” Steve shrugged. “But never cruises like this. I’m well off, but not this well.” “First time on the Nero then?” “Yes.” Steve leaned on Billy’s shoulder. “What do you think?” “About the ship?” “About everything.” “Why do you need my opinion?” “I don’t need it. But I’m curious about it. I want to know.” Billy could feel warm swelling in his chest. “Well, the food was great. Though the escargot didn’t taste like anything. “ Steve smirked. “They’re actually great. You were just so busy doing bad things that you didn’t pay attention.” Billy chuckled. “Well, okay, granted. But the steak was good, and the wine.” Steve took a drag of his smoke. “Anything else?” “The desert was good?” Steve chuckled. “I hope the company was at least half decent.” Billy leaned up, looking at Steve pursing his lips to hide a smile. “The company was more than okay.”

Steve looked at the burning amber at the end of the cigarette for a while and then took a drag. “So, Harcove?” Billy glanced at him. “What about it?” “Just a name?” Steve asked after a moment of silence. “Just a name.” Steve nodded and looked back at the horizon for a while. Then he leaned up and took a final drag of the smoke. “Want to go mingle a bit?”