#the sheer tank top…oh jesus hold me back

[chrishemsworthsbitch]

He’s so big now 😵‍💫

[artdcnaldson]

oh i know we're on the topic of best friends sisters and whatnot but can i offer an absolutely out of left field alternative? best friends brother with dodge

as in ur daynas friend from high school, u guys have always been pretty close, but dodge hasn't seen u since they moved away, but now they're back and ur in his living room and oh shit, uve grown up. i mean, he has too, obviously, he graduated high school, hes taller and stronger and over that awkward gangly teen phase he was in when you met him. but you. u wear shorts, around his place, those ripped denim ones with the fraying hems that show off the glimpse of a waistband of pretty pink panties. and tank tops, sheer, tight tanks to fight the scorching texas heat. and you laze around his house like youve always done, drinking his sweet tea and eating his food, chatting with his older sister about things he does it care about.

and you're cool, and older, and pretty, and interesting, and hes so surprised to hear about how youre single (from dayna, in passing), a string of bad exes behind you. cheaters and losers and broke idiots. dodge would never do that to u. dodge would treat you right. like a real man should. dodge would make you feel really fucking good. and hes determined to prove it to you.

-kit (going insane)

YEAHHHHHHH

Sigh whenever I think abt any dodge AUs I just want to lean heavy into small town aspirations that fail and send you right back to where you started. Maybe you leave the city for Dallas, or a suburb of it, auditioning to be a cheerleader for the Cowboys. You were the cheer captain back in Carp, but things are different in cities with a population over 5k.

So you come back, work at the salon in town painting nails. It’s the perfect job— all gossipy, surrounded by the sweet smell of lotions and shampoo.

Maybe you have a reputation around town for dressing kind of skanky, for being a little ditzy. Rumors of you stealing husbands and boyfriends (untrue!). But Dayna was your friend in high school, and she’s still your friend now. One of your last remaining ones in Carp. So you lounge around their house, spilling all the gossip you learned from work in his sister’s ear, giving her free manicures in the house since the salon on Main Street isn’t wheel chair accessible.

“I can do your nails, Dodge,” you offer with a pretty smile. “Just clean ‘em up a bit. Half the men in town come to get manicures from me.”

He makes a face, lips twitching into a grin. “I don’t need my nails to be hooker red, thank you.”

You shrug, apply another coat of pale pink on Dana’s nails. “Bring ‘em over here. I wanna see.”

He sighs and takes a few ambling steps towards you. When he’s close enough, you grab his hand and hold it up to the light. Your nose wrinkles, and you raise a dissatisfied brow.

“Hands say a lot about someone,” you say as you trace your fingers along the back of his hand, then the rough, work-worn palms and fingertips. “Wanna know what yours say?”

He makes a face, but concedes. He’s handsome, grown up a lot in the two years since you left for Dallas. Nineteen now, more sure of himself. More muscular? Jesus, the rodeo had been treating him right. “Sure. Why not?”

Your thumb strokes over the back of his hand. “They’re rough. These are a workers hands. They say you know how to take care of the people you love. That you’re real hands on.” You pause, grin. “But the dirt under your nails… that tells me that you aren’t taking care of any ladies.”

His cheeks turn pink as you and Dayna grin, and he forces a sarcastic laugh as he pulls his hands back. “Wow. Thanks.”

You meet his gaze and offer a pretty smile. “Really, let me clean your hands up sometime. I’ll bring you Whataburger, or Sonic, or Dairy Queen.”

He laughs despite himself, shrugs. “Maybe.”

Dayna slaps your arm once Dodge slips away to his bedroom. “Stop hitting on my little brother. Its weird.”

You grin, but say nothing.

It’s a week later that you’re back in his living room without Dayna in sight. You’re holding a bag of Whataburger, sprawled across the couch. “Can I do your nails?”

How can he say no?

————

@gamesetart this took forever but I need him <3 I love this concept it’s so fun

[riversofmars]

So for today's update, seeing as I'm trying to give all my WIPs equal love: back to the headmistress and her sheep farmer! Here is part two! <3 Weather continues to be shite in West Yorkshire, hope it's better where you are!

Rating M (language and sexual themes)

TW: reference past abuse (but not a lot)

Read below or on AO3

Home Is Not A Place - Part 2: The Storm

“F-Bloody cold, bastard weather,“ Gillian groaned as she slammed the door shut. It had been storming all day, and she was soaked to the bone from being out on the farm.

“Gillian?“ Caroline appeared in the hallway, mug in hand and wrapped in a large woolly poncho. It was Saturday and she was counting her blessings that she had no reason to leave the house. Flora was staying with Greg in Manchester this weekend, and Raff and Ellie were spending the weekend with Ellie’s mother who was helping them house-shop. With Gillian out on the yard, Caroline had been left to enjoy the peace and quiet and taken the opportunity to catch up on her reading in front of the fire. At least that’s what she had been doing until she had been interrupted by the sheep farmer’s return and her colourful curses.

“Don’t even f-bloody say anything!“ Gillian snapped, peeling off her coat which had done sweet fuck all to protect her from the rain.

“For God’s sake, Gillian,“ Caroline chose to comment - regardless of her warning - upon realising the state she was in. Gillian’s hair stuck to her cheeks that were red from the cold, and her clothes were dripping. “What have you been doing?“ Caroline demanded to know and picked up the coat that Gillian had abandoned on the floor in her stroppy mood. She followed the sheep farmer into the living room and put the coat over a chair by the fire.

“Bloody foxes bothering sheep again,“ Gillian huffed, and the frequency of her curses told Caroline everything she needed to know about her mood.

“And that couldn’t have waited till the storm had passed?“ Caroline crossed her arms in front of her chest, like she might with an unruly student she expected an explanation from.

“Can’t do with losing any more to ‘em,“ Gillian mumbled, dropping her scarf onto the chair with the coat, but avoided meeting the headteacher’s eyes. She knew she was right. She should have come back inside upon finishing all the strictly necessary tasks and not faffed about going after a fox that she still hadn’t managed to shoot.

“You’re gonna catch your death, if you’re not careful,“ Caroline scolded, willing her voice to remain steady and not get distracted when Gillian pulled her shirt off revealing a tank top that clung to her body. Her shoulders were strong, despite her small frame, from years of working on the farm. Caroline wondered what it would be like to hold on to them if Gillian decided to put her strong hands to good use.

“What? And leave you in charge of farm, don’t think so. Gonna take a bit more than a storm to knock me out, you should know that by now.“

“I do know that, yes,“ Caroline had to agree. Her period of peace and quiet was over. Gillian was like a whirlwind of chaos and emotion but Caroline couldn’t pretend to be annoyed by that anymore. “Get yourself changed and sit by the fire, I’ll put the kettle on,“ she announced after brief consideration. “I’m not nursing you when you can’t get out of bed.“

“Oh that’s a shame, when nothing would make me happier than you waiting on me hand and foot,“ Gillian smirked and Caroline rolled her eyes.

“I bet,“ she huffed and made her way to the kitchen, allowing herself a moment to contemplate how nice it might be to dap a cold flannel to Gillian’s brow and smooth her hair behind her ears… She indulged the fantasy for the time it took her to fill the kettle with water and set it to boil. Then she glanced over into the living area and her heart nearly stopped. She gave a completely undignified squeak that drew Gillian’s attention, so she quickly followed it up with: “Jesus, Gillian, talk about boundaries!“ She couldn’t very well just remain standing there, watching Gillian strip down to her underwear, without shooting a suitably shocked comment her way.

“Shit, Caroline, I thought you’re making tea,“ the sheep farmer exclaimed, which was rich considering the fact that the living and cooking area were connected. She reached for a t-shirt to cover herself up but Caroline couldn’t pull her eyes off her the whole time.

“It’s open-plan!“ Caroline exclaimed, mortified, and Gillian huffed as she turned around, fishing for dry trousers in a pile of clean washing that had been dumped onto one of the sofas and was to be ironed at a later date. This, of course, required her to bend over, and Caroline watched with fascination and dread as she did so. Inwardly, the headteacher reprimanded herself, sternly, for the thoughts that crossed her mind. She was determined that she would not, under any circumstances, share them with anyone or ever act upon them. She wasn’t sure whether that made it better or worse.

“I couldn’t be arsed to go upstairs when there’s a pile of ironing right here,“ Gillian was quick to justify herself as she pulled on a pair of jeans and struggled to do so as her skin was still damp.

“You never lock the door either, anyone could have walked in.“ Caroline gestured towards the front of the house, trying to distract herself from her intrusive thoughts.

“Everyone is out, and our parents would have rung first if they wanted to pop round,“ Gillian shot back quickly and turned to face her again once halfway decent.

“Right,“ Caroline huffed, fully aware she had lost the argument and turned back to the kitchen to carry on making the tea and distract herself of the image of Gillian’s lean frame, water glistening on her toned stomach and soft curve of her breasts and… Well, Caroline wasn’t exactly distracting herself from it, she committed it to memory, allowing herself a moment to appreciate it in the privacy of her own mind.

“Sorry I’m… guess, I’m still not quite used to you being here all’t time,“ Gillian’s voice drew her back to the present. Caroline looked back around to find Gillian glancing across the room to her, her brow knitted into a frown of concern. It was that frown that she made whenever she wondered if she had done something wrong. Perhaps she wondered if she had made Caroline uncomfortable, rather than aroused.

“No, no, it’s fine, I’m not… trying to make you uncomfortable in your own home,“ Caroline was quick to respond. If anything, she should be the one apologising to her for ogling her the way she had.

“Our home. Halfsies, remember?“ Gillian gave her a hopeful smile that made Caroline’s heartbeat a little fast.

“Right…“ She responded with a smile of her own and finished preparing the mugs. “Here… I put some brandy in it,“ she explained as she returned to the living area and handed over the hot drink.

“Now, this is why I like having you 'round,“ Gillian grinned as they both dropped onto the sofa in front of the fire.

“Because I drive you to drink?“ Caroline chuckled and Gillian laughed:

“Because you drive me to drink with someone, not by meself.“ She took a sip of the tea that warmed her insides quickly, and silence fell between them as they watched the fire. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, far from it. They each turned to their thoughts, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the drink as well as - certainly in Caroline’s case, she couldn’t speak for Gillian - each other’s company.

“Does it surprise you?“ Caroline asked after a while, her eyes resting on the sheep farmer’s strong hands wrapped around her mug.

“What?“ Gillian asked, taking a sip, glancing at her expectantly.

“How well this is working?“ Caroline clarified, and Gillian chuckled:

“Should it?“

“No! No…no I mean… it was a bit of a rash decision, fuelled in no small measure to spite my mother…and yes, there are advantages to it, yes, sure, but… I expected it to be… harder,“ Caroline admitted thoughtfully. This, of course, made things difficult for her to keep straight in her head. Her attraction towards Gillian wasn’t new, it had developed over time and intensified in the last few years since she had moved out into the countryside herself. She had never paid much heed to it. There was just something about the sheep farmer, there always had been. It was evident by the sheer number of suitors she acquired. Given Caroline’s interest in women, she had merely assumed that she wasn’t immune to whatever it was. Her feelings towards Gillian hadn’t factored into her decision to move in together. It genuinely had seemed like the right decision for both of them and it was proving to be just that. Whatever concern Caroline may have had given that attraction, she had assumed that it would fade given time. Surely, living with Gillian - her mess, her moods, her… well, everything - was bound to put her off and end that idealised fantasy she had dreamed up in her head. Sadly, the opposite had occurred. While there were times where they still wound each other up, all things considered, being close to Gillian had made her realise how much she adored everything about her. Even the things she had expected she would hate. Now, all she could do was ignore her feelings and hope they would pass eventually. She would have to apply one of her mother’s approaches to problems: if you don’t talk about them, they don’t exist.

“Are you saying you expected me difficult to be round?“ Gillian smirked, never missing an opportunity to tease her.

“No! No! Well, yes, but not like…“ Caroline started and stopped herself when she realised what she was saying. She had been too preoccupied contemplating her crush on her, to mind her words.

“Keep digging,“ Gillian grinned, while clearly not taking offence, not really, anyway.

“No, I’m just… it’s nice,“ Caroline exclaimed, hoping to put the matter to bed. Not unlike she would have hoped to bed the sheep farmer but that was a different, none-existent matter that she wouldn’t talk about. “And I would have hoped it would be but… it’s nice to have it confirmed.“

“I like having you around,“ Gillian was more to the point than Caroline’s babbling mess of a statement.

“Even if I’m a snotty bitch?“ Caroline felt they were entering safer waters again.

“Particularly 'cause you’re a snotty bitch, you give the place a certain measure of class,“ Gillian laughed.

“A sheep farm with class?“

“A sheep farm with class,“ Gillian repeated with a nod. “It’s certainly stopped Cheryl trying to pick on us… and that new guy from ‘cross the moor stopped dropping by unannounced, he were a right pain.“ She grimaced at the memory of it.

“Think he had a bit of a thing for you,“ Caroline chuckled, contemplating the matter. Of course he did, show me one person attracted to women who doesn’t have a thing for Gillian bloody Greenwood, Caroline thought miserably.

“Well, he can fuck off with his fancy arse yellow tractor,“ Gillian huffed.

“Bit of a statement that, isn’t it.“

“You think?“

“Yes, like a peacock, flashing his feathers,“ Caroline mused, remembering him popping by the farm in it at one point. At the very least it had been great entertainment for Flora and Calamity but only until the point where they had started making fun of it, embarrassing them in front of what could have been a perfectly nice new neighbour.

“He were well confused when you opened door to him in your nighty that one time,“ Gillian grinned and Caroline feigned outrage.

“Well, he shouldn’t have called at bloody 10 o’clock at night, should he?“

“Probably hoping I’d invite him in, weren’t he.“ Gillian rolled her eyes.

“He must have heard of your stellar reputation,“ Caroline hummed into her tea, contemplating the matter that she was probably the envy of most of the male population of West Yorkshire when it came to “staying over at Gillian’s“. Shame it didn’t entail the same benefits for her that it had for many men in the past.

“Old Gillian would’ve,“ the sheep farmer mused, driving the point home painfully.

“He wasn’t even a looker,“ Caroline exclaimed, trying her best to keep her jealousy in check.

“Don’t have to look at his face if he has other qualities,“ Gillian shrugged matter-of-factly.

“Ew.“ Caroline contemplated adding some more brandy to her tea if the conversation was going to carry on the way it was. She glanced at the window. The rain hadn’t stopped, if anything, the storm was only getting worse, and there was absolutely no reason to be leaving the house. So what if it was only 11am? The brandy was tempting.

“You used to shag John, you can’t be that repulsed by it.“ Gillian demanded her attention with a knowing smirk.

“I liked John… for a time, loved him even, so I got over it but now… don’t think I could go back, honestly, I just… like women too much, should have stuck with them after uni,“ Caroline stated.

“That would have spared us the indignity of me shagging your ex-husband,“ Gillian had to admit.

“Ah, but then, we would have missed out on so much fun,“ Caroline elbowed her.

“Sorry… again… about all that,“ Gillian responded with a moment of sincerity while nursing her tea.

“It’s forgotten. If John could see us now, living together, his head would explode,“ the headteacher chuckled. “God knows what he’d presume was going on…“

“Hm… what indeed,“ Gillian hummed and Caroline struggled to interpret her response to an off-hand comment she already regretted making. Before she could attribute more meaning to it, Gillian concluded: “Men are idiots, aren’t they?“

“I have been saying this for some time.“ Caroline nodded with a smirk.

“Is it easier?“ Gillian asked, after finishing her drink in one final gulp.

“What?“ Caroline frowned, needing her to be more specific, and the sheep farmer took a moment to provide context, seemingly a little insecure.

“Dating… you know… women?“

“Oh. Uh- well, depends on the woman. Whether you have the same interests, want the same things out of life…“ Caroline suddenly found the inside of her mug very interesting indeed. “You for instance are…“ She broke off when she realised what she was saying but she seemed to have peaked Gillian’s interest:

“What?“ She asked curiously.

“Well, we… work well together, don’t we, we’re very different and yet…“ Caroline shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware of a spring or something digging into her back. Anything to distract her from the sheep farmer.

“Are you coming on to me, Caz?“ Gillian smirked and Caroline’s face fell.

“No! No, no, don’t be ridiculous.“ Her voice was higher than usual and she shook her head vehemently.

“Hey, I’m not that bad, am I?“ The sheep farmer carried on, seemingly intent on exploiting a moment of weakness.

“Can’t win with you, can I,“ Caroline cleared her throat and focused her thoughts, she finished her tea, to give herself something to do.

“Relax, I’m only winding you up,“ Gillian elbowed her and Caroline became aware of how closely they were sitting together.

“Right.“

“Been with a girl once.“ Gillian added in an off-hand sort of way and got to her feet. She grabbed Caroline’s mug out of her hand who just stared at her in shock.

“What?“ Her mind was reeling from the statement and she couldn’t be sure if Gillian was trying to wind her up more or if she was serious, sharing one of her many sex-capades of the past for a laugh. Perhaps it was a bit of both. The sheep farmer didn’t answer immediately. She made her way into the kitchen and poured brandy into their mugs, forgoing the tea altogether. Caroline was watching her every move, tense for an answer, as Gillian took her time returning to the sofa. She handed her one of the mugs and took a sip of her own before sitting back down. There was a moment of quiet anticipation as Gillian appeared to be contemplating how to best tell the story.

“You know when… things were right bad with Eddie,“ she started at last and Caroline felt a lump forming in her throat. Eddie. How she longed never to hear that name again and for Gillian to forget all about him, but he would, forever, be a part of her, of them. Caroline hated hearing about that part of Gillian’s life because of how helpless it made her feel and how much she wished it had never happened. But there was also a part of her that was keen to listen, not out of morbid curiosity, but because it meant a lot to her that Gillian felt she could talk to her about him. She was, after all, the first person she had ever told of the real circumstances of her husband’s untimely death. Caroline felt honoured that Gillian confided in her, so she listened, for her, as much as it might hurt. She hadn’t anticipated this sharp change of pace and topic but perhaps it was something Gillian needed to get off her chest.

“He was controlling too, wan’t he, and wouldn’t really let me see other men, so…“ Gillian took a deep breath and a sip of the brandy to steady her nerves. “Guess he wasn’t that threatened by women so there was this lass, up in, uh... Huddersfield, actually, funnily enough.“ Gillian chuckled but there was no joy to it. “There was this one time where Eddie, he got really p-pissed on a night out there and got in a fight. Coppers had to break it up and he got arrested… I was g-gonna pick him up but when I were stood outside police station, I couldn’t make myself go in.“ She took another sip of her drink and Caroline reached out for her free hand. Gillian’s voice was more shaky now, there was the stammer too, that she got whenever negative emotions threatened to swallow her up. “C-Cause I knew if I did and bailed him out that night, he’d be…in a t-terrible state and he’d be right f-fucking pissed for having been arrested and…“ She broke off, curling her fingers tightly around Caroline’s. “Well anyway, I turned round, went to pub instead. Didn’t know it were a… gay bar or whatever, did I… but I really needed a drink and there was this girl…and she were nice and apparently liked the look of me and, by that point, I was just relieved to be away from Eddie for night and I… t-took opportunity, didn’t I. Stayed over. Picked up Eddie in’t morning. Told him coppers wouldn’t let me pick him up that night so I h-had to wait.“

“And he believed that?“ Caroline asked gently, running her thumb over the back of her hand.

“N-No. But he didn’t guess what I’d been up t-to that night, else he would have done more than give me a black eye, wouldn’t he…“ Gillian took a deep breath, eager to wrap up the story. “Saw her a couple times after that too, but couldn’t keep finding reasons to go to bloody Huddersfield, could I, so it fizzled out eventually.“

“I’m sorry, Gillian, I…“ Caroline didn’t know what to say. She wanted nothing more than to pull her into her arms, hold her close and tell her that everything would be alright but that would betray a depth of emotion that would probably overwhelm her. These were the times when Caroline was reminded of how fragile the other woman really was. She was staring into her mug, seemingly attempting to divine meaning from the amber liquid but coming up short. Caroline was struck - and not for the first time - by how small Gillian looked when she retreated into herself. Yes, physically, she was obviously far smaller than Caroline but her loud personality and presence usually more than made up for it. When the pretence of confidence fell away, what remained was the broken woman Eddie had left behind. Caroline couldn’t blame her for having killed him, not for a moment.

“’S fine,“ Gillian mumbled.

“It’s not fine,“ Caroline insisted, anger boiling up inside her.

“No, but it’s in the past,“ Gillian countered with surprising calmness as she finished off her drink. She glanced at Caroline and there was an odd sense of acceptance in her eyes, of hopefulness, of determination not to be defined by the past and to move forward. She gave Caroline’s hand a squeeze. “The girl was the point of the story, not Eddie,“ she said and managed a little smile, encouraging the conversation along to more pleasant matters. “Bloody hell, Caroline, I was hoping you’d at least be a little bit shocked or something.“ She managed a chuckle.

“So… what’d she look like?“ Caroline asked after another moment of silence, as she contemplated how to steer clear of the gloominess of the past.

“Who?“ Gillian frowned.

“The girl!“ Caroline exclaimed and let go of her hand. She watched Gillian with delight at the blush that suddenly crept onto the sheep farmer’s cheeks.

“Oh! Uhh- dunno.“ Gillian looked into her mug, which was now empty and provided no distraction.

“Yes you do,“ Caroline teased.

“Blonde. Tall,“ Gillian sighed, exasperated.

“Ohh, do you have a type,“ Caroline joked, trying to brush over a wave of jealousy.

“She was no uptight bitch if that’s what you’re bothered about,“ Gillian’s snark returned in full force.

“That's a no-go, is it?"

“It was good though…“ Gillian went on, completely ignoring Caroline's question.

“What?“ The headteacher frowned confused.

“The sex,“ Gillian smirked, causing Caroline to nearly spit out her drink.

[azurika-writes]

Helping A Roomie Out

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Prompt: a character of your choice is your new roommate, a hot delicious snack on legs. 

Warnings: sexual tension, hot sexy roommate, graphic wet dream description, mentions of a shower head masturbation (female), implied smut

Words: 1,042 (okay, let me quickly research the meaning of drabble lol sorry)

Authors Notes: this is a drabble written for @the-ss-horniest-book-club​ and I’m very happy to be apart of them. Enjoy this fun little drabble :)

His tongue swirled around your nipple until it hardened, gently tugging on the sensitive pebble. You pushed at his head to move him further where you needed him the most. He complied, sucking, nipping and licking delicate areas on your body. You moaned his name, the only word you were capable of speaking right now, and the only word he wanted to hear. He dipped his hand inside your panties to gather your juices and spread them generously over your tingling clit. When you were wet enough, he pulled your panties down seconds later with his teeth, discarding them somewhere in the room. Biting, kissing and sucking his way up your legs and on the inside of your thighs. You pulled his man bun loose, his locks falling in front of his face, tickling your skin. His face dipped where you were aching for him, his long, thick tongue slithered through your folds, your back arched off the bed and then -

You groaned into your pillow, lazily reaching over blindly to shut the damn alarm clock off. You sighed and rubbed the sleepiness from your eyes. You sat up, your back flushed against your headboard and you thought about your dream.

It was all your new roommate’s fault. Bucky moved in just a couple of weeks ago and ever since then, you’ve had the most lustful dreams. It of course didn’t help that your new roommate walked around the apartment in tight clothing that you were absolutely sure were a few sizes too small, his abs were always on show, his ass bulging out of the seams of his jeans and his tight sweatpants that left little to the imagination of what was hidden underneath.

Bucky did respect boundaries, if it was you walking around in your daisy denim shorts and a tank top, Bucky would avert his eyes anywhere but you. Where you on the other hand, kept stealing glances. 

“Y/N? I heard your alarm beeping and the coffee is made.” speak of the devil.

“I’ll be right out!” you sighed, shaking the thoughts from your head. Bucky had told you when he first moved in he had a girlfriend, but you’ve never met her since he hasn’t invited her over and he rarely talks about her, which kind of makes you believe he just said that to make the situation more comfortable and less awkward. You hiss when your warm feet hit the sudden cold wooden floors and waddle to the bathroom, your panties feeling like you have a lake flooding in them from your dream. 

Once you have freshened yourself up and changed into some decent clothes, you head out to the living room.

“I’m her-aaaah.” your eyes almost fall out of your sockets. Bucky is plating up some eggs in the kitchen in just his boxers. Boxers that are very very clear and see through and you can see everything. Your eyes avert all over the place, you’re not sure where to look and you’re no doctor, but you’re pretty sure a fast heart rate isn’t a good thing.

You take a moment to try and get some air into your lungs and you also take the opportunity to steal a quick glance. His abs flex each time he moves around the kitchen, his really large manhood that you can see as clear as though he wasn’t wearing anything flops around inside his boxers with that teasing happy trail dipping just under the waistband, some of his hair has fallen out of his man bun and a gritty stubble covers his face.

Oh god. I could spread him on a cracker and eat him for lunch.

“Good mornin’ doll.” His voice is deeper than a black hole. 

“Um yes, morning, yes. Good indeed morning.” Bucky cocked an eyebrow at your babbling and you blushed, clearing your throat but it did absolutely nothing. “Morning.” You corrected sheepishly and kept your eyes to the floor as you approached the kitchen table. 

Bucky pulled a chair out for you and you thanked him quietly. He clearly couldn’t have known the torture he was putting you through, because he grabbed the coffee pot from the kitchen counter and stood right next to you. His manhood almost grazing your arm and it took your absolute sheer will to keep your eyes focused on the coffee being poured into the cup. 

“You alright there doll? You look flustered.” you make the mistake of looking up to him because holy shit, everything is much clearer from this point of view. You didn’t notice the hairs on his chest before, and that happy trail was more fluffy than you thought and definitely packing it. 

“I’m fine. Thanks Buck.” you cleared your throat once again and took a sip of the freshly poured coffee. 

He flopped down on the chair next to you and decided to torture you even further and spread his thighs, his left arm resting on the back of the unoccupied chair next to him as he scooped up some scramble eggs on his fingers and suggestively sucked it off his fingers. 

Oh jesus christ.

“I need a shower.” you announced quickly, pushing the chair back too harshly that it fell backwards, but you didn’t care. You more or less sprinted to your room, unintentionally slamming the door behind you. 

You stripped your clothes off and hopped in the cold shower, bringing the shower head down between your legs to relieve some of that sexual frustration you’re currently feeling. The pressure feels nice, but you imagine its him, your roommate working his tongue down there. It isn’t enough, you need to be filled.

Giving up in the shower, you’re painfully sensitive and frustrated. It’s times like these you wished you weren’t single. You wrapped a towel securely around your body and walked back into your bedroom with the intent on using some toys instead. 

What you found however, was a very naked and hard roommate laying on your bed waiting for you. 

“Wha- what are you doing?!” you asked, holding onto your towel.

“Heard you this mornin’ moaning my name. I’ve been thinkin’ about you too y’know. What you’d be like underneath me. So, whaddya say we help each other out as roommates?”

[hermankopusortizorsumshite]

Today’s the Day, Chulo.

A/N: So like, this is just an excuse to write a little smut, and best friends to lovers trope.

WARNINGS: smut, a whole fist fight.

TAGLIST:

@ifoundmyhappythought @woahitslucyylu @angelreyesgirl89 @angelreyesgirl @gemini0410 @vicmackeybullshxt @starrynite7114 @dazzledamazon @phoenixhalliwell @cind-in-real-life @claytoncardenasbabymama @whyisgamoraaa

Angel heads inside to find his best friend standing in the kitchen drinking straight out of the jug of milk. A tank top on and a pair of denim cut off shorts, her hair yanked back into a ponytail.

“Jesus Christ.” He groans, giving her a glare that she shrugs off as she caps his milk and tosses it back into the fridge.

“Swear to god Angel, today’s the day chulo.” She cheers, hooking an arm around his shoulder as they head out the door.

“For what carino?” He scoffs, shaking his head. She often didn’t make sense but he always went along with her crazy schemes.

“I’m not gonna fight anyone today.” She nods firmly, letting Angel clap her shoulder as they start down the sidewalk. Today was Saturday and they normally hung out together, finding lots of odd things to do.

“Well well, look who it is. It’s that Mayan from Santo Padre. Time to square up, senor.” A tall blonde calls from a group of bikes parked out front of the local gym. She snorts, looking between Angel the tall blonde.

“What the fuck does that say?” She asks, squinting at the back of one man’s jacket. “Slowe Boys? Boy, that’s kinda stupid.” She snorts, rolling her eyes.

“Who is she, your little girlfriend? Go on home, little bo peep, this doesn’t concern you.” The tall moron waves her off, gently pushing her aside as she and Angel got closer.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Angel warns, shrugging as his eyes flick between her and the Swole biker.

“She’s the size of Minnie Mouse, there’s not much she can do.” He chuckles, patting her head as she shakes with rage. Within seconds her foot kicks out, taking him down to his knees. Dropping a little below eyes level, her fist connects with his jaw. Reeling back, he stands and gets his wits about him before he looks at her with a determined look. Angel watched on, somehow aroused at how his best friend had just taken down a man twice her height and three times her weight.

“Shit! Carino!” Angel shouts, grabbing her and dragging her back. She wriggles from his grip like a Tasmanian devil and sprints back. The big blonde manages to get her on the ground and her legs wrap around his neck and shoulders.

“I don’t wanna do this.” He growls, standing and desperately trying to get her off of him. Using her weight, she hurls herself backwards and he falls on the ground. Her ankles still locked behind his head, she throws fist after fist into the man’s face. Angel finally tugs her off and drags her a few feet away.

“Christ miel.” He laughs, smudging away some of the blood on her cheek.

“Let me back at him, Angel! He’s not dead.” She bites, trying to get past him. He laughs as he sets her on her feet.

“You’re not gonna kill him.” Angel chuckles, pulling her along with him as they wander away before the cops show up. He can’t help the pride he feels.

“Angel, I want to knock him out.” She whines, but he just laughs, ignoring her whines and protests.

“You got him well enough, carino.” He laughs, letting her jump on his back as they skip down the street. As they step into the house, Angel feels himself harden immediately. His best friend had never been hot, not to him, but now? She was small, gorgeous, and mighty. Something about her swinging fists and brawling made him want her in more ways than he knew.

“Angel, have you-“ She turns to find Angel standing close behind her, lost in a daze. “Angel, what are you doing?” She asks, raising a confused brow to him. His shaking hands find her waist and he draws her against him.

“Christ, babygirl.” He whispers, leaning down slanting his lips to hers.

“Angel—“

“The next time you say my name, you better be moaning it.” He growls, lifting her onto othe counter with ease. Giving a gasp, her hands pulling his face crashing into hers, feverishly kissing him.

“Angel.” She moans, rolling her hips into his. His head tips back and her lips attack his neck.

“Carino.” He murmurs, tugging off her jean shorts and panties, tossing them aside. Little whimpers escape her as his fingers slide into her wet heat.

“Angel.” She whines gripping his shoulders as he drops his jeans and positioning himself at her entrance. “Holy Christ.” She stammers, looking at the sheer size of his throbbing cock.

“You not afraid of a guy six times your size, but you get shy over a cock you’ve seen before?” Angel’s husky voice joking in her ear as he so slowly slides in, reveling in the beautiful curve of her throat as her head tips back in pure ecstasy.

“Daddy.” She whispers, eyes popping open to see a dark look in his eyes.

“Yeah baby, you fuckin’ love that cock?” He barks, sliding out and sliding back in.

“Yes,” she whispers, gripping his no longer perfectly styled hair as his pace quickens.

“Say it again.” He whispers, nibbling at her earlobe.

“Daddy, fuck me daddy. Christ baby, just like that.” She whimpers, gripping his sweat slicked skin, nails biting as they seek purchase.

“Aw shit, baby. Hold on.” Angel whispers, thrusting hard into her, his grip harsh on her hips as her mercilessly pounds into her.

“Angel! Daddy! Fuck me!” She shrieks, bucking up to meet his hips until they fall over the precipice of ecstasy.

“Jesus, you always wanted to call me daddy?” Angel hushes, pinching her chin in his thumb and finger, finding her flushed cheeks a cute smile.

“Yes, daddy.” She whispers, hopping down and pulling on her shorts and tank top, her bra cast aside on the couch as she and Angel curl up together.

“Jesus, carino. I love you, my little brawler.” He chuckles, pressing a kiss to her lips.

“Yo Angel! The Swole guys say that y/n kicked Doug’s ass! I just wanted to see the damage.” Coco calls as he turns around to find Angel peeking through sleep-weighted lids, his arms wrapped around her shoulders as she sleeps on his chest. “Oh shit, did y’all?” His wide eyes meet Angel’s as his brows raise. Angel just chuckles, tossing a pillow at Coco’s head.

“Go away, bro.” Angel barks low, shifting to get comfortable once more.

“Okay bro, my bad.” The man raises his hands as he steps down the hall to his room.

[royallyprincesslilly]

Title: I Love You Two {1}*

Captain America Vs. Superman Sequel 

Chris Evans X Reader X Henry Cavill

Warning: Fluff, Plot, MFM Coupling, Lite Smut

Word Count: 3.7K

Note: Guyyyyyyyyys! So, I have not been able to get this out my head. I really wanted it to be one and done but, I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I had a “hypothetical” convo with some friends and my brain said hol’ up, hol’ up, hol’ up. 😊 Hope ya’ll can rock with this.

Summary: It was meant to be a one-time thing maybe twice so you could get it out your system, but seven months later and things are still going strong and have transitioned into something much more than any of you could have expected. In a world so hell bent on conventional how can you maneuver this unconventional love you’ve stumbled upon?

Previous Parts:

Captain America Vs Superman 1  |  Captain America Vs. Superman 2***

**Loosely edited**

**Loosely Proofread**

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 It was insane to think what a difference a few months could make and how drastically our lives could change in such a short period of time. You could be down on your luck one day and completely lost unable to find a way out and bam the next you’re in a completely different situation, one you never imagined. Or one day you could be single only thinking about work and your next step professionally and then the next you’re completely swept up and in love with no care in the world but seeing the source of your affection. Life was unpredictable. That was where you found yourself now, rocking with the unpredictability of life.

  You moaned and stretched. Your joints cracked and muscles elongated. It felt as if you’d been in one position for hours. You moaned again and slowly rolled around in the soft coverings that you were wrapped in. You opened your eyes slowly, and the sun was the first thing you saw. You closed your eyes again and slightly shifted before you opened them again. When you did, the sun was obscured by the wood and palm leaf roof that was above your head. You could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the birds squawking overhead. You took a deep breath in and sighed, loving the scent of coconut, flowers, sea salt, and sunshine. You stretched again and finally sat up. The sheer linen blanket that was wrapped around you pooled around your waist, allowing the cool, dewy glow of the sun to caress your bare breasts.

  You slid to the edge of the bed and stood on the wooden planked floor and walked to toward the sheer curtains that encompassed the bed. Standing there you could see to the private beach and the sea it was beautiful. The setting sun illuminated the sea and cast an ethereal beauty in the sky. It looked like a breathtaking painting. You hadn’t taken a real vacation in almost three years, so this was a long-overdue pause from reality. You stood there for several more moments, just enjoying the slow setting sun and the warm breeze.

  With a soft, satisfied sigh, you took up the linen blanket and loosely wrapped your naked body. You followed the wooden floors from the outdoor bed you preferred to sleep in on the nights the sky was clear and made it to the main house. As you walked inside, you heard the mellow music and smelled the delicious scents wafting through the air. You followed your nose and the smells to the doorway of the gourmet kitchen and leaned on the door frame and watched the two perfect male specimens move about the kitchen.

They spoke about some soccer game and debated over who scored the best goal. Like always they couldn’t agree. You were surprised they’d lasted this long as friends without some major dispute threatening their bond. They both stood with their backs to you completely unaware of your presence. Chris wore a men’s tank and a pair of swim trunks, and Henry wore a polo shirt and some cargo shorts. You slowly walked into the kitchen, taking effort to ensure your bare feet made no sound at all. As you approached the kitchen island, you zeroed in on the bowl of freshly prepared salad and snuck a ripe, red cherry tomato and popped it into your mouth. You leaned onto the island and continued to watch the only entertainment you’d ever need.

Your eyes slowly traveled down Henry’s body, taking in his full stature. He was built for pleasure; from his broad shoulders and bulging biceps and his trim waist down to his defined but taut ass and not to mention his amazing thighs that looked like they could both give you life and take it all at once. As you continued to snack your eyes turned to Chris. He was built for sin. His tall frame and equally broad shoulders always made you go googly eye. His strong back and impossibly built arms complimented his slim waist and toned ass.

You thought you had a type before both of them and that type was tall, black and fine, but they proved it wrong, now your type was them and none other. You walked around the island to the side they were on and quietly hopped onto it. After a few moments, Chris looked back and was the first to see you. He smiled and turned to give you his full attention. His turn prompted Henry to notice and look back also. When he saw you he smiled and turned to face you as he continued to mix something in a bowl.

  “Well look who finally woke up,” Henry stated.

  “Finally, how long’s it been? Four hours?”

 You snorted at Chris’ exaggeration.

  “No, I counted close to five,” Henry responded with his crisp British accent.

  “Ha, ha you both are really funny. It was barely three hours.”

  They smiled, and both their eyes longingly looked over your barely covered body.

    “Who can blame you for being wiped out. Must be hard keeping up with two stallions,” Chris piped. You couldn’t help the loud laugh that escaped your lips.

  “Stallions? Oh my god, yes stallions indeed, my two white stallions.”

  As you continued to laugh, they both approached you. Henry put the bowl he held to the side and touched the top of your knee while Chris softly grazed your arm. Your laughter slowly died down until you were looking at both of them just openly gawking at your body. Henry toyed with the edges of the linin blanket that rested at your inner upper thigh. His fingers every so often lightly teased your skin sending goosebumps up and down your leg.

  Chris trailed his finger up to your collar and flicked the blanket you loosely held over your breasts. You looked to Chris and saw amusement in his cornflower eyes. He slowly licked his lips before he lowered them to your collarbone. You took a deep breath in and looked to henry. He smiled and leaned into you, connecting your lips. He kissed you softly. It wasn’t a kiss of urgency or one meant to lead anywhere; it was a teasing one, a gentle one, one meant to make you show him how much you wanted him. Chris’ lips moved to the space where your neck and shoulder met. You moaned bit down on Henry’s bottom lip forcing a moan from him before he intensified the kiss.

  Chris then moved his lips up your neck to your ear where he nibbled, licked and sucked it. God, it felt good. As your tongue danced with Henry’s and Chris’ lips teased your arousal higher. You felt Chris’ fingers trail down your exposed spine awaking new goosebumps and a new desire. His lips moved to your cheek, then your jaw. Sensing his movements, Henry broke the kiss and Chris took over as Henry attached his lips to your neck. He sucked your skin into his mouth and bit down. You groaned loudly and arched your back, feeling an overwhelming need for more. You groaned again and took the lead kissing Chris. In response, he gripped the exposed flesh of your buttock and pulled you closer to the edge of the island. Henry moved his hand from your thigh further up and under the blanket until you felt his soft fingers skim your sex. You moaned again. Henry’s thumb connected with your already pulsating bud then moved it in a circular motion. You bit Chris’ lip and sucked on his tongue. You heard him moan on you right before you felt Henry slip one of his thick digits inside you. You tore your lips from Chris’ and moaned loudly.

  “Mmm, wow. This escalated quickly.”

  You pulled away from both their touch and hopped off the island. Your knees were weak, and you were wanting.

  “Mmm.”

  “Where ya’ goin’?” Chris asked, leaning on the counter with a smirk.

  “Uh, well ya’ know–,” you trailed off.

  Henry sucked the finger that was just inside you and moaned before he spoke.

  “Tasty.”

  You almost dropped the blanket and bent over the counter, but you knew this was a game of who could seduce who. You crossed your legs and swallowed. They both smiled and walked to you. You leaped back and scurried behind to the other side of the island.

  “Running now? Interesting,” Chris began.

  “It is isn’t it. Never the mind I like to chase.”

  They both made a move to the side of the island you stood. You moved to the opposite side again and around you went once more ending in the same place you began.

“Do you remember those words I said to you when we first got here?”

  You pinched your lips because you remembered quite well.

  “Nope.”

  “Let me refresh your memory. I said be careful, before the end of this vacation you will be running for space,” Henry said. You smiled widely and held firm to the blanket.

  “I am not running for space.”

  Henry and Chris looked to each other before they both went in opposite directions around the island. You backed away giggling like a child. As they approached, you backed to the doorway holding your hands out in front of you.

 “Wait, wait. Hold on.”

  “I’m hungry now,” Chris responded.

  The butterflies in your gut took flight and made your core clench.

“Jesus. I need a shower. I’m covered in sand, salt, and various other fluids.”

  They both looked at each other again. You rolled your eyes; you were getting tired of how they’d gotten so good at nonverbal communication.

  “Okay.”

  “Ha, I wasn’t asking. You forget I run this,” you cockily informed. Again they glanced at each other and advanced for you. You slinked back and laughed.

  “Nope. Shower. You two can stay here and continue cooking for me.”

You winked and turned, making sure to allow the blanket to fall from your body to reveal your skin to them. You felt the heat of their gaze on you as you disappeared down the hall. The last three weeks had been amazing. Paradise was an understatement for this place, and what made it all that more perfect was it was one hundred percent secluded. The three of you’d taken a private jet to the tarmac, then a separate helicopter to get to the charter that brought you to the shore.

  After your hedonistic night together, it happened again and again for the entire weekend. Then you all went back to reality. You went to your typical seven to seven, and they each flew out to other work obligations. While you kept in touch, all of you felt that things were different. You didn’t know what and neither of you could put your finger on it, but something was different. They were gone for a month, and during that time you worked, spent time with your family and friends and even went on a date or two. Still, none of them felt like before. The men were attractive, yes, and the conversations were enriching, and everything seemed to go well, but you couldn’t connect. Your mind often wandered to them and what they were doing if they’d met anyone, if they were working themselves raw or if they were hooking up with set assistants or fans, your imagination went wild, and you usually wouldn’t care either way, but now, you cared. None of you talked about it though.

  When they came back, everything fell into place. You spent time together as usual, dinner here and there, lunch, movie nights, nothing was forced, and nothing felt weird. It was as if your night of fun was just that. Then one month, when they were away and happened to be in the same city for press, you surprised them. One accidental hello kiss to the both of them sparked the fire you’d felt that night and before any of you could stop you were naked, sweaty, and completely breathless on the bed several hours later with not a care for anything besides round two, three and four. When they came back to town a few weeks later, they didn’t expect to see you on a date. Neither of them looked happy about it, but they didn’t say anything.

  It wasn’t until three months after the first night you spent together that tensions flared for Chris after he showed up to your office unannounced to find you in a very flirtatious situation with one of the guys who worked with you. You could tell he was pissed, but when your office door shut, he let it slip that he didn’t like seeing you flirt with other guys. You were shocked and speechless, so you didn’t speak, and that pissed him off more because he stormed out of your office and left that night to some comic convention.

  When you showed up to the convention on the second day you were ready to apologize although you didn’t know what you were apologizing for. Before you could, you were accosted by an actor you’d worked with in the past where he permitted to proposition you for a night of fun. You didn’t know Henry and Chris were both in earshot of the entire conversation and that they’d heard you not shut down the invitation. That night the three of you argued, and they confessed they didn’t like the idea of you flirting with other men and didn’t like knowing that you were dating. You didn’t know what to say because you didn’t like knowing you were dating. Hell, you didn’t even like thinking they were dating. You laughed and laughed long and hard. They didn’t like it and looked even angrier, but when you stopped, you expressed your feelings, feelings they echoed. That was the easy part. You then had figure out what it meant and how you’d maneuver it.

  In the beginning, it was easy. You’d established that you had more than platonic feelings for them and they also had those same feelings for you, but not for each other. You’d confirmed you enjoyed spending time together no matter what you were doing and really enjoyed spending time in bed together and all the delicious things you found out about each other’s bodies. There was nothing complicated about your friendship/relationship.

  You quickly developed a routine, during the week you worked, and when you got off, you went home. Usually, by ten, they would both make it over where they stayed the night, and you did the same thing again the next day. On weekends you spent one night at Chris’ house and the other night at Henry’s where you enjoyed staying inside away from the stress of the world or the press. When they weren’t in town your life was again back to normal, you worked during the day and times you could you met on facetime and talked about your days and watched some tv show together. It was perfect.

  After several months of this routine, the times you spent apart increased, and their schedules got busier and busier. You missed them, and they missed you, but you each knew what your lives entailed. So, when Chris suggested a vacation, you jumped at it and so did Henry. You turned off the water and wrapped in your towel. You walked to the mirror and stared at your reflection. You loved this bathroom it really brought the tropical vibes of outside in. You began your beauty and hair care routine, opting to just do the main steps to your hair as the entire process would take hours and you had much better plans than doing your hair the whole night.

  So, you took the time to painstakingly put it into a cute but protective style. Once finished, you inspected and nodded your satisfaction and went to the bedroom to complete your routine of lathering your skin with your own newly concocted body butter mix. You took your time with this because over the last few months you’d noted a few things about your two new paramours. Chris seemed to really love delicate floral scents while Henry liked spicer, more exotic scents.  So, before you left, you made a new recipe that consisted of jasmine, gardenia, and rose for Chris and added in a touch of patchouli, vanilla, and sandalwood. When you finished, it smelled like a tropical smoothie and a botanical garden all in once, and the first night you wore it the response was much more than you’d anticipated.

  Once you’d finished lathering your skin and setting up the bedroom just the way you wanted you threw on a cute but sexy top and a maxi skirt and went in search of the two people you’d come to seriously not see your life without. As you approached the kitchen, the smells wrapped around you and your stomach growled from hunger. You hadn’t eaten in hours–well food at least. You’d ingested plenty of other things for the day. You peeked into the kitchen, but it was empty. You looked around you wondering where they’d disappeared to. You walked in the opposite direction to the living room expecting to see them sitting watching some soccer game deep in conversation or argument over who was the most valuable player. They rarely agreed on anything which made it a miracle their friendship lasted at all.

  When you rounded the corner the living room was empty as well.

  “What the hell?”

  You went through the rooms of the luxury villa the three of you rented for the last few weeks, and each one you went in you were disappointed when you didn’t find them. When you’d first gotten here you marveled at how spacy it was and didn’t see the spread-out floorplan would be a problem; you stood corrected. You spent the next few minutes roaming through each room on the first floor before you thought about the back patio. As you stepped out, you saw rose petals scattered on the floor. You smirked and followed the path. The soft petals softly crunched underneath your bare feet, and each step the scent of roses wafted more into the air. Once you reached the edge of the patio, you saw more petals leading out across a lantern-lit path across the sand to where you saw both of them standing at the end of the trail. You smiled and walked down the steps onto the sand and to them. As you walked the soft breeze flirted with the hem of your dress and carried it up into the air.

  The closer you got you paid attention to the butterflies in your stomach. This was something new for you, something you’d noticed the last few weeks, something you were beginning to understand. You took a few breathes, hoping to calm your raising anxieties. Once you stopped in front of them, your smile grew to the size of Texas.

 “What in the world is this?

  “Well, we’re officially in countdown mode. We thought why not make tonight a special night,” Henry began.

  “As opposed to the other sixteen nights?”

  He nodded, grasping the sarcasm in your voice. They’d made you feel special every night of the last near three weeks. They stepped aside to reveal the square dinner table propped into the shallow waters at the shore. It was decked out with candles, flowers and three steel dome covered plates. You smiled again and looked at them in awe. They were perfect, so perfect you felt the prickle of the tears as they stung your eyes. You cleared your throat and stepped to them.

  “This is amazing; thank you.”

  You kissed Henry’s lips, and what was to be a soft kiss deepened upon contact. You moaned and placed your hand on his chest, loving his warmth. You slowly pulled away and turned to Chris and kissed him as well. His lips were soft and warm and tasted like caramel. You smiled on them and moaned.

  “Caramel, huh. I take it caramel is for dessert. Or is it the bedtime snack?”

  Chris smiled and kissed you again before he steered you to your waiting seat.

  “Play your cards right it could be both,” he said before he kissed your neck and moved to his seat on your right and Henry to your left.

  “So what’s for dinner?”

  Henry lifted the metal dome to reveal your favorites. You smiled again and looked between them wondering how much more incredible they could get.

  “Bon appetite,” you said before you began eating.

  Dinner was delicious; you’d always known they were great cooks you’d sampled their food time and time before. As time stretched, you fell deeper in love with your surroundings. You loved the beach, and they knew it; this was the perfect vacation, and it was made even more perfect because you were there with both of them. You loved the warm water, your feet were dipped into and loved it, even more, when your toes dug into the wet sand. Every time you looked at Chris, he was already looking at you with a soft smile and a glint in his eye that made a warm heat brush against your spine. Then when you looked at Henry that heat traveled further down and around to a completely different body part.

By the time dessert finished, the three of you were sitting at the table laughing, sipping bourbon and holding hands. You toyed with their fingers while their free hands roamed the skin of your arms, elbows, shoulders, and knees. When their hands met your thigh the bottle of bourbon was gone, and so were any pretenses that you weren’t going to bust it wide open for them. You finished your final glass and stood from the table and looked at both of them. Their eyes were glossed but clear as the night sky. You held out your hands to them, and without hesitation, they took what you offered. You walked through the water holding firmly to their hands. You led them back across the sand to the house. As you made it to the bedroom door, you turned to them and smiled.

  “I’m not running now.”

  They both looked to each other and smiled. You walked ahead into the bedroom and patiently waited for them to join you. It was going to be a long night.

***I tagged everyone who was tagged in Captain Vs. Superman. If you would like to be tagged, let me know.

Tag List:

@sarahboseman  @texasbama @heyauntieeee @airis-paris14 @thiccdaddy-mbaku @wakandas-vibranium @wakanda-inspired @theunsweetenedtruth @ashanti-notthesinger @reignsxjackson @halfrican-heat @ambthegamer @simplyyamberr  @muse-of-mbaku @sisterwifeudaku @mejustme06  @ilcb7 @leahnicole1219  @destinio1 @maliadestiny @drsunshine97 @blowmymbackout @purplehairgawdess @thehuntoyobun @wakandamama @wakandawinning @profilia @zxddy-panther @h-challa @babygirlofwakanda @misswakanda2018 @ororowrites @hutchj @myfavemarvelfanfics @lavitabella87 @afraiddreamingandloving @autumn242 @purple-apricots @skysynclair19 @hersheyskissesss-blog @blue-ishx @90sinspiredgirl  @tchallaswife @tchallamakesmeh0lla @turn-thy-paige @blackchickfics @blackpantherismyish @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @naturally-bri @flawlesslybeautiful14 @qweentbh @lunaerly @theoutereffect @twilight-sapphire-lover @pupyluv247 @stark-red19 @cockyboysandsugarism @maverickabull @madbadsiren @aykanna @myaw731 @ruruly20 @mixedmelanin @brittyevans @bezzywazhere @laketaj24  @taint3dvirgin @soulsparker @theresnomoregoodones @syreanne @loveandcigarillos  @heyauntieeee @heybriheyyy @wakanda-bcth @uhlxis  @maliadestiny @dadinhas-heat @yaachtynoboat711 @geeksareunique @bultalongthewayside @ajspencer1892 @captiansaveasmut @imaginewhoever @terrablaze514 @starsshines-blog @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @darkandlovely94  @sithlordslut @wavyyc @naturalistamisslyn @nigarachi15 @madamslayyy @blackandfair @kreolemami @mylastnameisthe-fish @kaykay0829 @chaneajoyyy @tequilajay27 @blacklotus-of-the-black-kingdom @slimmiyagi @im5ftbutmythroat66 @jaeee-http @madhatterhelsing @sunflowerpsalms @wakanda-shit-is-that @deliciousstreetkidcroissant @jecourt @vebner37 @disneysdarlingdiva @melaninmarvel @alanastormborn @dolphinpink310 @wonderbell @ohleucothea @queentearra @bitchbetterhavemydinner @fentybabyy @kaykay4454fan @priya212 @kitkit1690 @chrismarcs @beautycomesindifferentformsworld @blackpantherimagines @ovohanna24 @sweetpeachjones @kslo000  @nubian-queen18 @omgsuperstarg   @airis-paris14 @sisterwifeudaku  @mejustme06 @ilcb7 @leahnicole1219  @destinio1 @drsunshine97  @blue-ishx @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @prettyprincessushio @treeondrea  @ursapharoh05  @blackpinup22 @kaytauru @big3gocandykahn @kissingpineapples @wildaboutchrisevans   @fitfineandstayingalive @misspooh @michele-onel @gorjiss @blacklotus-of-the-black-kingdom @muva-milaje @limbo-limbo-limbo @awkwardlyabstract @blxck-brxndie  @meeky-imagines @inlovewith3 @metalarmlover @mellowjellow6 @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @sweettea-and-honeybutter @thatrandomhetaliachick @missdeerstalker15 @ursapharoh05 @treeondrea @ovohanna24 @marvelheaux @romanceoftheeveryday @mufasathatniggatho @cltex84 @sweetbearcolorgarden @msincognito67 @mosagram @lunaerly @mar-ta-3 @ljstraightnochaser @lewatigress @akimi-youngblood @bekahdean87 @jasmindaughteroftheworld @cocooned-butterfly @emoniclark22 @chereedrop619 @theblulife @niggarachi15 @drsunshine97 @msincognito67 @missdeerstalker15 @wakandamama @great-neckpectations  @avenger-marvel-fan @arieljamiyla @vibranium-soul @monae-boss  @queenxchallaxkillamonger @amirra88 @jaeee-http @omg-itsnadi @fonville-designs @sydneebleu

[lovehelpmewrite]

A Very Bad Day

Title: A Bad Day

Pairing: Gwil x OFC!Ella

Word Count: 3.7k

Summary: Ella is having a... less than amazing day. It turns out Gwilym is just what she needed to turn it around though.

Warnings: underage drinking i know bad dont do it im sorry

[A/N]: Okay so I know this is technically before Macarons and Spoiled Surprises but it’s been bothering me for months that I never wrote the middle step between our first date and us doing... y’know, you’ve read it i hope. So yeah, this is that middle step. Half inspired by an actual shit day I had, half inspired by my better half having had a bad day the day I wrote this. Enjoy and feedback is always welcome!! Also thank you thank you thank you to my best fren Mic @o-holynight​ for making me another amazing header just for this fic you’re so good to me and if you haven’t yet go through her masterlist because it slaps 

It was a crappy day. It was pouring, which normally I wouldn't mind—in fact I loved a good rainy day—but I had opened my window the night before and woken up to find my desk soaked in rain water and one of my notebooks with it.

"Ahhh shit," I muttered to myself as I woke up and climbed out of bed at the sound of the rain hitting the desk. I quickly latched the thing closed and looked down at the crinkling wet paper that was my notebook, picking it up by a corner and watching the water slide off the cover and off the pages. "Shhhhhit," I repeated, feeling my heart sink when I opened the cover and noticed the ink either bleeding into the other pages or sliding off along with the water. At least I didn't really use it, I thought. It was still sad to see something that I'd paid for just... Fall apart like this though.

I dropped it into the trash bin with a sigh and vowed to start getting ready to go out and buy a new one. Right after I have breakfast, I thought. As it turns out, there was no breakfast. No cereal, no pancake mix or frozen waffles. It was grocery day and Michaela had just left saying she was going to grab Joe so they could do the shopping for both at once. 

Okay so I'll go out for breakfast, I decided.

Except the coffee shop was closed. Again, no big deal but... It was another block in the freezing rain to the nearest cafe. It was too close to drive, especially because there was no parking down by it. Walking it is then. The sidewalk was slick with the freezing rain and the leftovers from the last snow so I tried my best to watch my steps and still maintain a quick pace. 

Needless to say I almost slipped—I didn't thankfully—but I caught myself at the last second in such a way that my umbrella swung out to the side and in an instant I felt drenched to the bone. I walked in looking like a half-drowned rat, ordered a muffin to go and tried to calm my anxious heart at the stares I was getting from the other patrons. In case you were wondering, yes, it's possible to angrily eat a muffin.

After I made it back to my car I drove to the nearest Staples and practically moaned as the warm rush of air hit my chilled face and body. I picked out a cute notebook—for sixteen fucking dollars, jesus Staples, cost more yeah?—and slapped it on the counter. The younger looking kid checking me out started at the noise but just smiled and asked if I wanted to join their rewards program. 

And then I was stood under the edge of the Staples sign trying to desperately shove the notebook in my jacket against my chest because what was once pouring rain had turned into a torrential downpour. It was like a sheet of water coming down at once while thunder boomed in the distance. I held an arm across my coat-covered-notebook and took a deep breath, readying myself for the sheer force of it to pound against the top of my umbrella.

By the time I got back to the dorm my legs up to my knees were soaked even despite my rain boots, as was the back of my coat and my umbrella. The notebook somehow survived the trip thankfully. As I was pulling it out of my jacket my phone buzzed in my coat pocket. A text from Mic.

Hey, over at the boys' and groceries are all put away

Is Gwil home? I might head over in a bit. Having a shit day :(

Aw im sorry :( he is tho I think. I'll ask

I waited a few seconds and then waited for the three dots while she typed.

He isn't but he's coming home in like half an hour from a reading

"Nice," I whispered to myself. Finally, something good today.

Im gonna shower. When he gets home tell him I'm coming?

Yeah ofc

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, glad to finally have something to look forward to. I took off my jacket and hung it on my door to dry before walking into the bathroom and peeling off my soaked jeans and socks, letting them sit on the floor while I turned the shower to scalding hot. I hissed as it hit my back but quickly adjusted to it, letting the water pooling at the bottom thaw my toes. I picked up my razor with a little indecision. He wasn't even going to see my legs or my armpits as far as I was planning, let alone anywhere near my underwear... I shaved anyway. As a way to pass time in the warm water at the least, and at the most it would make my sheets feel nice later. 

I got dressed in some loose sweats and a tank top, foregoing a bra with the assumption I was the only one home but when I came out of my room Sarah was back from her class eating at the table.

"Hey!" She said with a smile.

"Hey," I said back quietly, walking to the cupboard and pulling down a bag of chips. "How was class?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started. That dude was still trying to argue with the professor the entire class," she explained, rolling her eyes.

"Someone should keep a tally of every time he says something and then at the end of class take that many points off his latest paper or something," I offered with a small grin.

"We should, oh my god," she laughed back. "Hey, are you okay? Mic said you were having a crappy day."

I nodded, shrugging. "Yeah, I dont know it's just... A lot of little shit adding up, y'know?"

She nodded with a sad smile.

I took a deep breath and tried to stay positive though. "Good news though, I'm heading over to see the boys in a little bit. Did you wanna come with?"

"Ah, I'm going to meet Ben for lunch after his class gets out in like half an hour."

"Ah," I said in confirmation. "Okay, I'll see you later tonight? We need another girls night in, it's been too long."

She smiled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I'll see if I can pick up some stuff beforehand. It's your turn to pick right?" 

I nodded, "yeah." 

"Okay, cool. Nothing scary please? I like sleeping without nightmares."

I laughed, carrying the chips with me back to my room. "I'll do my best to let you keep your beauty sleep," I said over my shoulder before closing the door. 

I sat down on my bed with a sigh, dropping the chips next to me and reaching for my phone.

Gwil just got home, he's in the shower rn tho

Okay tell him im omw and I dont mind waiting or something

I made sure to pull on a sports bra and a sweatshirt before I left, as well as a pair of fuzzy socks inside my rain boots. I was nearly jogging across the street to the apartment, buzzing with excitement to see Gwil. 

We haven't been out on any dates since our second when he kissed me, but we had a lot of days where we walked each other to class or we'd get lunch together. Sadly, we hadn't kissed much since then but we made up for it with a lot of hand holding, or his palm on my back, or my hand on his knee and honestly... it was kind of nice just like that. Still, a day like today deserved some serious hugs at the very least. 

My frozen fingers shook as I pressed the buzzer and I exhaled in relief when it buzzed again and the lock clicked open, allowing me to rush into the warm elevator and ride up to the apartment. When I got up to the door though, I hesitated. 

Do I knock? Do I just walk in? Do I knock and then walk in anyways? 

I pulled out my phone and texted Mic.

Im outside the door

Come in lol?

Come open it I feel weird 

Between the previous cold and my embarrassment I'm sure my cheeks were tomato-red. She just smiled upon seeing me, waiting for me to take off my dripping boots and then motioning her head toward the couch.

"Gwil's probably getting out soon, you can wait with me and Joe on the couch," she explained, sitting back down next to Joe to watch whatever movie they had playing on the TV. I perched awkwardly on the edge of the cushion, trying—and failing—to control my bouncing knee while I waited for Gwil. 

"Hey."

I almost jumped at the soft greeting, springing off the couch and turning to him. My heart was thumping in my chest nervously.

He was just in sweats and a t-shirt but something about it was just so… hot. I hadn't noticed how shaggy his hair was getting until now, still dripping wet and hanging over his forehead a little. I almost missed when he jerked his thumb over his shoulder. 

"Do you wanna… my room?" He asked awkwardly.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah- sure yeah."

I followed quietly behind him as he walked down the hall, stepping into the room and waiting for him to close the door. Then I was stuck just watching while he moved to sit on the edge of his bed with a bounce. I pressed my lips together to suppress an awkward smile, looking around his room. He had different playbills taped up on his wall above his bed, and his desk was covered in papers and packets and textbooks.

"So…" I started, bringing my eyes back to face him.

"So…" he mimicked back, a gentle smile growing on his face.

I breathed out a little laugh and moved to sit next to him on the edge of his mattress, copying his bounce from before and then bumping my shoulder into his.

"So how was your reading? How did it go?" I asked lightly, trying to start some sort of conversation, any conversation.

"Good! It was good," he answered back.

And then more quiet.

"Okay this is awful," I admitted before I could stop the words from coming out of my mouth.

Gwil's eyebrows shot up in surprise, like he couldn't believe I was saying it.

"Can we just like… I don't know, can we just watch something on your laptop or something? I just…" I blew out a quick breath and started to feel my eyes burn with tears I'd been holding in. "I've had a really shitty day and I was so excited to come over and see you and I don’t want it to be all... weird like it is."

He was quiet for a second, which gave me some time to calm back down a little and not actually shed tears.

"You're right," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay, why don't we… Do you have something in mind to watch?" 

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. "I mean I… what do you normally watch? What's your favorite show?"

It seemed to do the trick, the tension slowly released its grip on the room and we even managed to move back on his bed so he was positioned laying against his pillows and I was tucked neatly under his arm, half laying on his stomach. We'd agreed on Criminal Minds and somehow watched our way through two entire episodes before we forgot it all together and started talking… and then, well, kissing.

It started off innocent enough. I'd turned my head to joke about Spencer's hair in this season but instead found Gwil already looking at me with a soft smile.

"What?" I laughed.

He just gave a full smile and shook his head. "Nothing."

We were both quiet for a second, and then he leaned in and gave me a peck on the lips.

Oh.

I smiled back and leaned back into him, pressing my lips to his again but longer this time, slower, lingering…

We pulled back slowly, eyes still half closed. And then I felt the slightest squeeze of his hand on my waist and he surged forward again, lips firmly against mine, his tongue teasing across my bottom lip before biting gently.

Oh. 

I hummed in appreciation, leaning further against him until my leg hooked in between his and his hand was sliding up my back into my hair and grabbing lightly. 

My heart was racing in my chest. Was this it? Was I going to fuck him not 50 feet from our friends? Why am i even thinking that? Calm the hell down. 

I practically had to force myself to pull away, my fist still twisted in his shirt, still breathing heavily and close enough to be tempted to go back but I made myself stop.

"We have to… we should just slow down a little," I said quietly.

Gwil nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Yeah you're right we should just… take it easy for a bit."

I nodded back. 

Still, we somehow gravitated towards each other again until we were kissing again, albeit softer this time. Somehow we managed to keep it slow. Calm. Instead of dipping back into... dangerous territory. It was just… nice. 

It was comforting and reassured a lot of doubts I had. It was almost like a little dance, like a conversation. He'd lean forward and catch my lip with his teeth and in return I'd slide my tongue against his lip. It was jarring when suddenly everything went quiet and we both pulled apart in question only to see Netflix asking if we were still watching.

I laughed a little which seemed to make Gwil laugh which made me laugh more and snort and then he laughed more until we were both clutching our stomachs gasping for air in between laughs. Once we'd finally calm down we were left just staring at each other, not waiting for the other to talk, just looking at each other's faces and smiles and eyes.

"Y'know I was having a pretty crappy day and you made it a hell of a lot more bearable," I said honestly.

"I'm happy I could make your day better," he answered back, his smile wide.

I paused for a minute, contemplating saying anything. "Is it… is it weird if I really like making out with you?"

He shook his head quickly, "no! No of course not. I'm glad my skills were… put to good use." His smile turned smug.

I shoved his chest jokingly, turning in his grasp like I was going to roll away. I grinned when his hand fell to my hip and pulled me back in against him so his mouth was slotted against mine.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To find someone with better lines I guess," I laughed.

"Are you saying you don't like my pick up lines?" He fake pouted, lips puckered out and all.

I gave him a quick kiss. "That's exactly what I'm saying." I laughed again when he dramatically flopped against the bed like he couldn't believe it. I kissed his jaw sweetly, turning it into a raspberry which made him laugh.

"Careful there, I don't need any weirdly placed hickies," he warned with a grin.

"So just for clarification, you don't want a big hickey on your cheek?" I asked, pretending to get ready to mark his cheek.

"Definitely not."

"Hmm," I hummed in mock disappointment. "And I had such plans too."

"Yeah, I'm sure," he said back, turning his head to face me and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. He slowly leaned in and gave me another peck on the lips, and then another… and then one more. "You know, I'm really glad you came over."

I smiled back at him. "Me too."

We were quiet once again, just staring at each other again, every once in a while saying some small comment or joke or compliment but otherwise quiet. After a little bit, just when I was starting to feel sleepy, there was a quiet knock on the door.

"Come in," Gwil answered.

Michaela poked her head in after a second with a small smile. "Hey, I was just going to head back, it's almost six," she said softly.

"Oh Jesus, is it really?" I asked in surprise, picking up my phone to see texts from Sarah asking when I'd be back home. "Damn," I laughed slightly.

"Yeah, Sarah said you wanted to do a night in so do you wanna go to the store before home?"

I nodded, slowly untangling myself from Gwil and sitting up, stretching out my muscles. "Yeah, I'll be out in a few minutes, I gotta get the feeling back in my legs," I chuckled.

"Okay, I'll go pull on my shoes."

I stretched out each of my arms and legs, turning awkwardly to stretch my spine before I sighed, turning back to face a very tired looking Gwilym. "Hi."

"Hi," he grinned back, briefly stretching his back before relaxing back against his pillows. "Before you go, come here."

I grinned and leaned back in, our lips connecting for a long, sweet kiss. "Was that all?" I asked after it ended.

"No, one more," he smirked, pulling me back in for another peck. "Okay one more," and then another peck, "just one more-"

"Gwil," I laughed in between kisses. "I- gotta- go- you big dork-"

He gave a big dramatic sigh after the last kiss when I stood up away from him. "Fine, if you must."

"I must," I grinned. "Sorry bub."

"No it's okay," he relented with a smile. "I'll see you on Saturday, right? You're still coming over to hang out?"

I nodded. "Of course, I can't wait." I was reluctant to leave him, looking so soft and inviting and ready for a nap… I forced myself to walk out and close the door behind me, walking out to the living room to find Mic pulling on her shoes while Joe stood by.

"Hey," I announced, making her look up at me after she had both boots on.

"Hey, ready?" 

"Yep, lets go get drunk," I affirmed.

"Woah woah woah," Joe interjected, making me turn to him.

"Sorry dad, was I not supposed to tell you that?" I laughed.

"No drinking and driving young lady, be responsible," he said, pointing a faux serious finger at each of us.

"Sure, yeah, whatever you say," I dismissed with a grin. I turned to Mic, "want anything particular? I was planning on wine and some candy."

She shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Grab me some of the uhh the sour patch watermelon things though? Oh! And Reece's pieces," she grinned at the last second as I was walking out the door.

"You already know," I grinned back, shaking my head and closing the door to let her and Joe do their own little goodbyes.

When I made it back down to the front door, ready to open my umbrella and sprint to my car, I noticed it had stopped raining. It was still wet everywhere and puddles took up half the sidewalk but the once black sky was lightened to a pale gray. Michaela beat me back to the dorm, unsurprisingly and I walked in with full arms, happy to be greeted by Sarah and Mic pulling things out of my hands and already opening things.

"Yesss you got the good shit Ella," Sarah said gratefully, pulling out a bag of m&m's.

"Always," I smiled, pulling out a plastic container of cotton candy for myself.

"Okay so what are we watching?" Sarah asked, already transporting stuff to the couches. 

It was obvious the two of them had moved everything for optimal TV viewing.

"I was thinking Umbrella Academy if that's cool?"

They both nodded, mouths already full of candy. 

I laughed. "Okay, Umbrella Academy it is then. I'll grab the wine."

Somewhere between the third and fourth episode we'd finished the first bottle of wine and went to open the second only to find it impossible.

"Just… open it," Sarah laughed, watching me trying to use the wine bottle opener to grab the cork and failing.

"I'm trying!" I laughed back, pulling out pieces of cork instead of the entire thing. "Dammit! Mic come help us!" I called.

The TV paused as she came over and looked over the destroyed cork, pushed nearly all the way into the bottle. "Dude what did you even do?!" She chuckled.

"I tried to open it, what do you think!" I laughed back.

"Okay, gimme a spoon, I'll shove it into the bottle."

"What? No take it out!" Sarah laughed.

"I can't! This one-" Mic laughed, pointing at me, "destroyed the cork and now its not gonna come out!"

I was wheezing from laughing so hard, practically laying across the counter. "I'm sorry!"

Sarah laughed at my reaction in response, squatting next to the counter trying to catch her breath as well.

"Fine I'll find a spoon myself!" Mic declared, still laughing while she tried to push down on the cork. "Ahah!" She yelled in triumph making us laugh even harder at the pop of it dropping into the wine.

We ate our way through almost all of the candy and the two bottles of wine over five episodes before we decided to call it a night (or well, early morning but same thing). 

It was nice, to go to bed feeling warm and loved and like a crap day had turned good. I fell asleep easily and without resistance, the opposite to how I'd woken up. It was a good day, I decided.

- - -

feedback is always appreciated and thank you for reading lovelies!!

[liliah39]

Crazy Little Game of Love: Chapter 6a

Word count: 7.8K

Warnings: none, just angst :( 

Liliah39 Masterlist

A/N: Thank you all for being so patient! I used a BoRhap gif because it goes with the general mood of the end of the chapter a lot even though I usually envision the OG Queen boys, but of course you can picture whoever you want; CLGOL works both ways.This chapter is very important so I rewrote it a lot.  Lots of foreshadowing! See if you can find it!! I tried to do an even amount of time with each of the guys to make all of ya happy. Also, this is supposed to show how the love of singing and Y/N’s unknown ability to sing starts to make itself present. As usual, plz excuse typos. Love y’all. ♥️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where we left off:

He pulled up to the dorm to find a vision of an angel outside. Your pink, sheer robe flowed effortlessly behind you as you walked between the trees and bushes out front of your dorm. Your hair cascaded down your back, still wavy from the salt water; the full harvest moon illuminated your face as you concentrated on the leaves in front of you as you kept occupied waiting for the recipient of your phone call. 

He stepped out of the car, quietly walking closer to you until he paused about four feet behind you, just appreciating your moonlit beauty. The rustling of leaves behind you made you whip your head around in fear, only to find him gazing at you lovingly. 

“Oh God, I’m so sorry I made you come here right now.” You said, running to him as he wrapped his arms around you, burying his face in your hair to get the scent of you in. 

“Don’t be, Love. Told you I’d do anything to make you happy.” He smiled. 

My Roger. 

“Even coming picking me up at 3:30 in the morning?” 

“Yup, anything for you, Love.” He smiled, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “God, you’re freezing, Y/N. How long have you been out here?” 

“Since I got off the phone with you.” You lied, yawning as you closed your eyes as you rested your head on his shoulder.

“Jesus Christ, Love. We’re back to normal October weather now. You’ve gotta be more careful.” He smiled, noticing how sleepy you were. “Alright,” he started, scooping you up into his arms as he started back to his car. “Let’s get you home so you can get a proper rest.” 

Home. 

You loved how he called it home. 

“Thank you for coming to get me.” You shivered, cuddling into his grasp a little more. 

“You’re welcome, Baby.” he said, his voice lulling you to sleep. “And now that I’ve got you again, as long as you let me, I’m never letting you go.” he said, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips as he set you in his car. Once he got in the drivers side, you drifted off to sleep with your head on his shoulder and your hands intertwined. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15 Minutes Before:

After you hung up the phone, you walked in the dorm to return Freddie’s phone book to his desk, noticing your friend angled toward the edge of your bed with one arm hanging off. You quietly walked to him, sitting at the side of your bed as you pulled the blanket over him, tilting your head and resting it so it was only inches away from his. 

“Freddie,” You whispered, putting a piece of his hair behind his ear. 

His eyes fluttered open to see you sitting on the side of the bed, moonlight illuminating your features as it shone through the window, your long robe fanned out around you. You looked ethereal. “Yes, Dear?” He yawned, only just coming to his senses. 

“I’m a horrible person.” You quietly spoke. 

“What do you mean?”

“I just called Roger; he’s coming to get me.”

“Well, that’s alright, Love.” He said caressing your cheek. “As long as you’ve decided what makes you happy.”

“But last night, before John and I made plans to have a day together today, I kissed him.”

“You what?” he said, sitting straight up. 

“I know.” You grimaced. “And now I’m going to Roger’s, and I’m just an awful person.”

“You’re not an awful person, Y/N. You’re just indecisive.” He yawned. 

“But I'm supposed to have a day with John, and I told him I was over Roger, and-”

“Darling, you’re obviously not over Roger. You complained until you fell asleep last night, and cried every five minutes once you laid down to go to bed. Don’t deny it to yourself. See how tonight goes with Roger and how tomorrow goes with John, and believe me: you’ll know.” 

You smiled at him, nodding that you understood. 

“Now let me sleep, and get back to me later about how it all went.” He said with a huff as he rolled away from you. 

“I don’t mind, but you’re not going back to your bed?”

“Well yours is much more comfortable than my pull out couch and you’re not going to be using it, so…”

You laughed at his candidacy. “Alright, goodnight Freddie.” You said, walking out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were fast asleep once arriving at Roger’s apartment, so he carried you inside in hopes to just let you sleep. Once inside and taking off his shoes without setting you down, your head stirred a little before cuddling into Roger’s chest as he shushed you back to sleep, heading down the hallway to his room. The desk lamp in Brian’s room was on, door wide open. His head turned at the sound of Roger’s footsteps, forced to take in a peaceful, lifeless, you, completely content in Roger’s arms. 

“So you went and got her?” He said, getting up from his desk and walking to the doorframe opposite Roger. 

“Yeah,” Roger nodded awkwardly. “Had to. She needed me, I love her Bri.” He said earnestly, hoping to ease the tension between him and his best friend. 

“Right.”

“How’d you know I was going to get her?” 

“Been up since she called; the phone woke me up. Not two minutes later after you answered it, you were out the door, Roger. There isn’t anyone else you’d do that for.” 

“Well… I would for you.” Roger timidly admitted. “You’re my best mate.”

“Yeah,” Brian added with a small chuckle and soft smile. “But we live together, Rog. You know what I mean.”

“Yeah.” 

Brian took a step closer to the two of you, now slightly hovering over you both. “She’s so beautiful, isn’t she?” He whispered, a hint of sadness in his voice.  

“Most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

Brian nodded in agreement. “You guys got close awfully fast.”

“Yeah, I know. I guess sometimes people are just right for each other. Don’t think everyone is that lucky to find that person though. I just know we were.” 

Brian found full validity in Roger’s statement, apparent by the actions you both exhibited; how co-dependent you’d become in a matter of days; but he didn’t want to believe a single word of it. Each thing he said was a stab in his heart. 

“Well I’m sure we’re all tired, so go on to bed, mate. Just take good care of her. It’ll be easier for me if it’s clear she’s happy.” Brian stated, about to close the door. 

“Thanks Brian.  I know how you feel. You don’t know how much what you just said means to me. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my girl.” He smiled. “Night.” He stated, closing his door behind you two. 

His girl. 

Brian’s face saddened at the thought, closing the door behind him as he turned out the lamp and laid back down to bed. He was happy for Roger; yet had never felt sadder in his life. He was just happy that if you couldn’t have been with him, you were with his best friend.  

In the next room over, your eyes fluttered open as Roger set you into his bed, walking to his dresser to strip into his underwear; what he usually slept in. 

He didn’t know you were awake, and you quietly got up, walking behind him and wrapped your arms around his torso as you pressed your face into his back with a yawn. He jumped a little from the surprise of your contact, but then smiled at the sight of you in the mirror in front of him. He turned to face you with your arms still wrapped around him, face now firmly pressed into his chest. 

“Come back to bed.” You whined, rubbing his back with your hands. “I’m cold.” 

Roger chuckled, “I’m just getting comfortable, Love. You look gorgeous. My little princess.”

“I’ve gotta admit, it’s pretty uncomfortable.” You yawned. You weren’t even completely awake. There was no way you’d remember this in the morning. 

“Hold on, I can fix that.” He smiled, pressing a kiss to your lips as he picked you up and set you on the edge of the bed. You instinctively laid down immediately on contact with the mattress as he backed away to his closet for a moment; grabbing a shirt and coming back laughing since you were almost asleep already. “Come on, Love. Sit up so you can get more comfortable clothes on.”

He helped you sit up, handing you a long sleeve shirt of his. Your eyes were half way open as he kneeled in front of you, untying your ornate robe and throwing it on his dresser. He laughed as your tried to put the shirt on backwards, with your “uncomfortable” dressy tank top still on. 

“Hold on, hold on. Let me help.” He smiled, kissing your cheek as he took the shirt from you, pulling your tank top over your head. No bra, he noticed. That’d be interesting in the morning when you didn’t have any of your clothes with you. He tossed your tank top on the dresser too, pulling his long sleeve T-shirt over your head and opted to keep your silk shorts on you. “You ready for bed now, Baby?” 

You barely nodded, almost completely asleep and unaware of the situation before you as you instantly laid back down; Roger walking to the other side and laying next to you. 

“Still cold?”

“Mhm.”

“Come ‘ere, Love.” He said with a huge grin, pulling you into him as he enveloped you in his arms and kissed your forehead before laying his head down and closing his eyes as well. He knew you were asleep, but decided to say it anyways. “I love you, Y/N. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything before. Please don’t make me leave you again.” 

And with that, you both fell into a deep sleep, completely content just to be with one another. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first time you two woke up, it was about 6 in the morning. Your shared sleepiness was consumed by passionate morning kisses, and eventually you fell back asleep. When you awoke for the second time, it was about 9:30 and Roger surprisingly wasn’t awake yet. You carefully removed his arm from around your middle and rolled out of bed, changing back into your tank top and ornate robe, opened the door, and decided to make breakfast with what you could find. You had to admit you were sick of scrambled eggs. With what you could find it seemed like you could make hard boiled eggs and chocolate banana pancakes, so you buckled down and got to work, making sure you’d have enough time for your get together with John in a couple hours. 

Brian awoke to the smell of food which pulled him out of bed against his will to go investigate. He was curious; food never smelled that good in his and Roger’s household. He walked into the kitchen to see you happily humming as you flipped a pancake. It was an image he knew he could get used to - wished he could get used to. He leaned against the wall, for a moment, pretending he was in another universe where you were his and not Roger’s. 

“Good morning, Cinderella.” He smiled, remembering your afternoon in the pumpkin patch as he sat at the table. 

You turned around, surprised, yet knew exactly who was standing across from you. “Morning, Bri.” You giggled. “Want some pancakes?”

“Course. I’ll take a couple please. That is, if you have enough?” 

“Oh sure,” you said, hurriedly putting the plate of the four finished pancakes in front of him. “Roger’s not up yet, so please help yourself. I can always make more.” You said with a pat on his shoulders, turning back to the stove. 

Your touch sent a jolt through his body. He was immediately confused emotionally. Enamored by your beauty and personality, yet turned off at the mention of Roger’s name. 

“Your nightgown is lovely.” He smiled as he cut his stack of pancakes. 

“Oh this?” You said, pausing to re-tie the bow at your waist. “It’s just a robe.”

“Well, it flatters you.”

“Why thank you, Mr. May.” You said with a blush. 

Why am I blushing? Didn’t I chose Roger?

After making a couple more pancakes for yourself in awkward silence you sat next to him at the table with some pancakes for yourself. You started to eat, the tension still building, and it finally broke as he finished his second pancake. 

“Does he make you happy?”

“Roger?” 

He nodded, unable to verbally confirm. 

“Yeah, I think so? It hasn’t been long, but I feel happy when I’m with him, if that counts for anything.”

He silently nodded, observing the information. 

“What about Spain?” 

You paused. “You know about that?” 

He nodded, looking at Roger’s door, silently divulging who spilled your secret. 

“He came home crushed last night, Y/N. I’ve never seen him so defeated. You know Roger; depressed isn’t usually one of his modes. He’d been out drinking for a little bit; not that he wasn’t coherent, he just went to drink away his sorrows for a bit. You crushed him. I don’t think he slept at all until you guys got back here. That’s how I knew he was going to get you when you called at 3:30 in the morning. You’re the only person in this whole world who could have gotten him to leave his room last night.” 

“Oh.” 

“So? What about Spain, then?”

“I don’t know. I just was lonely last night and-”

”So you’re using him?”

“No. I didn’t say that.” You said, getting up to get more pancakes as he grabbed your arm. 

“Then why, Y/N?”

You took a deep breath. “Because I guess I’m afraid to let him go. Afraid of what will happen if I don’t give this a chance.”

A look of shock came across his face. “Has he hurt you? Is that why you feel like you can’t leave? Because if he has, I swear to god I’ll kill him.” Brian said enraged. 

“Oh no! Oh god, no. Roger’s been nothing less than a perfect gentleman. I guess that’s what’s making it so hard. I love him.” 

“Oh… good. Well then I guess we both have our answers.” He said, getting up to put his plate in the sink. 

“Brian please, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Well that’s the second time you’ve confessed it in front of me, and from what I’ve heard you said it multiple times in the last couple days. When are you going to admit to yourself that you’re in love with him?”  He said, throwing his hands up in the air as he put his plate in the sink. 

You were at a loss for words, and your eyes welled with tears. 

“I’m sorry, Love. I didn’t mean to yell- I just, I don’t know.” He says, head hanging in shame. 

“It’s okay.” You whispered. 

It was silent for a moment, your hand on his bicep as he leaned against the counter top, you facing him as he leaned against the sink, gazing into his hazel eyes. 

“I don’t know what I want yet,” you quietly admitted. “I’ll know soon though, I owe that to him and myself. I just need time.” 

He nodded understandingly. 

“Well, um, thanks for breakfast. It was re-” He said awkwardly as you cut him off, wiggling out of your grasp. 

“Brian?” 

“Yes?” 

“Would you like to go do something soon? Whatever really; I’m not picky. I feel like I know you the least of the guys after this weekend with Roger, and you’re always so kind to me; always so full of advice. I’d like our friendship to grow.” You smiled as he stepped back your way. 

“Uh, yeah, yes!” He stuttered smiling as he swiped under his lip. “Yeah, Y/N. I’d like that a lot. That’d be great.” He smiled, rubbing your arms and kissing the top of your head in a friendly way before backing to the fridge to get some juice. “We’ll be in touch?” 

“We’ll be in touch.” You smiled, patting his arm as you backed to make more pancakes, content with the silence between you two. 

“I think I know how you feel about me.” You blurted out. 

A look of shock fled across his face. “You do?” 

You nodded. “But it doesn’t bother me; doesn’t change anything I mean. I’m okay as long as you’re okay.” 

He laughed. “I’m quite fine, Love.” He said, faking a smile. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy, no matter who you’re with.” 

“Thanks, Bri.” 

“Well as long as he’s not a complete and total dick.” He said, making you two laugh. 

“I’ll take that into account.” You joked. 

“But really, I’m okay with you and Roger. It makes me feel good to see how happy the two of you are together. Don’t think you have to act differently with Roger around me; I don’t mind it. I just want to see you both happy.”

“Really?” 

“Really. Roger’s my best friend. I’m an only child, so he’s like the brother I always wanted and never had. We just happen to like the same girl,  and that’s alright. What matters is who she chooses. Whatever she decides, we’ve gotta be happy with, because that’s what brothers do. Go wake him up, Y/N. He’ll be so excited to see you.” He smiled. 

“You’re such an admirable person, Brian Harold May. Most people never mature as much as you have. Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome, Love. Now, go on.” He encouraged as you walked to Roger’s door. 

“Oh,” you started, hand on Roger’s doorknob. “Please don’t tell John I was here.”

“Alright. Why?”

“Well, that’s not important right now. I have to talk to him later, I’ll weave it in somehow. I just want him to hear it from me; nowhere else.” 

He nodded understandably. “You’ve got my word.” He winked, going back to his juice as you walked into Roger’s room as you closed the door behind you. 

The room was still kind of dark; the sun was peeking through Roger’s drapes, just quietly illuminating the room. He laid facing the window, so you quietly walked to his side of the bed, softly climbing on the bed to lay directly next to him, chest pressed flush against his. His eyes flickered open, instantly smiling at the sight of you. He pressed a kiss to your lips tightly wrapping his arms around you as he rolled into his back so you were laying on top of him. You pressed kisses all over his face, running your fingers through his hair as he giggled. 

“Have I died and gone to Heaven, Y/N?”

“No?” You laughed as he rubbed your back. “Why?”

“Because you look so beautiful, like a bloody angel.” 

“Oh stop,” you said laughing as your lips rejoined again. “I made you breakfast, my Love. Figured it’d be nice for a little change of routine around here, and that you could use the sleep after driving so long.” You said, pulling on his arm to try to get him to stand up. It only earned you a whine of unwant to move from Roger.

“Come on Roger,” you playfully scolded. “Get up to eat breakfast.” 

“But I could eat breakfast in bed?” He suggested. 

You laughed out loud. “Breakfast in bed? I made this beautiful breakfast and you want to eat it in bed? Nope. Not happening.” 

“Well I could eat something else,” he seductively implied, flipping you over so you were laying on the bed as he attatched his lips to your neck. 

“Roger,” you giggled as his kisses got more intense. “Roger! Roger!!” You said laughing as he nipped under your chin on your left side. “Stop!” You quietly yelled. “We’re not alone!” 

“Okay, okay.” He resigned, getting off the top of you as you still laughed. “Just let me get some pants on.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your morning with Brian and Roger was spent happily laughing between the three of you. Sometimes Roger would pull you into his lap, kissing your cheek and wrapping his arms tightly around you. As much as you enjoyed it, you couldn’t help but notice Brian slightly look away as soon as the slightest bit of affection was displayed between the two of you, but he quickly recomposed himself and laughed at how Roger was acting like a typical boyfriend, or by commenting on how happy the two of you were. Roger let you take the car home, and you walked in around noon to see Freddie painting his fingernails black; a typical thing for him to do. 

“So? How’d it go?”

“He’s perfect.” You grumbled. 

“Then why is that a bad thing, Y/N?” Freddie said, annoyed with your antics. 

“Because! There’s also John, and Brian, and the whole Spain thing?!”

“So John and Brian are candidates too?”

“I- um… well, yeah. I guess so. I don’t know. I gotta be around them more.” You resigned, sitting next to him on the pull out couch. 

“Then why even do that to yourself, Darling? If you love Roger, why are you not dating him?”

“Because I feel like the others deserve a chance. They all deserve a chance.” 

“All of us?” Freddie questioned. 

“Yes?” You hesitantly replied. 

“Alright then.” he sighed. “Then I’ve been wondering, would you ever date me? Where do I stand?” He joked with a tad of seriousness. 

“Well I don’t know, Freddie. You’d have to ask me out, then.” You joked back. 

“And that right there is why we’d never happen. I’d never ask you out because I know what I’d be getting myself into; those poor bastards have no fucking clue.” He said sarcastically. 

“Hey!” 

“Remember dear, they don’t live with you, I do!” 

You playfully punched him on the shoulder as he pulled you into his lap. To outsiders it seemed extremely affectionate, but things between you and Freddie always remained platonic. The two of you were just exceptionally close. But to everyone else, it’d seem like you were dating. 

“But really, Darling. Would you ever date me?”

“Freddie.” You said seriously, wrapping your arms around his neck to make him look at you.‍‍‍ “Why are you asking me this?” 

“Well, look at us. We live together. We’re best friends. I don’t know.” A part of him was jealous of the others, even though he had no romantic attraction to you. He didn’t want to lose you. He just felt given your circumstance, he should have some attraction to you. Why didn’t he? Wouldn’t most people think there was something wrong with him for not trying to pursue his beautiful best friend?

You were silent. 

“We act like this all the time. Couple-ey I mean. I don’t know. Forget I said something.” He tried to push you off his lap. 

“Farrokh. I’m not going to just get up and cause a problem between us. We can’t have any tension in our friendship, Fred. We live in one room together.” You laughed. “Well, I guess I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of us together. But I just don’t know. I don’t know how I feel, do you?” 

“Well, I have feelings for you, but-”

“Not like that.” You said in unison. 

“Exactly. That’s how I feel too.” You smiled. 

“Then we’ll just wait, Y/N. We’ll just be friends like we’ve always been.” He joked. 

“Wait for what?”

“Well,” he tentatively started. “I know all four of you; you, Roger, Brian, and John, fairly well. If what I think is going to happen happens, then you’ll… y‘know. You’ll need me.”

“Need you for what?” 

“Oh hush, Darling.” He spat out. “If you haven’t realized it now, you’re not going to until it happens. Could happen next week, could happen in a year.”

“Can you tell me now?”

“No. Go get ready for your day with John. It’s 11:30 and you’re still in your pajamas for crying out loud!” He said, brushing you off laughing. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John arrived promptly at one, just as you were finishing your makeup. You opted for a white , long sleeve shirt, layering it with your light blue pinafore dress, but you still hadn’t put on your shoes.

“Looking for your ruby slippers?” John said in the doorway, hands full of a bouquet for roses. 

“Ha-ha. Very funny Deaky.” You smiled as you took the flowers, pulling him into a tight embrace. 

“These are gorgeous, you really didn’t have to get me flowers.” You smiled. 

His face filled with a blush as he nervously scratched the back of his neck. “Well I know how much you like them, so I had to get you some.” He smiled, leaning in to kiss you, but you strategically dodged it as you sat to put on your shoes. 

“Do you have plans for us today?” He asked. 

“Nope. Just wanted to be with you.” You smiled. 

“Then I was thinking we could go for a picnic, I packed a basket in my car. We always liked to go for picnics back home.” 

“That sounds wonderful.” You said, grabbing your coat to walk out. “Bye Freddie!” 

“Bye, Love.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The car ride with John felt completely normal, like the two of you had never stopped talking. You sang along to the songs in the car, heard things about his family, really just enjoying the time you had lost over the past year with your best friend. As he pulled into a parking spot at the park, he looked at you smiling. 

“Thanks, Y/N.” He smiled. 

“For what?” 

“For doing something with me today. You have no idea how much I’ve needed this. How much I need you.” He blushed. “Oh, and I didn’t mean that sexually.” He laughed awkwardly. “I just meant that I’ve missed spending time with you.” 

“I know, Deaky. I’ve missed you too.” You smiled back. 

The two of you got out of the car, John taking the blanket as you hooked the basket on your arm, casually laughing and joking as you followed the paved path to get to the pond at the center of the park. 

“Lovely,” John laughed. “You look just like Dorothy.” 

“Well, then you know what we have to do.” You smiled, hooking your arm with his, much like you and Freddie had the first night you met. The Wizard of Oz was yours and John's favourite movie growing up, the two of you constantly pretending you were Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion, and always choosing to watch it on movie nights.

The two of you started to skip down the pathway as you sang the title song, once again pretending you were skipping your way to Oz. You quickly reached an open clearing of grass to the side of the pond, turning there with your arms still hooked together as John dropped the blanket on the ground, scooping you in his arms and spinning you around as you ended the song, leaving the two of you laughing as he promptly sat on the ground, your head in his lap. 

He smiled down at you, fanning your hair out on his lap as he said, “Just like old times.”

Not long after, the blanket was laid out and the food divided between the two of you as you comfortably ate your lunch in silence. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After you left that morning with the car, Roger knew he didn’t have many options of what to do that day, so he decided to take the path through the woods behind his apartment building to the park. As he emerged from the woods, he started to walk around the pond, stopped in his tracks by the musical laughter across the pond from where he stood. 

And then he saw it. 

Saw you. 

Being spun around by John, your head in his lap as the two of you enjoyed an afternoon together. He finally understood why John had erupted two times now at the mention of you with someone else; it made his blood boil. He couldn’t bear the thought of someone else being with you. 

Love certainly did crazy things to people. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After you John finished eating your sandwiches and catching up, John looked at you with an immense amount of sincerity in his eyes. 

“Lovely?” 

“Hm?”

“Are we going to talk about last night?” 

You sighed, knowing exactly what he was getting at. “Yeah, I guess we should.” 

“So, like. You kissed me, Y/N.” 

“Yeah, I know.” 

Pause.

“You kissed me back.” You said. 

“Yeah, I know.” He smiled, scratching the back of his neck. “I’d been waiting for that to happen for quite some time now, Lovely.” He admitted. “So are we, you know, together?” 

You closed your eyes, not wanting to beak his heart again. 

“I can’t right now, John. I want to, but I- you know,” 

He rolled his eyes, “I know. You’re in love with Roger and once again I’m second best.” 

“No, John, it’s not like that.” 

“Then what kind of bullshit excuse do you have this time, Y/N?” 

You were taken back by his harshness. It appalled you how forceful he became when the two of you discussed your love life. 

“I’m going abroad, John.” It was silent. “But I don’t want to lose you again. Or Roger, or Brian, or Freddie. I’ll call every day; I have a lot to make up for considering how awful of a friend I was, but I’ve got to make it up to you. I promise I will.”

He seemed to process the information. “Where are you going, Lovely?” 

“Spain. An area on the coast called Valencia. It’s a beautiful place filled with opportunities. I’ll leave there a part of a symphony. It was too good to pass up, you know?” 

“So that’s why you don’t want a boyfriend right now?” 

You nodded. “I think it’d just be too hard, you know, being in another country and all?” 

He nodded a sad smile. “So it had nothing to do with me?” 

“No, Deaky. Nothing to do with you at all.” You giggled. 

“Oh.” He trailed off for a moment, looking around as he gathered his thoughts. “I’m sorry I got mad I just- I, I don’t know.” 

“It’s okay”

“So, even though you’re going away, can I still get my best friend back?” 

“Of course.” You smiled. The two of you laughed and caught up as you ate your lunch, purely just happy to be getting your friendship back. However, in the back of your mind you couldn’t help but think about how he reacted when you discussed your love life of it didn’t involve him. Would he ever be okay with you daring anyone else?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You walked into your dorm smiling, completely content as to how your day with John went, to find Freddie doing some homework at his desk. 

“So, how’d it go?” 

“Good,” You cooed, drawing out the “o’s” in “cooed”. 

“How was John?” 

“Good,” 

“Brian called,” he started. “You’ve got to bring the car back.” 

“Mhm,” You said, only half listening to him as you started to organize. 

“Have you decided, Y/N?” 

“Decided who you like, Roger or John, or if you aren’t going to date one of them at all.” 

“No, I will. You know me Fred. I’m not good at decisions. Just gotta make sure I make the right one, you know?” 

“Y/N,” Freddie scolded, the harshness in his voice catching your attention.  “Did you hear me? I said Brian called. You have to bring the car back. Roger wants his car back.”

“Okay? What’s up with you! I just walked in the door, I’ll bring back the car after I’ve gotten settled for a bit, alright?!” 

“Oh my god, you’re impossible,” he muttered under his breath. “Alright,” he sighed, clearly annoyed, “I wasn’t going to tell you because it isn’t my place to tell you, and I don’t even know if he wants you to know, but Roger saw you and John in the park today. It broke him. He wouldn’t even talk to me on the phone, that’s when Brian called me.” 

“What?!” you exclaimed. “No! He wasn’t supposed to see that!” 

“Well, he did, Y/N. Were you even going to decide to date him anyways, or just fuck around with him like you have been?”

“Freddie-”

“Be honest.”

You sighed, taking a deep breath of air to gather your feelings. “I don’t know. I care for Roger, just as I care for John, but there’s everything with Spain and I consciously can’t make a decision like that right now, Fred.” 

“Okay, then let’s pretend there’s no Spain. Who would you choose?” 

“Roger,” You quietly admitted. 

“Then fix this bloody mess you’ve made, and just enjoy your time left in London.” 

“You’re no good for me. That’s what I want to do, but you know I can’t, Fred.” 

“No, you know you can, but your scared.” He corrected. 

“I just, I know John won’t be happy.” You admitted. 

“Jesus Christ, Y/N,” Freddie sighed. “For once in your life, would you please just fucking let yourself be happy!” 

You winced at his words. “Freddie,” you said, voice trembling, “I can’t when I know it’ll just hurt other people.”

He let out a groan of frustration. “Y/N! You don’t think I’m a little hurt that you’re going to Spain?! You don’t think Roger’s hurt right now because he thinks you’re using him? You don’t think Brian’s hurt because he doesn’t even think you consider him as an option? It happens, Y/N. People get hurt, and sometimes it’s because of you, but you have to learn to be strong enough to trust that they’ll deal with it themselves.  Worry about yourself, Y/N. Make yourself happy and everything else will fall into place.” 

You silently pulled him in for a tight embrace, signaling you understood, and in all honesty you really did. 

It was time to clear this all up, starting with the one who would take the news the worst.  

John. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You can do this,” Freddie encouraged, squeezing your hand as you brought the phone up to your ear. 

“Hello?” 

Breathe in. 

Breathe out. “Hi Deaky.” 

“Oh, hello Lovely. What’s up?” 

“I’ve got to talk to you about something.” 

“Okay?” 

“You know how earlier I said I couldn’t handle a relationship right now with Spain and all?” 

“Mhm?”

“I, um. I think I changed my mind?” 

“Really?”

His optimism killed you. 

“Yeah, and if things were different, maybe we could try things, but you know,” 

“So you’re calling me to tell me you don’t want to date me?” 

“I didn’t mean it like that John, I just wanted to be honest with you.”

“Unbelievable. It’s Roger, isn’t it?” 

“I didn’t say that, I just-”

“Then who is it now, Y/N?” 

You paused. “You know John, I had a hard time deciding who I was going to choose, because yes, I genuinely have feelings for you, but this is exactly why I’ve chosen someone else. Every time there’s mention of me with another guy, you close up, you become rude, assertive, and basically start attacking me. Your jealousy is appalling, John, and with the stress of everything else I just didn’t think I could handle that in a relationship right now.” 

It was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. I- I didn’t realize.” 

“I know.”

“If you could just give me another chance-“

“I wish I could. But John, I don’t have too much longer before I leave, and I just want to enjoy them. You were right, earlier. I’m in love with Roger. And I love you too, but I’m in love with him, and I’m sorry, but there’s just nothing I can do to change that right now. I wish I could.”

You didn’t actually wish you could; you were just saying that to console him. 

“I understand, Lovely.” 

You didn’t know what to say. 

“This isn’t a no forever for us, John. You never know what’ll happen when I come back, but we’ve just reconnected again, I think we have some rebuilding of our friendship to do before we could have a relationship. We’ve lost the trust, you know? And it’s creating a lot of hurt feelings. You and I both know that isn’t healthy for a relationship.” 

“I know. So, why are you calling.”

“I dunno,” you sighed. “I guess I just wanted to be honest with you with how I was feeling. Wanted to be honest with Roger, too, but I couldn’t do that without telling you first.”

“Well, thanks I guess.” He awkwardly laughed. 

“Yeah. I’ll see you soon?” 

“Sure, bye Y/N.”

You hung up the phone, looking at Freddie for approval. 

“Good job,” he nodded. “So what now?”

“I’m gonna go get my boyfriend back.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You parked the car at Roger and Brian’s shared apartment, shocked to the door opening in your face before you could even knock. 

“Oh, hi Bri,” you laughed. “Rog home?”

“Yeah.” He said monotone, his body in the doorframe blocking you from entering. 

“Could I come in?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” 

“W-why?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about, Y/N.” He laughed in disbelief. 

“Brian, it wasn’t what it looked like, I just want to clear things up with Rog.”

“You sure about that? Because this morning you asked me to not tell John you were here. You trying to date both of my mates at the same time?”

“Seriously? I can’t believe you. I’d never, Brian. Like I said, it wasn’t what it looked like with John. I love Roger, that’s why I’m here, to make things right.”

“I think it’s too late, Y/N. I’m sorry. He stormed in earlier saying he was done taking your shit when all he had done was shone you love, and honestly, I can’t blame him. You know how I feel for you, so this is hard for me right now, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Roger’s my best mate, and he’s always going to come before any girl. I’m sorry, Love.”

Your eyes filled with tears as you wrapped yourself in your own arms for some form of consolidation. 

“If what you’re saying is true, Love, just give him time. Roger’s, a hot head; he’s very impulsive. Give him a little time to mull it all over, show some effort. He’ll come around.” 

“Yeah,” You nodded, unable to say more through your tears as you turned away to start your walk home. 

In ending things with John? I’ve lost Roger?

What have I done?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three Weeks Later:

You’d been calling Brian and Roger’s every day, sometimes twice a day, your effort going seemingly unnoticed. November had just started, and you’re really feeling absolutely defeated. You’d gone to a couple of rehearsals with Freddie, but Roger had just ignored you. Pretended as if you didn’t even exist. You knew you deserved it, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. You and John grew a bit closer, your friendship mending as you frequently went for drinks or walks together, which was exactly where you wanted it to be. You explained everything that had happened with Roger, and he could see in your eyes how much it upset you, so decided it’d be in his best interest not to press the matter, instead just working on rekindling his relationship with you. 

As you sat in your dorm with Freddie on a cold November night, tears of frustration welled in your eyes as you tapped your pencil, looking out the window in intense concentration, trying (and failing) to think of anything other than Roger. 

“You’re doing it again, Darling.” 

“I’m gonna call again.” 

“You just called ten minutes ago, Y/N.” 

“I know, but I just feel like I could maybe get through this time. Brian didn’t pick up last time.”

“You say that every time.”

“I know.” You said staring at him, both of you knowing fully well what was coming next. 

“Alright, get on with it then.” He said rolling his eyes and stealing back to the novel in his hands. 

You approached the phone in the hallway with a deep breath, hurriedly typing in the numbers you memorized weeks ago. 

Ring. Ring. Ring. 

Just as you were about to hang up, someone picked up the phone. 

“Hell-”

“Roger?”

“Nope, Love. It’s Brian.” 

“Oh. Hi Bri.” 

“Gosh, don’t sound so disappointed to hear me, Y/N.” He laughed. As loyal as he was to Roger, Brian didn’t want to admit that he’d become closer with you over the phone in the last month or so, always picking it up in Rogers absence. There was an unspoken camaraderie between the two of you now; Brian secretly trying to help you weave your way back into Roger’s heart. 

One time, about two weeks ago, you mistakenly ran into Brian at a bar, the two of you sitting and taking for a while, your friendship really budding from there. As you stared into his hazel eyes that night, he assured you that you’d never left Roger’s mind for a second, and that you completely owned his heart, he was just letting his own pride get in the way, which given the situation was completely understandable. You couldn’t help but think that there could possibly be something there with Brian in the future, but if you even dared pursue it now with all the drama surrounding Roger, you were pretty sure both Freddie and Roger would rip your head off. And besides, you had chosen Roger. That was your main focus. 

“You there, Y/N?” He laughed. 

“Oh yeah, yeah, just thinking. You know, Bri, even though this isn’t the way I wanted to get closer, I’m glad that our daily phone calls have created a friendship between the two of us. It’s nice.”

You could feel his smile through the phone. “Oh me too, Sweetheart. But I actually have an insight. Rog was talking about you earlier, saying something along the lines of “his mind won’t let him stop talking to you, so one of these days he was going to have to get the courage to talk to you again,” but I don’t think you should wait anymore. It’s been long enough. So, uh, yeah, what I’m saying, Love, is that you should really talk to Roger tonight. I’m going out with some old friends from high school. Rog is just in his room moping per usual. I was thinking I could leave my key under the doormat for you, and you could just come in and see how it goes from there?”

“You don’t think he’ll be mad?” 

“Eh, he might be at first. But he’ll get over it. I know he’s been dying to see you.” 

You took a deep breath. “Alright then, what time are you leaving?” 

“In ‘bout an hour. I’d say get here in an hour and a half so we can make sure he doesn’t leave. Don’t think he will though, but again, just to make sure.” 

“Thanks Bri, it really means a lot.” 

“Of course, anything to help.” He smiled. 

“Wish me luck.” 

You rushed back to your room, putting on the outfit, the fur coat, and necklace Roger have you, curling the bottoms of your hair and doing your makeup. As you scrambled around the room to find shoes, since you still had the fifteen minute walk to their apartment, Freddie screamed, “Jesus Christ, what the hell are you doing?!?” 

“I’m going to get Roger back!” You exclaimed. 

“Oh lord, help us.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On your walk over you gathered your thoughts. 

What do I say?

How do I say it?

Ultimately, you decided to just be authentic, convey what you truly mean and feel. Then it’ll all work itself out. You shakily approached the door, fumbling under the doormat as you grasped Brian’s key, quietly sticking it into the doorknob. 

Here goes nothing. 

You walked into the dimly lit apartment, setting your bag and shoes on the shoe rack as you quietly made your way to Roger’s room, the door almost completely shut. You peeled inside to find him turned away from you, and it appeared that he was asleep in his bed, the only light being provided from the moon in the window across from his face. You quietly pushed the door open, unsure of how to approach the situation. 

Do I check if he’s awake?

Just start talking?

“Y/N,” an internal voice told you. “Just convey your thoughts and emotions.” 

And like a light bulb if hit you, and so you started singing. 

“Are you lonesome tonight, do you miss me tonight

Are you sorry we drifted apart

Does your memory stray to a bright summer day

When I held you and called you sweetheart?”

You saw him stir; he’d been awake the whole time. He knew it was you. With your heart racing you walked to the other side of the bed to see his face as you continued your song. 

“Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare

Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there

Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again

Tell me dear are you lonesome tonight?”

You crouched down to the side of the bed as you finished, Roger sitting up and taking your hand in his. A couple of tears ran down your cheeks, partially from nerves, also from the expression of what you just had conveyed to him. 

How you conveyed it to him. 

In a way you never had before.  

It almost felt natural, but it scared you. You were just proud that you shared that vulnerability with him. 

“I told you you could sing.” He softly said, very little tone to his voice. 

“That’s really the first thing you say to me, after all these weeks?” you laughed, tears still flowing down your face. 

“I didn’t know what to say, Y/N.” He admitted. “I’m sorry. Can -can I hug you? Don’t wanna make it awkward or anything, but you’re crying and all, and that was so beautiful-” he rambled from his nerves. 

“You can always hug me, Roger.” You smiled, and he pulled you in for a warm embrace. You smelled his musky, almost vanilla like smell, it engulfed him just as it did you as soon as you were wrapped in his arms. 

It smelled like home. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N- FINALLY ITS OUT!!!! Alright guys, so the next discussion is SUPER IMPORTANT, so next chapter is gonna probably be released soon and be like maybe a 6b, just cuz it’s short, but is necessary to the plot. I hope you liked this!!! Lemme know if you wanna be added to my taglist. Thank you for being patient. ♥️-C

Taglist: @yourlocalmusicalprostitute​ , @bismillahnah​ , @deakysmisfire​ , @queer-heart-attack​ , @everything-you-dont-wanna-be​ , @mercurycrowley​ , @ikbenplant​ , @xcdelilahxc​ , @chekovs-davy-jones-wig​ , @laedymoon​ , @manicpixydreamgirl​ , @jaylikesguavass​ , @brianskindofcheese​ , @anincurablefangirl​ ,  @jennyggggrrr​ , @delightfullynlove​ , @johndeaconshands​ , @jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​ ,

[loverholland]

angels in hell.

queen of hell! reader x angel! tom.

word count: 1k summary: God sends his newest Angels down to Hell to meet you as a test. A test to see if they will actually love and respect their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or if they will slowly fall in love with the Queen of Hell. warning: uh, it’s not nsfw but is hinting at it. but kind of is nsfw.

Honey dripped off of the strawberry and down your fingers as you looked at the young man in front of you. This wasn’t an unusual conversation you were having. God had sent one of his angels to hell to speak to you. It was a mission that newer angels, mainly around a month to three months old would experience. They either failed or they passed, and you made it as hard as possible to pass.

Hell, you were the Queen.

This boy’s name is Tom. He is 23 years old and he was recently sent to Heaven after his untimely death, and because of that his “God” sent him down to Hell to speak with you. You knew he was uncomfortable. Not from anything you had done, oh no. Just from your presence. From you breathing. And you liked it- no, you loved it. You loved that this curly brunette-haired boy with honey brown eyes was scared of you, and you couldn’t get enough of it.

“So, you’re the infamous Tom Holland that your Lord and Savior sent to me?” You questioned as you cocked up an eyebrow. “You’re quite too pretty to be here, Mr. Holland. Only the bad and the ugly are down here. Why would He want to send you down here?”

At the end of your words, you moved the strawberry to your lips. You put the whole berry between your lips, biting down close to the stem and sucking your cheeks in to remove the berry. You moved the stem away from your lips and into the bowl that resided in front of you. Tom’s eyes watched every motion of yours as he tried to find the right words.

Tom looked up to your eyes, swallowing deep as he opened his mouth to speak. “I don’t know.” He replied sheepishly.

You chuckled and leaned your head back, not surprised at the words, but you knew they were coming as soon as the angel knocked on your door.

“Your Lord can’t even tell you why he sent you to me.” You smiled and leaned your head forward, looking back at him. “What shame, am I right, Mr. Holland? A King should tell his children why he sends them to the Queen of Hell, not leave them to wonder and worry when they are sent here.” Your head tilted to the side a bit and you leaned forward, allowing your breasts to show a bit more cleavage than before. “Don’t you agree?”

Tom nodded quickly as he took in your look. You wore a black sheer robe with dark red fluff around the collar, arms, and the bottom. It was tied with a ribbon to accentuate your waist.

What was underneath was something he wasn’t sure he was supposed to see, however. You were in a black lace tank top that hugged your breasts. He couldn’t see your bottoms, but he was betting it was either a beautiful black thong or a pair of booty shorts that hugged your ass in all the right places.

You sat your elbows on the table, smiling at the boy. “As a Queen, I could never let one of my people leave my Kingdom without knowing their mission. Their duty.” You explained before scooting your chair back and standing up. Tom’s eyes instantly looked at your bottoms as you walked around the desk. You wore a pair of velvet looking shorts, black to match your top.

“Will you follow me, Mr. Holland? I must leave this room, it’s too dreary to talk about your God.” You hummed and walked towards the door, turning the handle to open it before turning and looking at Tom. Without a word, he got up and out of the chair he was in. You walked out of the room, your bare feet padding along the cold, dark wood flooring. Tom helplessly followed as you walked through the dark halls.

“How long have you been an angel, Mr. Holland?” You asked, not turning to look at him as he trailed behind you.

“A month, maybe two. I’m not sure.” He admitted in a small voice.

You hummed and pushed open a door, leading the two of you into another dark hall. “Do you wish to forever be an angel?”

Tom thought about it for a few seconds, shrugging before voicing his thoughts.

“Yes.”

You hummed and lifted your chin a bit more. Most times, you would lead these angels to an office area where they would decide their faith, but with Tom… You took a detour. You lead him towards the garden where roses grew just to die. You wanted him to say no. To say no that he wouldn’t want to be an angel after seeing you.

“Where are we going?” Tom asked and you took a deep breath, not replying until you were outside. The air was humid and warm against your skin. You knew Heaven was nothing like this, but Heaven also didn’t have you.

You stripped off the sheer robe, allowing it to fall onto the concrete porch, before you stepped down the steps and onto the warm rocks that made a trail through the garden.

“Why are you trailing behind me, Mr. Holland?” You asked.

“I didn’t know if I could walk beside you.” He answered quickly. A bit too quickly that it embarrassed him and made his cheeks blush.

“Walk beside me, silly.” You demanded, and he did. He quickly made his way beside you, looking over at you as you tilted your head back up a bit. “You’re very attractive, you know that? Wonder if that’s why God sent you to me.” You hummed and looked over at the boy.

Tom licked his lips and began to form words. “I-I don’t think that’s why.” He responded.

“Then why would he send you down here if it wasn’t for temptation?”

Tom looked at the ground in confusion. Maybe you were right, but you were the Queen of Hell and he was sure you would be able to manipulate him and his thoughts.

“Well, maybe he wanted to show me what I wouldn’t have to experience.” He responded.

You scoffed and stopped in your tracks.

“Not experience what? The female body?” You asked and stepped a bit closer to him. “The way a female touches you. How you touch yourself. How you won’t ever be able to kiss a female again, hold them again. You’re really going to miss out, you know that?” You asked.

Tom’s lips parted and he tensed as your hand touched his chest. “Wouldn’t you miss that, Tom?” you asked.

And just like that, he was putty in your hands. And to say you had a new, loyal follower, would be an understatement with Tom.

[lady-olive-oil]

Chapter 3

|| Characters || Intro || Ch 1 || Ch 2 || Ch 3

A/N: Hey everybody!! So here’s the next installment of Brown Sugah Baby. The events in this story are complete imagination, and I don’t own the characters of BP. Nor do I own the Divine Nine; Southern University or the Fabulous Dancing Dolls, I only own the OCs. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more!

Word Count: 2,506 [had to get in the details hunny]

Warnings: nothing really besides harsh banter.

Tag Squad: @maddiestundentwritergaines || @destinio1 (I need extra help so gotta tag my girls) @designerwriterchic @terrablaze514

[let me know if you’s like to be apart of the tag squad]

It was another scorching humid day at Southern University, and everyone had their hands full. Tailgating, getting the team ready for the game, the band tuning their instruments for the halftime show, the majorette team stretching and making sure the speakers were loud enough. The whole campus was on fire about the homecoming game against Alabama. One thing's for sure though, M’Baku could not focus for the life of him.

“Dude. You playin or not?” Erik nudged his teammate to get him out of the trance he was in.

“Huh? Uh y-yeah. Sorry man, I was just distracted. Let’s play.” Getting refocused on the plays for the game, he glance back at her occasionally.

What caught his eye you may ask? His best friend in her dark blue leggings and an SU tank top, practicing with the majorette team. The SU Fabulous Dancing Dolls, were one of the best in the land; and everyone knew it.

Once Nefe became captain, she made them even better. She lead the team to nationals her first year. It was like the music was in her blood, and she could throw out a stand like nobody’s business.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were checking out your so called best friend. Who I might add, was -“

“Sean, think about what your gonna say. Choose wisely before I send you to Jesus early.” M’Baku stopped him before he could even finish. These two were like bulls in a China shop.

They were constantly butting heads over Nefe and it didn’t make sense. One was only with her for the sex but she didn’t see it like that; the other was  her best friend and would do anything to protect her. Which mad shin want to go the extra mile to make sure she was safe at all costs. Yet it made Sean want to work harder to keep her.

“Or what? You gonna stomp me into the ground like a elephant?” The joking tone was paired with a sickening smirk. Sean wouldn’t let up with the Africa jokes and it made the situation worse.

“At it again with the African jokes I see.” The disapproving chuckle that left M’Baku’s lips, was a rare one because Erik was eating this up with a shit eating grin.

“What are you gonna do about then, huh? As far as I’m concerned you don’t have feelings for her, or do you? Cause either way, I’m gonna be the one she wakes up to every night till senior year.”

Now he was just taunting him. The low growl that erupted from his chest was loud enough for both men to hear.

“Man you straight up buggin. Even I know that ain’t right, and I was just like you.” Both of them looked towards where to voice came from. Erik of all people got over his old ways once he met Nakia. She put him in his place and he never left since.

“Your only chance of getting laid again, Sean, is crawling up a chickens ass and waiting.” M’Baku eyed him up and down and smirked a bit at his own roast, upon hearing the football team egging him on.

“Whatever man.” With that Sean just backed off, going back to stretching.

“Never in my years of living, would I be around to see you stand up for me. Of all people really.”

“Man, you’ve been there for my shit. I gotta be there for you. We boys, we gotta stick together.”

Erik was right. In this world all they had was each other, and for him to stand up for M’Baku like that was eye opening.

“I wonder what that was all about.” Nefe being an on looker to what just happened, taking a break from practice and all. Nattie knew exactly what it was about and Nakia pointed it out first.

“The boys were arguing over you. I’m so close to beating the hell out of Sean.”

Nefe sighed at what her friend was saying and didn’t even wanna ask as to why. She was tired of the boys fighting, yet was ecstatic for Erik breaking it up.

“Ya boy stopped em too. I don’t know how you got him to draw back is gangsta ways, but I gotta hand it to ya Kia.”

“He’s still like that, just a bit toned down. I love me some Erik though.” Nakia was smitten over Erik just the same. Them two, along with T’Challa and Nattie, were what Nefe wanted in a real relationship.

What she had with Sean, was just for fun. Did she tell Sean that? Nope. She couldn’t because she was afraid he’d hurt her again, and by hurt her that meant grabbing her. She only told Nattie and the girls, mortified about how M’Baku would feel. He’s very protective over her, along with her brothers too.

“Oh please. That fine ass man with locs can have any woman he wants. Even me, I have the body; mind and skills to prove it. I’m surprised he’s even dating you. You have less hair than he does.”

Nakia nearly lunge for her, but Okoye grabbed her before she could claw her face.

Melanie couldn’t stand anyone else’s happiness but her own. Tearing others down was her thing, and she never got tired of it.

“Listen here med school,” Nefe got tired of her whack behind and was about to give her a piece of her mind.

“Save it. If only you were on the cheer team. Because as captain I wish I could kick your as off the squad.” She got in Nefe’s face, at a comfortable distance.

“As a 2nd degree black belt, I can just kick your ass.” Nefe sucks her teeth and looked her up and down.

“I’d like to see you try-” Melanie was off till the coach called her back, and she gave them a sinister look before sassaying away.

“Count ya blessing bruja! You better be lucky she’s holding me back!” Nakia growled in rage and Melanie smirked before going back with the cheer team.

Ain’t no way in hell, was Nefertiti about to have her on the majorette team and not think about choking her.

“Alright y’all. Save the fight for the parties tomorrow. We have a game to practice for. Nakia, good job on your Spanish.” Nefe winked at her friend, who then gave her a hug.

“Nefe’s right. Come on.” Nattie rallied them all together, with the rest of the team, and got into formation.

“We doing Formation or Dose?” Nattie asked before pressing play on the laptop, that was plugged in near the stands.

The smirk laced that Nefe’s face, was a triumphant one.

“Let’s switch it up. We’re doing Dose.”

~The Game: Southern University vs Alabama A&M~

The game was close. It was 77 to 76 with SU in the lead so far. M’Baku has scored the touchdown and the field goal kick. Only 2 more quarters left to go and the crowd was hyped, with a sea of sky blue, yellow and white. Nefe gathered up the girls in a huddle one last time for a prayer. A Southern University tradition.

“Alright girls, one shoe in.” All the girls places their right foot in the circle and Nefe led the prayer. They all held each other’s waists and bowed their heads.

“Father god, I ask that you cover and protect us as you always do going into these life changing moments. We ask that you guide our senior girls to victory and cover them with your hedge of protection, dear lord. Marchbus into victory, in your name we pray..”

“Amen.”

Sending off with a proper SU chant, getting into position and putting on smiles was what the girls were used to. Down south with an HBCU halftime was a goldmine. It was like watching the history of black rhythm come alive.

“Nattie. There go ya boy.” Nefe nugged her best friend nodding in the direction of T’Challa, dressed in his drum major outfit, practicing.

Anyone who knows Nattie and T’Challa is that, she’s the dancer one of the two. Even though he tries his best, he knows he’s enjoying himself. Who else would be best as drum major?

“This fool here knows how to make people laugh. He loves what he does and that all I can hope for.”

Nefe could see the love in her best friends eyes, as she gazed at the goofy man with the feather hat. That’s what she truly wanted and needed in life; an honest and loving relationship. She kept battling with her herself on it and couldn’t decide when it was time to be upfront with Sean about it.

“I see you love. Good luck out there like always.” He cape over to give her a hug, the girls and the band all made noise with the sign of affection between the two.

“You two are cute. Ok Drumline, we gotta go. Lead us on Udaku.” Nefe smirked and gave him a fist bump, sharing a quick laugh, before watching him leave to start the whistle to let the girls go.

Their outfits were jumpsuits with sheer tights, that were a lustrous jet black; with cut out parts. The ensemble hugged every curt and left little to no imagination, as the girls sashayed from the outside of the field to the field. Hearing the crowd cheering them on as they lead the band in all their glory.

They all had their hair down and pressed out, in order off them to whip them back and forth. Except for Nefe because she refused to take her braids out, since she just got them done.

M’Baku knew where to look, as he glance at the field watching his best friend move with grace and elegance, to the music of the band. That was until his coach told him to come back and was embarrassed, causing Erik to laugh a bit.

T’Challa was doing his thing as any great drum major would, and gave the crowd a show. Any HBCU had a great leader, and Southern University had one of the best. Whomever was next in line, had to live up to his expectations.

The music changed quick as Nefe threw out the first stand, everyone in the stands was into the groove with the music as well. Everyone knew the Dolls would be immaculate as whatever song they danced to and didn’t expect less from the team.

The girls followed Nefe’s every move with a smooth nature. Throwing out high kicks; backflips, a few twerking moments and few gyrating movements. The girls felt right at home. Plus adding little bit of Latin flare of course.

Getting the crowd hype was what the Fabulous Dancing Dolls were known for. All the right counts; the formations and the stands were on point. All the way down to the strut back to the stands.

[Watch this to get a visual!!]

As the game went on, the hype never died down. The girls were allowed to stand on the sidelines with the cheerleaders, during the last 5 minutes of the game.

“The suspense is killing me man. Alabama State A&M is gonna probably kick our ass.”

“Come on Nefe. Have a little faith in our boys. They’ve never disappointed us and won’t now.”

Nattie tried her best to calm her friend down as they watched the game. This M’Baku’s first game as a running back and it was only his junior year. He had strived to be quarterback by time senior year came, and would never back down from striving to get there.

“I just hope he doesn’t miss this. This could be his big break for the head spot next year.” Nefe couldn’t hold in her excitement as much as she’d like to, and Melanie scoffed at her in annoyance.

“Oh please. Why are you so worried about M’Baku’s chances of being quarterback for? He’s got me as his good luck charm to worry for him.”

“Listen here Med School, I had a enough of your shit for one lifetime let alone in practice. I’m his best friend and I have a right to worry.” With as much fire to throw back at her, Nefe snarled and gave a once over.

“Why do you care? It’s not like-”

“Shut the hell up before I herky you in the throat.”

Nefe cut her off before she could ever start, and paid attention to the game. Getting antsy with anticipation.

“M’Baku, this is all you my dude. Score it for us, better you than Sean.” Erik encourages him as he glances his way, receiving a head nod and a smile.

“I got you.” With a gentle smirk towards him, and a wave to the Nefe but Melanie took it as one to her. He shook his head in defeat and got back in the game. As the call was heard he caught the ball from David, and ran for the end zone from the 40 yard line.

“Go M’Baku!” Nefe and her girls cheered him on along with the crowd.

Melanie had had enough and decided to speak up.

“Why are you so into his future, not like he likes you or whatever.”

“I’m into his future as much as he is into mine. That’s what friends do. Scouts are out here tonight, like they are at every game so they look out for him. I’m his friend and he is mine. Whomever he dates has to deal with it.”

Nefe didn’t even have to look at her to explain her reasoning. Hell, she didn’t need to and yet still did. Receiving a high five from Nattie, she got back into the game and was on the screaming happily when M’Baku scored the winning touchdown. Making the score 98 to 83.

The crowd's reaction was just like hers, as both majorette and cheer teams ran onto the field with the superfans. Nefe knew who’d she wanted to hug but was stopped by Sean and hugged him anyway.

“Did you see me babe? How’d I do?” He was too prideful in himself to congratulate the rest of his team.

“Uh yeah. You did great. I’ll catch you later ok? I gotta get the girls ready to uh march out.” Placing a kiss on his cheek, earning her a smile before he headed out to talk to his boys. She made a beeline for M’Baku, once they saw each other. He picked her up, spinning her around in glee.

“We did it! That was amazing.” M’Baku smiled as he held her as close as possible.

“I’m so freakin proud of you! You did so well!” Squealing in happiness, holding on tight to him as he spun her. Next thing she knew, she kissed him. It was as if time stood still, and nothing else mattered to either of them. Except for a noise from Sean and Melanie. Once they broke apart, he set her down and a sense of awkwardness filled the air.

“Oh shit..”

[scapegrace74-blog]

Seventeen: Mandie (866-TOP-GRLZ)

A/N  You ever make a list?  A way to compile all the missed opportunities, the transgressions, the warning signs telling you that you’re on the wrong path?  Of course you have.  Part 13 in the series.  Part 1 and links to other parts are here. Rated NC-17. 

13.

He’d been visiting his father in Washington in 1969, and the driver took them through a bad part of town.  Even in daylight, the street corners and stoops were populated by women the likes of which he’d never seen before.  Garnished in go-go boots, flimsy lace and kohl, he wondered aloud if they were going to a costume party.

Bill Mulder chuckled.  “Those are whores, son.”

“What’s a whore?”

“A prostitute.  Men pay these women to... please them.”

He’d stared then, wide-eyed, at these women who sold pleasure to the wise and powerful, like his father.  Maybe this was what kept him away from home.  It would certainly explain the frosty unpleasantness of his parents’ marriage.

As though guessing his thoughts, his father clarified, “Not us, son.  The Mulder men don’t debase themselves by paying for sex.”

***

He thought of that long-ago conversation as he sat in the gloaming of his apartment, a telephone number on a worn scrap of paper lying on the coffee table before him.  His professional duty was to uphold the law, and his personal inclination was to protect the vulnerable.   AIDS was rampant in DC’s sex work industry.  And if he wanted to get laid, he could wander into any bar or club of his choosing, and likely find someone willing to go home with him.

So why was he considering calling an escort service?

After Jade’s death and Diana’s departure, he’d sat himself down and performed a thorough self-analysis.  His conclusion: his track record with women sucked.  From the first, he’d stumbled into one relationship after another, pinballing off heartbreak and into empty sexual gratification.  He’d assumed that with time, he’d meet someone who offered some tenuous foothold on middle ground, but that hope withered and died with each passing year.  

His life didn’t invite stability, and he was tired of feeling guilty that he didn’t love the way the greeting card companies said he should.  Love was like a mirror, he’d told Elizabeth once, and every one of his attempts at it had shown him something ugly inside himself that no-one else deserved to see.

But his body still ached to be touched.  Restful sleep had always been elusive, and the mental stimulation of the X-Files often saw him still awake at dawn, researching and piecing together tenuous strings of conjecture, certain that the answer to his sister’s abduction lay hiding in the deep well of arcane mysteries into which he’d inadvertently fallen.  Physical release was one of the few things that calmed his mind and allowed him to slip temporarily into oblivion.

And there was something else.  Something so dark and disgusting that his thoughts sheered away from it every time it crept out from under his strict regulation.  But if was going to court degradation by paying for sex, why not open that portal and find out, once and for all, where the filthy rot inside him resided?  A hooker in Washington DC would be well-used to taking those kind of secrets with her to the grave.

***

He waited on hold, a synthesized version of Must Have Been Love causing him to smile grimly.  A musical prescription for the lovelorn.  Finally a surprisingly matter-of-fact female voice picked up.

“Welcome to Top Girls, Washington DC’s premiere companionship service. My name is Elisa Covington. How may I assist you today?”

His hand shook.  His heart pounded heavy in his throat.  Hang up, Fox.  Some things are better off not known.   Just hang the fuck up.

“Hello?  Is anyone there?”

His fish tank gurgled, the last of Jade’s mollies swimming aimlessly in circles under the false sun of its bulb.  It was Friday evening - another sixty hours before he spoke to anyone not expecting a gratuity.  Fuck it.

“Yes, hello.  Sorry.  I was... I’m calling about a... date.”

***

It was a surprisingly business-like transaction.  He answered a series of questions about his preferences: height, build, hair colour, manner of dress.  Then the service took his credit card information.  Two hundred dollars for an hour, which included the cost of the hotel room and a recent clean blood test.  He’d be charged, whether he showed up and got off or not.  He’d wear a condom, provided by the service.  Saturday evening at seven, at the Marriott just south of Capitol Hill.   Room 1013.

***

He wiped his sweaty palms down the front of his jeans, inhaled deeply through his nose, and knocked.  The door opened into a dimly lit and innocuous hotel room and he stepped inside.

The agency had done better than he’d dare dream: she was about 5′8, slim and athletic with shoulder-length dark brown hair that fell in loose waves.  Instead of the stereotypical spandex and mesh, she was dressed as he was, in jeans and a loose-fitting top.  She extended her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Fox.  My name is Mandie.  Thanks for being punctual.”  She had a nice voice; melodic, with no hint of a regional accent.  Her hands were clean and unadorned.  A perfect blank canvas on which to paint one’s desires.

“Well, it’s my dime, whether I’m here or not, right?   And please call me Mulder.”

She laughed lightly and sat casually on the dark green loveseat that faced out the window towards the glowing lights of the Capitol building.  He glanced at the bed, then joined her, keeping a prim distance between them.

“I gather this is your first time with my agency.  I like to start with a few questions, if that’s alright.  But first, can I get you something to drink?”

It was his turn to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“I feel like I’m here to buy life insurance, not to...” he tapered off, not wanting to be vulgar.

“Not to fuck me?  Well, in either situation, you’re my customer, and your satisfaction is based on how well I give you what you need.  Which may not be the same thing as what you think you want, by the way.”

“That’s a pretty progressive approach, Mandie, but I see your point.  So, what would you like to know?”  He found himself relaxing a bit, shoulders sinking back into the upholstery.

“Tell me a bit about your previous lovers.  What about your previous sexual experience have you enjoyed, and what hasn’t worked for you?”

“So I’m paying two hundred dollars an hour to talk to you about my past?  Some of the best therapists in town don’t bill that high.”

“I hate to break it to you, Mulder, but no-one hires an escort to fuck her for sixty minutes straight.  Given how tightly you’re wound, I give you ten minutes, tops.  So either we talk beforehand, or we talk afterwards.  But if we talk beforehand, I can try to make them the best ten minutes of your week.  Think of it as fornication with a side of therapy.”

He shook his head, bemused.  “Fair enough.”

He didn’t feel comfortable spilling his guts or naming names, but he closed his eyes, remembering aloud some of his past encounters: the thrill of discovery with Nicole, in another hotel room, a million miles away; the unbridled kinky sex with Ava in a damp English garden; the unexpected discovery that he liked it when Diana took control and made him submit.   

As he spoke, his cock tingled and hardened, pressing against the seam of his jeans.  A warm hand that wasn’t his own covered its prominent ridge, rubbing languidly as moist breath painted his neck.  He opened his eyes to see Mandie’s dilated pupils hovering nearby.

“Enough talking?” he asked hoarsely, as she started to unpop the buttons of his fly.

“Yes, I think I have enough information to work with.  Now stand up.”

He obliged, feeling light-headed as she knelt and slid his pants down to his ankles.  Free of his clothing, he was stepping towards the bed when she halted him with a hand over his hip.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Bed’s over there.”

“You don’t want me to fuck you on that bed.  Beds are for comfort.  For peace and solace and permanence.  You want me to fuck you right here, on this couch.  This might be your first time paying for it, but for you, sex has always been a transaction, and you’ve never felt like you could afford to pay the price.  Put on that condom - I’m about to show you just how good it can be when your debt is cleared.”

And that was how, on an otherwise normal Saturday night in 1992, Fox Mulder spent his first two hundred dollars on therapy, with a side of ejaculation.

***

“You’re distracted tonight,” Mandie observed.  He was leaning against the cheap veneer of another hotel headboard.  His cock extended half-erect from the fly of his underwear and she was absently painting filigree patterns on its loose sheath with her tongue.

“Yeah.  I just flew back from Iowa today, and I guess my mind is still on the case.”

“You seem to travel a lot for work.  It must get lonely, always being the stranger from out of town.”

“I’ve actually got a partner now.  So she and I are lonely strangers together.”

“She, huh?   Have you two ever....?” she looked up at him with a cheeky smile.

He laughed at the thought.  “No.  No way.   That would be disastrous.   Don’t shit where you live, a friend once told me.   And she’s way too...” he stalled, trying to think of the right word to describe what kept Scully on one side of an impenetrable wall, and his fucked up sex life on the other.

“Too ugly?” Mandie guessed, before bending her head to nip and suck on his ball sack through the thin cotton of his briefs.

“No.  Not ugly,” he gasped, rising to fullness under her expert touch.  “Just not for me.   Jesus, Mandie, that feels amazing.  Keep doing that.”

***

“In quarantine?  I’ve heard a lot of excuses for breaking a date in my day, but that’s a first.”  He’d missed their last three appointments, and he was quivering with need, shaking and pulsing with want.

“It’s true.  We were released just yesterday.”  He was already peeling his clothes away like molted skin, breath loud in the close confines of the hotel room.

“Your partner was quarantined too?  Oh, that must have been fun.”

“Mandie, with all due respect, shut up and get naked.  I’m starving for it.”

The beauty of their association was that he didn’t have to think about whether he was offending her or whether she needed something from him that he wasn’t able to provide.   As long as his credit card didn’t decline, he was living up to his end of their bargain.

She eyed his erection, taut against the tender skin of his abdomen.  “Yes, I can see what you mean.  What are you hungry for, Mulder?  Do you want to pretend I’m her?”

“Her?”  For a breathless instant, he thought she meant Samantha.  But he’d never mentioned his sister to Mandie, and he realized in that moment that the wires in his brain were so tangled that even the best therapy wouldn’t make a difference.  He was broken.  Hopelessly and fundamentally broken.

“Your partner.  What’s her name?”

He shook his head, thoroughly confused and softening, despite the proximity of Mandie’s naked body.

“No, I don’t want to pretend I’m fucking my partner.  But there is something you can do for me,” he said, positioning her to bend over and clutch the back of the couch, her dark hair obscuring her face.

“Anything,” she gasped as he slid into the hot crucible of her body, where he put his secrets for safe-keeping.  “You know you can ask me for anything.”

“Call me Fox.”

***

“Yes, hello Mr. Mulder.   This is Elisa Covington.   We haven’t heard from you for some time, and understand that you may be out of the country.  As I’m sure you understand, we cannot guarantee your usual appointment without a certain amount of... regularity to your visits.  We’ll be closing your file.  Rest assured that all your personal and credit information will remain encrypted and secure.  Please do not hesitate to contact us, if we can be of service to you again in the future.  Beep.”

“Mulder, I need your helllllllp.... Beep.”

Go to Seventeen: Kristen. 

[taexual]

GOT7 / Their S/O wears something revealing

Request: can you made GOT7’s reactions to their gf wearing something very revealing please ?

damn this was fun to write, thank you for requesting!!!

Warning: some indications of smut

Mark

It was a hot day and although usually, you chose to wear clothes that covered a lot of skin (it wasn’t intentional, you just felt a little uncomfortable wearing revealing clothes), this time you decided you weren’t going to suffer and instead wore shorts – emphasis on short – and a tank top.

As you exited your bedroom, texting your best friend on your phone, you walked right into your boyfriend who had somehow stopped right in front of you.

“Jesus, Mark,” you gasped, not having expected to walk right into him. “What are you doing?”

When you raised your head to look up at him, you were met with a clouded gaze and slightly parted lips.

“What are you wearing?” Mark asked, still not moving.

“Oh, this?” you asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. “It’s hot today.”

“You’re damn right it’s hot,” he said, finally moving but only to wrap his arms around your waist and pull you closer to him. “You’ve never worn outfits like that before. I mean… outside of the—”

“Okay, Mark, if you say ‘bedroom’, I’m going to cover my face with my hands and run,” you said, already looking down because your cheeks were starting to turn pink.

“Run where?” Mark asked. “Because if you think I’m letting you walk away from me when you look like that… you couldn’t be more wrong.”

JB

Jaebum was protective, sure. Possessive, too. But he never crossed the line and told you straight to your face that you couldn’t go somewhere when you were wearing revealing clothes. You didn’t wear them often, but you did want to switch things up sometimes by wearing tight, even seductive outfits when you were feeling like it.

One of those days when you had chosen to wear a dress that showed a little (okay, a lot) more cleavage than usually, Jaebum was busy working. When you stopped by the studio before your date with him, he didn’t turn to look at you. Out of the corner of his eye, he could tell that you were wearing a dress but he couldn’t tell just what kind of dress.

“When will you be finished?” you asked him, excited to spend the evening with your boyfriend.

“Soon, I just have to—” words got caught in his throat as he turned to look at you. “Y/n.”

“Jae?” you asked, raising your eyebrows as you watched his eyes scan your body head-to-toe.

“Is this what you’re wearing for the date?” he asked, swallowing visibly.

“Yeah,” you said, looking down at your outfit. “You don’t like it?”

“N-no, I…” the words hung in the air as his eyes roamed your body again, making him lose his train of thought. “Do we have to go to that restaurant?”

Your face fell a little. “Oh, you’re too tired, aren’t you? You just want to go home?”

Standing up from the chair, Jaebum made his way towards you and leaned in closer to you to reach for the lock of the door behind you. He locked it and then pulled away enough to look at you.

“I don’t want to go home,” he said and you could feel his breath on your face. “I want you.”

His words caused a fire to erupt in your stomach and spread all over your body.

“H-here?” you asked, feeling him wrap an arm around your waist and pushed you against the locked door of your studio.

Placing a soft kiss on your neck, he brought his body even closer to yours. “Everywhere.”

Jackson

You had gone to a friend’s party – the party that Jackson claimed he didn’t want to go to – and warned Jackson that you’d be home late. He promised he’d stay up and wait for you because he hasn’t seen you at all that day and he missed you, which made you hurry to get home sooner, despite being a little annoyed that he made you go to the party alone.

Jackson didn’t know that you left for the party wearing your favorite sheer see-through shirt with a tight black skirt, which is why when you returned home, he jumped up from the couch, waking up from his semi-nap instantly.

“Y/n,” he said, making you flinch since you had assumed he was asleep. “You’re back.”

“Yeah,” you said. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Eyeing your clothes, Jackson bit his lip. “Yeah, you surprised me alright.”

“How was your day?” you asked, not even noticing his ravenous gaze.

“Boring,” Jackson said, watching you make your way towards him. “But it just got so much better.”

You smiled at this. “How come?”

“Look at you,” Jackson said, exhaling, as you finally stopped in front of him. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you,” you said, feeling him place his hands on your waist and slide them down to your hips.

“Though it does make me wonder… who were you dressing up for?” Jackson asked, not removing his eyes from your body.

“For me,” you replied. “I wanted to look good tonight.”

“You always look good,” he said. “But you look unbelievable tonight. That’s a nice way to make me regret not going to the party with you.”

You smirked. “Oh, well maybe that was my intention all along.”

“Hmm, I see,” he said, bringing your body closer to his so you could feel how much he regretted not going with you. “What if I redeem myself for not going with you?”

“Tempting,” you replied. “How will you do that?”

Sliding a hand up your arm and towards the buttons of your shirt, Jackson leaned in a little closer to you. “I’ll rip these clothes off of you and show you the way they make me feel.”

Jinyoung

Jinyoung’s weak spot was your outfits that revealed some skin. He secretly loved it but it also drove him crazy to see other guys eyeing you the same way he was.

Whenever the two of you went out to hang out with friends and you were wearing a short, sequined, nearly see-through dress, he made sure to keep his hand on your waist at all times. It always looked casual and loving to others, but you knew he really wanted to keep you close to him at all times in case other guys decided to hit on you.

“Jinyoung, I need to go to the restroom,” you told him a few hours after arriving at your mutual friend’s party.

“I’ll walk you,” he said, giving you a polite smile and a kiss on your cheek.

“I know where the bathroom is,” you told him, trying to walk away from him but he wasn’t releasing you. “I can find it on my own.”

“What, you don’t like my company anymore?” he asked, teasingly.

“I do, Jinyoung,” you said, sighing. “But it’s okay to let me go to the bathroom alone. I’ll come back to find you.”

After staring at you for a moment, he finally gave in, realizing that you were going to keep on insisting he let you go at least for a few minutes.

When he finally did,  you smiled at him and headed to the restroom to quickly reapply your makeup. You ran into one of your friends there, and after a quick conversation, you headed back to the party. You stopped outside of the bathroom, looking for your boyfriend, but before you could find him, a guy you’ve never met before stopped in front of you.

“Well, hello there, beautiful,” he said, a wide smile on his face. “Love your dress.”

“Thanks,” you said, smiling quickly and then attempting to walk around him but he blocked your way.

“I’m—” he was about to say when suddenly you felt Jinyoung’s presence next to you and his arm returned to its place around your waist.

“You’re irrelevant,” Jinyoung finished for him and then pulled you aside while you smiled awkwardly at the guy. “This is what happens when I let you out of my sight when you look like that.”

“I always look the same. And he was just talking to me,” you said, turning back to look at the confused expression of the guy.

“He wasn’t—wait, did you just turn back to look at him?” Jinyoung asked, his voice lower.

“I—no.”

He stopped walking and looked at you with a devilish glint in his eyes. “I think you’re forgetting who you belong to, baby girl.”

Deciding to play along, you moved closer to him. “Remind me, then.”

“Oh, I will,” Jinyoung said, tightening his grip on your waist. “I’m sure I’ll remind our neighbors, too.”

Youngjae

“Y/n, please hurry up, we’re already late!” Youngjae called out for you, nervously checking the time on his phone. “I don’t understand what you’re doing in your room for that long, anyway. You always look gre—”

Words got caught in his throat when you finally stepped out of your bedroom, a short dress adorning your body, accentuating your every feature and showing off a lot more skin than Youngjae was used to.

“I’m ready,” you said. “We can go.”

“We can—uh, yeah, no, hold on,” Youngjae said, trying to get a grip on himself. “First of all… I didn’t know you owned dresses like that.”

“It was in the back of my wardrobe. I’ve actually never worn it before,” you admitted and then awkwardly raised your head to meet his eyes. “You don’t like it?”

“No, I-I don’t know how I feel about it, to be honest. All I know is that I can’t really think straight when you’re wearing that.”

“Oh,” you said, feeling a slight blush creep onto your cheeks, as you walked towards your boyfriend. “Well, should we go, or—”

“Go? Where?” Youngjae asked and then realized the next second. “Oh, right. The dinner. With the guys. At the restaurant. Uh… you know, I’ve never canceled on them before. There’s always a first, right?”

“You’re canceling on them?” you asked, surprised. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want any of those perverts anywhere near you,” Youngjae said. “They can’t see you.”

“What? Youngjae, you’re not serious, are you?”

“Oh, I’m serious,” he said, already pulling his phone to text the rest of his group. “We’re not going there. You look too good. I will not be able to handle them telling me how good you looked tonight.”

You laughed in disbelief. “Jae, don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t the first time they see me.”

“Yeah, exactly. And they annoy me every time,” Youngjae said after he finished his text and put the phone away. “You’ll drive them insane when you look like that and that can’t happen. You’re my girlfriend. I’m the only one who’s supposed to go crazy about you.”

BamBam

According to BamBam, you looked good in anything and he proved that by always insisting to take pictures of your outfit. His reason for that being, “what if you went missing? I’d need to show police a picture of what you were wearing before you left the house.”

You always groaned but posed for the pictures nevertheless. He must have had over a hundred pictures of you by now and whenever you asked him what to pair your red shoes with, he’d always reply with, “well, how about that pink blouse you wore last week on Tuesday when you were off to class?”

One time, however, you were heading to a party and had chosen to wear an outfit that was slightly risky. It didn’t reveal that much skin, but it was somewhat seductive, and you were excited to see your boyfriend’s reaction.

“I’m leaving, Bam!” you called out to him as you grabbed your purse from the hallway.

“Wait, let me see you!” BamBam called out and you heard him run out of his room and stop as soon as he saw you. “Whoa.”

You smirked at this. “What do you think?”

“I think that I don’t want you to go anywhere looking like that,” he said. “Not unless you wear a coat over it.”

“Why?” you asked, crossing your arms and preparing yourself for an unnecessary argument about your clothes.

“Because it’s—it’s cold. That’s why. That’s the only reason why.”

You scoffed. “Okay. I’ll wear a coat.”

As you grabbed the coat from the hanger nearby, BamBam got his phone out from his pocket. “Hold on, the picture!”

“Seriously?” you asked, laughing. “Another picture to show the police?”

He turned the camera on and began snapping pictures of you all while you laughed at his focused expression. Finally, once he was happy with the result, he stopped and looked at the photographs he just took.

“Oh, I’m not showing this to the police. I’m saving these pictures to look at when I’m away from you.”

Yugyeom

Yugyeom wasn’t really a person who loved going out to drink and you weren’t, either. But it was your best friend’s birthday party and it would have been rude not to show up. You told Yugyeom about it and you could see in his eyes that he didn’t want to go, so you weren’t going to force him and told him to stay home instead.

He was more than happy about that… until he saw the revealing outfit you chose to wear to the party and blushed at the sight of you.

“Will you really be okay here tonight?” you asked, not noticing his reaction because you were looking for your phone in your purse.

“I, uh…” Yugyeom started to say but all words escaped him as he breathlessly watched you move across the room.

“Yugyeom?” you asked, finally raising your head. “You okay?”

“I’m… yeah,” he said, looking down. “Is it too late for me to come with you?”

You were surprised to hear that. “It’s not. Just… why? I thought you didn’t want to go.”

“I don’t,” Yugyeom confirmed. “But you look amazing and I know there’ll be guys looking at you there. They need to know you have a boyfriend.”

You’ve never seen him like this before but you had to admit, possessiveness looked weirdly good on him.

“I’m sure there won’t be that many guys there anyway,” you said. “But I’d be more than happy to have you go with me.”

“Great,” Yugyeom said decidedly. “I want to be the only one staring at you the whole night and then taking you home once the night is over.”

[beepbeeprichiellc]

Part 1. Part 2.

His breath was fogging up the glass, his fingers leaving smudges along the smooth surface. The housekeeper was going to have a fit when she saw what he had done, he knew this and yet all he could focus on was the two standing on the front lawn. The thing about Beverly was that she was the perfect wing man-woman-whatever. She always knew the exact way to flaunt what he had as to weed out those suitable for her friends. It was how Richie almost always got laid, excluding for drunken one nighters he occasionally ended up in. When he answered her call he hadn’t expected her to show, knowing that she was recovering from her late night fly in so when she walked onto his property with those short shorts and tank top he knew she was out to kill. Although the look on the pool boy’s face when she advanced told him that he wasn’t falling for her tricks and Richie was afraid he would see right though the shamble.

The truck with chipped paint pulled from the curb, carrying with it his new pool boy. Richie watched it leave, discreetly using the sheer drapes to keep himself hidden. Once the tail lights were around the corner he sighed, banging his head loudly on the glass. There was a gnawing in his stomach, an unimaginable feeling that he wished to just go away. Maybe it was because he hadn’t been laid in over three months, or maybe it was because just the sight the boy made him a blubbering mess but he felt restless.

There was a bang from the back door and Richie nearly ran over to where Beverly stood, her cheeks flushed from the heat. Stopping short of jumping in to his arms he leaned against the countertop, biting his bottom lip nervously. “So?” He sang, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“He’s gay.” She answered, knowing the question without verbal confirmation. “Didn’t even bat an eye when I asked for his number.”

“Hot damn!” Richie nearly yelled in excitement. “Thank god for the little things.”

“Honestly, I don’t think you two would work.” Beverly admitted softly, pulling her sunglasses from her nose and burying them into her hair. There was a twinkle in her eye, like something was brewing in her head. “I mean, he’s just here for the summer and-”

“Well so am I. I’m not looking for a relationship Bevvy, just someone to get dirty with while I’m home.” Richie rolled his eyes, a sly grin stretching from ear to ear. “Don’t dangle him in my face and expect me not to bite.”

“I’m not danling anything in your face.” She nipped, snapping her fingers in his direction. “I just think he isn’t your type. He was all worried about your dad, about his job. He’s a straight shooter and I don’t think you’ll be able to bend him like you want.”

“Okay first off.” He muttered, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as he looked at his friend amusingly, “He’s gay, so he isn’t a ‘straight’ shooter. Secondly, I’m not gonna bend him unless that’s the way he likes it. I mean I’d like to bend him over a lot of things like that chair or the counter or-”

“Okay fine!” She barked, rubbing the space between her eyes. “Fine, just stop putting that very vivid image in my head.” Glancing back up to her friend she smiled, sighing with contentment as she leaned into the door frame with her hip leading. “You can be so disgusting sometimes, remind me why we are friends again?”

“Because we are the black sheep in our families and that causes us to gravitate towards each other.” He mouthed back quickly, pursing his lips and blowing a very suggestive kiss. “Now tell me, what is that cutie’s name?”

“Eddie.”

“Eddie.” He whispered, the name making his lips tingle. It tasted sour, not the type of sourness that made you cringe but rather the sourness that left your mouth watering, making you beg for more. Richie smiled, running his long nimble fingers through the rats nest he called hair, wincing when he caught a few knots. “Even his name is sexy as hell.”

Beverly scoffed, pushing herself upward and strolling past him with a slight push. “Get dressed.” She commanded, not looking back at him as she began her rampage through his parents fridge. “And hurry up because we have to pick up Bill along the way.”

“Where are we going?” He asked, shamelessly watching his best friend bend over to reach a soda from the bottom self. There was no spark, no need when he looked at her backside but rather a respectable appreciation of its glory.

Slamming the fridge door she replied, “To the beach.”

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

Eddie laid his back on his board, looking up at the clouded sky with fondness. Things began to cool as the storm rolled in, the blueness becoming overpowered by the grey puffs of condensation. He wondered what it would be like to be caught in a storm, really caught under the sheets of rain. There had been glory stories told about surfing during a summer storm and anyone who was everyone knew that it was the best time for such a thing. Stan had done it once, Mike twice but he still had yet to live through the glory. He was afraid, just like he always was, tucking tail and running before the real masterpiece touched down.

Maybe someday.

But not today.

“Well this turned out to be a shitty day.” Stan’s stoic voice came from across the still water. “I skipped my hot yoga class for this?”

“Remind me why you take hot yoga again?” Mike jeered, laughter following his question. “Isn’t that uncomfortable?”

“It’s freeing.” He nipped, splashing water over to where Mike was currently floating. “And like you are one to talk, you are majoring in history! Who fucking does that!”

Eddie smiled, enjoying the banter that followed. It had only been a few days and yet he felt more free here than he would have back at home. When Mike had brought up the idea of the three of them heading to the coast at the end of semester, he had been against it. Too many people, to many unpredictable variables. It took one very long, uncomfortable phone call from his mother to change his mind and even then he had only done it out of spite. Now he was floating in the Pacific Ocean with his two best friends without a care in the world.

“I think we should head in.” Mike’s reassuring voice suggested, making Eddie cringe. “The storm is going to hit soon and the last thing I need is another concussion from surfing.”

“Yeah, and I don’t feel like saving you guys when you drown.” Stan added, turning his board back to the mainland. “I say we head back to the house and order some paper view, maybe some pizza in the process.”

“Both of those things involve money, which mind you, we do not have.”

With a sigh Eddie sat up, looking at his friends with a frown. “You know it’s Stan’s job to be a downer right Mikey?” He joked, starting the long ride in. This made his friend laugh, muttering under his breath that he was just a realist. Once the touched sand Eddie’s stomach sank, the fleeting opportunity passing by him. He dug his feet in, wiggling his toes one last time before stepping out of the salty water. Looking once more to the sky he muttered, “Do you think it’s really gonna rain?”

“Na.” Stan replied, walking ahead towards the parking lot. “I think this place is fucking with us. Our first time out on the water and it’s gonna trick us back to shore.”

“Huh.” Eddie thought it seemed likely, even more so as the so as the sun peered through a storm cloud. “Well that sucks.”

“Life sucks my man.” Mike said, throwing his board on top of his truck. “Don’t worry, we can try tomorrow once you get off.”

This made Eddie shrug, half assuming that he would be fired by tomorrow anyways so why even care about it. The three of them had strapped their things in, taking time to adjust as needed so that the truck would actually make it back home. Eddie had been so busy that he hadn’t noticed the company he had gained, or the eyes that followed him with each move. It was Stan who noticed her, scowling as she approached. “Eddie, I think you've attracted a stray.” He groaned.

“Wha-”

“Eddie!” Beverly’s excitable voice called, her smile widening as she and two others moved closer. “Fancy meeting you here!”

Eddie froze, his body refusing to react as she pulled him into a awkward, one sided hug. Shimmying he was able to drop her hold, forcing a laugh. “Uh hI Beverly. What are you doing here.” He glanced behind her, noticing the Tozier boy who now wore a pair of khaki shorts, a god awful hawaiian shirt and-jesus christ-a pair of bright pink sandals. It seemed that Richie was more confident in person, his eyes bright and exuberant as he watched the exchange. There was also a normal looking boy with soft brown hair and a soft smile, being almost the exact opposite of his friend that stood beside him. “Are you following me?”

“What? No!” She pushed against his shoulder playfully, “The beach sounded like a good place to be so I decided to come down here with some of my friends, same as you.”

He was being stalked, Eddie just knew it.

“Hi, I’m Mike.” The kind hearted boy muttered, breaking the tension and extending his hand out to the rich girl. “And this is Stan.” He gestured to the unamused boy. “How do you know Eddie?”

Beverly smiled, taking hold of Mike’s hand and shaking it. “We met this morning, he was working on Richie’s lawn when I came over.”

“Ah, leave it to Eddie to make new friends on the first day in town.” Mike jokes, laughing at his friends expense. “So you’re Beverly, who are these two?”

“Oh! This is Bill.” She motioned to the calmer of the two, “And Richie himself.” The jumpy kid waved, a cheeky smile crossing his face instantly. “So you guys are new in town huh? Where are you staying?”

“Oh in my parents old beach house down the street. It’s not much but it’s a roof over our heads.” Eddie frowned, he liked the cozy home. It felt safe, and warm to him. More so than his own home back in Derry. “What are you guys from the upper east side or something?”

“Yep.” Beverly replied, “Hey since you guys are new why don’t we show you around. You have no idea where the good hanging spots are yet and there is a bar a few blacks down that has the best mixed drinks. What do you say? First round on me.” Eddie could not have been shaking his head any more, his ears ringing painfully as Mike replied for all of them with a genuine smile.

“Sounds fun.”

Pool Boy Eddie Tag:

@softuris @snooxyspazz @ihavesympathyforthedevil @reddieornox @addimagination @tozierbinch @loadsofgayy @helfeatencupquakes @pankoozie @moved-to-some-raging-fangirl @strangerl0ser @letsgetreddietorumble @oh-mayfield @superbcoffeekid @iamworried7 @ephemeral-elipisis @stan-tozier-denbrough @im-alover @tapetayloe

[freddiewatts]

Soapberry Pride 2018

@ephrampettaline | @charliesfins | @gracevilliers | @ianncardero | @rydenbolt | @scarlettxruby | @mayaparker | @ashcaplan | @lilo-el-lobo | @thisbrutalbelle | @cassiegermaine | @bumblingbrujo | @freddiewatts | @monsterbyamile | @danisavin

The parade had gone off nicely without any hitches, and Ephram’s officers had dispersed afterwards to meander around town and participate in the festivities (while still being cops, of course; they were never really off-duty). He’d opted for Erzebet’s because it was familiar and he was curious what in the hell a black light party was in the first place.

Charlie prepped a set of neon paints at their station inside Erzebet’s. They’d volunteered to do some body painting. That didn’t meant Charlie planned to stay on the sidelines. They’d worn an all white suit and planned to loose the jacket for dancing and paint fighting, especially since they’d heard rumors of paint twister. Charlie was ready for a good time and planned to be wearing every color BUT white by the time they left.

The Soapberry cops were kitted out in black t-shirts and jeans with white wings painted on the back and rainbow beaded bracelets, and Ephram realized with a start as he entered the club that he was a little out of place not being painted up like most of the dancers. Sidling out of the way of the crowd, he fetched up next to a table with a bunch of paints and an extraordinarily handsome person presiding over it, and asked haplessly, “…so is this normally what these sorts’ve things are like? People out there lookin’ like goddamn ghouls.”

Grace wore a black bra under a sheer blouse, showing rather more skin than she normally would have done, but it was Pride, and it wasn’t as if she had to worry about getting cold. Her blonde hair was highlighted with pastel colors, a mixture of rainbow flag colors and pansexual flag colors but nothing too bright. She got some paints at the door and painted something of a bedazzled pattern on herself in the mirror before putting her blouse back over it. She got a drink and headed to the bar. The chap who’d had the argument with Fane was behind the DJ Booth, which she supposed would keep him out of trouble.

Iann told himself it would be a ‘good experience’ and 'broaden his horizons’ which even as he said these cheesy phrases to himself, he wanted to rebel…against himself. But it was true - a black light party was normal fare (as far as Iann was concerned) but a supernatural blacklight party? Would that include seafolk bioluminescence? Atronach rune illuminations? Vampires with glow-in-the-dark blood? Fairies and witches with magical glowing awesomeness? It was hard to resist. Plus, it was at Erzebet’s and Iann knew places he could retreat and Bellamy would totally indulge him. Besides, he still had a goal to recruit people for the talent show. With that in mind, he figured a plain white t-shirt and white baseball cap would be glowy enough under the black lights. Iann beelined for Erzebet’s bar first, not because he wanted a drink but he wanted to see someone he knew. When he saw Grace, Iann blinked for a moment and then leaned in closer. “Your Ladyship?? That you??”

Charlie looked up at the sheriff sidled up to their table. Chuckling at his comment, Charlie shrugged. “It all depends. When you only get to be this crazy once a year, I guess some people can go a little overboard. Or just on board enough, depending on your perspective.” They scanned his outfit, wondering if he was allowed to cover a temporary uniform with paints and such. Then again, he was probably the one who had picked them out, so Charlie figured he could do what he wanted on the subject. “Were you hoping to add some dazzle of your own?”

Ephram scrunched his mouth to the side, considering. “Weellllll,” he demurred, “reckon it ain’t such a bad idea to blend in. I don’t wanna look like no narc, do I?” He grinned and touched two fingers to his hairline in introduction. “Ephram. And since it seems like you’s the artist in charge of makin’ folks look good instead of like somebody sneezed silly string all over em, would you be so kind as to colour me up nice?”

Grace lifted her head at Iann’s voice. “Well, at least you didn’t call me Gracie,” she teased, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Charlie let out a laugh. They were pretty sure most people could recognize who he was around here, and while he was a pretty good sheriff, he wasn’t exactly known as a narc. They’d heard of an exploit or two, but Charlie wasn’t about to ask if they were true. “Charlie. And that is my job, so to speak. I do tattoos over at Needle Point most of the time.” A little free advertising never hurt anyone. “What are you thinking you’d like? I can do something a little more surreal and just get the color everywhere or a more specific design if you’ve got some ideas.

"You can teach an old dog new tricks,” Iann grinned back, now prepared for the kiss on the cheek for a greeting, as she’d done it before at Ash’s party. “I wasn’t even sure it was you! Jesus look at you, lady.” Iann leaned back and gave what he considered a very appropriate wolf-whistle at Grace, given the venue and festivities around them. “It’s like you’ve been dipped in a leprechaun’s hot tub. In, y'know, in a sexy kinda way.”

Ephram looked more interested and less bewildered as Charlie offered their name and mentioned Needle Point. “Oh, hey! I been by that place a couple times.” Holding out his left hand, Ephram showed Charlie a somewhat uneven blue stick-and-poke tattoo of the name 'Edith’. “My great grandmaw,” he explained. “Did this when I was thirteen and she passed on. But it’s startin’ to git a mite raggedy – wonder if you’d be able to fix it up without makin’ it look, y'know, fixed up?” He offered a hopeful smile, finally answering the colour question with a drawling, “somethang simple’s fine, no need to slap makeup on a pig.”

God, he actually missed this. It’s been a while since Ryden’s party days, when the young wolf picked up a few odd jobs in a few clubs and underground joints, either bar tending to impress for tips or DJing on stage while the crowds went wild. He liked his vantage point right now, as the large space started to fill up and a random playlist played in the background while he prepared, fine-tuning the set. The shock of electric blue hair made him stand out above the crowd, the skull-shaped make up on his lower face eerily matching his unnaturally white grin. He took another glance over the room, predatory eyes reflecting the light in that odd, spooky way, accented by the black light. The crowd was building up and Ryden figured it was as good a time as any. He picked up the mic. “PARTY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEEEE~” It boomed across the room, drawing attention. “YOU READY TO GET WILD WITH ME??? I SAID, YOU READY TO GET WILD WITH ME!?” There was a roaring response as people began gravitating towards the dance floor, a sea of neon colors. “LET’S DROP THAT BASS YO.” And then, there was a boom of noise and not even a minute in, the crowd went positively wild, especially when enchanted mist machines blew in a pack of colorful, glittery wolf wraiths to meander about, exploding color and glitter whenever they’d bump into someone. A huge panel lit up behind the stage with explosions of color on the display one probably shouldn’t stare at for too long.

Grace quirked her brow. “Are you calling me an old dog?” she teased, but she knew she looked good, so who was there to deny it? “I like to shake it up every now and then. I’m not as stuffy as I seem sometitmes, you know.” It was a special occasion. She wasn’t that much of a Pride person usually, but it was nice when you had good friends, a partner, and were in the mood for a good time. “I’ll take that as a compliment. How are you?”

Ruby was fairly certain being back at Erzebets was on her list of 'things she would never do again.’ But well… fuck it. This was her last week as a human, and she intended to have as much fun as possible. So the moment she stepped inside the building, she put her mind in 'fun mode’ and didn’t think about anything else. Having opted for a fairly simple outfit: black laceup shorte, white tank top, braided back glittered hair, she made her way towards the first familiar face she saw. “Hey!” she called over the thump of the music, grinning at Grace and Iann as she sidled up into their space.

“I’m the old dog–!” Iann protested but then realized Grace was teasing him and burst into laughter. It was still surreal, even in this surrealist of events, how well they got along. Iann still couldn’t understand why, but some mysteries were best left to be enjoyed. Grace Villiers never ceased to surprise and titillate Iann’s mind. He tried to shimmy his shoulders (it came off more like a jiggle). “You like to shake it up a bit?” he repeated with his little dance, and was about to get a drink from the bartender when the DJ booth exploded in energy-raising noise and heart-pumping demands from the DJ, who the dance crowd completely went wild for. “Let that bass drop, your Ladyship,” Iann smirked at Grace, leaning against the bar. “Hey I know that kid! The one DJing. That Ryden kid, wow. He’s…talented.” He heard another call and looked over at…jesus it was hard to recognize people with all the paint and the glowing and the black light. “….ahhhh….Ru….Ruby? That you?”

Charlie leaned forward and studied his tattoo, flinching slightly as Ryden’s mic picked up and blared his voice across the room. “The party has begun,” they mused, already adjusting to the new noise level. They looked back up at Ephram. “You’d have a few options like a straight touch up or covering it with something larger and working her name back in in a different place. If you stop in later this week or next week, we could talk about it further. For tonight, I could do something more traditional on your face like a demon mask, zebra stripes, or a dot design.”

Maya had considered just skipping the entire black light party. After completely losing her shit at the parade she’d rather not embarrass herself further. But she had wanted to go that morning and still kind of did. She felt a little better too after talking with Fane. When she arrived she’d swapped her causal parade clothes for shorts, a rainbow bandeau and some canvas sneakers she’d painted herself. Her skin she’d hand painted, which had helped calm her significantly, and it might remind a World at Night map. Upon entering she spotted a small group of people she knew, but opted instead to head to the bar first. Glancing up at the DJ stage she had to look for a moment before recognizing Ryden. She smiled in spite of herself before sighing and turning to the bartender to order a drink.

Grace chuckled. “That I can believe.” She loved the drinks at Erzebet’s. They made drinks specifically for vampires, and though she had to say her girlfriend’s were better for loyalty’s sake, these came close. She sipped on a blood Martini, swaying casually to the music. “I’ve been alive a long time, Iann,” she chuckled. “I lived through the flappers and the sixties. I know how to party.”

“Who else would it be?” Ruby asked over the music. “Didn’t think I"d see you here. Didn’t seem like your kinda thing.”

Ephram flinched when Charlie mentioned a possible demon mask, tucking his hand back into his pocket as the music seemed to start thumping physically against his back. “Uh,” he said, “well, now – I always saw myself as more of a giraffe than a zebra, to be honest, so I reckon I’ll give that there dot design a whirl. Even though I got no idea what that is.” He looked around. “Should I sit down somewheres? Or do you got a stepstool you could use? Or I could jes lie on your table I guess…” Ephram was grinning again now, shoving hard to get that demon chill from his bones.

“It’s not,” Iann replied to Ruby with a grin and a wink. He reached out and held both their upper arms, leaning in to talk over the music. “But since I got you both here - has Savin already asked you two to volunteer for the talent show? Open Mic night? Any talent you got. I’m helping with the recruiting and I’m sure you two lovely ladies have oodles of talent just bursting at the seams to show off to an adoring crowd.”

Grace nodded. “I’ve already been coerced into it,” she said with a sigh. At least she’d gotten a beautiful set of knives out of it. “Hi Ruby,” she said with a smile. “Nice to see you again.” Was it just her, or did Ruby smell different?

“Talent show?” Ruby said, scrunching up her nose a bit. “No… he hasn’t yet. All I got is singin’,” she told Iann. “Hey Grace,” Ruby smiled, looking the other woman over. “You too. You look real nice.”

It wasn’t hard for Ryden to notice Maya, being that the bar at Erzebet’s was pretty much right under the stage and he had the best vantage point out of anyone in here. Hell, he could recognize that girl in whatever crowd she mingled. A pang of guilt washed over him as he remembered the incident at the parade earlier and how he’d just slipped away without a word so things wouldn’t escalate with Fane. Reaching for a chug of beer he had set aside, he eased into an ABBA remix, kind of winging it. Just to get her attention, he picked up the mic again. “A cute girl told me ya can’t be sad listening to ABBA, so SING ALONG WITH ME PEOPLE~” The Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie chorus began, the crowd picking up on the well known lyrics and Ryden grinned at Maya below at the bar, motioning her over to join him on the stage.

“Is it dancing, Grace? Please tell me it’s dancing,” Iann said, motioning to the aforementioned dropped bass thumping hard around them. “C'mon give me some dance moves. The Charleston or the Mashed potato or something…” And when ABBA came on, Iann couldn’t help but bop as well. “Ruby, singing is literally a talent that can be performed in front of an adoring audience. You didn’t know that?”

“I can do giraffe,” they said. He seemed slightly more uneasy than a moment ago, but Charlie chalked it up to the music starting and throwing him off. They gestured to the backed chair they’d commandeered for the occasion. Charlie had a stool for themself, though they started out standing for now. They paused, contemplating paint colors before settling on a florescent orange to do the spot patterns. “If you’ve got any wiggling to do, get it out before I start. Give me a few minutes and you’ll be ready to party like nobody’s watching.”

Grace scoffed. “It is not dancing,” she answered emphatically. Grace could dance, but alone on a stage in front of other people? No chance. “I only dance in crowds,” she joked.

Maya thanked the bartender as the beginning of Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie played over the speakers. She looked up, trying to figure out if that was indeed what she was hearing. Ryden’s words then confirmed it and she looked up at him with a smile. While she wasn’t happy with him for clearly antagonizing Fane earlier, nor was she happy with Fane for his behavior, she wasn’t angry with Ryden for disappearing when he did. It would be easy to believe that attempting to help her in that moment would get him only in more trouble. When he gestured for her to come up on stage she hesitated, only because she never liked being on stages. After only half a moment she picked up her drink and joined him on stage. “You should’ve held out,” she said, “I was going to offer to blow you in exchange for playing ABBA.”

Ryden leaned in, just so he could hear her better over the noise, hands never leaving the board. His eyebrows rose and a huge grin stretched his lips “Well SHOOT! Can I get one anyway??”

Ruby gave Iann a withering look. “Yes. I’m aware singin’ is doable in front of folks. Just I"m sure there’ll be a hundred others doin’ the same thing. What about you?” she asked him. “You have a talent?”

Ash loved a good party, and he loved Erzebet’s, so being able to show up to a blacklight party there for pride was pretty much the best idea anyone could’ve had. He turned up with a bare chest, paint all over him, jet black hair and what could only be described as a half jacket, half cape, covering his shoulders with black and gold. He already had a drink in his hand when he spotted Ephram. “Hey Officer Sexy,” he said with a wink and a smile. “What, no handcuffs and hotpants? I’m gonna file a complaint.”

Maya snorted her laughter. “Considering ABBA’s already playing and earlier, probably not today,” she replied with only a little edge to it. She wasn’t happy with what had happened, but it also wasn’t about her. Despite how she’d been affected by it. Although that wasn’t Fane or Ryden’s fault, not really.

“You can dance now, this music’s actually good,” Iann said, taking Grace’s hand and then Ruby’s wrist and shuffling them away from the bar, towards the dancefloor where the crowd was. He bopped along still and shrugged carefree-like at Ruby. “Yeah, but you’ll be the best one out of the pile,” he replied breezily. “Yes, my talent is to not be on stage and kill the audience’s buzz.”

Ephram snorted at the mere idea, saying, “Now do I look like the wigglin’ kind, Charlie? I’m a man, not a nightcrawl–” Naturally, Ephram’s left shoulder started to itch in one barely accessible spot and as he contorted to try and scratch it he also sneezed three times in succession. “I don’t think that counts as wigglin’,” he said to Charlie. “Or at least, don’t tell nobody.” He leaned closer, voice dropping for confidentiality. “Cain’t maintain my dignity as Sheriff if folks know I’m prone to wrigglin’ and wigglin’.”

Charlie laughed at his expense for a moment before leaning in to start painting. They quickly had to comment as Ash appeared behind them with a scathingly quippy comment. “But that wouldn’t go with a giraffe,” they said, feigning annoyance.

Ruby looked up at the stage as movement caught her eye. She saw Ryden with Maya joining him, the wolf smiling at his new companion. Ruby smiled a bit to herself, though she suddenly felt strange and had to come back to Iann and Grace. She made a small 'oop’ sound as she was snagged away from the bar and onto the dancefloor. “If this is you sayin’ you wanna dance, Iann… all you have to do is ask.” She grinned at him, doubting he’d enjoy it if she starting dancing with him, but tempted to try anyway.

Ephram was pulled out of his comment by Ash’s arrival, greeting him with a half-hug and then pulling back to admire the young man’s outfit. “Good Lord, boy,” he hooted, re-situating himself for Charlie’s paints. “You look like you’re trying out stripper costumes. Not that I’m complaining. Or getting out my handcuffs.” Ephram snickered, then said, “You two know each other? Charlie, Ash, Ash, Charlie. The pair of you pretty as sugar pie.”

Ash beamed at the compliments. He lived for this shit. “Thank you, sir,” he said with a nod. He wasn’t exactly looking to hop right back into bed, but there was nothing wrong with a little flirting, especially at Pride. “Charlie and I are buds. Hey babe,” he said, wrapping them in a little hug. “You look incredible.”

Grace joined Iann and Ruby on the dancefloor, not being given much of a choice but also not complaining either. “Iann always has a round about way of asking for things, and it’s always the long way,” she snickered. She took Ruby’s hand to dance with her. “You feel warm,” she commented, curious. “Warmer than usual.”

Ryden noticed the edge to Maya’s tone, painted lips pressing into thin line. Guilt poked at him again. “Yeah, well, I figured.” Was the only thing he said about it before a grin was back on his face again. “Hey, wanna try this thing?” He guided Maya by the hand so she was between him and the DJ set, explaining how the things worked into her ear. “So here’s the volume, the pitch bend, ya change the cue here~ Let’s try somethin’ huh?” He guided her hands over the board, to press this or that, to slide something up or down and alike, each action adding a little something to the music blaring out of the speakers.

Iann was totally content to let the ladies dance together, trying to get into the song and dance more. Because he loved ABBA and because he did kind of enjoy raves, 'back in the day’…but this seemed to just be skipping a beat and a syllable or something and and after a while it started to drive him nuts. Kids these days and their music! “HEY! HEY YO MISTER DJ!!” Iann cupped his hands to his mouth and hollered towards Ryden. “Play Super Trouper! But nothing fancified, just straight-up!”

Charlie leaned in to reciprocate the hug, holding their right hand away from their body to keep Ash from adding any unintentional paint when he looked so planned. “We’ve met a time or two. He loved to get his ass kicked in Mario Kart.” They knew those were fighting words, but they didn’t mind much. “Sheriff, you can talk a little, but try not to move too much with it.” They leaned in to do the giraffe spots on his forehead. Normally they’d be a bit pickier, but this was much less at stake with paint than a tattoo. Plus, it didn’t seem like he intended to be a picky customer.

Maya knew that now was not the best time to talk about it. If only because of how loud it was. Plus she thought she saw a bit of a tail between his legs look on Ryden’s face, which meant he already felt guilty. “Suppose I can’t blame you for trying,” she shrugged with a smile. “I’m not sure that’s a good…” she started to say as he pulled her in front of the board. She listened and nodded as Ryden explained how it worked. Understanding which buttons did what was very different than being any good at it. Luckily before he made her try it on her own Iann shouted that they should play Super Trouper, the classic version. She turned her head to Ryden with a bit of a smug smile, “You heard the people. And when the people are Iann you gotta listen.”

Ephram hummed his assent to stay mostly quiet, but that didn’t prevent him from murmuring with teasing mirth in his voice, “Oh, yeah. I know a lil somethang bout how Ash loves to get his ass … kicked.”

Ash cocked his head at Ephram, giving him a playful little nudge with his shoulder. “Aw shucks, big guy. You’re gonna make me blush. And if you weren’t so damn muscular I just might kick your ass too.”

Charlie let out a strangled choke. So that had happened. They did seem to remember the two flirting during Ash’s party on the beach, so it wasn’t the biggest surprise in the world. “Did you see how he’s dressed?” they teased, knowing he could hear everything. “I think he’s definitely the kind that wants more ass kickery.”

Ryden snorted at Iann, chuckling when Maya supported him. Picking up the mic, he answered to the request. “LAAAAME~~~" The familiar melody did blare through the speakers but it wasn’t a straight up one, it was still a remix but one easier to dance to.

Maya laughed, completely unsurprised when instead of playing the original version of Super Trouper Ryden played some techno remix. "But I think the real question is, are you sad right now?” she asked, grinning.

Ephram snickered at Ash and Charlie bantering, enjoying the particular pleasure of being around people who genuinely liked each other and didn’t mind sharing that easy congeniality. Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Ephram mumbled, “He’s a lil minx, this one, puttin’ on this half an outfit and then makin’ a beeline to me all poses and purring. But did you hear that?” He sounded highly indignant now, waiting for Charlie to finish a few strokes around his mouth before continuing, “he wouldn’t kick my ass on account of I’m bigger'n him! After all the boasting on how he normally could do either.” Ephram finished this overblown complaint with the wisdom: “Ain’t no man who says he could do either who don’t immediately give in to bein’ bottom.”

“Not if you aren’t~” Ryden spoke into Maya’s ear, working on the remix around her, chin resting on her shoulder and body moving behind her so that she’d have no other choice but to move with him to the rhythm of the song.

Iann hopped, flipping Ryden the bird when he drawled out 'Lame’ from his microphone but he played the song anyway and it was exactly what Iann wanted, sounding so retro and old school. “Oh yeah! THAT’S THE STUFF!” Iann clapped for Ryden and angrily elbowed some other nearby dancers to clap for the DJ as well, which they did half-assedly before Iann just started jogging in place backwards to the music, totally getting into it.

Maya turned back to look at the crowd as Ryden spoke into her ear. She smiled as Iann’s dancing caught her attention. “I mean, you do see Iann’s dancing right? That plus ABBA, how could I be sad?” she replied as she moved with him.

Ash flashed Charlie a grin. “Hey, I thought this was a progressive town. A guy can look sexy without necessarily wanting to get smashed,” he teased, then looked at Ephram with a chuckle. “Honestly, if it led to sex every time I flirted with someone I’d never get anything done.”

Ryden snorted at Iann, picking up the mic again. “WATCH OUT FOR THE MAN WITH THE MUSTACHE, HE FARTS IN PUBLIC.” Attention turned back to Maya and he grinned at her. “Good. Wanna go down? I’ll take a break in a bit and join ya?”

“Am I?” Ruby said to Grace as they started to dance. “Do I smell different? God I wonder if I taste different too…” Though the last bit was said mostly to herself.

When Iann started getting a little too enthusiastic his back had something to say about it. A warning twinge in his spine and Iann held the small of his back and paused, tugging his baseball cap so the rim was back to the front (somehow it had migrated backwards). The song was segueing anyway, and regardless of Ryden’s taunts, Iann gave him two thumbs up anyway and then carefully headed back to the bar. Well. At least he’d convinced Ruby to sing (maybe? He’d make sure Fane would double down on her, just to make sure).

Grace chose to ignore whatever was going on with Iann and the DJ, just dancing without a care. “You do. And I’d take a bite, but… we’re in company,” she joked with a snicker.

Maya raised an eyebrow, “Is this you trying to ask me to dance because we both know I’m very bad at that. And I’m not magically high like I was this morning.” She gave him a smile, “But if you want to buy me another drink I’ll let you do that.”

Charlie felt a little like dying of laughter. They stepped back for a moment both to survey what they’d done so far and to give themselves a pause to laugh. “I can believe that,” they said to Ash. They heard Ryden on the mic again and looked over. Sure enough, the man with the mustache in question was Iann. What wasn’t he in the middle of? They stepped forward to add a few more strokes around Ephram’s jawline. “Would you like any other colors to be a giraffe? It’s simple but effective right now.”

“Awww! A'ight, drinks are fine. I’ll need to take a breather anyway.” Ryden let Maya step away from him, helping her off the platform real quick before getting back to his DJing duties for now.

“Is it a… good smell?” Ruby wondered, glancing at Iann and wondering how he had survived as long as he had. Ruby shook her head, watching as he moved back off to the bar. “So… how’s Alia? And this is Erzebet’s,” Ruby grinned.

Maya protested, “You’ve seen me dance. I’m not good at it and I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one day.” There was no edge to her tone this time. She was smiling as she said because she knew that after a couple more drinks she’d say yes. Ryden helped her off the platform and they towards the bar.

Grace pondered Ruby’s question. There was something going on that was bigger than just a change in scent. It was the reason behind the change. “It’s… a little like how a werewolf would smell.” If Ruby chose to elaborate, then so be it. “Alia’s good. She’s here somewhere…” Grace glanced around for her. At least she knew she didn’t have to worry about Alia misconstruing anything. It had been over six months since anything had happened with her and Ruby, and they were all friends, at least so she believed.

Ephram laughed, shaking his head as he straightened from the stool. “Nice 'n simple does me fine,” he declared, regarding himself in the mirror on Charlie’s table and exclaiming when he actually saw their handiwork. “Shit, darlin’ – if that’s what you call simple, you must got some real chops on you when you’re workin’ in earnest.” Ephram half-hugged Charlie, saying, “Thanks for this. I din’t know how to fit in here and this helped plenty,” before half-hugging Ash and planting a big, showy, smacking kiss on the naga’s mouth. “Shameless,” Ephram chided him, flicking at the half-cape. “Saucy-pants.” Grinning at them both, Ephram readjusted his bracelet and handcuffs and walkie, saying, “Gotta git back to commingling with the crowd, now I’m properly attired.”

Ephram nodded at Charlie and Ash, moving off through the crowd to leave a request at the DJ station for – what else – Cotton Eye Joe.

Ryden: Once Maya was off the stage, Ryden stepped up his game now that they practically had a full house. Other special effects joined in as the music got super hard core, the bass practically making the entire room vibrate. Confetti exploded from the ceiling, the lights flashing to create a stop-motion effect, spilling color over the walls and the people gathered on the dance floor. Elaborately painted dances went up on the stage, riling up the crowd.

Ruby nodded. “Well… you’re not wrong. I got bit so… that’s what I’ll be in a week. Fun times hm?” Ruby’s voice was mostly matter of fact. Though there was a tiny undertone of fear and perhaps a bit of uncertainty there too. Though she’d become more comfortable with telling people. “I"m glad. I like her alot.” Ruby had no romantic intentions towards Grace, t hough she did enjoy teasing the other woman a bit. Especially because she truly did like her a lot.

Charlie grinned. “I’m glad you like it.” They accepted the hug and snorted at the display between Ephram and Ash. As Ephram walked away, they raised an eyebrow at Ash. “Is there anyone you don’t have wrapped around your finger?” If you say yes, I won’t believe you.

When Cotton Eye Joe came on, Iann perked up, but he knew dancing too much would just get him in trouble. “AW MAN!” he yelled out instead, realizing it was the Sheriff who’d requested it. Iann threw up his hands at the tall witch. “Of course you would. Of course you would!” The worst part was how would Iann be able to resist dancing to this??? He opted to just semi-mosh instead, but as sedate as possible. In the meantime, he kinda hoped Pettaline would jig or clog or whatever yeehaw thigh-slapping dance those mountain men did.

“Oh,” Grace answered. She wasn’t sure how Ruby felt about it, and she wasn’t sure if this was the place to ask. “Well, that explains it then. I’ll take you for a coffee some time and you can tell me all about it,” Grace offered. “What the bloody hell is this music?” she scoffed. “The nineties were a terrible decade.”

Ash didn’t really blush any more but if he did it would be Ephram who made him do it. “That man,” he said with a little swoon, wiping his lips. “And that was some nice artwork. We’re gonna have to schedule another session soon. Feels like I haven’t been inked in forever.”

Charlie smirked before sliding slightly into business mode. “Definitely. I would love to give you more ink. Have something particular in mind?” As they spoke, Charlie leaned against the table to survey the dancing crowd. Iann was flaying around a bit, and while Charlie was tempting to join the crowd, they figured they should stay at their paint station a little longer. “God, this is a fun night. We should do this stuff more often.”

Maya made her way towards the bar. She enjoyed watching other people dancing although she really had no intention of joining them at the moment. Taking a sip of her drink she smiled to herself, glad that she’d decided to come out after all.

Ash sipped on his drink, something multi colored and sparkly, befitting the event. “You know I never have anything in mind. If I didn’t tip so well I’d be a terrible client.” He scrunched up his face at the music. “This DJ is Chaotic and I dig it.”

Ruby gave Grace a smile. “I’d like that, thanks.” The fact that people weren’t making a huge deal out of it when she told them helped tremendously. So Ruby let the conversation move on, looking up as the music changed. “Cotton Eye Joe,” Ruby said. “Ephram must be here,” she grinned, looking over as Iann exclaimed out loud.

Grace arched her brow, still in distaste at the choice of song. “Some sort of inside joke?”

“ALRIGHT YA’LL, KEEP IT LIT, YA’LL! QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT B'FORE WE BACK WITH SOME MORE FINE TUNES FOR YA’LL, THE TWISTER BOARD IS UP, ANYONE WHO’S FEELIN’ BENDY, GIT YER SWEET BOOTY RIGHT O'ER THERE AND LET’S SPIN THEM COLORS!” The music dimmed down to something more generic as Ryden made the announcement, giving some more instructions although they weren’t exactly necessary. Then he took a chance while the Twister event was up to take a break, the large screen panel playing a little video in his absence while the playlist rolled on to keep the music going.

Charlie “Chaos is good,” they said. Charlie eyed the bar. “I want to drink, but I also feel like I shouldn’t get shitfaced if–” They paused as Ryden made an announcement. “Scratch that. I’m going to leave the paints here for people to do what they want. I am playing twister.”

“He just… likes the song,” Ruby shrugged. “Oh my gosh… come on… we should play twister.” She tugged Grace by the hand. “I bet Alia would be great at this game. All bendy and stuff.”

Grace was definitely out of her element tonight, but she sighed and let Ruby drag her. “Alia will definitely be better at it than I am…”

Ash snickered and followed Ruby. “Oh, are you tryna play Twister with a naga? Honey, you got a big storm coming…”

Maya turned to have a better view of paint Twister, but didn’t move to join in. Again she had embarrassed herself enough for one day. As she watched she picked up her very pink drink and took a sip from it.

Ruby grinned back at Grace as she let herself be pulled along. She grinned even wider as she saw Ash join their little duo in heading towards twister. “Honey, you might be a naga, but you’ve never played Twister with me.”

Charlie arrived at the paint Twister station totally ready to play. It looked like they weren’t the only one interested in the game, and that meant a lot of opportunities for fun.

Able to take a break now that the Twister competition was up, Ryden headed for the bar where he knew Maya would be waiting. Finding her, he took up a seat next to her. “Phew, the crowd ROCKS t'night, yo~ How you holdin’ up, babe? Havin’ fun?” He waved the bartender over. “Whachoo drinkin’ there?”

Maya glanced over at Ryden as he came to sit next to her at the bar. “I’m good, less freaked out than I thought I might be,” she replied. She shrugged, “Not sure it was on special.”

Ruby stopped at the twister game, looking around to see how many others would be playing. She saw Charlie and gave them a wave. There was Grace and Ash. “No tails,” she said to Ash. “Doesn’t count.”

Charlie nodded. “Definitely. If my tail can’t give me an advantage. You can’t used yours. The rest of us won’t be able to reach the dots if you’re both slithering around like that.”

“Huh.” In the end, Ryden decided to just get a beer. He got drunk once on some questionable liquor when he DJed. Never again. Sitting close so he could easily lean over and talk to Maya, he took a sip. “Don’t like the crowds, huh?”

“What’s the winner get?” Ruby asked, unsure who was going to be calling the game. “Braggin’ rights? Free drinks? Good snog?”

Maya shook her head, “Not when I know a bunch of them. Perks of growing up famous in a small town.” She couldn’t help but sigh. Even though this town was nothing like the one she’d grown up in. And perhaps most importantly she was hardly famous in this town, not the way she had been. “So how long have you been DJing?” she asked, not eager to talk about her past. Especially not when it had caused such an issue earlier.

Charlie “All of the above, pending who wins and how impressed others are?” Charlie suggested.

Ruby laughed out loud. “Sounds good to me.”

Ryden: “I feel ya.” Ryden grinned over the rim of the neon yellow plastic cup that held his beer. “Uhh, ever since I was legal enough ta go to clubs I guess? Happened completely random, turned out I was good at it so I do it occasionally.”

Lilo was bobbing his head in some corner, or the closest he could get to one. He was interested in the dj, werewolf music, but he was beginning to think maybe he was too old for this sort of scene.

Maya added, “Not that I think I’m famous in this town.” She was certain she wasn’t and had no interest in being so. “And that’s younger than here right? In the US you aren’t supposed to be able to go to clubs until you’re 21,” she said supposed to because she had been to a few long before her own 21st birthday.

Ash threw an arm around Ruby’s shoulder with a grin. “Hey beautiful, long time no see.” He scrunched up his face at the no tails rule. “I guess that makes sense. Can’t do right and left leg when you got a tail. But I’ll still win.”

Iann headed out of the washroom, intending to head out for the night but instead collided with a shorter man. “Hey I’m walking her– oh it’s you. Hey Lopez. Uh…welcome back,” Iann added. “You here for the party?” As if Lilo would be here for some other reason. “You don’t strike me as a….Pride kinda guy.”

Ryden: “Hey, I’m a fan, so I guess ya kinna are~” He threw an arm around her. “Well… Legal was a loose term in my case.” He grinned.

“Butterin’ me up won’t make me go easy on you, no matter how sexy you look,” Ruby grinned at Ash. “But its good to see you too. Though there’s no way you’re winnin’ this.”

Lilo was just about shoved to the side when someone shoved him aside. “Ayy, fuck there watch where you are going…” Iann of course– getting a good look at him now, Lilo sighed and regretted his earlier jump to frustration. It was tough being a shorter guy among the giants that seemed to populate Soapberry. “Yeah, hey Iann. I like this party. I mean, what do you mean I don’t seem that kinda guy?”

Maya rolled her eyes, “C'mon there’s three hundred year old vampires and witches with more power than I’ll ever have. I’m just me.” She had to smile as he admitted that he hadn’t exactly been legal either during his early clubbing days. She lifted her glass in a salute, “Yeah, I feel you on that.” Pausing to take a sip she considered for a moment before asking, “So are you going to tell me what was up with you and Fane earlier?”

Cleared his throat over and over, tugging at the collar of his shirt absently. He couldn’t look at Lopez as he replied. “Y'know, I - you just don’t seem like thatkinda…I mean you know. What with. Anyway. Look at that–!” Iann pointed at the giant Twister map, literally a hasty attempt to distract Lilo from the previous topic. “It’s like a game or something. I thought it was just for kids, Twister right? Now that I’m seeing it, I’m thinking maybe it’s better as a game for adults, not kids.”

“But, apparently, their old butts are not as cute~” He gave her a little squeeze with the arm around her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at her question though. “He didn’t talk to ya about it?” He figured he would and Maya would hate him because she got only one side of the story. He sighed. “We had a fallout durin’ that blob thing. I crashed his car and he wrecked Princess. So… yeah.” He didn’t have anything against Fane personally - he didn’t even know the guy - but his attitude was just… rubbing Ryden in all the wrong ways. Wrecking his precious ride aside, the guy just acted so high and mighty, even when Ryden tried to fix things and apologize. So Ryden was just responding to that, although that probably wasn’t the right way to go about it.

Charlie looked around. “Do we have anyone to spin the thing? Seems like everyone over here just wants to play. There needs to be some kind of placement caller.”

Lilo narrowed his eyes trying to make sense of Iann’s words and his discomfort. He almost got it but then his attention directed elsewhere “Oh huh, ayy, yeah that’s twister!” He brightened. “Hah! I remember that at parties, nothing past when I was thirteen though, that was when we thought it was lame and didn’t need some board game excuse to get all kinds of close to somebody. hah, remember those days Iann?”

Iann laughed. “No, I don’t remember. I didn’t have friends. C'mon,” Iann nodded for him and Lilo to approach it if only to watch. He heard Charlie’s question though and raised his hand. “Oh, we’ll announce the spinny thing. What do we have to do?”

“Drat,” Grace said. “I was going to volunteer.” Mostly to get out of playing. “Iann, I think you need help. So many people, we must have two referees…”

Lilo found himself tagging along with Iann again, somehow. Too interested in all the excitement to say no, and now he had a fellow old man with him he felt less like an odd one out. “Oye, didn’t have any friends though?” Just couldn’t let that one go. “Referees? I can do that.”

“My buddy Lopez here can referee, easy. Nah, Your Ladyship, you get to do all that bendy-stuff,” Iann flourished a bow at Grace, smirking all the while.

Lilo blinked at the lady, far more put together then he felt. “Ohh, but uh… I mean I can just watch? I don’t want to get in the way of anyone’s fun.”

“Have you seen all their butts though? Can you really be sure?” Maya asked with a smile. She took another sip from her drink before nodding. “Yeah, we talked about it,” she admitted easily because they had, “But both of you were out of line, so…” She shrugged, not sure how to say that there were at least two sides to every story without it sounding ridiculously cheesy. As she listened to Ryden tell his side she nodded. At the end she sighed, “So, should I just expect you two to antagonize each other whenever you’re in the same room?”

Iann shook his head at Lilo. “Well….not like friends my age. Do Aunts count as that kind of friends? I wouldn’t play Twister with them…but we did play Parcheesi.”

Lilo tried not to look like felt bad for every shitty thing he said to Iann after that question, tried very hard. “Uh, no, aunties count only as Aunties friends. But Parcheesi is nice yeah… Sooo, this twister? Is that paint stuff?”

“We fall, we get paint splattered,” Charlie explained. “It also makes the mat and our limbs slickers, so it’s harder but to keep a good balance.”

“No cheating!” Ruby said to Iann. “No weird positions that you think’re funny.”

“Maaaybe~” But Ryden’s grin faded a bit as Maya insisted on the topic. “Look, I ain’t sayin’ sorry twice. Not a reason why we should be in the same room. Not like you gonna invite me home for dinner or anythin’. I’ll steer clear and keep my mouth shut. Cause whatever, I’m just passin’ by, and he’s yer dad and of course you’ll take his side. So whatever. Let’s just forget about it.” He downed almost half of his beer. “I gotta go take a piss.” Obviously sort of miffed, though not at Maya directly, he stood up.

Iann listened to Charlie’s succinct summary of the rules. “Nice! And I promise, cross my heart and let a werewolf eat it,” Iann crossed his fingers and blinked innocently He spun the thing that spins, just to see if it was working. It spun happily, slowing eventually on a colour and symbol and he called out at random. “Hot pink, right hand!”

Grace exhaled. She didn’t know the person Iann was talking to, but Ruby seemed to really want her to play, so she didn’t push it. “No, I’m sure you’ll both to an impeccable job,” she said, getting ready to get into position.

Iann nodded in agreement at Lilo. “Aunts are only Aunts. Hey - if one of them fucks up, you can throw the paint at them.” Iann looked at the little pots of paint, brightly coloured lined in front of them. This was oddly…comfortable. Iann was surprised, considering he was with Lilo Lopez but this actually wasn’t so bad. “You know hombre, I really thought I’d be more of an asshole to you. But I’m not….hah!” Iann clapped Lilo on the back. “I’m so great.”

“Do you seriously think that?” Maya asked, hurt by the implication, “That I’ll just take his side out of some blind loyalty to family?” She set her drink down.

“Ahah… yeah… that was? Thanks?” Lilo didn’t really know what to make of all this but he nodded at the lady Iann had talked to and the nice person that explained the rules. Looking to see if he could do anything referee like before dipping into whatever was this conversation. “Hah, yeah all that slippery stuff probably not that best for me.” He wiggled his prosthetic leg, not that it didn’t shine brightly under the blacklight already, but people were in all sorts of getups and it was hard to tell.

Charlie knelt to put their hand on the pink circle. It was positively radioactive in the black light. Charlie managed yo position for one of the end circles, which they figured would give them more room to start.

Iann was getting into the logistics of this game now, and earnestly shook his head. “No, you wont have to step onto the Twister board, don’t worry. We’ll…” Iann looked around, then pulled one of the large posters off the wall and lay it on the floor next to the Twister board. “There, that’s where the losers stand when they need to be splashed with paint. All you have to do is take one of these paint sticks, swizzle it about in the paint and just like…fling–” Iann demonstrated, accidentally slapping paint onto Maya’s back. “Whoops! My bad!” he called out to her.

When Charlie got themselves situated on the giant mat, Iann hustled back to the thing and spun it with more gusto this time. To Ruby, he called out, “Left foot, acid green!”

Ryden looked down at her, giving a little shake of his head. “What, you’re actually gonna ask him to be nice to me or somethin’? Psshh. He thinks I’m trash, I’m not stupid. I can figure out that much. I don’t need no one bein’ nice to me cause someone told 'um to. I didn’t do it on purpose, yo! A fuckin’… jello-shot hit me on the head and I was trippin’ balls! But nooo, Ryden’s a jerk, he–” and then Maya got hit by a splash of paint accidentally. Ryden couldn’t help but snort a little. “…. that aim, yo. Dangerous.”

Lilo nodded at Iann’s instruction, looking a bit more serious then he wanted too. When did young people’s fun complicate things so much. “Okay, okay, fling paint. Losers get to stand on the shame poster and get more painted… yeah…”

Some part of Lilo couldn’t help but sort of wish he could get in there and win the challenge, it was sort of a shame for him just to twiddle his paint stick.

Maya stood, “Yeah, actually that’s exactly what I did. And I said that much to him as well. That its hardly fair to blame you for something you did under the influence of magic, but more importantly that he should get over it because you and I are friends.” There had been more to the story she knew from talking to Fane himself, but didn’t feel it was hers to tell. She was distracted from her mini speech by paint hitting her in the back and Iann’s voice calling out an apology. “You owe me a beer Iann,” she called back, not angry with him. Seeing as she’d done the painting herself her back wasn’t as good anyway.

Iann couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. “Shame poster…” he repeated in high amusement, and for a few seconds Iann’s eyes shone with that same level of geeky admiration he’d held for a Lock Lopez, werewolf cholo gangbanger, from over 15 years ago. He had no clue what was really going on in the werewolf’s mind.

“Whew I’ve been out of this scene for a while… you seem to know everybody though Iann. You got a lot a friends now huh?” Lilo nodded at Maya, the girl with more paint on her back who seemed engaged in a very complicated discussion Lilo couldn’t over hear but imagined it made twisting even harder.

Iann nodded congenially about the owed beer for Maya and then shrugged lightly. “I mean, it’s useful to know people,” Iann defaulted to his usual reason. “People are useful and all that.” He looked over at Lilo, “You know me, always on the lookout for an opportunity, hm? You settling back into small-town life okay again? Back at that University daycare?”

Ryden groaned audibly at Maya’s words. Seemed like this will be their first little fight. God, this was so frustrating, this whole situation. “I said, I ain’t sayin’ sorry twice. I like you but I don’t gotta like him and I ain’t gonna.” He said his final words, looking away from her. When it comes to stubbornness, Ryden could rival a mule.

Lilo shrugged. “I mean I am settling in mostly yeah. The team at sprouts is a little miffed I have been gone so long my Ms. Ramsey has my back, she knows what it’s like.” Iann sighed, on the lookout for cheaters who let their hands leave the colors and tired to shrug it off. “Ayy ayy! stay in position now.”

Bella had been in the kitchen for much of the night, and then her office as she was slowly becoming concerned that Ryden had let the party be free - and therefore exceptionally crowded - but finally brought together as much of herself as she could to come downstairs, her platform marc jacobs boots easily lifted by the vampire but admittedly very loud. “What on Earth is happening?” Bellamy asked as she approached the ridiculous twister game that seemed to be happening.

“I’m not asking you to like him, I just…” Maya cut herself off and looked down at the floor. She took a deep breath. “I’m just scared I’m going to lose one of you over it and I don’t want that,” she wished she wasn’t blushing, but since she was she didn’t look up from the floor. “I’m sorry,” she added, “It just really freaked me out.”

Ryden snapped his mouth shut. Again, there was this insufferable pang of guilt he shouldn’t feel. “It’s got nothin’ to do with you, babe. Not yer problem to fix. Don’t worry about it.” He sat back down, deciding not to leave after all, at least not yet. “Hey…” He pinched the tip of her chin, trying to lift her head up. “We’re cool. Ain’t the first daddy who tried to chase me away. But I’m like an undead cockroach. I keep comin’ back~ No matter how big his slipper is. He can swat at me all he wants.”

Iann was impressed by Lilo’s referee vigilance, clearly he was the right person for the job. “If you couldn’t do that, what would you do instead?” Iann asked, trying not to make that sound like an interrogative question an older brother might ask the fiancee of his younger sister. Nothing like that at all. He could almost hear Bellamy before he saw her, in those shoes, and turned to goggle at her. “Belle! Hey! It’s giant Twister…wait. You didn’t plan this?” Iann asked, somewhat in shock. He assumed all of the events in Erzebet’s was planned or at least authorized by her.

Lilo clammed up, fortunately the big lady boss arrived just in time for him to avoid answering life and career questions. Unfortunately he felt as if he was now caught red–hot pink–handed doing something in the bar that wasn’t sanctioned.

Bella shook her head at Iann and pointed over to Ryden who seemed to be dealing with some kind of personal thing, way too intense for her to be willing to approach. “Ryden’s idea. Do you really think my idea of a party would be giant twister and paint? If I had planned things it would involve much less clean up after. But how could I say no to a puppy?” Really whatever Lilo was doing didn’t bother her though. Lilo was perfectly sweet and it amused her that he and Iann had such an odd relationship.

Lilo: “Ayy, uh, hello Ms. Miss… Bellamy. You know if you need help cleaning up after I mean… I did accidentally fling some paint around. I would feel bad just leaving it this way.”

Iann waggled Lilo’s shoulder to reassure the werewolf, because he looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Ahhhh I don’t know. I don’t know what you kids find fun these days,” Iann teased Bellamy. Lilo piped up then and Iann motioned to him. “Look at that! What a good guy. Looks like you got all the puppies eager to get in your favour, mija.”

Maya spoke softly, “I know.” The not worrying she wasn’t particularly good at, but she could try at least. She let him tilt her chin up, still blushing and feeling stupid and guilty for making it about her. She nodded, “Okay. But can you not call him daddy? It kind of makes me want to vomit and no one wants that.”

“Oh no, obviously Ryden will solely clean this all up,” Bella joked, giving a little giggle as she cuddled herself in the furs she wore. “Why was paint being flung around though? Did I miss something?” she questioned before batting her eyelids. “I am obviously the mother of wolves, all adore me, as I like it.” Lilo obviously didn’t but she enjoyed the light playfulness.

Cassie double checked the posters about DJ Howl before ending up at Erzebet’s. It was busy on a good night, but it had a totally different vibe with the party going on. She could hear the music and feel the vibrations just from standing outside. She took a deep breath and entered. Cassie squeezed between people, glad to see that a fair amount of people were on stage playing some sort of weird twister. Lilo, and several other people she recognized were there. “Having fun?” She called out to specific person in particular.

Ryden: “BWAHAHA okay, yeah, it kind of grosses me out too, just did it cause it annoyed him~” Cause at least Ryden made if very obvious that he was not a mature adult and was very up front about it. Looking up, he noticed that Bellamy was in the house now. “Gotta report to the boss, babe. Be right back.” He scooted away, going through the crowd to reach the teal puff of fur that was Bellamy. “Yoooo~ And here’s our gorgeous host~ Heya baby girl~ Lookin’ goood!”

Lilo laughed awkwardly at Bellamy’s joking. “I mean we flung things, only at the losers though…” Then his eyes were drown over to the door, he couldn’t quite make out what Cassie was saying over the music and the multitudinous conversations but he waved from where he was at the stage. Hoping his bright smile was enough.

Bella raised her brows as Ryden approached, a little amused by his sudden arrival. “We’re the hosts,” she smiled, the skeletal make-up on her face looking exceptionally odd as her own perfectly pearl teeth came through. “Who are both exceptionally beautiful,” Bella assured. “But standing next to Iann aren’t we all?” she teased her Pa. “As long as they were losers,” Bellamy said, turning to see what he was looking at and smiling as she saw Cassie’s dark tendrils in their beautiful curls. “The attack must have been warranted.”

Maya rolled her eyes at his admission. She picked up her drink too, taking a sip from it. “Fine, go be responsible, see if I care,” she replied, smiling again. As for herself she decided to stay at the bar for a few more minutes. She needed at least one to gather herself.

“BWAHAHAHA right, right~” Ryden barked out a laugh, the bottom part of his own skull make up kind of matching Bellamy’s. “Ya’ll guys havin’ fun?” He asked other people gathered there. “Hi Cass~” He gave the she-wolf a little wave.

“Uh I think everyone’s done for the night,” Iann said, when he realized he hadn’t spun the thing in a while. “Unless you guys want to start a new game, I guess.”

Lilo waved again a little bashfully and leaned in close to Iann. “Oye, cabron. Who the heck is that guy in the skull makeup that seems to know Cassie?”

“What other games are there?” Bellamy asked, looking to Ryden for a suggestion while they all waited for Cassie to approach their small collective.

“Full body paint on the stage, color wars aaaand unicorn jello shots drinkin’ game~” Ryden updated Bellamy real quick.

Maya walked over to the game of Twister after a moment. She stood next to Iann and asked, “So, how’s the game Master Spinner?”

“Unicorn shots!” Bella happily requested, linking arms with the large wolf and giving him a grin. “Are they just unicorn in colour and sparkliness or magic too? Iann have some with us. I hardly ever get to see you drunk.”

“Hello! Hi! My name is Lilo nice to meet you. I am Iann’s friend Lilo.” He smiled and extended his hand to Maya as an introduction, trying to be more cheery than awkward. He really was off his game lately.

Iann’s eyes flicked from Ryden to Lilo. “That lobo. Eso es Ryden,” Iann replied to Lilo. “He’s just a kid,” he supplied, but then again maybe Ryden was older than Cassie? Iann couldn’t be sure, werewolves’ aged differently. He looked down at Maya, and wiped a hand down her back. “At least it washes off. I think. Apparently Ryden was in charge of this, not Bellamy. You know Bellamy would look after details like that but Ryden’s like - ” Then Lilo barged in and Iann grinned, getting a weird vicious glee from Lilo’s awkwardness. He was usually so cool and social, ha ha sucker. “This is Maya, this is Lopez. Lilo, Lilo Lopez.”

“I got no clue~ But I caught a glimpse and they sure look pretty~” Rydenadmitted, tucking Bella’s arm more comfortably under his.

Cassie hurried to the stage when she got not only a wave from Lilo but a greeting from…Ryden. She just needed to get a little bit closer to realize it was him. “Hi!” She waved, speaking a little bit louder than normal. She smiled at Bellamy, standing closer to her when she first stepped up towards the group wrapping up their Twister, “Unicorn shots? They don’t have actual unicorn do they?” She asked playfully, somewhat laughing at herself. “I bet I could win a drinking game.” Cassie mused.

Iann looking over at Bellamy, Iann shook his head. “Oh hell no, I’m not drinking tonight, mija. Go get drunk! I’ll hold your hair back when you’re puking and Ryden’s singing ABBA in the bathtub, totally plastered.”

Maya shrugged, “I’m sure I’ll figure it out. And if all else fails, magic,” she replied, not worried about the paint Iann had gotten splattered about her other than to tease him about it. When Lilo introduced himself she smiled back, “Name’s Maya.” She switched her drink to her other hand in order to shake Lilo’s hand. “Nice to meet you too,” she added.

Miguel had been doing his behind the scenes things. But people were playing now and he didn’t need to be behind a table or ushering people anywhere. So when he was Iann having fun and hangout out with people he figured he might as well go say hello. Miguel walked up to the group a little nervously, he was in his blue and pink T-shirt that said “trans dad” on it - hawthorn has given it to him to thank him for helping with the event. “Hey! Iann and friends.”

“How exactly are they a drinking game then?” Bellamy asked, before happily smiling at Cassie, glad the werewolf woman felt happy being close to her. After baking breast cakes together they were definitely friends. “Oh, don’t get Iann started about unicorns, they couldn’t possibly because according to him they don’t exist. But hee should drink anyway,” she said, frowning at him that he’d said no. “Doctor!” she let out with a grin when Miguel arrived, squeezing Ryden’s arm in the process.

“Unicorns do not exist!!” Iann called out randomly, only because he heard the word unicorn and felt compelled to proclaim this. “Hey Miguel - wait.” Iann read the t-shirt a couple times over. “Ayyyy I didn’t know you were a father! Unless you mean you’re a daddy in which case that’s none of my business.”

“Excuse you, old man, I sing Bonnie Tyler when plastered.” Ryden glanced down at Bella. “Oh, ya get your hands tied behind your back and ya get timed how many ya can drink without spillin~”

Miguel chuckled and waved, still a little sheepish. At least he recognized her and the man on her arm. “Bellamy,” he said with a nod. “Student,” he said at the young wolf whose name he never actually got.

“Or is it his business?” Bellamy winked at Miguel, smirking happily. “I can definitely do more shots than you without spilling, even if I was human I could drink you under the table,” she assured. “Anyone else want to join?” Bella asked, figuring they’d have to move closer to the bar to give the game a go.

“Holy shit, abuelo do you ever shut up?” Miguel rolled his eyes but playfully pushed his body into Iann’s side. “Hawthorn made it for me. Because I’m a dad friend or a father figure I guess.” He was blushing just a little.

“Wait, if we’re playing a drinking game I’m 100% in,” Maya piped up.

“Iann’s too grumpy for drinks.” Cassie crinkled her nose at Iann after he refused the idea. Not that it shocked her or anything. Cassie didn’t drink, but she really never saw Iann drink either. She laughed openly again when Ryden explained the drinking game. It was very college-esque. But then, Cassie had never taken part of it. “I’ll give it a whirl.” Cassie shrugged.

“Oh sorry, Bright Eyes,” Iann called out to Ryden, then motioned at Maya. “Hey that’s the spirit, all of you drink and I’ll referee, go on.” And when Cassie volunteered to join in, Iann was truly surprised. “Cassandra Margaret Germaine!”

“Unicorns do exist…” Ruby said to herself, though she would never convince Iann even though she and Alia had SEEN one. “They do exist Iann!!”

“Hi doc~” Ryden snorted at the 'student’ part, looking down at Bellamy to explain and kind of brag. “I been doin’ my homework~” But then he had to wiggle out of Bella’s grasp. “Ya’ll, gotta pass on this, I’m workin. You have fun, mmkay?”

Lilo had taken a step back from the conversation once introducing himself to Maya, wouldn’t want to be rude, but he sort of just enjoyed being around people and talking again. Leirsurely and friendly like, he missed this. “Ayyy, that is my beautiful wife! Ah, almost wife.” He smiled at Cassie enjoying herself.

“Dad friend, okay okay,” Iann chuckled at Miguel, waving him forward too. “I’ll accept that. Hawthorn knows how to treat a parent-figure.” He whirled and wagged a finger at Ruby. “They do not exist!”

“You have to work?” Bella raised a brow. “Fine, be responsible.” She rolled her eyes before happily attaching herself to Cassie, grabbing Maya with her other arm. “We shall have to show the boys how it is done as they are all clearly aware we’ll beat them.”

“Laaaaaame,” Maya replied when Ryden excused himself on the reason of work, imitating perfectly the tone of voice with which Ryden had earlier mocked Iann. She didn’t say more than that about it though.

Ruby hung back from the game, pulling up a seat beside Iann. Not because she didn’t want to play, but because she didn’t want any lingering awkwardness between herself and Bellamy to make the game weird. “They do exist…” she said again to Iann. “But not like you think. Ask Alia…”

Freddie wandered up, already slightly tipsy - fairy biology at its finest - just in time to hear his partner admonish his ex-wife, and he sighed dramatically. “Are we on unicorns again? Or is this something new you don’t believe in?”

Lilo nodded at the newcomer Miguel. “Oye! Sorry friend,” he moved forward to shake Miguel’s hand. “I’m Lilo, Lilo Lopez. Iann’s friend.” Sort of, mostly less antagonistic these days but that was better left out especially in front of Cassie.

Charlie remained crouched as they waited for everyone to take their turn. “I’ve heard a lot of big talk. Can any of you live up to it?”

Miles This sort of party was definitely outside of Miles’ comfort zone. He didn’t think he’d been to a party like this since college, and even then this was definitely ten times more intense than any of the college parties he’d been to. Not to mention so many people had face paint or glitter or overall strange outfits and hairstyles, and the lights were strobing and there was either a smoke machine or someone was throwing powdered paint in the air. He pushed his way through a throng of dancing people, trying to find a familiar face.

Lilo slapped Iann on the chest, lightly and with the back of his hand. “Ayy, spin the spinner guy. People are waiting to win.”

Iann harrumphed. “I already talked to Alia and all amount of talking ain’t gonna make them any more real. It’s not that I don’t believe you, Ruby,” Iann said in an indulgent way, smirking at her. He pulled a chair backwards and hunkered down on it beside Ruby. “It’s that I don’t believe any of you wishful thinking delusional liars. And I mean that in the nicest way, I swear!”

Miguel shook his hand and grinned. So that was his other werewolf neighbor, and the other Chicano Iann has mentioned. Miguel just had to wink at him. “You’re the other Chicano in Soapberry Iann mentioned. We’re neighbors!”

“Freddie!” Ruby grinned, reaching over and snagging his arm to pull him closer. “Tell him unicorns exist. I saw one, remember? Telll him and he’ll believe you,” she mock whispered. Which was meant to be a real whisper but failed.

Cassie nodded in agreement with Bellamy, “That’s right. Lilo!” She called turning back to see him still lingering with Iann and Miguel, she was going to ask if he wanted to come watch but seemed well distracted. She leaned in and told Bellamy, “They’re clearly intimidated.”

Freddie’s mouth fell open in mock offense, and then he laughed, the drink in his hand sloshing a little. “Oi - I’m a very grounded liar, I’ll have you know…” He felt a hand on his arm and stumbled a bit as he was tugged sideways, but lit up when he saw who the hand belonged to. “Hello, love,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek, “You look gorgeous…” But he shook his head. “He won’t,” he said firmly, “Iann’s bound and determined to think they’re a fairy story…” Freddie grinned again. “As opposed to a fairy reality.”

Iann watched Miguel and Lilo talking and it felt weird to see them, but not in a bad way. Just in a way that suddenly felt like strings being pulled from the back of his throat. But then a tipsy fairy tottered over looking all sparkly and cute, as Ruby pulled Freddie closer. “I won’t believe anyone, I keep telling you! Some people don’t believe in ghosts though. Now that - that is absolutely loco.”

“I mean why wouldn’t they be? Lilo and Iann are obviously total light weights,” Bella agreed with Cassie. Freddie being tipsy and approaching was almost enough to distract the vampire when Miles showed up, likely unable to recognise her with the make-up adoring her face, but not quite enough. “Miles!” she screamed with excitement, letting go of the two women she had attached herself to and grabbing him, pulling him towards the collective. “You’re not working!” she beamed happily, planting a black lipped kiss on his own.

“Are we?” Lilo smiled in surprise. “Well I should be more neighborly It would have been nice to meet another Chicano! All I’ve had to deal with was this guy.” He nodded back to Iann, teasing the man as he got deep into unicorn discourse.

“I’m sorry we haven’t met sooner then.” Miguel rolled his eyes in Iann’s general direction. “Abuelo, unicorns exist. I had to lure one, slay it, and use its blood, bones, and horn for a spell when I was a preteen.”

Bellamy dropped Maya’s arm when a man that Maya did recognize came up to the group. It seemed they might not actually get to the drinking game. She wasn’t too worried about that though. Instead she was content to listen as Iann argued that unicorns were by no means real. Given his knowledge about the supernatural she was liable to believe him. Of course it wasn’t particularly pressing as far as issues went.

Grace had eliminated herself from the twister as soon as possible and managed to avoid any paint baths with stern glares and quick movement. She started mingling again, noticing immediately when Freddie had walked into the room thanks to his very Freddie energy. “Where are your short-shorts?” she asked, tssking.

“Nooo, no tell me you are joking.” Lilo was aghast at Miguel, fully forgetting what he’d been up to as a teenager. His eyes darting this way and that, distracted a bit by all the colorful outfits to get a good read on the crowd.

Cassie blinked at Bellamy’s sudden burst of excitement but quickly found the source. Miles. She’d spoken about him before, and Cassie smiled with a silent little wave that he may or may not have seen. Cassie was glad to know him and Bella were still doing well. “Are you going to come watch us drink unicorn shots?” Cassie called to Miles next.

Ruby looked back at Iann, the motion jostling Freddie where she still had her hand wrapped around his arm. “You’re like… fucking Mulder but without the… I wanna believe part. I’m gonna… bring you a unicorn and then… theeeeeen you’ll believe me.” She pointed at Iann, though her aim was off and she ended up pointing out into the crowd a bit.

Lilo will forever live with the shame he missed Grace with the loser’s paint and accidentally hit two innocent party-goers as she darted out of the way I am sure.

Freddie turned when he heard Grace’s voice in his ear, and grinned at her. “Wore them earlier, didn’t I?” he teased. “Thought I’d show off some other assets tonight.” He leaned in and bussed her cheek. “You, however, put me to shame, you gorgeous thing. How are you?”

Grace wrapped Freddie in a hug, kissing his cheek as was her usual greeting. “And what wonderful assets they are. Were you in the parade?”

“We’ll play with just girls,” Bellamy said to Cassie as Miles said he would watch, figuring that was a fine enough reason for Miles to join the rest of the men in not attending. “Maya you still going to join? Ruby?” she asked, looking towards the other woman she didnt know, they all seemeed pretty focused on Iann’s discussion about unicorns existing or not though and Bella didn’t want to insert herself too much with Freddie there, especially since it was such a rare occasion they were at the same event.

In the sea of smells and sounds, Miles barely registered that someone had called out to him, but realized fairly quickly that Bellamy had grabbed him and dragged him towards a group of moderately familiar people, “Yeah, I got someone to cover my beat,” he returned her kiss with a smile, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He nodded his head at Cassie as she waved, and said a quick, “How’s it going?” As a general greeting. “Unicorn shots? I didn’t think that sort of thing existed, but sure, I’ll watch.”

Iann made it like he was listening keenly to Miguel’s claim of knowing a unicorn, nodding in interest until he proclaimed, “Nope, you were fooled by a fake-corn.” He grinned when Rubby said she’d bring one to him, rubbing his hands in glee. “Ahhhh now we’re talking! Bring me a unicorn. Because you know the mere presence of me next to a unicorn would supposedly cause it huge agony. That’d be hilarious.”

Freddie laughed. “I was a bit, yeah. It was smaller than I’m used to, but good fun all the same.” He winked. “Bit of magic in the air makes all the difference. Did you and Alia attend?”

Maya nodded, “Yeah, I’m still in.” This was especially true seen as she had nothing to add on the subject of the realness or lack of when it came to unicorns. Plus she had been in plenty of drinking contests at Pride in New York and saw them as part of the fun.

Charlie almost slipped and fell as they maneuvered on the Twister mat. The group was getting smaller, but it was also becoming more entangled as they continued to play.

“Ayy, gee Iann you are such a stand-up guy.” Lilo raised his eyebrows, giving Miguel a nod, then peered out to wave at Freddie. “Oye amigo! You look shiney and good. Having a fun time?”

Cassie rolled her eyes at the group huddled debating unicorns. It had been a joke when she asked, but apparently the topic was too hot to let be. “Okay, but do you have any idea what kind of alcohol it is?” Cassie asked Bella, wanting to know at least somewhat she should expect. She waved Maya over silently so the girl wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.

Miles leaned his head to kiss Bella’s cheek, but she had so much makeup on and he didn’t want to mess up what no doubt took hours to accomplish, so he planted the kiss to the top of her head and whispered into her ear, “You look beautiful.” Then he responded to Cassie suddenly, “No no no, you’re not supposed to know what sort of alcohol it is! That defeats the purpose of getting drunk.”

Ruby smiled as Freddie saw her and gave her a kiss. He seemed a bit drunk, which was hard for him to achieve, but seemed happy. That was good. Happy was good. For everyone. “You look beautiful too. And you have to convince him because it’s true.” Grace came to greet Freddie them and she turned to Iann as the two embraced. “What do I get if I bring you a unicorn? Oh… yeah, sure. Okay…” Ruby was a bit unsure as she got up, snapping h er fingers at Iann and gesturing between the two of them with an 'i’m watching you’ gesture before going over to the game.

Charlie wiped out and completely biffed it, smearing paint all over their white pants. That had been the goal, though, and it wasn’t the first paint smears of the night. They stood up and looked around. Spotting Iann and a few others in a clump, Charlie headed over. “What mischief are we causing over here?”

Ruby squeezed in beside Maya, looking around to see what they’d be drinking. She was good with tequila, not so good with whiskey and vodka.

Cassie smiled somewhat lopsidedly at Miles when she scoffed, “What? They could serve me rubbing alcohol and what fun is that!” She raised her hands in defeat though, “But fine, to be fair you don’t have to tell me.”

Bella happily leaned against Miles side, pulling his arms so they were wrapped around her middle. The whisper in her ear making her cheeks grow with a flushing, especially since in their environment at least half the people could still hear what he’d said with some kind of supernatural hearing. “Exactly!” she agreed with her partner. “Plus Ryden didn’t mention anything beyond unicorn and he was sort of in charge of this thing. It’s definitely not poisonous…” she rolled off. “You know, beyond alcohol being generally alcoholic.” With that Bellamy dragged Miles over to the bar, assuming anyone who wanted to join would follow, requesting one of the bartenders to line up a bunch of the shots.

Grace had another drink in her hand, probably her third or fourth that night. She wasn’t drunk, but she was in a pleasant and relaxed mood, in spite of the crazy music that had been playing. Definitely not her usual taste. “We were! We had a lovely time. I saw Ephram around.”

Ruby silently wondered if she would have any sort of…. pre-shift advantage over anyone. That would be neat, her brain though idly. "Iann should play because he DOESN’T BELIEVE and how can you get drunk off somethin’ you don’t believe in…“

Freddie realised belatedly that someone was waving at him, and, squinting slightly, not entirely sure who it was, he waved back. Though when he noticed the wolf on the bloke’s shirt, and the word 'amigo’ finally permeated, the fairy smiled broadly, no longer confused. "Lilo! Hello, darling,” he called. “It’s been ages…” Freddie glanced down at his bare chest, gleaming silver, and smirked. “And I suppose I am a bit shiney, yeah - but it’s been a good day. Good party, too. What about you, love? Having fun? Where’s your missus got to?”

Cassie followed right behind Bellamy and Miles taking a seat at the bar and adjusting her dress before she leaned an elbow on the table. “So what did Ryden say? Whoever drinks the fastest? And I guess whoever falls off their stool last wins?” Cassie went to clarify.

“Magic is mostly belief,” Miguel said with a smirk. “I’ll play if Iann plays.”

Miles wasn’t too sure what sort of unicorn conversation was going on in the sidelines, but he laughed as Ruby tried to convince Iann to join their proposed drinking game. “The shots seem real enough but I doubt there’s any actual unicorn essence in them.” He helped hand them out but he, of course, wasn’t going to partake himself.

Maya made her way over to the bar. She flashed the bartender a thank you smile. “I think it was most shots without spilling in some amount of time,” she replied, “Oh and no hands.” As she said the last part she put her hands behind herself as if they were being cuffed. She didn’t sit though. Standing gave her a better angle.

“Uh huh! Yeah I feel like I haven’t seen you since the ring thing! That worked real well tho!” Lilo smiled and pointed to the love of his life Cassie who was barreling forward into a drinking contest to get herself plastered as all get out. He sighed, a bit stary-eyed, “Ay there she is, about to drink this bar under the table, or fall right on her face.”

“Iann doesn’t believe in unicorns,” Ruby said to the person she didn’t know. “He’s just chicken I think…”

Freddie beamed at the mention of his husband. “Did you? I haven’t found him yet. He had some police business that needed seeing to,” the fairy smirked, “-so seeing to me will have to wait for a bit.”

“You drink for me, hermano,” Iann said to Miguel, and laughed when Ruby called him out. “I am a chicken! Look guys - the sky is falling down!”

“Exactly what Maya said,” Bellamy nodded, knowing that it was at least the three of them and Miles watching. He wasn’t exactly an unbiased judge. “Anyone else?” she asked, checking to see if Ruby and Miguel were joining them.

“Oh…” Cassie nodded along with Maya, placing her hands behind her as well and looking to the other women along the bar to know when to start.

“I’m in,” Ruby said.

Miguel shrugged. He had done his work for the day. Might as well have a little fun. And he was a sucker for alcohol. “Alright I’m in.” He stood next to Bella with his hands behind his back.

Lilo turned to look back, nodding at Miguel’s answer, and addressing Freddie directly. “I am having tons of fun… uh.. I seem to be under-dressed though.” He looked down in regards to his radical wolf tee and khaki shorts. “Everyone else seems so prepared for this, uh, pride thing.”

Charlie sat down beside them ready to go. “Count me in for strange drinking games. Just explain to me what we’re doing.“

Miles clapped Iann’s shoulder, "Guess we’ll be the sober judges.”

“Miles? Miles! You look so…” Iann looked the man up and down. “…Straight.”

“Iann come drink and you can video me next week in your cave pit…” Ruby had no idea how that might sound to others that didn’t know the details, but she really coudln’t be arsed to care.

“Shocker of shockers…he might possibly be…straight,” Bellamy turned to Iann with wide eyes before nudging Miguel. “You’ll let me win right? To curry favour with Iann? I am his prized child.”

Miles nodded, “What clued you in? Is it the jeans?”

Freddie clapped Lilo reassuringly on the shoulder. “There isn’t a dress code for Pride, love,” he smiled - albeit a little drunkenly. “I promise you’re fine.” The fairy grinned. “Though I can glamour you something a bit sparklier if you like.”

The bartender gave each of the players a myriad of the glittering unicorn themed shots, enough for each to make it through the minute with more to spare. Looking to Iann and Miles the bartender counted down, girls putting hands behind their back. Finally he let out a “Go!” and the game began.

Lilo laughed, a bit bashfully out of his normal character. “I mean, I’m good. Thank you for the sparkle offer but really. I mean, I’m fine not drawing too much attention to myself. But hey, aren’t you sparly enough to rub off on everyone tonight?” He joked back to Freddie, slowly edging closer to the bar to see his fiance compete.

Grace nodded. “I think he was in uniform, or at least a version of it.” Not that they seemed to have needed the police so far. The town was pretty chilled out. Even the almost fight between Fane and Ryden hadn’t escalated to anything involving violence.

Ruby leaned over and wrapped her lips around the shot glass, stopping the flow of brightly colored liquid with her tongue as she tipped her head back and swallowed. Christ it was sweet. She sat the glass back down and moved on to the next, repeating the motion one after the other.

Charlie grabbed the first one and nearly gagged just from how sweet it was. They’d been expected sweet with a name like unicorn, but maybe not that sweet. With only a momentary pause, they grabbed the next to keep drinking.

“Ruby, I am drinking, technically,” Iann said, nabbing some club soda from the bartender. “So now I get to film you in the sinkhole. Booyah.”

At the sound of go Maya picked up the first few shots with her teeth and easily tilted them back into her mouth. On the third one though, the glass slipped out of her mouth and shattered across the bar. Luckily they were spread out enough that the flying shards only injured her. But she did get sliced by a piece under her rainbow bandeau. “Oh fuck,” she said, immediately making sure that it wasn’t stuck in there. “First aid kit?” she asked the bartender.

Muscle memory from med-school kicked in and Miguel started drinking shots like a well oiled machine.

Miles grabbed a wad of napkins from the bartop when one of the shot glasses fell and broke with a shatter. “Careful there,” he offered the napkins to the younger woman.

“Whoa whoa whoa! What kind of violent game is this??” Iann said, because he hadn’t really understood the game until one of the glasses shattered and Maya was asking for a first-aid kit. “Miguel’s a doctor. But also maybe this isn’t the best game for increasingly drunk people to play if one of you is gonna start bleeding for it. No game’s worth that,” Iann intoned in surprise.

Lilo began enthusiastically clapping his hands. “Whoo! Go Cassie! Ay! Show them how a real lobo drinks. I am behind you and I will hold your hair all night mi tesoro.”

Ruby nearly lost her third shot as well. Her tongue was tingling from the sheer volume of sweetness. Which was perhaps a bit ironic considering the unicorn she’d seen had been a half-rotten, zombieish sorta thing. On her fifth one, she looked over to see the new face keeping up with her and the others.

Maya waved off Iann’s concern, “Don’t worry about it. I’m just a dumbass.” She took the man she could only guess was Bellamy’s boyfriend with a “Thanks,” and started cleaning up after herself. It was a shallow cut, certainly not the worst she’d had. Mostly she just felt annoyed that she was the first one out of the game.

Cassie was careful with the first shot glass, but as soon as the alcohol poured over her tongue and she realized how sweet the concoction was she smiled to herself, moving faster and a little more confident with the other shots handed out. It was almost like liquified sugar, and that Cassie could handle. Lilo’s cheering definitely helped too.

Freddie nodded, a small smile playing on his lips at the thought of Ephram in uniform - even today’s rather whimsical version of it. “He can’t be too far off,” he said, “I heard Cotton Eye Joe play not long ago, and I’d bet my arse that he’s the reason why.” Glancing around for a moment, he turned back to Grace. “Is Alia here somewhere too, love?”

If Ruby could drink Ephram’s moonshine, she could drink more of this unicorn fizzy sugary… stuff. She had a hell of a sweet tooth, but seven shots in was making her doub herself. She didn’t feel sick, but as she looked over at Cassie and saw the progress the woman was making, Ruby didnt know if she could keep up.

Iann looked over at the bartender, not convinced that Maya being a 'dumbass’ prevented danger. He knew the bartender was a witch and so Iann asked, “Hey, can you charm these glasses not to break? And do you know a healing spell?” The bartender nodded and used a few spells to clean up the shards as well as break-proof the glasses.

Grace glanced at Ruby. Whatever she was drinking was incredibly intoxicating. “Hm, yes. Ruby said he must have something to do with it… An inside joke?”

Miles helped the bartender clear up the broken shot glass and wipe down the bartop. “Damn Bellamy, you go babe!” He cheered her on as she knocked back shot after shot.

“Whoo! Magic! Pride! Drinking!” Lilo was getting a bit too enthusiastic getting wrapped up in all the excitement.

“Oh my god I thnk I’ve got diabetes…” Ruby said as she took a small breath before readjusting her stance and wrapping her mouth around the next glass. IT went down smooth and she coughed just a little bit as she put the glass back down.

“Maybe we should line up some water after this,” Miles wondered aloud.

Charlie picked up the next glass without really looking and didn’t quite get a good grasp on it. “Shit!” they said as they almost dropped it. Thankfully Charlie managed to catch it before it hit the counter, but it still spilled everyone. “Guess that’s me.” They’d had enough that the sugar was threatening to overwhelming them, but the alcohol hadn’t quite hit yet. Not hard anyway.

Bella was drinking rather easily, she didn’t exactly have a technique so much as she was acting how she did as a teenager, and admittedly she loved sugary sweet things as Miles had seen from the dessert spreads she had done, still she smiled happily as he cheered, wishing she could nudge the wolf and share a happy moment they had two wolf-dads egging them on.

Lilo clapped his hands on this guy Miles’ back. “Water! That is such a good idea amigo! Party, but with responsibility and smartness- uh, niceness. you know what I mean. being responsible.” Lilo smiled again and nodded to a bartender to get a club soda of his own. “This is a wild drinking game. I got to say when I was a kid there were no unicorns. It was just beer and liquor and the game was to see who got drunk quickest.”

Miguel’s soft baby esophagus started to get worked up and he made a really terrible noise before running to the bathroom.

After a bit, your mouth and throat just sorta go numb, so as the contestant got weedled down one by one, Ruby wondered if she just might be able to win despite most of her talk being of the smack variety. Though if she /did/ lose, at least she was technically human against a wolf and a vamp as the only other guy that was left suddenly made tracks.

“Ooooh, eeeeh,” Lilo sucked in air through his teeth sympathetically as he watched Miguel run to the bathroom. Practically hearing the rough noise of defeat.

Iann burst out laughing. “Miguel!! Are you okay?!”

Freddie laughed, shooting a glance at his ex-wife. “Sort of,” he chuckled. “For whatever reason, that horrible song always puts Ephram in the mood - so, now it rather puts me in the mood too.” The fairy rolled his eyes at himself. “But let’s have another drink, yeah? And then you can tell me something mortifying about yourself in order to level the playing field again.”

Cassie side-glanced over at Bellamy down the bar and arched a brow with a curled grin at the corner of her mouth. It was just short of smug, but in competitions Cassie could get cocky and she and Bella were doing well.

“Yeah, water’s a good idea,” Maya agreed with a hopeful nod to the bartender. Satisfied that she wasn’t bleeding too much she turned her attention to the remaining contestants. A moment later she had a water glass and this one she was more cautious with. She drank nearly half of it in one go though, knowing that the sugar would make her hangover that much worse.

Miles nodded pointedly at the man who had been cheering on Cassie, “Yes, exactly! It was just plain ol’ vodka shots or tequila shots back in my day.” He sounded like an old man. Then one of the contestants made a strangled sort of noise and ran off, to where he assumed the bathroom was. “He’s going to need to eat something. Maybe get some food going around after this too.”

Bella’s idea of…well, not really having a technique didn’t work out for her. Picking up the glass and the scent of blood in the air finally hitting her nose her fangs descended and the glass slipped from her mouth, happily bouncing off with the bartenders spell before she laughed and turned to Miles. “Do you have a glass of water for me to help my awful breath?”

Grace didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe, so she did a mixture of both. “Oh, bloody hell. That’s hilarious.” She glanced around at what she could only assume was a drinking game going on. “Can fairies hold their booze?”

Surprisingly, Bellamy fell out of the game, leaving just Ruby and Cassie. She glanced over at the other woman who was doing shots like they were water. There were worse ways to lose. “Can I get a kiss if I beat you?” she asked Cassie as she turned back another shot.

Miguel walked back to the game slowly, running his face with paper towel. He felt gross. It was so easy to make him vomit, and it was getting worse as he got older. He should have known better than to play a drinking game. “I’m okay,” he said and then leaned on Iann.

Lilo excitedly clapped again. “Ayy, I mean. Like greasy food yeah? Food like that is good for drinking right friend?” Lilo nodded over at Miles, happy to induct more people into his growing circle of friendships this night.

Charlie reached around Maya to grab another glass of water for themself. It was definitely a good idea, but they figured it was too little too late to stop a hangover. Starving off the worst of it seemed like a positive note, though, so they gulped down the water and asked the bartender for more. They were still in “speed mode” from the shots.

“You poor thing,” Iann said sympathetically, and handed Miguel a glass of water. “You need anything else papito? We can go get some fries after this or something.” Iann always liked downing boatloads of crappy food after his old drinking binges.

Iann nudged Charlie as well, “Honestly my money was on you.”

Maya “Did someone say fries?” Maya asked, turning in the direction of Iann’s voice, “We should definitely get fries.”

“Yes man, gotta get some shit fries or some chips and dip.” Miles’ attention was distracted though as Bellamy lost her grip on her shot. “Yes baby,” he grabbed a filled glass of water off the bartop for her. “You did good.”

Charlie blinked in surprise before a grin spread across their face. “I mean I am great, but I have to admit this isn’t really my typical. I’m all about the scene, but I tend to be more easygoing with my drinks. Give me a glass of scotch over this marathon of sugar any day.”

“Papito comiendo papitos,” Miguel said with a chuckle. “Please. I need the salt.” He grabbed one of the many bottles of water and drank it slowly.

Freddie laughed and shook his head. “Not even a little. Fairies are the first ones under the table-” he winked, “-and under the host.” Freddie laughed again, his tipsiness shining through a little more strongly. “Or at least I am, any road. Whereas vampires, I know, barely feel a thing.” His eyes sparkled. “Unless you’re the exception to the rule.”

Bella took the glass from Miles, sipping it gently. “Ah well, I’m exceptionally beautiful, I can lose at other things,” Bellamy shrugged, wrapping a free arm around his middle and leaning onto him. “You guys getting burgers?” she asked the collective of Dad-Bros.

"Fries it is! I know a great place that uses beef tallow. Or like…something vegan if you’re vegan or whatever.“ Iann nodded at Charlie. "Yeah, the sugar is really what kills, these drinks are nuts. Come get fries!”

Cassie was sort of startled to see Bellamy drop out of the game and looked over at Ruby when the other woman spoke to her. Cassie didn’t know what to say. Her mouth hung open for a moment and all she could say was “Uh…” Before she tried to take another shot, but now Cassie was unsure of herself, and the glass slipped spilling alcohol out on the bar and it trickled down onto the skirt of her dress. Cassie jumped up wiping at it frantically, “Shit, shit.” She hissed before running off to clean it in the bathroom.

Ruby hadn’t intended what she said to distract Cassie, but apparently it did and CAssie dropped her shot. Ruby swallowed the last of her (last) shot, and grimaced as seh looked around. “Did I win?” she grinned. “Because that was… awful,” she laughed, wiping purple foam from her lips. “Did I seriously win though?? Holy shit…”

Lilo’s mouth dropped open. “Ooh oh shit.” Lilo grimaced at the mess on Cassie’s dress know this wasn’t goin gto be an easy night. “Oh, oh, lobocita, mi tesoro are you okay? Oh honey.” He rushed to her side, willing and ready to comfort Cassie in her loss.

“You cheated! And it was great,” Iann simultaneously accused and congratulated Ruby.

Grace nodded. She didn’t know much about fairies but not everyone could be immune to the effects of alcohol. “Shame. I suppose I could have tried to beat them, but I think Ruby is having a good time.”

“Sounds like it. Burgers and fries are happening.” Miles kissed the top of Bella’s head once more and then slid a glass of water over toward the victorious Ruby. “You did! Congrats!”

Charlie smiled. “I would totally get fries with you, but I think I should probably head home. Devon is making me head in to work tomorrow, so I don’t want to be up too terribly late. I’ll see you later this week, though, right?”

“No rules against talking to each other,” Ruby shouted back happily at Iann.

“Oye! Cassie baby, you okay in there,” Lilo called into the ladies bathroom hanging just outside it.

“Thanks,” Ruby grinned up at MIles, both for the water and the congratulations. “I think I’m turned off to sweets forever now. Kudos to whoever mixed that up… ugh.”

Grace turned to Ruby, giving her a congratulations pat on the shoulder. “Well done. What the bloody hell was that? It seems to have sent half the party to the bathroom.”

“For the talent show yeah! I’ll text you, Ariel,” Iann said with a clap on Charlie’s back, before he pointed at them. “Lots of water. And Gatorade, you need electrolytes. You could probably just down a glass of sea-water, now that I think about it.” Maybe that was a common merm cure for a hangover.

Maya gestured towards Ryden up on the stage, “I think that’s one you have to take up with DJ Howl.” She took a sip of her water. “And congrats, although we’re definitely having a rematch with real drinks.”

Charlie nodded, waving briefly to say goodbye to everyone before slowly ambling toward the door. It had been a fun night, and they were definitely looking forward to the rest of the week.

“I have no idea,” Ruby said to Grace, sucking a bit of sticky off her fingers. “But it tastes like liquid cotton candy times infinity.”

“I’m down for burgers and fries,” Bella grinned, unsure if they meant here or if they were going to make some kind of awkward half drunk-half sober group trip to a local burger joint. Finishing off her water she placed it down, waving goodbye to the person she had just competed with.

Dani was quite fond of the dance floor. It was the perfect place to channel the energy they’d built up all day long - and a powerful distraction against thoughts of earlier events. With a bob of glowing hair that was impossible to miss, they finally escaped from the crowd to grab a drink. Nothing alcoholic, for the moment. Just something to allow them to recharge for whatever they got up to next

“I’m fine!” Cassie called, quickly popping out of the restroom wiping at her dress with a wet paper towel, “I just don’t want this to get ruined. I could have kept going. Spilling is a stupid way to win anyways.” She grumbled, Cassie was not a good loser.

“Well technically this place just serves fries, but…lots of fries.” Iann looked over where Freddie and Grace were. “Confetti, are you coming for greasy food?”

Ruby grinned at Maya. “I’ll have to thank him properly later.” She glanced up at Ryden behind the booth, grinning a bit more before turning back to Maya. “You okay? Did you get cut

"Well it’s okay baby! Plenty of other people at the bar lost that way. besides you got so close!” Lilo brightened, smiling at her. “I mean, runner up isn’t so bad?”

Ruby: “Did you get cut on your glass?”

“I can be a doctor,” Miguel said around his water bottle. “I’m sober enough.”

Maya shrugged, “A little bit. But chicks dig scars.” She smiled, not wanting anyone to worry. Besides it didn’t turn that bad. “Jury’s still out on whether or not dudes dig scars, but I’d be happy to do some scientific study on that one,” she added, “You know, for science.”

When Freddie heard Iann’s voice, he turned in his friend’s direction, realising a bit belatedly that he’d lost track of Lilo Lopez when he’d been talking to Grace and feeling a bit badly about it. “What?” he asked. “Chips?” Freddie wrinkled his nose a bit, “I could do, I suppose… Where?”

“Words patients don’t want to hear from their doctor!” Bellamy called out to Miguel as though she were playing jeopardy.

“Mmmm science is good. I used to have… a whole shit ton of scars,” Ruby said, gesturing a bit drunkenly with her hand. “Big one…. right here.” She swept the finger up her right cheek. “That shiny as fuck fairy right there fixed me allll up.” She pointed somwhere towards Freddie.

Miguel nodded. “I dig scars.” He nodded some more. “But like… I dunno they have to be strategically placed. “For 500!” He said to Bellamy, a little too loud to seem very sober at all.

Freddie noticed Ruby pointing at him and grinned. “Me? What have I done now?”

“He digs scars,” Ruby said, pointing towards the man she didn’t know.

Lilo tried to placate his no doubt disappointed fiance, knowing her competitive streak was strong. “I mean I know you could have kept going, I mean they could have probably run out of drink before you even got too drunk. Which is probably a good thing you spilled. Ruby would have really hurt herself trying to keep up with you.” He shrugged. “Honestly you probably saved a life tonight.”

Bella grinned widely as Miguel got her joke, quite pleased with herself, watching as the more humanoid of the group that had drank were clearly getting quite drunk. Fortunately for herself, and likely Cassie, it wasn’t really enough to get either of them drunk.

“Doesn’t sound very sober to me,” Miles laughed. “Alright, we gotta get some food in these people.”

Maya laughed, “Okay, the doctor is definitely drunk. But I am still taking his survey response for science.”

“Just tellin’ Maya how you fixed me up that one time. ’s good stuff… good stuff… don’t worry…” Ruby said to Freddie.

“The Big Fry,” Iann announced cheerfully. “It’s a couple blocks down from here, we can all just walk.” It was still super-busy outside anyway even though it was so late, but - this was Soapberry. And Pride. So no one was sleeping. “Vamanos, people!”

“Lilo,” Cassie started, “Runner up is the worst.” She sighed and then waved her hand in dismissal, “Whatever. Did you find out what everyone was up to before you came over here?” She grumbled again when Lilo commented about Ruby and nodded, “Yeah, someone better make sure she gets home alright.”

Freddie leaned over to Grace, and murmured, “Did Iann say he’s taking us to see Stephen Fry, or have I missed something?”

“Uhhhh….” Lilo stared at her blankly, then glanced at the group which seemed to be gearing up for something. “No, no I did not. Was I supposed to? I just kinda wanted to check on you.”

“Dani!” Ruby exclaimed as she saw her friend sidle up to the bar. “Dani, where have you beeeennn? WHere’s Sam? ARe you here alone? Have you meet my other very pretty friend Maya?” Ruby slid off her stool as she said all this and wrapped her arm around Dani’s shoulder, turning them a bit to point at MAya.

At Iann’s request they leave Bellamy looked to Ryden, unsure if she should leave the party when they were meant to be hosting. The place was full though and he was quite focused on his music. She’d either return later that evening or the next day to help with things. For now she was happy to cling to Miles and get fries with her friends. “Lead the way, Pa,” she told Iann, heading off in the same direction as him, still leaning on Miles as she walked. “You going to dress this nice for the auction?” she teased him.

Cassie shrugged, “No. But you know it’s easy to lose people in here, that’s all I was thinking.” Cassie took his arm, “Thanks for checking on me and cheering for me though.” She stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek, “You’re the best.”

Maya smiled as Ruby slid off her stool to try and introduce her to Dani. “Yes, we’re kind of sisters,” she replied, which she mostly only said because she was definitely buzzed by now. The fact they had earlier learned that they were eskimo sisters helped a little too. “Now,” she stood herself, “Lead me to fries please Iann.”

Iann kept company with Bellamy and Miles, motioning for others to follow if they wanted. “Is Miles going to be in that auction thing? You’ll be the only one betting on him though,” Iann stated plainly, right in front of Miles as if he was merely commenting an uncontested and inoffensive fact about Miles.

“Wait what?” Ruby said, frowning a bit as she looked between the two. It took her a second to put it all together, but once she did she snapped her fingers. “Ahhhh because Fane’s your Dad. Cool.” Ruby blinked. “I miss my sister…”

“Oh the auction I’m in it! You’re bid on me right, abuelo?” Miguel winked at Iann as he clung to his arm.

Lilo smiled at the kiss. “I know that I am, and so are you.” He wrapped arm around Cassie’s back. “Lets go see what these drunky drunks are up to!”

Miles went along with the group of people heading out, he kept an arm around Bella’s slim shoulders as they walked. “This isn’t that nice,” he was just wearing a plain button up and jeans, “I’ll probably wear a suit for the auction, unless you had something else in mind.” He wasn’t bothered by what Iann had said, in fact he nodded his head at him, “That’s probably true, at least the proceeds will go to a good cause.”

Ephram caught up with the group just as they were headed out to forage for fried potatoes, face wiped clean of the giraffe makeup that Charlie had put on him earlier. He bumped against Freddie, grumbling, “I been on my feet all day. Feel bad for me.”

"You comin’?“ Ruby asked Dani as everyone started to head out for fries. Ruby was quite suddenly starving.

Cassie nodded, walking with Lilo back towards the bar. But just like she thought, most of the seats had been cleared. Everyone was on the move. “Shoot…” She muttered. But she suddenly saw Ruby who was lingering a bit behind. “There!” Cassie pointed, hurrying through the crowd and pulling Lilo along, “Hey!” She called to Ruby before getting up next to her, “Where’s everyone going?”

Bella gave Iann a frown of disapproval. Even if Miles didn’t think anyone would Bellamy still wanted to defend him and his handsomeness. "You could wear nothing? Perhaps then you’d get some bids,” she smirked, knowing Miles would never, though part of her considered wearing less than her usual dress. “I’ll bid on you no matter what you wear. And apparently Tuah is going to be fine with you bidding on the doctor,” Bellamy’s words moving from Miles to Iann. Her eyes moved back, spotting Ephram catching up with Freddie and giving him a little wave before returning to Miles, Iann and Miguel. “Anyone else catching your eye, Miguel?”

Dani blinked when their name was so excitedly called from down the bar. It was so loud that they weren’t able to make out the owner of the voice until she made her approach. Once they recognized her, an effortless grin brightened their features. “Ruby!” They wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed, a glass of water in their second hand. “We’ve been dancing,” they laughed. “He stepped out a bit ago. We’re supplying all of the flowers for gay prom, so he wants to get some sleep and get an early start tomorrow. The sooner we get them done, the better.” When proclaimed them as 'kind of’ sisters, ignoring the other sister identification they shared, Dani felt a faint, warm sensation swell in their chest. “Yeah. Kinda sisters.” They bumped Maya’s shoulder harmlessly with their fist and then turned back to Ruby. “Why not. Lead the way, love.”

Freddie lit up when Ephram appeared beside him and he slipped his arm around his husband, leaving smudges of fairy dust everywhere they touched. “My poor darling,” he sympathised. “You’d best lean on me then, yeah?”

Maya smiled softly like candlelight when Dani agreed that they were kind of like sisters. She worried a good deal that while Fane had no problems taking her under his wing the rest of the family might not be so excited about it. It seemed at least when it came to Dani those worries were unfounded. Something especially needed to hear today.

“For fries,” Ruby told Cassie. “You two coming?” she asked. “I mean… you so woulda beat me if I hadn’t distracted you, so I know you could use some carbs.”

“Oh I dunno. Maybe Milo will. I think he’s pretty cute.” Miguel shrugged. “Not that I think Iann is cute. He’s like my brother or my cousin!” He bumped into Iann again for good measure. “Or my old grandpa,” he added.

“Ayy, this is like a scavenger hunt! Find the group of aging drunk people huh?” Lilo teased, anyone and in general as he was on the move. Just sort of giddy to be out late for once, and with Cassie on his arm as they played around with the good time group at pride. “Late night snacks? That sound good to me. I like these people, they seem fun.”

“Responsible Sam,” Ruby smiled at Dani as they all started towards the door. “I don’t know if I’m gonna go though. Depends on if I can get a date. Though it’ll be real embarrasin’ if no one bids on me,” she snorted.

“So you’re in the auction too huh? I’m going to bid on everyone,” Iann said cheerfully and then added in a gracious way, “Even you, Miles. But especially you, Miguel. Anything for Doctor Cursebreaker, who else will I go to when I get cursed and need help, huh?”

“Hey,” Ruby said across Cassie to Lilo. “I’m not 'aging,’” she laughed. “Just… refined.”

“He is like a grandpa,” Bellamy acknowledged of Iann. “And Milo is cute, I would offer to suggest he bid on you but I don’t think I have sway with him.” An 'aww’ came out of her mouth as Iann said he would bid on everyone. “Will you bid on me, Pa?” she asked, big grin on her face.

Iann paused and waved at where Cassie and Ruby were. “Hey, hey! Come on! The Big Fry, we’re going to The Big Fry!”

Ephram took Freddie up on his offer immediately, continuing to grump, “–used to be I could work a double shift and then go put back a few at the bar on my feet the whole time! I’m gettin’ soft, Freddie.” He looked around at the group, taking in familiar faces with a sigh of contentment. “I din’t even see you this morning, lookit you.” Ephram took in Freddie’s attire (or lack thereof) with grateful appreciation as he half eavesdropped on the others’ conversations.

Maya fell to the back of the group as they discussed the auction. She’d seen it advertised on one of the event flyers and didn’t even think about going. The idea made her uncomfortable. It was for charity though so she said nothing.

“Fries!” Cassie gasped, looking up to try and see Iann through the crowd, “And he didn’t even wait.” She grumbled, but hardly taking it to heart. “Lilo-“ She wagged his arm in her hand but smiled when he happily agree. “Yes of course. We gotta catch up.” Cassie glanced back over to Ruby, a slightly guilty quirk in her mouth. “That’s alright. As long as you think you’re feeling alright? That was a lot of shots for a human.”

Miles noticed that Cassie and Lilo had rejoined the group. “You put up a good fight there, Cassie. And I don’t think I caught your name before,” he addressed Lilo, offering out his hand for quick shake. “I’m Miles.”

“Hi Miles!” Miguel said. Because the face and name were new. “Are you Bella’s boyfriend?” He asked, because when he was drunk he had even less of a filter.

“Now I’m a grandpa, greaaaaaat,” Iann groused, but he didn’t seem that displeased. He just liked to gripe whenever he could.

“Yes that’s me, Bella’s boyfriend,” Miles returned. “And you’re the not sober doctor.”

“Of course you are, abuelo. Listen to you complain about everything!” Miguel smiled at Miles. “Yep that’s me!”

Ruby raised a hand to Iann. “We’re comin’… skeptic.” She turned to Cassie. “It’s because he’s a nonbeliever. And yeah I feel pretty okay… a little bleck. But mostly okay. Oh!” she said suddenly. “I;ve been meanin’ to call you. Look.” She held out her bare forearm, the one with the wolf bite. “Imma be a wolf in a week or so. Wanted to call and tell you.”

Dani returned Ruby’s smile and squeezed her arm. “You should! Why don’t be just bid on each other, hm? Then neither of us will have to shoulder potential public shame and embarrassment.”

Lilo moved with Cassie to catch up with the group, happy to do so. “Ayy, Ruby, I just mean… well how none of us are mischief-ous, mishchiving, misch- none of us are teens that go out and get drunk and be silly anymore.” Lilo cleared his throat and tried to shake of the mispronunciations, he wasn’t even drunk. “Nice to meet you miles!” He moved forward to give Miles’ hand a good gripped shake. “I’m Lilo, Cassie’s guy. You might not have seen me around lately but I’m back.”

Ruby snorted at Dani. “Sounds good to me. Though I’m poor so you might go for like… twenty bucks if no one else bids?”

Freddie smiled at Ephram’s grumbling, making soft soothing commiserative sorts of noises as they walked, happy to take his weight. “Well, for what it’s worth,” he said, “I happen to think your stamina’s quite something. Soft or not.” He leaned up and kissed at Ephram’s jaw before grinning, “And you didn’t even see my morning outfit. This is number two.”

“We’re doin’ it now aren’t we?” Ruby smiled at Lilo. “But nah, I get it. Adult responsibilities and all that stuff. But I mean… you guys… you got kids… how great is that??” She gestured between Cassie and Lilo.

Bella frowned at the two men who acknowledged themselves so simply. “Miguel says that he can break curses, he broke Iann from being an eight year old boy, reverted him back to grandpa state, and Miles works for the sheriffs department pretty much all the time, so you each can be contacted by dialling nine one onee” she told each of them so there was a little more for each of them to go off.

Lilo eyeballed Ruby, then back at Cassie. Completely caught off guard. “Ayyy… so… huh. Welcome Ruby? Um to, the wolfhood?”

Ephram waved back to Bellamy, scrunching his face at her in their old way and doing a quick observation of what she was like with Miles there. They seemed so relaxed and at ease with each other, more than he’d ever seen Bellamy with any boyfriend and sure as hell more than he’d ever seen Miles at work. A worried little knot in Ephram’s chest unraveled, and he nudged back at Freddie, feeling a little more buoyant with both his husband’s attentions and his friend’s happiness. “Say,” Ephram asked, “you gonna do that auction thing?” He raised his voice, hollering over the others. “WHO ALL’S GONNA DO THE AUCTION THING??”

Iann gave an impressed whistle. “That’s a great summary, Belle. Nice work there. Now describe yourself!”

Dani chuckled and offered up a hand as if they were forging a genuine business deal. “Twenty bucks it is.” But then Ruby held out her arm and proclaimed some rather shocking sudden information. “What?” Dani reached out to take Ruby’s extended arm in both hands, allowing their eyes to roam over the sight in a wild mix of concern and curiosity. And maybe the slightest bit of hurt for not having heard of it sooner. “Since when?”

“I tried-“ Cassie shrugged at Miles, “Thanks though. Nice to see you again. It’s been a little while.” Her attention was bouncing between people and it landed on Ruby again. She smiled kindly at the woman, that is until she saw the faint bite mark that Ruby held out with drunk pride. It made Cassie’s breath catch in her throat, “Jesus Christ. Ruby-“ She hissed taking her arm for a closer look, “Oh Jesus Christ.” She panicked, trying to hide most of the nervous reaction. But it was difficult. “Ryden was talking about you.”

“Thanks,” Ruby nodded at Lilo. “Was pretty ticked about it at first but now I"m like… okay cool.”

Dani raised their hand with an enthusiastic wave at Ephram’s holler. “Me!!”

Lilo looked from person to person. All geared up to make friends with Miles, have some guy time or Chicano time with Miguel when he wasn’t so green around the mouth, maybe tease Iann some more. But Ruby’s revelation stunned him. “Dios, I need a drink.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, uh, good for you for… making the best out of a situation.”

Ephram’s cute face to her had made Bella smile, turning back to Iann. “If I described myself it would just be me going on for hours about how exceptionally beautiful and gifted I am,” she answered. “I’m doing the action too!” she called out to Ephram, squeezing Miles arm. “You biding on me?” she asked Ephram. “Give Miles someone to compete with?”

“What auction thing, sweetheart?” Freddie asked, his pleasant drunk making his thinking meander a bit. “Are we selling something? Or should we be?” He chuckled. “I’m a bit lost…”

Lilo tilted his head down to Cassie. “So Ryden knows this?” He’d been meaning to ask her about, what had Iann called him, some young lobo.

“Mmm… couple weeks?” Ruby said to Dani. “My idiot brother. I told your Dad couple of days ago. Well, I mean… sort of. He could smell me, so… but it’s fine. It’s really fine,” she said to Dani, giving them a bit of a squeeze. Then her attention was back on CAssie as the other woman took her arm. “Ryden? Did he talk to you? I like him, he’s a real nice guy. Reallll nice,” Ruby grinned to herself. “But hey… what’s wrong? Its really fine.”

Iann nudged Maya. “You okay kid? Is there still glass in you? You look like you sucked on a lemon.”

“Okay cool?” Cassie repeated in disbelief, “Why didn’t you tell me before! Oh my god you’re drunk.” She stomped her foot, “Shit I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. And Ryden was being all hush about it after I helped him. Unbelievable. ‘Okay…cool’.” She threw up her hands in frustration, looking back to Lilo, “I just want fries. /Now/.”

Ruby raised her hand as well. “ME!!” she said loudly. “What’re we doin’?” she asked Dan, then nodded again at Lilo. “I like wolves. Every wolf I know is just… fantastic, so…”

Maya gave Iann a smile, “I’m fine. Glass free. It’s just been a long day.” She’d already managed to make enough things about her today. There was no need to mention her personal discomfort with the Date Auction, especially since she was handling it.

“Woah,” Miles had overheard Ruby’s casual announcement that she was now going to be a werewolf and looked over at her. “Well damn.” He wasn’t sure what else to say about it though, especially since she seemed to be okay with it. “I think it’s just up ahead,” he said, nodding toward a building coming up on their left. “Alright, try not to make a mess in here everyone,” he said to those who were listening, holding the door open so people could filter in, and feeling very much like he was herding a group of ducklings.

Lilo “Fries yup, they are good. I sure like wolves…. So! What is everyone doing for this pride thing? Auctioning off?”

Finally working out what exactly the auction in question entailed, Freddie’s face settled into a small moue of distaste at the idea of Ephram bidding on Bellamy Barnes, but he didn’t object, just said, “I honestly haven’t given it any thought…”

Ruby glanced over at Cassie. “Cant do much else bout it, can I? Was gonna tell you, was /still/ gonna tell you before hand… just… you got a family and kids and… I didn’t want you to feel obligated since we’re friends and all.” Ruby gave a small shrug. “Rein was mad too.”

Ephram looped his arm around Freddie’s waist, lifting him slightly as he jogged the fairy up and down. “Babe! It’s some sorter date auction thingy what’s happening. Folks can sign themselves up to git auctioned or they can bid on the auctionees.” He drew out the eeeeeee for a while, liking how it felt in his mouth – there was a good chance Ephram was a little tipsy himself, on tiredness and the occasional special Pride drink – and then bellowed back at the others, “Well shit! Reckon I might jes have to bet on alla y'all to keep things fair!”

Freddie laughed when Ephram bounced him a little, announcing that he’d bid on everyone, and said, “Well, then you’re going to need my credit cards, aren’t you?”

Bella stayed next to Miles as he let people in, not allowing herself to get involved with what Ruby had said. It felt exceptionally like the thing about Ruby that had always upset her and therefore she did not want to get involved, and admittedly she didn’t want Miles involved but that was his choice. “You and Iann will be battling it out then, he intends to do the same,” Bella told Ephram as he and Freddie entered, assuming that they would remain merely silent and in orbit of each other.

Ruby didn’t notice that Miles overheard her, but honestly at this point what did it matter? She worked with him, just like Ephram, so he should probably know. He was a wolf too, though he was also Bella’s man, and Ruby didn’t want anyone thinking bad things about her.

Iann nodded and said, “Well, okay,” because he really shouldn’t be asking Maya questions anyway; it was a slip-up on his part. Fortunately they were at The Big Fry and Iann motioned her to go in. “Go get yourself fries. There’s so many to choose from.”

“Lilo!” Cassie hissed, giving him a tug as the restaurant came into view, “Let’s go.” She didn’t even want to look back at Ruby. Of all the times to announce such a thing. And being drunk wasn’t an excuse. Cassie just wanted to have a good time, and Ruby dropped that piece of info on her? Other people might not care, but Cassie fretted about it more than most people.

Lilo was tugged along and know well enough when to take a hint. He was sure Ruby would be the center of some dinner table conversations in the future. “Going lobocita!” He didn’t even want fries that much, but damn did they seem a better choice now. “Sure do love fries! Didn’t know there was a shop that only made fries. So are they like special? Or regular but just a whole lot?”

Ruby felt a bit less chipper as she filed into the diner with everyone else. Should she still be more upset about what had happened to her? I mean… everyone else seemed to be. Was that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Or was it just… a thing? They could feel how they wanted, but Ruby certainly didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. It was what it was.

Ephram turned his attention back to Freddie, noting the little pinched expression, and hid his smile until his fairy brightened again. “Oh, I can afford it,” he exclaimed loftily. “Or I can always run out on my debts or offer some sorter trade, couldn’t I?” His fingers stroked lazily along Freddie’s side as they moved into Bellamy’s periphery, and Ephram rolled his eyes at the mention of Iann. “WELL,” he said in a huff. “If Cardero’s already gonna bid, I won’t git tangled up in it. You know he’s gonna whip out a fossilized sasquatch eye or somethang to pay for it, I cain’t beat that.”

“Depends on what you order,” Miles replied to Lilo. “They got some poutine as well if you want to go for something a little dirty.”

Maya smiled, “You’re a true American hero, Iann. Don’t let anyone tell you different.” She slipped into the diner and made a beeline for the counter. Fries first, catching up with the conversation second.

Ruby headed towards the counter and ordered a large batch of plain bacon cheese fries before moving back to find a spot with everyone that was sitting around.

“What are you thinking of going for, babygirl?” Miles asked Bellamy, rubbing her shoulder as he glanced at the overhanging menu.

Lilo “Ahh, so let’s just say for the sake of, reality.” Lilo laughed, looking over at Milo once they caught up. “What is poutine?”

Miles: “You don’t know what poutine is? Aw man. You haven’t lived. It’s fries, smothered with gravy and cheese curds.”

Iann made a face. “Why’re you insulting me like that, Maya,” he complained as he followed her in, intent on getting so much curly fries. So so much, all curly.

“Pretty sure he’s just going to steal one of my cheque books, or maybe your beau’s,” Bellamy said, unsure how Freddie would feel about being mentioned. Either way she moved in with Miles, raising her brows as he suggested something dirty for Lilo, maybe it was pride week but that sounded flirty. “I’ll try whatever you like, just get double so there is enough for both of us. Ooooh and get drinks. And a bunch of sauces, I’m going to drag Cassie into the bathroom to help me get my weird make-up off,” Bella told him, finding the wolf woman in the group. “Help me with my face?”

After Ruby explained, vaguely, what had happened, Dani released her arm and sighed. They weren’t going to show that there was a slight sting to hearing their own father had found out before they had, but that didn’t make the wound any less real. “Right. Okay. As long as you’re alright. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me, yeah?” When she asked what they were shouting for, they covered up the dip in their feelings with a chuckle. “Nothing. Ephram was just asking who was in the auction.” Once they had all settled down at their destination, Dani sat rather quietly, listening to the conversations of others. They weren’t feeling very hungry at the moment.

Lilo’s jaw almost dropped before he broke out in one of the biggest smiles. “Oh, they can do that?! Cause I want that thing, the thing with the gravy.” He looked to Cassie, grinning. “I’m getting some gravy fries baby, what kind do you want?”

Maya frowned. “I’m not?” she replied, “At least not intentionally. Would you rather be a true Canadian hero?” At the counter she ordered garlic fries, a large order. It wasn’t as if she was likely to make out with anyone tonight anyway. Plus garlic fries were the bomb.

Iann scoffed even more. “That’s twice the insult! Keep the American part, and lose the hero. Unless you’re talking about a sandwich, of course.”

Cassie stubbornly looked up at the menu, motioning few options to Lilo, “Looks like they make all kinds. Want to split some curly ones with cayenne pepper seasoning?” Cassie asked, though really the more moments passed the more she wasn’t particularly hungry either. But the fries would keep her busy from being so angry. She couldn’t even pinpoint much of why at the moment, but Cassie knew if she didn’t start to relax her eyes would change to yellow, and that was embarrassing on its own. Just as she was going to suggest finding Bella and Miles, the vampire appeared. Cassie let out a breath and nodded, “Yeah sure, let’s go.” She could use a bathroom break, for sure. “Get gravy too then!” She called out to Lilo as she walked with Bella to the restroom.

Freddie enjoyed the slow gentle stroke of his husband’s fingers on his bare skin, looking up with a playfully raised eyebrow. “And what will you be trading, Sheriff? And with who? Charities generally frown on that sort of thing.” He looked back over his shoulder at Iann, and called, “And on sasquatch eyes!” The fairy turned back to Ephram, explaining with a bit of a happy slur, “Whatever he’s told you, we’ve only got one more of those bloody things, and it’s for a guest.”

Ruby picked at her own fries, eating a few before sliding a bit closer to Dani. “You okay?” she asked a bit more soberly. “’M sorry I didn’t tell you…” Ruby huffed a bit, but not unkindly. “Everyone’s mad I didn’t tell them… shoulda sent a mass text I guess…” Ruby poked a fry through her cheese, frowning a bit.

Maya laughed, “Iann you are a true American sandwich and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” She handed her cash over to the cashier, who didn’t even appear to register that she was painted all over.

Miles ordered a double portion of poutine for himself and Bellamy to share, and he wasn’t sure what sort of sauces would go well with it, or that she’d be interested in, so he just got some of all them, then as an afterthought he added to his order a portion of pastrami fries.

“Cayenne, gravy. Yup!” Lilo was totally paying attention, god he was so good at hearing everything and paying attention to his future wife he was going to order the best fries. “So you normally eat this sort of stuff with a fork right?” He leaned into Miles to ask the question. Trusting the wolf-man and his fry wisdom.

“I am the only person here with a skeleton face and it’s super weird,” Bellamysaid to Cassie as she linked arms with her like they had earlier. Each woman still exceptionally sober. Really though Bellamy had heard Cassie try and escape things that had come out a bit…suddenly. Honestly the surprise didn’t shock Bella but it seemed silly that Cassie’s night be upset by it, especially when it was meant to be such a nice week. “I’m glad Lilo was able to come, I haven’t seen him in ages. Who has Addie?” she asked, hoping the other questions would distract her from how she was feeling.

“That’s more like it,” Iann approved of being a sandwich. Really, anyone who wouldn’t want to be a sandwich would need a good friend to help them through their troubled times. The cashier was half-naked and mostly just in a rainbow loincloth, so they didn’t bat an eye at anyone’s outfits as they took everyone’s orders. “If you were a sandwich, which one would you be.”

“You can fork it,” Miles responded, grabbing a wad of napkins, “Or just use your fingers if you don’t care about getting messy, but fork is usually the best option to get some of everything in one bite.”

Maya considered for a moment as she picked up her fries. “I’d want to be grilled cheese, but I don’t know if I really /am/ grilled cheese, you know?” she replied before laughing again and adding, “Alright. I’m officially drunk.”

“Okay good! As long as I don’t look like some silly poutine-ing first timer.” Liloreached for some plastic forks, knowing that Cassie wouldn’t be too happy with more messes tonight.

Since Freddie was happy-drunk, he either didn’t register or blithely ignored Bellamy’s comment, which was good enough for Ephram. “Listen, you,” he growled at Bellamy with a quick grin at Miles, “I can afford my own reckless bidding! Unless I cain’t and then I rob one of yous after.” Not trusting Freddie to know how to properly order a glut of late night french fries, Ephram stepped up to the counter and briskly rapped out, “Extra-large one'a them poutine things, extra-large steak fries with chili and cheese, and extra-large them tots you got back there, make em all taco-flavour.” Ephram overheard Maya collecting her fries at the counter and made an aggravated bumblebee noise. “Gawd dammit, Maya!” he complained. “Now I got a hankerin’ for a grilled cheese. I’m gonna be thinkin’ bout that all night now.”

“Welcome to the rest of my life, dude,” Maya replied with a grin, “I’m always thinking about grilled cheese, at least 10%.”

Lilo started to walk back to the group, where he and Cassie might sit when she was done with Bellamy in the bathroom. “Y'know I am happy and all, this is a good pride, proud of my lady. I just kinda wish I got a little messy you know? Maybe a little sloppy drunk, or a little painted up from twister, but ayy. I’m probably too old for this, too many responsibilities man. But at least good old fries are here for me.” He said to no one in particular.

“Oh yeah? What does grilled cheese mean to you?” Iann said, bypassing all the youthful glory of drunkenness. She should enjoy it now, while she still had that stamina and it made for cool stories. He was interested (for funzies, not for any serious reason) about the sandwich comparison. “Please don’t tell me you’re just bullshitting, I’ll be disappointed.”

Cassie chuckled and reassured Bella, “It might be weird, but be comforted by the fact that you’re the only one here who can also pull it off.” Cassie settled in front of the mirror when they got into the bathroom, leaning her back against the sink, “Lilo? Yeah me too, he got back in town about a couple weeks ago. He’d been with his mom who was in an accident uh…” She trailed off for a moment before giving another small smile, “Addie’s with my mother. She’s visiting. We’ll probably take her to the puppet show tomorrow. I got her this cute little dress and everything.” Cassie brushed back a piece of hair before adding, “I don’t think I’ve seen you and Miles together in person before. You’re cute.” She leaned forward saying a little quieter, “We also had the best cheerleaders.”

Iann swat Ephram away in annoyance. “Get out of here, go on git!” Iann said, as if trying to chase away one of Pettaline’s fowls.

“That’s okay, you’re probably not the only poutine virgin we got here.” Miles also grabbed some forks and brought all the things over toward a booth. He sidled into it and already started digging in. “You know where has the best grilled cheese? It’s called Cheese Meats Bread, and it’s the best. Literally all sorts of grilled cheese.”

Dani glanced over at Ruby before looking down into their lap and sighing. “No, no– it’s not your fault. Something that drastic… you have every right to keep it to yourself. I should know better.” Because there was something rather drastic in their own life that they had neglected to share with all but a few choice individuals. Now they were almost debating whether or not they should share such details with others. But instead, they shook off the thought and bumped their side against Ruby’s. “It’s just that you got hurt. I’m guessing you weren’t carrying a sword around at the time, were you?”

Ephram grunted at Iann, picking up a straw and jabbing him with it. “Clear out, quit clutterin’ up the place.”

Ruby listened idly to all the conversations going on around her. She saw Cassie and Bella going off towards the bathroom, arms linked like besties, and couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place. A bit… not unwelcome, but just an awkward wheel.

“Ban the straw, man. Ban the straw!” Iann tugged the straw away, waving it and totally using his hippie voice.

Maya shrugged, “Officer Baer used to make them for me whenever it was a shit day. But like with three kinds of cheese. I guess I just associate it with being safe and warm. Plus its delicious and I would like to be delicious.”

“You don’t think that Iann and his beautiful mustache could pull off a skull face?” Bellamy smirked as she turned on the faucet. Whatever was happening with Lilo’s mother Bella figured wasn’t much of her business but family was as good a reason as any to need to go away. “Aww, that’s cute,” she said of Addie. “I’ll have to pop by to see her in it. Not really sure puppet shows are my thing though, puppets are super creepy.” Bellamy flushed with a smile when Cassie commented on seeing her with Miles, she knew Iann found the man to be a little dull but Bellamy didn’t and she felt particularly special to have someone who would show up to something that was by no means his thing, buy her fries and, as Cassie noted, cheer her on. “Right? We might not have actually won but we are doing quite well that we can’t possibly be losers,” she grinned, getting some soap and rubbing it and water on her face to remove things. “You okay?” she asked while she cleaned.

Freddie rolled his eyes fondly at Ephram. “Oi,” he teased, “-I just had you out of your sulk, and now you’ve slid right back in. I’ll make you a bloody grilled cheese when we get home, yeah? But first, you have to promise to explain to me just what exactly it is that you’ve ordered before I’ll put any of it in my mouth.” He peered up at the menu, mystified. “I mean, did I hear you say tots? And taco-flavour?”

“The night is still young,” Miles said to Lilo, stabbing a thick cut fry with his fork, “You got time if you want to crazy things up a little.”

Lilo set the fries he ordered down, settling among this rowdy group and leaving space for Cassie beside him. “Ayyy what in the hell are you yelling about now! Iann! you’re gonna wake the drunkies up!”

Iann laughed suddenly. “Officer Baer, making grilled cheese. I’m just imagining a grizzly holding a spatula and wearing an apron.”

Ruby looked over at Dani. “I was just… shocked at first. I got… attacked. By my brother. After some stupid shit went down between him and a friend of mine. I think he was after my friend. Got me instead.” Ruby leaned into Dani, appreciating their friend’s proximity, especially with all the couples sitting around so close and comfy. “I didn’t mean to not share, it was just….” Ruby shook her head. “I didn’t know /what/ to do…”

Iann motioned widely around the little take-out joint. “All the drunkies are here!! Okay maybe just Ruby’s a drunkie. Everyone else seems okay.”

Maya laughed too. “Nah, he was a werewolf though,” she replied, “But he was the officer who found me the night my parents died and he did his best to take care of me over the next decade.”

Lilo looked worriedly to the group, eyes falling to Maya, Ruby, and Dani in differeing orders. “Hey, Iann’s not drugged huh?” Then he directed his attention straight to Iann. “I dunno, isn’t that Miguel sleeping soundly on you amigo?”

Ephram rocked on his heels. “Back in Apple Fall,” he informed Iann, “we never used plastic straws. We used possum guts pulled out reeeeaaaal thin and dried. If you did it right then the meat taste faded after like, a week.” Turning to Freddie, Ephram gave him a resounding kiss at the promise of grilled cheese, and explained, “Tots. A staple of American casseroles and school cafeterias. Lil gumdrop-lookin’ nuggets of potato deep fried and covered in everthing you would put on a taco.” Ephram thought for a moment. “And not like, a fancy taco with slaw and whatnots.”

Ruby threw a cheese covered fry at Iann. “Hush, you. I"m not as drunk as you think…” Though she was pretty drunk.

Lilo looked up from his food and didn’t say a word to Ephram, just looked fully offended that the man would bring up dried possum guts while people were trying to eat.

Ephram rudely didn’t notice a damn thing and wouldn’t care if he did

“Iann?” Cassie scoffed, still smiling because just the thought was laughable. “Please.” Cassie rolled her eyes, turning to take a quick look at her make-up. “Puppets are creepy.” Cassie agreed, “But babies sure love them. And it’ll be a little more low key than tonight.” Which Cassie knew she needed. She raised her brows when Bella asked after her, “Me? Yeah I’m fine…why was it obvious?” Cassie pressed her fingers below her eyes, wondering if they changed without her noticing. “I don’t know why I got so mad. I usually don’t but…ugh just now I’m going to be thinking about what Ruby said all night.”

Miles just sort of glanced at Ephram and shoved a forkful of gravy loaded fries into his mouth.

“No, no… you gotta… you gotta use the hollowed out bone that comes in a squirrel tail…” Ruby said across the way to Ephram. “They’re bendy… Also, fuck squirrels.” “Not… like… in a sexual way, but like in a … hit 'em with your car on purpose kinda way…”

“Yeah, I remember you telling me,” Iann said to Maya, then shook his head at Lilo, “I’m - drugged? What the hell are you talking about?” It was true that Miguel was slumped, standing, asleep. He grinned and pointed at him. “I’d say let’s draw a moustache on him, but….” Then Pettaline had to make it all twangy backwater Southern American gothic to add to Maya’s tragic past of tragic woe tragedy and Lilo’s general awkward weirdness and Iann threw up his hands. He turned his attention to Ruby and opened his mouth. “Throw another fry, into my mouth.”

Dani’s expression softened as Ruby explained further. “Hey, it’s okay.” They placed their hand over hers. “We all get a little lost sometimes, but you can’t really find your way until you’ve gotten a little lost. At least in my experience,” they smiled. The woman’s toss of a fry at Iann earned a snort, followed by a highly raised eyebrow as she and Ephram began chatting about their own version of straws.

“I got it.” Dani smirked and snatched up a fry from Ruby’s order to toss it in Iann’s direction.

Lilo looked down at his fried and just sighed. Totally not being awkward and weird no matter what Iann thought, he was a normal smooth guy and not some old dude who doesn’t know how to party anymore when it’s not for a five-year-old. He shoved a forkful of gravy fries into his mouth.

Miles then looked at Ruby. What the fuck. “Dude, just don’t use straws. Straws are only good for one thing. Making a fool of yourself when you go to drink from it cause it moves and instead you just poke yourself in the face with it.”

“Thanks. I um… still feel kinda lost, but… I’m gettin’ there.” Ruby squeezed Dani’s hand and gave her another bump before tossing a fry towards Iann. It almost made it, getting caught in his mustache instead. “Soembody lick the cheese off…”

Maya nodded when Iann mentioned that she’d already told him that. “Cool, I’m going to sit, eat these garlic fries and be 75% less depressing,” she said to no one in particular before snagging a seat next to Dani.

Ephram finally realized he’d drawn some attention with his claim and looked around at them, bemused, even as Ruby added her own two cents. “Well, hellfire,” he spluttered. “Cain’t you Yankees even tell when I’m talkin’ bullcrap?”

Iann half-caught the fry in his mouth and threw his head back like a seal to capture it. But he pointed at Dani as he did. “Dani Savin! I didn’t realize you were here. You were so tiny I mistook you for a stool.”

Ruby snorted, knowing full well that Ephram was as full of shit as she had been, but enjoying the horrified looks all around nonetheless.

“I dunno Officer Ephram, with a twang on like that when your drunk Imma believe whatever white nonsense comes out of your mouth.” Lilo couldn’t help but joke back between bites of gravy and curds.

Ephram snorted a laugh at Lilo’s jibe, holding up his hands in defeat

“True, much more low key. Ryden clearly wanted to go all out,” Bella smiled, really it was nice. Usually when it came to Erzebet’s it was just her but with Ash’s party and Ryden doing this it felt like people were more open to doing things at her establishments. “I mean, I don’t think super obvious but you sure did dart away pretty quickly and I mean, I can hear a bit better than normal, stuff like your heart rate,” she reasoned with a slight shrug. “Try to just enjoy being out with people,” Bella said as she got the last of her make-up off. “I mean, you have a babysitter and have had some drinks, you deserve to focus on fun. It sucks it pissed you off. Ruby is…still learning how to share her stuff with people in a way that works, I think.” With her make-up down she started to head out from the bathroom to the restaurant. “But its your night too.”

Miles just kept shoving gravy fries into his mouth and was about half way through it when he remembered he should save some for Bellamy, so he started on the pastrami fries.

Lilo nodded in mild triumph and nodded to Dani and Ruby. “Good shot there friends! You keep that up you can take the show on the road. Iann the marvelous man who eats things!”

Again, Ruby snorted. “They make movies about that sorta thing you know…”

Dani grinned at Maya when she slid up to their side, glad to have their two favorite girls in town beside them. Iann Cardero, on the other hand, received a mildly grouchy narrowing of their eyes. “Hey, I’m not that short. And I’m far to colorful to be classified as a piece of furniture, thank you very much.”

Freddie kissed back, rumbling a little growl of contented satisfaction, but wrinkled his nose slightly at the description of taco tots when it came. “If you want me to eat any of that, you’re going to have to feed me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “Turnabout’s fair play.” But he laughed out loud when he realised that some of the others had taken Ephram’s possum nonsense seriously, leaning on his witch with a grin.

Cassie “You’re right.” Cassie couldn’t help but agree. And while she was slightly embarrassed Bella had noticed her mood, it was slightly comforting too that she took the time to say something. She followed the vampire out of the bathroom and said, “Honestly, I think just some fries will get my mind off of it all for a little while.” It was rare when she got to go out like this, she didn’t want it completely spoiled. “Hopefully the boys saved some fries for us, huh?”

“I hear there’s biiiiig money to be made….” Ruby waggled her eyebrows at Iann. “I’ll toss things in your mouth for $10k a pop…”

Bella laughed as Cassie pointed out Lilo and Miles might have already devoured everything but as she took her place next to Miles she smiled that he hadn’t, kissing his cheek quickly. She probably looked a little funny to everyone else since she rarely went anywhere without her face done up but crashing at Miles place he had seen her lack of lashes and the light pink shade of her lips before. “What did we miss?” she asked him and anyone else around. “Other than half of the food,” she pointed out, grabbing a fork and picking up some poutine.

Another fry from Ruby whanged him in the face and Iann peeled it off, wagging it at Ruby. “Okay, I deserved that one,” he said peaceably, then laughed at Lilo’s words as well. “Do you hate being short, or do you like it?” Iann asked Dani. When Ruby made an offer Iann looked at her in surprise. “Wait, I missed a part of this conversation. How’re you making bank again, Ruby?”

Lilo laughed a dropped the next big forkful back into his plate. “Ayy, that sounds like something crazy rich perverts would pay for. Pretty women tossing food into their mouths. that is wild.”

Ephram huffed at Freddie’s terms, rumbling, “How is that even remotely a hardship on my side’ve things?” he asked, collecting the tray packed with variously adorned potatoes and shuffling them over to sit with the group. “Only thing we gotta worry bout is folks who don’t care for this sorter sappy behaviour in public.” Ephram leaned in a little, lips brushing the pointed tip of Freddie’s ear, and added, “Good thing most’ve em are drunk outta their gourds.” He didn’t bother with a fork, just picked up a tater tot piled with salsa and sour cream and guacamole and held it up for Freddie to sample.

Cassie slid into the open seat next to Lilo grabbing a few of the fries she ordered and eating them. “Pretty women tossing food?” She repeated at him before smiling and glancing at the rest of the table, “What did we walk into?”

Ruby had leaned back and was picking slowly at her fries again, her other arm stretched out on the seat behind Dani. “Hm? Oh… well, I sold my yacht which gave me a pretty good bit of savings. Then I was doing little part time stuff here and there, still working at June’s House of course… and then I’m workin’ as dispatch.”

“Your fiance is starting to get into weird fetishes, Pegs,” Iann informed her soberly. “Better watch out.”

Ephram caught Ruby’s list of jobs and interjected loudly, “–and we’re damn lucky to have you!”

Miles scooted over to give Bellamy more room, “Apparently now there’s money to be made by throwing food at Iann,” he tried to clarify it as succinctly as he could.

Dani mused for a moment over Iann’s question before shrugging. “I mean, sometimes it’s a little frustrating, but it makes me harder to catch, so I’m not complaining.” As an afterthought, they sported a smirk and added, “Besides, the husband seems to have fun with it. Gives him something to tease me about and makes him feel slightly less height-conscious himself.”

Lilo held up his hands in defense, most of the fries uneaten– okay half of them there still. “Ayyy, lobocita I was just joking! I’m not into anything weird!”

Iann “No money is to be made by throwing food at me! Just do it for free!” Iann demanded, fists rested n the table on either side of his curly fries.

“But I’m gonna tell ya…” Ruby leaned forwards, pointing a fry at Iann. “For enough money… I’d do porn. I mean… why not?” She grinned over at Cassie as she came back to the table. “Food porn,” she said. “And thank you, sherrif,” Ruby said to Ephram.

“I mean, I’ll throw food at him for nothing,” Bellamy said, picking up one of the fries covered in graving and throwing it in the direction of Iann. “This is good though, not as good as my poutine but good,” she reasoned.

Cassie scrunched her nose playfully back at Iann, “Well I mean if it has to do with food…” She trailed off before laughing. Cassie patted Lilo’s arm to show him that she really wasn’t worried about it and continued to pick at the fries. “Was the gravy that good?” She asked motioning to just the little bit left on the plate. Cassie dropped her head slightly, ignoring Ruby who was in a sort of drunken ramble.

Iann “Ahahaa yeah! Because Sam’s a shorty too. Almost as tall as Lopez here. Almost.” He nodded at Ruby. “I had an Aunt who did porn. Out there it’s not so great, but in Soapberry, I heard it’s lucrat…wait didn’t we have a conversation about this before?” Or was he imagining things? He knew he was talking so someone about supernatural porn recently.

Lilo “Hey, hey, hey, who brought up porn? I wasn’t bringing up porn. I didn’t mean any of that… I’m just gonna…” Lilo shoved a forkful of fries in his mouth enjoying them loudly and motioning to Cassie’s fork he set out for her. “Soo, hey! I’m not that short! I mean am I?”

Miles was about to throw a pastrami fry at Iann but was distracted by Ruby saying she would do porn, and then added on it would be food porn. “What even is food porn?”

Maya commented, “I knew a girl who auctioned off her virginity. Made a couple hundred k.”

Freddie eyed the little potato monstrosity skeptically for a moment, then leaned closer and took it from Ephram’s fingers, eyes widening in surprise as he groaned happily while he chewed. “Fucking hell,” he murmured once he’d swallowed, huffing out a laugh, “-I must have drunk more than I thought, because those are really bloody good.” The fairy looked over at Iann. “It was me you had that converstion with, love. I was considering it.”

“Lilo’s plenty tall for me,” Cassie scoffed simply.

“Oh yeah? Well mainstream I hear isn’t that great,” Ruby said to Iann, agreeing with him. “But here?” She shrugged a shoulder. “And I think we did. In passing. Was it you?”

Freddie turned to Miles. “Food porn’s just what it says on the tin, darling. Pornography that food features prominently - in all sorts of capacities. It’s a fetish, yeah?”

Bella looked at Miles, raising a brow that basically said everything. 'Do you need to know about porn relating to someone you see everyday?’ Because Bella watched porn, but she didn’t watch porn with people she knew in it. “Everyone is tall for us, Cassie,” Bellamy pointed out to her friend who she was almost exactly the same height as, though her platform boots did hide that tonight.

“Food porn… I mean… what do you wanna see?” Ruby said. “And what he said.” She gestured at Freddie.

Iann snapped his fingers and pointed at Freddie, grinning. “Right! Right, right, you’d be so fucking good at it too. No pun intended.” He looked up at Miles, blithely eating fries. “Food porn is when there’s food involved, in porn. Eating, or…putting food places. Or sexing the food. Or letting the food sex you. Stuff like that, Miles, c'mon you’re a cop. Google it and call it research.”

Bella was actually ready to do something when Ruby asked what Miles wanted to see but ground her teeth together quite firmly instead trying to focus on what she had just told Cassie.

Lilo nodded with conviction that Cassie gave him. “See I am plenty tall! Iann is just freakishly tall” Lilo cleared his throat, dying to get the conversation on something else. “Soo, hey, everyone have good plans for this pride week? It’s my first one I am really involved in. I am excited. How about everyone else, huh?”

Ephram grimaced at Maya’s story. “That’s disturbing,” he said, before turning back to fully enjoy Freddie’s shock at his own liking the fried morsel. “See?” he said triumphantly. “All’s you gotta do is give things a chance. Especially when you’re all swizzled and adorable.” He sat back, lazily eating the poutine, and waved his fork at the current conversation. “There’s porn what features food in it, like Cardero said. By the way –” Ephram gestured with his fork pointedly at each person, “–there’s a feller in town what looks sorter like me who does porn, so don’t git the wrong idea if you come across it.”

“Gross,” Iann grunted at Pettaline, as he chawed down more fries.

“Shit. Like, willingly?” Dani raised their brows at Maya. Turning back to the group and the unexpected rise in porn conversation, they threw in their own comment. “I might have done porn once…” they blinked as if trying to summon a memory, “but I was way too wasted to be sure. Or to remember the specific details.”

Miles instantly felt like he was getting himself into some hot water with Bellamy. “No. I didn’t mean I’d watch it. I don’t even like eating in bed,” he wrapped an arm around Bella’s shoulders, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

Ruby looked at Maya. That /was/ slightly… disturbing. Not the same as what Ruby thought of as something that could be fun and possibly lucrative, but to each their own, as long as it was consenting.

Maya shrugged and said to Dani, “Yeah,” then turned to Ephram to ask, “Disturbing that she’d do it or that she’d make that much money? It might’ve been only like tens of thousands. I don’t remember exactly. She bought a house with the money I think.”

Lilo picked up on what Ephram said more quickly. “Oh, hahah, that’s such a coincidence. Weird how thinks like that can happen.” In went another mouthful at fries, slowly infringing on Cassie’s share. Then boggled a little at Dani’s own revelation. “That doesn’t sound that good at all. I mean, not about you, about whatever operation that was. Eeesh.”

Iann paused in eating and blinked at Dani slowly, the young human’s seemingly offhand comment a complete shock to his system. The virginity thing, Iann didn’t blink an eye, so long as the girl was legal and knew what she was doing, but Dani being drunk and engaging in sex she didn’t even remember? Iann felt his throat tighten in anger. “That was wrong of whoever allowed that.”

Ephram looked highly indignant at Iann’s contribution. “Ain’t like I commissioned it, christ!” He looked shocked at Dani’s comment, repeating, “You was wasted? And don’t recall for sure?” His gaze slid over to Lilo, innocently eating french fries in his dad shorts, looking every inch the responsible suburban father; Maya’s reply broke him out of his reverie. “Disturbing that she thought to do it and extra disturbing that there was men in a rush to pay.”

Freddie grinned at Iann. “Course I would be,” and then he pulled a face at Ephram, chucklingly protesting that he gave all sort of things chances before nudging his husband in the direction of the tots. “And I’ll have another of those, thank-you.” It occurred to Freddie as the conversation drifted on that he would have sold his virginity in a heartbeat if he’d only understood at the time that it was an option, but by then the tone of things had shifted and he thought it best not to put in his two bits.

Iann paused in eating and blinked at Dani slowly, the young human’s seemingly offhand comment a complete shock to his system. The virginity thing, Iann didn’t blink an eye, so long as the girl was legal and knew what she was doing, but Dani being drunk and engaging in sex they didn’t even remember? Iann felt his throat tighten in anger. “That was wrong of whoever allowed that.”

Cassie scooted closer to Lilo resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. Across the table she watched Bella tense and Miles jump to defend himself. Cassie didn’t say a word, she was just glad to know her prior irritation wasn’t unwarranted. She pulled her plate slightly away from Lilo and muttered, “Relax. I want some too.”

Lilo stopped his assault on the fries. His tension relaxing under the gentle weight of Cassie’s head on his shoulder. He smiled at her. “Ay, of course lobocita, so sorry I am getting caught up and forgetting myself.” He set his fork on the table so he wouldn’t be tempted to stress eat, or shove fries in his mouth as distraction from it running again.

Maya was less phased by Dani’s admission than the rest of the table seemed to be. It was not the first time she’d heard a story like that. “Like professional porn or like amateur porn?” she asked calmly. The answer to that question would inform her level of concern about it and also whether or not if she’d offer to kick someone’s ass.

Miles arm moved around her shoulder, resting in the fur of her jacket as Bellatried to loosen the tension in her mouth. At least Freddie’s answer had been succinct, it certainly hadn’t bothered her but Miles didn’t need to think about Ruby like that, even for a second and this was probably the first time Miles was actually able to witness her jealousy beyond the passive way she had tried to be when he was dating around. Still, her jealousy seemed a lot less dark than the other part of the conversation, Bellamy agreeing with Iann, so she focused on Miles. “You wouldn’t try any food in bed?” she asked.

Miles: “I don’t know, probably not. It’d get the sheets all messed up, wouldn’t it? Then I’d have to do a load of laundry or change the sheets,” and he wouldn’t want to do all that afterwards.

Ruby looked at Dani, wanting to ask about the maybe porn comment, but feeling like maybe it wasn’t her business, especially as Dani elaborated. Which made Ruby feel awful. She glanced at Miles and Bella, who seemed to be in some sort of tiff now… and then Ephram was upset too. Iann as well. And Cassie seemed irritated. It was all just… “Um… sorry for… bringin’ it up… I’m just…” She felt entirely absurd now. For dismantaling the good mood because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “I’m just… gonna go home now…” she said, moving towards the edge of the booth.

“Oh, no no– I didn’t mean it like–” Dani swallowed trying to piece together a proper explanation, but when people were phrasing it like that… “It wouldn’t have been with some random stranger or anything. I knew the girl, but…” scratching the back of their neck, they looked down into their lap. “It was a different time. I was– kind of a mess.” They glanced up at Maya. “Oh, amateur shit, for sure.”

“I mean, don’t get me wrong. I won’t be shaming anyone for making money how they need to though,” Lilo added his two cents, just in case anything was misconstrued. “Work is work, huh? No matter what kind it is… Sooo, just, anyone showing up to the puppet show?”

“Eating in bed is fun,” Cassie spoke up looking to Miles. “Breakfast in bed? Like a treat.” But then Cassie also just really enjoyed eating.

Ephram kept scrutinizing Lilo, mouth curling from side to side as he tried to place a memory in his head. “Maya,” he said, a little bit of a warning tone in his voice. “Maybe that sorter question ain’t the most useful.” He continued to feed his husband, taking comfort in the intimate caretaking of the motions, especially when Dani explained what Ephram supposed they thought were mitigating factors. Sighing, he said, “Well, cain’t say we ain’t all been a hot mess at one time or another, eh?”

“Crumbs in bed though,” Miles protested to Cassie.

“Exactly!” Bellamy agreed with Cassie until she realised Cassie just meant generally eating, though that was good too. “If I did the laundry afterwards would you?” she asked him, fondly recalling their first kiss and how he’d tasted just like ranch. It wasn’t exactly a 'sexy’ taste but it made her happy.

Lilo quickly remembered Cassie’s remark about making sure Ruby got home safe, and felt suddenly guilty she seemed to feel pushed out of the group. “Hey, hey, Ruby! Hold up where are you headed so quick? At least have another drink of water huh? Then let one of us walk you home maybe?”

Freddie slid his hand up Ephram’s back to play idly with the hair at the nape of his neck, nodding his agreement. “Some of us for a very long time."

Iann had heard many, countless stories like what he’d thought Dani’s was as well, but he refused to be desensitized to it, because as a man he shouldn’t just brush it off. Besides, his anger simmering and steady, but serious because it sounded serious. However Dani’s elaboration made his shoulders relax slightly and when Pettaline spoke up, Iann just looked away out the window. "Yeah I should head home too,” he said when Ruby got up. “I’ll get you to Tuah’s.”

Lilo smiled at Iann, the drunk whisperer and commendable human being he was being right now. Then turned his attention to Miles. “Ayy, I don’t mind waking up lightly breaded if my woman is happy! Breakfast in bed can be nice.”

Maya glanced over at Ephram and gave a look that sort of said, you’re not entirely wrong but I’m asking it anyway. Her concern though dissipated when Dani explained further. It wasn’t exactly a good story, but it wasn’t all that unusual. “I’ll still kick her ass if you want me to,” she offered.

Cassie “An easy fix.” Cassie began, but motioned to Bellamy when she clearly shared the same thought. Lilo’s comment made her laugh heartily and held his arm again. “Lilo knows how it works.”

Freddie turned to look at Maya, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Is that something you offer to do regularly, love?” he asked, “Because it rolled off the tongue a bit easily.”

Dani: “Well, if you guys are headed out, be safe. Pride makes some people crazy.” They leaned over to place a small peck on Ruby’s cheek, leaving behind a neon green mark. “And tell Tuah I said hi.” Turning back to Maya, they shook their head. “It was years ago, and certainly not in this country. Not worth it.”

“I’m just… tired,” Ruby lied, giving Lilo a smile as best she could. “And I will,” she said to Dani before she got out of the booth. “I don’t wanna… make any more trouble tonight. So…“ She gave a small wave and turned to go, resisting the urge to just run away, though Iann’s offer didn’t fall on deaf ears. She waited outside a few minutes to see if he would actually come to take her home, otherwise she’d call a cab.

Ephram let out another sigh, this one satiated and grounded as he leaned into Freddie’s fingers. He returned Maya’s look with a flat, horselike disapproving stare but didn’t reprimand her any further. At the moment, he was distracted by Freddie and that simple comment that spoke to both of their experiences. "I wouldn’t of been able to afford you,” Ephram murmured to his husband. “But I wouldn’t of had to pay, would I.”

Freddie shook his head gently, eyes only for Ephram. “I’d have given myself to you the moment you asked.”

Lilo sat a bit taller in his seat, despite being one of the shorter people present, at all the praise from Cassie. “Hey I am a cool guy. I get it. You know I used to beat up people easy too! Not so much anymore.” He nodded to Cassie, assuring her.

Iann marched outside briskly, walking a few steps ahead of Ruby, before stopping and turning around to look at her. “What’re you waiting for? C'mon.” Iann said, stuffing his pipe and lighting it as he kept walking. “My van’s up the block,” he stated curtly, trying to work out the anger running in his veins. He turned to look at Ruby. “And what the hell are you talking about? Making more trouble…? I’m confused.”

Miles quickly felt like he was going to lose this battle about food in bed. “Maybe,” he said to Bellamy, but didn’t really say much more cause talking about his sex life while out with a bunch of people wasn’t really something he was comfortable with. “Maybe I’ll make you some breakfast in bed one day though. Something that doesn’t leave crumbs or gets you all sticky.”

“I’m probably supposed to say no that, but I would be lying and I’m kind of shit at that,” Maya replied when Freddie asked if she often offered to kick someone’s ass regularly. She gave Dani a smile and replied, “Well offer’s still on the table.” She didn’t expect Dani to actually take it, but the offer was more about having someone angry on your behalf. She knew how much that could mean.

Ruby was pulling out a cigarette when Iann came outside. She took a drag before following. She snorted. “Everyone at that table except for like… two people… was upset or irritated because of me. I’m surprised Bella didn’t chew me out because her fucking boyfriend looked in my direction. CAssies ill with me. You got upset second hand…” Ruby shrugged.

“Cantaloupe is a pretty good breakfast,” Lilo supplied helpfully. He took the entire food in bed talk much like Cassie, completely on surface level. “Not too sticky, and the fresh ones are delicious as well as good… but uh…” It began to dawn on him. “Not the most nourishing I think for a vamp lady.”

Ruby (outside to Iann): “So did Ephram… this whole… good vibes thing broke down because I can’t be fucking quiet…”

Cassie When Lilo happily announced he used to beat people up all she could do was shake her head and finish up her fries. Her gaze lifted and she noticed Iann and Ruby gone outside. Her focus on ‘breakfast in bed’ was mostly dissipated.

Bella pouted but she knew how he was and didn’t intend to push things with so many people around. “Well I’ll make you breakfast in my bed and it will be very sticky,” Bellamy responded, popping poutine in her mouth. She didn’t mind being this way around people, though hearing Ruby outside made her look at Cassie who could likely also hear her. Ruby would hopefully realise soon enough, when she really was a werewolf, that you definitely had to get further away from supernaturals for them not to hear you.

Ephram smiled against Freddie’s cheek, flowing along with the notion. “And then lie to whatever fucker figured he bought your cherry. Lil trickster.”

Iann lit Ruby’s cigarette for her with a snap of his zippo and snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was angry at something that had nothing to do with you, Ruby. You weren’t a part of my anger.” He slowed slightly thought, puffing for a bit. “So you feel more bad about the Bellamy thing, or the Pe - the Cassie thing?”

Lilo was mostly wishing he couldn’t hear Ephram and Freddie whisper sweet nothings to each other. Not that he held anything against the two but he did feel like some dirty eavesdropper when he honestly was trying to pay attention to anything else. Supernatural hearing was a chore sometimes.

Iann shook his head. “And I’m pretty sure whatever Pettaline was feeling had nothing to do with you either.” Not from what Pettaline said to Maya, and then to Dani. Ruby didn’t factor into that at all.

Miles snorted at Bella’s comment that she would make him an extra sticky breakfast in bed. “Guess I’ll have to stay over at your place more often then,” cause lately she’d been going over to his most of the time.

Ruby (outside to Iann): “Alright. Well. What’re /you/ mad about then? But I"m not even interested in Miles. He’s a nice guy. A good cop, but… I"m not gonna watch what I say just because he might… glance towards me. I mean… and why is everyone getting so mad with me because they didnt find out the second I got my arm nearly chewed off??” she sighed. “Maybe not,” she said about Ephram. “I’m just… I"m fucking tired, Iann. Of always… always feeling selfish and stupid and… the odd one out no matter what I do…”

Lilo: “Okay, so, I take it Cassie and I are the only ones going to the puppet show? I’ve also planned some kids activities and stuff if anybody here has kids coming to pride?” Lilo made one last ditch attempt at the subject before he was going to drop it.

Freddie turned slightly into the little nuzzle, with a smirk. “As many times as I could, if there was money in it,” he confirmed. “And you wouldn’t have me any other way.”

Lilo: “Puppets are weird right?”

Ruby was rambling a bit, she knew, but her thoughts were all over the place. IT had been such a fun night, and then to have it just… fucking tank on her… was disconcerting. Though maybe it was all just in her head.

Ephram (to Freddie): “Not true, kitten. I could have you any way I fuckin’ well want.”

Iann laughed. “So don’t, jesus. Stop letting other people’s precious feelings make you feel bad. They’re not your fucking responsibility. You’re not a tool that’s designed to make others happy. Enjoy being odd, it means you’re different. And selfishness is self-preservation. The stupid one I can’t help you with,” Iann smiled over at her. “But everyone’s stupid about something. Yes, yes even me and I’m brilliant.”

Cassie finally took Lilo’s bait about changing the subject and sat up slightly, “Bella said she might stop by, to see Addie. Right? You can’t blame most people for not coming.” Cassie pouted at him, “Only babies like puppets. Literally.”

Bella snorted a laugh, a little surprised by his respond, leaning on his shoulder before giving it a quick kiss. “Speaking of places, where are you looking at moving to?” she asked him, unsure of where he’d really been looking for a place. Still when Lilo asked about the puppet show Bella turned to him and shook her head. “Yeah, I’m gonna come, I wanted to see Addie’s dress. Plus I want to avoid the mess that is Erzebet’s.”

Dani patted Maya’s arm in a rather sister-ly fashion. “Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” Their eyes then drifted to the two men across the table and Dani couldn’t resist the wistful sigh that fell from their lips. “Gods, you two are so adorable.” Did their interaction spark a longing in them to return home to their no doubt slumbering husband? Yes, but for Dani Savin, the night was still far too young for proper sleep.

Freddie grinned, leaning in to kiss Ephram again, not particularly caring what the rest of the table thought of it. “Well, when you put it like that…”

Iann he slowed and even turned to walk backwards, facing her has he gesticulated. “Not that you shouldn’t vent. A good venting-fest like this is good, but once it’s over you should feel better, not stagnant, hm? That’s what venting is for, letting out the steam and resetting to normal.”

“I think my kids are bit too old for puppet shows,” Miles said to Lilo apologetically. He had one entering her teens and the other wasn’t too far behind. “Oh, I actually found a place. It’s pretty much in the same area I am now, and Iann said it was just a few blocks down from yours, so we’ll be closer.”

Maya yawned. She’d almost finished off her fries, just a few sitting cold at the bottom of her tray. “I should probably head out too,” she said as she stood and cleared her place, “Before I pass out on you all.”

Lilo snorted a laugh of his own. “Yeah, ay, puppets are a little this concerning.” He meant disconcerting but he was Lilo, and it was late. “But Addie is sure to look cute, and ay, puppets aren’t the only youth thing. I’m gonna make some rainbow shirts with the kids. Tie-dyes and paints and stuff. You know look as fashionable as everyone out there.”

Ephram took his time in kissing Freddie, pulling his husband in close afterwards to continue feeding him. “Might come to this puppet show,” he declared, “if the lil’ gingersnap’s in it.” He nodded over at Dani with a lopsided grin, saying, “It’s all this one. He’s the adorable one between us. I jes provide shade in the sun.”

It was best Miles daughters couldn’t come, because then Bellamy wouldn’t have been able to go and see Addie. “Really?” Bellamy asked, a smile on her face as she found out he would be closer to her than he was now. “When are you moving?” she continued before Lilo spoke of Addie’s cuteness. “Make me a shirt? I could wear some cute tie dye once in a while,” she smirked. “And Cassie definitely needs some hippie shirt.” It wasn’t Cassie’s style but it would be very amusing to see the pair of them in them when it was so unlike them.

Ruby (outside to Iann): “But if I don’t care… then I’m just some… heartless bitch. If I do care… I’m a pushover who lets other determine how she feels.” She gestured towards him. “I know that… I get that. I’m the only responsibility I have.” She gave him a small eye roll at the stupid comment. “Yes, I know, I just….” She ashed her cigarette, kicking a rock on the sidewalk. “It doesn’t matter…” She took a breath and looke up at the sky at they walked. “What the fuck is normal though?”

Ephram watched Maya get up, halfway wanting to talk to her and halfway figuring he should just let her head out as she wanted. “We should make plans to see each other at one'a these things, girl,” he called to her. “Maybe this puppet show?”

“Not a bad idea,” Dani smiled at Maya’s yawn. “I’ll see you around soon, yeah?” They grinned back at Ephram. “Maybe, but everyone’s got a little adorable in them somewhere. It’s unavoidable.”

“It’ll all be plenty of fun. Kids deserve some good PrideFest stuff too.” Cassie was practically praising, but she only did so because she felt it was warranted, “You’re just the man for the job. They picked well.” Her mouth fell open slightly in fake offense at Bella’s suggestion, “No. No way no tie-die for me. I look awful in that stuff.”

Lilo moved his arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “I think you will look beautiful in whatever you want to wear.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. It was only slightly gravy flavored. “It is getting a little late lobocita, we’ve had a big night. You want to head home soon mi tesoro?”

Maya shrugged, “I might sleep in tomorrow. Is it okay if I just text you in the morning?” She gave Dani a nod, “Yeah, you text me too? I’ll probably be in and out of stuff all week.”

“Uh….so?” Iann asked Ruby. “What does it matter if some asswad thinks you’re a heartless bitch? Let them, who cares what they think, that’s what I’m saying. People who give a shit about you won’t think that, get it? You’ll be surprised to learn who your real friends are the moment you stop being a pushover. It may be less than you think but that’s not a bad thing.” Iann opened the passenger door for her, pausing to admire Ryden’s handiwork as he went around the van and got in too. “Whatever your normal is. And if you still don’t know, well when the full moon comes at least that’ll give you some definition, hey? Bright side.”

Dani: “I could help out with the shirts, if you need it,” the professor turned toward Lilo. They couldn’t help but think of Noel and how much he would have loved the vibrancy of Pride. “I’ve got nothing else on my schedule in the morning.”

“I got another month before my current lease is up, and then I can move out.” Miles hadn’t started packing yet, and likely would keep it that way until the last possible moment. “If tie-die shirts are going to be made, I think I might bring my girls. Ellie would probably love it.”

“Wait-” Freddie said, his forehead wrinkling in confusion as he turned to Lilo, “-is the baby in the show, or just attending the show? And has she ever seen a puppet? They might bloody horrify her…” The fairy settled a bit heavier against his witch, happy to be talked about, before beaming at Dani. “Aren’t husbands wonderful creatures?”

Cassie nodded at Lilo’s suggestion, “Yeah sure. It’s going to be an earlier morning anyways and then we have to pick up Addie from the farmhouse.” She grabbed her purse, “You paid already right?”

Lilo beamed at Dani. “Ay really? That sounds awesome. Most of this I arranged by text with that Miguel guy, who’s uh, out now… But I think he’d be fine with it. The more helping hands the merrier huh?” He grinned. “Besides you can probably help the kids with designs more. You got way more of an eye for style it looks like.”

Bella smirked as Cassie objected. “Not even if Addie made it for you?” Bellamy laughed, watching as Lilo kissed her cheek, assuring her she’d be beautiful. The suggestion to leave not shocking, it was getting late. “Want me to help?” she asked Miles of his move, unsure if his kids would be there for it, it seemed they would be coming to do shirts though so Bellamy made a note to avoid that area when the time came.

Dani nodded back to Maya. “Sure thing. I’ll be around at pretty much everything, so just keep an eye out for a short person with rainbow hair. I won’t be that hard to find.” At Freddie’s response, they smiled warmly. “Yeah. They’re pretty astounding. Half the time, I’m amazed mine puts up with me.”

Ephram nodded. “Sleep in however long you want. I ain’t goin’ nowhere,” he assured Maya as she left. Tuning back in to Freddie’s concern, he asked, “I thought youn’s liked puppets? Them Punch and Judine ones, that’s English, right?”

Ruby got in the van, tossing her cigarette in the nearby ashtray first. She waitied until he got inside to buckle up. “What if I don’t have any friends after that?” Ruby said, blinking over at Iann, looking slightly downtrodden. OF course Ruby would have friends. A few at least .There was Fane and Dani. Tuah. And Iann, even though she didn’t think he considered them friends. Probably Ephram since he already knew her prety well. Freddie. Fuck… that was a fair few people. “I just… wanna get it over with. So I can… get on with things.”

Cassie looked back at Bella and narrowed her eyes slightly, lips pulled in a curl, “Oh…you’re tricky.” She let out a huff before she admitted, “I guess if Addie ran up and said she’d made it especially for me. I couldn’t refuse.” She glanced to Miles, “Aw, I hope we’ll get to see one of your girls.”

Lilo turned back to Cassie. “At the counter my love, it’s one of those kinda places.” He nodded to the group still left at the table and those slowly leaving. “It was real great to hang out with you guys again, and meet you for those I did not know before.” He nodded to Miles and held out a hand for another too manly ™ handshake. “We should hang out sometime man, you look me up okay?” He saluted Dani. “I will be on the look out for my rainbow-haired saviur when all the kids bombard me tomorrow. You stay good guys. Officer Possum guts. Everyone else!”

Maya smiled, tiredness creeping into her movements, “Okay. See you all tomorrow.” She waved before tossing her garbage and heading out into the night. She planned just to grab a cab since walking seemed a bit excessive given her current state of dress and the late hour.

Freddie chuckled across the table at Dani. “Same, darling; believe me,” before goggling affectionately at Ephram. “Have you ever /seen/ Punch and Judy puppets, sweetheart? They’re what nightmares are made of.”

“Of course,” Dani grinned at Lilo. “I know Miguel. We’re sort of, uh– fellows doctors in supernatural science?” At the mention of an eye for style, they chuckled. “I guess. I wouldn’t say it’s a hobby of mine, but I can’t deny that I was raised by several very fashion-oriented individuals.” As he got up, they saluted in return. “Sounds like a plan. You too!”

“If you want to, yeah,” Miles said to Bella, smiling at her. “And you need to help me pick out some furniture for their rooms, just not another one of those giant princess house things you got them last time. One is enough.” He turned toward Cassie, “Hopefully you’ll get to see both of them,” and since they seemed to be leaving he took Lilo’s offered hand and gave it a good shake, “Definitely man, I’ll give you a call or something.”

Lilo: “Oye! Freddie, to answer the question. I am pretty sure Addie is just gonna be watching.” He looked at Cassie. “Right?”

Iann laughed as he started the van, loving the grumbly thrum under foot. “That’s it, wallow in the self-pity. You might as well indulge right now, it’s late and you’re drunk and you’re gonna have a wicked hangover tomorrow so you might as well enjoy this wallow.” Because honestly, sometimes it just felt good to have a good pity-party, in Iann’s opinion anyway. “Yeah I’ll bet. And when you go werewolf, it’ll be interesting to see if you’ll look back and wonder why you didn’t enjoy your last human hours to the fullest. Frankly, I hope you don’t, but you never know.”

Ruby: Get on with whatever her normal was gonna end up being. Get on with… being alone. Being clueless. Being someone that no one would notice if they left and never came back. They were idle thoughts, and alcohol induced. Ruby wouldn’t truly think them in the morning, but right now she did. A bit. She laid her head against the window as they drove, watching the streetlights go by in a blur of light.

“And I will then see you in amazing tie-dye,” Bella told Cassie with a smirk. “I promise to only shop at IKEA,” she teased him, figuring if she spent a lot of money that could end up making him a bit uncomfortable too. “But no more princess castles…even though they’re amazing.”

Ephram waved goodbye to the exiting throng before looking suspiciously at Freddie. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Youn’s got them other things too, them shows at Christmas where actors dress up as twelve-foot-high princesses or the like. It’s gotta be an English delight.” Ephram looked at Dani, trying to enlist their help. “You must of been to England before, right? They love their freak puppets?”

Lilo took Cassie’s arm and excited out of the diner, ready to find there way back and enjoy the rest of their night.

Freddie followed suit as Ephram waved at the departing masses, then turned his attention back to Lilo first as he and Cassie stood to go. “Well, stick close, Dad - just in case,” before back round to Ephram and Dani. “Pantos aren’t the same thing at all,” he argued good-naturedly, “Dani, back me up, yeah?”

“I’m not wallowing…” Ruby groaned, turning her head to look at Iann. “I’m… not… okay, maybe a lttle bit. BUt I was doing so good. So fucking good. I was.. happy. Ish. Better. Which is why I just blurted shit out there tonight like an asshole.” She rubbed her forehead. It was laready starting to hurt. “I’ve got some blood tabs that’’ll fix anything…” She turned back to teh window. “WEll, I was until tonight…”

Miles gently nudged Bella’s side, “You wanna go make tie-die shirts with me and the girls?” This was kind of big for them cause Bellamy hadn’t actually met his kids before, but he figured that since they’d been seeing each other for a while, it was about time they met.

Dani shrugged at Ephram. “Yeah, I lived there on and off as a kid. Can’t say I ever paid much attention to freak puppets, though. I was usually busy getting into trouble while my father was busy dealing with whatever work he was up to.”

Iann (to Ruby, driving home): “That’s called moods! Indulge the wallow. You had fun, now you’re feeling like shit, then tomorrow you’ll feel different. You don’t have to keep forcing yourself to be one mood and only one perfect unflawed mood anymore. Moody-moods.”

Bella knew she felt a little…upset when it seemed like Cassie would meet them first but ultimately she figured that it wasn’t that big of a deal. Cassie and Lilo were sweet and they had a kid and they weren’t…dangerous. “Maybe we should talk to this somewhere people can’t hear,” Bellamy suggested, knowing if she could hear Ruby then there was every chance others there could easily here them. It might not have been the sweet reply Miles wanted but saying yes like she wanted wasn’t quite so simple.

Ruby crossed her arms petulantly. “’M not moody.”

Iann: “It’s not a critique. Moody isn’t a negative word.”

Freddie followed suit as Ephram waved at the departing masses, then turned his attention back to Lilo first as he and Cassie stood to go; telling him “Well, stick close, Dad - just in case,” before circling back round to Ephram and Dani. “Pantos aren’t the same thing at all,” he argued good-naturedly, “Dani, back me up, yeah?”

Ruby: “Maybe.”

Iann: “Definitely. I’m moody. I’m not slamming myself.”

Ruby: "Not right now.” Then, “You deflect.“

"Oh, yeah. 'Course it’s not the same,” Dani tagged along with Freddie. “Puppets are a bunch of fake figures on strings. Pantos are more like comedic plays, and such. But geared toward kids rather than your usual theatre crowd.”

Freddie grinned. “Which isn’t to say they aren’t horrors in their own right - they’re just the sort of horror you think fondly on.”

“Pantos,” Ephram repeated firmly, although he had no clue that it was short for pantomime. “Hey, you cain’t claim Dani! Dani’s on my side!” Ephram reached across the table to fold Dani’s hand in his own. He intended to keep up the banter, but instead found himself asking, “You and your daddy wasn’t close back then?”

“Sure, I guess?” Iann shrugged and looked over at Ruby. “Are you trying to put me in my place or something? You’re the one who’s hating yourself. I don’t hate you.”

Ruby: “I don’t hate myself. And no I"m not trying to put you in any place. It’s just an observation.”

Iann: “So it is.”

“Exactly,” Dani grinned at the fairy before the witch took their hand, and a quiet giggle resulted. His question, however, caused them to blink. “No, we were still close. He was just extremely busy. When we were over there, it was typically nobility stuff he was dealing with, which awfully complicated and frankly boring for a child who would much rather roll around in the mud than learn proper manners for elite festivities.”

“Sure,” Miles returned, “Yeah, no problem.” He finished off the rest of the pastrami fries and then wiped his fingers clean with a napkin. Since people seemed to be slowly filtering out, Miles glanced at his watch and did see that it was getting late. “I got to go, babygirl,” he said to Bella. “Are you going to come over later?”

“Makes sense, yeah. Mr. Savin’s got plenty of nobility stuff and scholar stuff to attend to.” In truth, Ephram didn’t know much about Fane other than his scant (and largely unpleasant) interactions with the man. And it was good to have Freddie with him for the conversation, so Ephram could demand his husband’s interpretations later, in private. Ephram valued Freddie’s perspective on these things very highly.

Bella worried she had upset him, taking one of his hands in hers once he had wiped it off, squeezing it gently. “I /want/ to meet them, I promise,” she assured him. “You working tomorrow?” she asked of him leaving. “Yeah, I will probably head back to work for a bit to make sure everything closes okay but I’m definitely staying over.”

Miles pressed a reassuring kiss to her lips before he scooted out from the booth, “Yeah I work tomorrow. I’ll see you later then.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek and whisper lowly into her ear – though likely others with heightened hearing would still be able to hear him, “Love you, babygirl.”

For his part, Freddie thought being too busy with the trappings of nobility and his sense of his own importance seemed like Fane Savin in a nutshell, and he wasn’t surprised in the slightest - in fact, what had always surprised him the most about Fane was that his child was as lovely as they were - but he stayed quiet, choosing to only smile politely along with Ephram’s assessment, popping the last tot into his mouth. “Not quite so nice cold,” he mused after he’d swallowed.

Bella kissed him back simply, knowing he wasn’t into anything intense so publicly. “Love you,” she said back, watching as he left and said goodbye to everyone else. If he was upset then she knew that when they talked all would be well so she didn’t worry. Instead she began finishing off her food before heading over to Ephram. She knew he was a bit busy with Freddie and stuff but she didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye, moving behind his seat she kissed the top of his head. “I’m headed back to work. Stop by before you miss all the fun. Maybe arrest anyone who has vandalized the place.”

Miles waved and nodded a few quick goodbyes to the rest of the people.

“Thankfully we don’t have to deal too much with it anymore.” Dani waved their hand as a gesture. “Occasionally something will come up– an invite to a party or a hopeful suitor, which I no longer have to bother with either.” As Bella and Miles headed out, Dani waved their hand goodbye. “See you. I know I’m likely to stop back in at some point, so long as the party’s still going.”

Freddie glanced up at Bellamy, expression inscrutable, gaze level, and shifted just slightly in his seat; his body language just a bit more noticeably possessive and protective, though he didn’t say a word. Waiting until Ephram had said his goodbyes before leaning closer to his darling’s ear to murmur, “What about us, love? Nearly time for bed do you think?”

Ephram leaned his head back when Bellamy came over, demanding another kiss on the forehead. “I would say you’re workin’ too hard, but I know you don’t need sleep.” He laughed at the idea of arresting anybody, and said, “If anybody insults the venue, maybe. Goodnight, sweetpea.” He petted Freddie’s back, forking the poutine over like he was pitchforking a field, and suggested, “Try that one. It’s like, molten hot forever.” Going back to Dani’s reply, Ephram said, “Heh – a benefit of gettin’ older. You don’t gotta do things you don’t have to. Or like.” His husband stirred, suggesting that they retire, and feeling tiredness seep back into his bones Ephram wasn’t inclined to argue.

Bella kissed his forehead as requested by his movements and smirked at his comments. “Night,” she happily said as he moved back to Freddie. It felt like a fairly successful interaction with Ephram while Freddie was around. Not perfect by any means but it didn’t seem like either of them had done anything to make Ephram feel put out which was what she presumed each wanted. Now to just see what had happened with the black light event.

“I’ll see you roundabout the place, Dani,” Ephram said, standing with Freddie bundled against him and grabbing the poutine container with one hand so they could tote it home with them. “Right now I better take the love of my life home and tuck his tipsy but cute ass into bed.”

Dani chuckled at Ephram and nodded. “That you will.” They smiled at the pair, stepping out from the table themself. “Sounds like a plan. I might stop home briefly as well… If I don’t show up, just expect I’ve been dragged into bed by a grouchy florist.”

“Oh no,” Freddie interjected, smiling as he cuddled into Ephram’s side, “-not tonight. This one’s coming to bed with me. But tell Sam hello, love, yeah?”

“By expect you mean imagine, right?” Ephram snickered, giving Dani a one-armed snug before they parted ways.

Dani laughed and returned Ephram’s squeeze. “Whatever you fancy, I suppose.” To Freddie, they gave a peck on the cheek and nodded. “I’ll pass it along. Good night to you both.”

Ephram ended up eating the poutine on the way home. But in a way that was all right, since the warm food got him hungry for something else, too.

[johobi]

When You Least Expect It | 05

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader x Taehyung 

Word count: 6.6k

Warnings: tiny bit of angst

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16732419/navigate

A/N: Okay, this is the second part I extracted from that mammoth chapter. It’s a little shorter than normal as a result, but I hope you enjoy it.

Next: 06 || WYLEI Masterlist

You’re in love with your childhood friend, Taehyung. The problem is, you treasure your friendship with him far too much to ever risk losing it. Oh, and he’s quite the Casanova. At your wits’ end with feelings you can no longer hide as diligently as you once did, you ask him to set you up with someone, anyone, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a heartbreaking conversation.

The first date was supposed to be the most nerve-wracking one, right? And that’s why you couldn’t understand why choosing something to wear was even more of an insurmountable task than the last time. How even though your apartment was now meticulous, it still seemed unfit for Jungkook to see, and that was despite the fact you were still not planning on inviting him in. Oh, no, just because you didn’t put out on the first date, that didn’t mean you were reserving it for the second one in some half-assed attempt at sticking by these new values you had adopted.

So why had you, yet again, gone to town on grooming and dressing parts of yourself that he wouldn’t be seeing tonight? Surely you should have been going au naturel to guarantee that you wouldn’t dare let him in the vicinity of these areas?

Because.

He was disarmingly handsome, cute, and growing on you at an unnerving rate. Without being in the same room, even! It was mind-boggling. Perhaps the sheer fruitlessness of your love for Taehyung was beginning to dawn on you. Perhaps your outpouring to Hoseok had been a turning point.

Perhaps.

Or perhaps you were fooling yourself into thinking that you enjoyed Jungkook’s attentions.

Time would tell.

And time was approaching fast. He was due to pick you up in another five minutes, and you couldn’t find your fucking keys! Typical.

Buzzzzzzzzz.

Fuck. He was early. Good job you had pressured your lazy ass into cleaning up.

Sounding, you were sure, akin to an elephant charging across the savannah, you stomped down the stairs to your front door and flung it open, the two of you presenting each other with similarly toothy grins. His, however, won, because you were sure you were beginning to develop some kind of freakish fetish for his rabbit-like gnashers. “Hi!”

“Hi,” Jungkook brimmed so intensely with enthusiasm, you could almost see him vibrating. Jesus. It was still novel to you that someone was so sincerely excited to spend time in your company. As with anything that seemed too good to be true, your paranoia set in to fret over whether this was another – certainly more malicious – of Taehyung’s pranks. But for the next thing Jungkook uttered, you honestly didn’t give a shit. You would take it, even if it was fantastical. “Wow,” he breathed, casting a long, appreciative glance over your figure. “You look incredible.”

You blinked down at what you considered to be a rather hum-drum outfit – some black skinny jeans and a tank-top – and wasn’t sure just what he was seeing. You hadn’t even put on your fancy sweater yet. Yes, you were just that organised. “Thanks,” you exhaled a mild snort. “I don’t know about that, though. I’m not even ready – sorry to be a pain. You were considerate enough to show up a little early and here I am, frantically searching for my damn keys. Would you like to come in for a minute while I look for them?”

Jungkook’s upper lip thinned as his smile grew. Everything that came out of your mouth seemed to be music to his ears, and you weren’t sure if that was a good thing. His eagerness was almost abnormal. Or perhaps your sense of self-worth was just that skewed? “Sure.”

“Perspective, ____,” you heard Hoseok’s parting words echo in your mind. “Don’t always trust what your mind tells you. At the moment, it’s on the wrong side.”

You opened the door wider and turned to run back up the stairs – realising halfway up that it was probably impolite to clamber around your apartment like a chimpanzee in company. Awkwardly, you slowed down and looked over your shoulder to apologise, but stopped when you noticed that Jungkook’s eyes had been glued to the tight outline of your ass and his face was only inches from colliding with it when you stopped. Immediately you roared with laughter and his gaze flew to your face, his expression some hilarious amalgamation of guilt, mischief and chagrin. He hung his head low, like a kid that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I’m sorry, you’re just—right in front of me, and those pants look really good on you—“ he spluttered, but you only laughed harder.

“It’s fine. I probably should have given you some notice before you nearly face-planted my butt, too,” you snickered as you ascended the stairs.

When you reached the landing, you led him into the living room, the place you were certain you’d misplaced your keys. While you frantically upturned sofa cushions and rifled through the magazines on your coffee table, Jungkook took the chance to absorb his surroundings. And, by extension, probably glean something about your personality, you surmised.

It was appropriately lacking.

“You have a really nice place,” he commented kindly, and you scoffed.

“It’s boring, and doesn’t have many personal touches,” you muttered distractedly, hands on hips and completely flummoxed. “I haven’t really had the time to do much with it, even though I’d like to.”

“I like DIY if you ever need a helping hand,” he offered, and that tore you from your quest for keys for a moment. You tilted your head in disbelief at just how genuinely nice this kid was.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” you smile appreciatively, then, remembering why you were still standing around in your apartment and not on the way to the movie you were bound to be late for, you growled in frustration. “Where did I put those fuckers? Hold on a sec, let me check the kitchen.”

Jungkook nodded and plopped himself down on your couch, and you found yourself mildly thankful that he didn’t ask permission to do so. You wanted to see him relax, to take some initiative, and maybe – this suggestion being entirely influenced by your unbidden libido – for him to take some control.

“Thank Christ,” you muttered under your breath when you found the offending item on your kitchen counter, right where you’d sworn to retrieve it from. Because you’d baked Jungkook some cupcakes, too, and you knew you’d forget them. Instead, you’d forgotten both your keys and the fucking baked goods.

When you returned to the living room, you saw him examining your various framed photographs. You approached where he stood and smiled at him when he looked up, his finger outstretched and pointing to one in particular: Your high school graduation. Your parents had, of course, been absent, far too busy for such a “glorified, pointless event. The piece of paper is what matters, darling.” But Hoseok and Yoongi had lined your sides as exemplary stand-ins, and in all honesty, you wouldn’t have had it any other way. You had graduated together as classmates, peers and family that day. “Are these your parents?” Jungkook joked.

“Yeah,” you played along. “My two gay dads. They adopted very young. We’re very close.”

“My collection of photos looks scarily similar to yours,” Jungkook smiled dolefully. “A little more aesthetically pleasing, perhaps, thanks to my eye for composition,” he ribbed in passing, and you shook your head incredulously, “but just as devoid of family. I’m glad you’re displaying who and what actually makes you happy.”

Ah, yes, Jungkook had vaguely mentioned his own familial troubles. “That’s right. There’s more to life than pining after a parents’ overvalued love,” you commented rather cynically, but Jungkook was nodding his agreement. “I couldn’t have wished for a better substitute family than these two. I’m theirs, too, really. It’s one disjointed, but loving, family. You’re more than welcome to join,” you teased, and Jungkook shuddered exaggeratedly.

The side of his mouth arced into a suggestive smirk. “I’m not into incest, but thank you for the offer.”

You raised your eyebrows at his boldness. This was a first for him, in person. “Oh?” you let your one-syllable response hang in insinuation. And if he were about to respond, in kind, with a decidedly more salacious reply, he didn’t have the chance before you were shoving the box of cupcakes at his chest. You know, in that half shy, half ‘just take it!’ way that textbook Tsunderes do. You fitted rather easily into that god-awful stereotype. “I baked these for you,” you stated lamely, your face flushing for some unreachable reason.

Jungkook’s eyes widened as he opened the box and saw what lay within. “You made these for me?”

“I did just say that,” you brushed your efforts off with a nonchalant flap of your hand.

“Wow, ____,” he mumbled, gazing into the carton of treats with all the wonder of Pandora and her box.  Hopefully, no such ills would befall him for consuming it. Possibly food poisoning, but that hadn’t happened in a while and— “Thank you, I’ll probably eat them all in one sitting when I get home.”

“If you do, then I’ve done it right,” you chuckled, then clamped your hands onto his shoulders and steered him toward the way he’d come in. “I’ve got my keys, let’s go.”

The car journey was subdued in conversation, but fizzed like nothing else with delicious tension. No particular moment had sparked it; rather a sequence of minor, missable happenings. A brush of hands, a waft of cologne, the way he had reached over to pull your seatbelt over your lap when you found yourself struggling. Jungkook locked eyes with you when it clicked into place and fuck if you hadn’t wanted to kiss him so badly right then, completely ruin whatever semblance of innocence he still had clinging to him.

Your curiosity having gotten the better of you, you finally broke the spell of charged silence by questioning him gently about his past dating life. “So,” you started awkwardly, picking at the threads that had begun to unravel on the sleeves of your sweater. “When did you last go on a date? I told you it’d been a while for me, so it’s only fair that you ‘fess up too.”

Jungkook chuckled, glancing at you quickly before returning his eyes to the road. He was, of course, one of those infuriatingly hot guys that drove with one hand on the wheel and the other on the gearstick, oozing a confidence for driving that you were envious you didn’t possess. Oh, no, you were definitely as nervous a driver as you were a navigator of life. “I went on a few when I first moved here, a couple of months ago,” he admitted, and that uplifted you a little, to know that he had some experience under his belt. You wouldn’t want anyone’s first time to be spent with the unworthy likes of you. “But it didn’t work out, really. I haven’t been interested in anyone for a while.”

You couldn’t resist the urge to play coy. “And that changed?”

Without taking his eyes off the view ahead, his profile flashed with a contented grin. He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Right. My parents have always had a very narrow view of who I should be with,” he sighed, his buoyancy vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

“Oh,” you puffed out, caught off-guard. “Is that why you moved away?”

It seemed like Jungkook hadn’t meant to steer the conversation in this direction. His knuckles whitened on the wheel. “Yeah. It was a rather twisted, complicated situation,” he was being purposefully vague and you didn’t want to see your night ruined by bringing up bad memories.

So, without thinking, you reached out to turn on the car radio and jumped so high in your seat you nearly banged your head on the ceiling. Fucking hell, he liked his music loud. “Jesus, Jungkook!” you swore, turning the dial to an acceptable level. He cackled brazenly and you swatted his arm in response, the thick leather of his jacket serving to protect him well. Yes, he was wearing a leather jacket, something he hadn’t deigned to bless your eyes with until you’d reached the car he was taking you in. When he’d swung the garment over his shoulders, it was almost as though it had played in slow-motion before your eyes. Every guy you’d ever had a crush on growing up had had a leather jacket. And, somehow, he pulled it off better than any of them.

To your delight, the radio was tuned to one of your favourite stations. “You weren’t just talking shit when you said the 80s were your favourite,” you mused, impressed.

“Of course not,” he gasped in mock injury. “It’s the best era.”

“You’re too young to remember it,” you teased, pinching your tongue between your teeth in preparation for a scathing rebuke.

He raised a sole eyebrow. “Do you want me to call you noona, is that it? Is that why you keep reminding me?”

You hadn’t been expecting that. You flushed and turned away, well and truly put in your place. It didn’t help that Taehyung’s overuse of the word had kindled in you something dangerously akin to a kink. “No,” you muttered flippantly.

But he wasn’t fooled. “Oh,” he whispered. “Oh,” he dragged the offensive breath of air out, recognition sparking in his eyes. “You do want that?”

You shook your head vigorously. “No!”

“You do!”

“I don’t! I hate that word,” you hissed, the defensiveness of your posture – crossed arms, avoidant of eye contact – said more than enough.

“Noona,” he purred, and nothing could have had you whipping your head around quicker than that. He sounded fucking sinful and an all-too unwelcome throb nestled itself adamantly between your legs. Jungkook looked elated by this newfound power. “Holy shit, I’m definitely using that from now on.”

“Only if I get to call you my Little Sugar Kookie, then,” you shrugged, lips pursed and defiant.

An embarrassed groan met your ears. “Oh God, I don’t think I’ve heard anything worse.”

“Well then,” you sniffed, a smirk creeping back into your expression. “Don’t try me.”

You arrived soon after that exchange, your charged banter invigorating your spirits and expectations for the evening. He insisted, of course – and despite the roll of your eyes – that he open the door for you. Such blatant chivalry deserved a reward, you reasoned, so as you walked past him you casually yanked up the drooping waistband of your jeans, giving him an eyeful your best asset. There was no need to look back, of course, to judge his reaction, because you heard it well enough – some choked vocalisation that he tried hard to cover with a cough. However, you weren’t to be fooled – you didn’t have a lot you were particularly proud of, and sure your self-esteem was buried 6 feet underground somewhere. But the many men you’d gotten through had all agreed on one thing: that your ass had been the first – and last, when you inevitably walked away from their bullshit – thing they’d noticed about you, and for ample reason.

“I’ll get the tickets,” he jogged in front of you, his hands stuffed in his pockets and hugging his jacket to himself. Was he ever going to let you pay for anything?

“Let me at least get the snacks, then,” you offered, but he shook his head at you from the ticket office window. “It’s expensive,” you went on, acutely aware of how low-paying both of your jobs were. The least you could do was split the cost. He had, afterall, paid for dinner too.

When he came away with the tickets, he was still shaking his head. “Nope. You’re not paying for anything,” he insisted, pointing to the tempting display of diabetes-inducing treats. “What would you like?”

Everything he said and did was so mindful, so courteous that you couldn’t help but just stare at him sometimes. Like, was he real? And if he was, was he for real? Was he like this with everyone else? You still had so much to learn about him, and he did nothing but make it a pleasure to do so. “I’ll just have some salted popcorn,” you mumbled after a while of dithering. “I’m not really hungry.”

“I took you for a sweet kind of girl,” he laughed at his own joke, and you were immediately ready to take him down again.

“Nah, I like it salty,” you shrugged, but couldn’t maintain a straight face with the way that his eyes bugged out of his head. “Okay, you are far too easy to shock.”

Jungkook turned away and huffed, scrambling to repair his dented pride. “I just—I see your angelic face, and I don’t expect to hear such lewd things come out of your mouth,” he gushed, the cheese heavy and fully intended. He smirked in satisfaction when your hand planted your face in embarrassment.

“I actually have no comeback to that,” you relented. When you peeped at him through your fingers, he was tonguing his cheek in that insufferably appealing, arrogant way of his. “Stop that,” you chided.

He feigned incognisance. “Stop what?”

“Being sexy. I’m outlawing it,” you pouted.

Jungkook’s lofty front faltered somewhat. “You think I’m sexy?”

That wasn’t as plain as day? Just what the fuck were you doing with your eyes and words and body language every time you saw him? You thought you were being too overt. Maybe he shared your knack for undervaluing oneself.

The clock on the wall caught your eye. “Shit, we’re going to miss the start.”

“Don’t change the subject,” he called after you as you took off.

The only explanation for your lateness were your extended bouts of flagrant flirting for each new location you arrived at. It was, indeed, a trifling problem, and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to do anything but revel in it. Eventually, though, you did make it to your seats, even when your eyes couldn’t quite adjust to the darkness and you tripped over someone’s legs, nearly pulling down Jungkook’s jeans on your way to the floor. Luckily, he’d grabbed your hands just in time, somehow even halting the momentum of your knees making an assuredly painful impact. You’d gulped then, realising just how much upper body strength he possessed.

Both of you whispered a quick apology to those caught in the fray and giggled between yourselves as you located a relatively empty row in the back. The movie had already started by this point, so when he unfolded your seat and held it out for you in one of his eye-roll provoking displays of excessive gallantry, you couldn’t even call him out on it. And he knew, by the shit-eating grin on his face.

You had to give Jungkook credit – the movie was almost unbearably frightening to you. He’d chosen well. Every time the killer made an appearance, you curled into him in preparation for the gratuitous gore you knew you wouldn’t be able to stomach. The first time you’d done it, he’d tensed like a bow string, his arm wooden and stretched obstinately over the back of your seat, as though touching you uninvited would see you immediately casting him from your good graces. But with your rough coaxing – grabbing fistfuls of his shirt and pulling him to you – he relaxed into his role of protector. And by the halfway point, he had become a veteran.

“I hate this,” you hiss-whispered into his neck. Without a doubt, you’d seen less of the movie and more of Jungkook’s frustratingly sculpted chest in the time that you’d been sat here. “I can’t look.”

You felt, rather than heard his chuckle, the vibration from his laughter lulling you into a temporary peace. With time, emboldened by your prompting, he’d begun to stroke the length of your arm to a lazy, consistent rhythm, allaying your fear somewhat. His touch was so different to the platonic affection that Hoseok had swaddled you in the other night. And it was different, still, to the way Taehyung would sometimes rub your shoulders when he saw how tightly wound you were – mainly because he’d never meant it with any of the intent you so wanted.

Jungkook evoked something else altogether.

His touch was alien, unknown, but oh-so right. His fingers were long, and strong, and although you couldn’t see them now, you knew how vascular his hands were. You’d never been handled by someone quite so built, so muscled, and this uncharted territory beckoned you with untold wonders you were eager to map out. The screams from the heroine in peril were no longer jarring, so absorbed in your blind appreciation for his appendages were you. When you lifted his arm away, Jungkook glanced over in confusion. And, bless him, a flash of panic. You smiled your reassurance at him, though you weren’t sure how well he could see it, and instead slid your palm over the top of his hand, your other coming up underneath to support it. He was no longer watching the movie, either, choosing instead to observe your curious behaviour.

The light in the theatre flashed brighter with the change in scene, and only then could you see the glorious intricacies of his ensnared hand. Turning it over in yours, your thumbs traced the lines of his palm, noting how smooth they were. This boy had certainly never worked a day of menial labour in his life. These hands were soft, uncalloused, and just how knowledgeable of a woman’s body were they? How many times had they gripped his—

You caught Jungkook clearing his throat in the lull of action on-screen and looked up at him, hitting him with a kittenish smile. It was more than likely just the darkness of the theatre, the circumference of his pupils lending themselves to the absence of light around you. And yet, the way he was tensed, his fingers slightly trembling in the looseness of your grip, you wondered if he would be looking at you so darkly right now, even if the lights were up. Were your innocuous touches stirring something in him?

Of course, you weren’t about to tell him that you had been committing him, viscerally, to memory. That later, in the privacy of your bed, you would be recalling the size and feel of him, to imagine what it would be like to have those same hands on you, in you, doing unspeakable things. But distantly, you wondered whether he would like that idea.

Neither of you, however, needed the aid of light to feel the way the atmosphere fizzed with tacit desire. He was leaning into you before you were, drawn to each other like North and South, and you were but four, three inches away from finally tasting him when you clambered over the armrest to close the excruciating distance. And that was when he stopped in his tracks. Slowly, his face angled down, and your lust-addled brain took a moment to catch on to why he no longer had any interest in meeting mouths. You followed his stricken gaze to his lap and the spillage your unceremonious scrambling to get to him had caused.

You’d soaked him through with Coke.

“Oh, fuck,” you gasped, a little louder than the people in the row in front of you would have liked, judging by their disapproving glares.

This wasn’t how you’d envisioned your first time looking directly at Jungkook’s crotch to be like, and yet here you were, eyes wide and aghast as the stain – very apparent against his blue jeans – continued to spread. “I’m so, so sorry,” you whined. God, it was impossible for you to go a day without apologising to someone over some fuck-up or another.

Jungkook, though, seemed to find it incredibly amusing. He threw his head back as his body was wracked with silent laughs, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. You stared, mouth agape, in confusion. “You’re not angry?”

“Of course not,” he wheezed. “Don’t be silly, it’s just a pair of jeans. It’s just, that was so perfectly timed, I can’t get over this. Are we in a drama or something?”

You smiled in line with his thinking, relieved that he appeared to take it in such good humour. Yet another sign that he was worth persevering with, despite what your heart may say. “Are you gonna be okay?”

The row in front’s disgruntled muttering had you wincing. Jungkook stirred uneasily in his seat and whispered as quietly as he could manage. “I don’t know, it’s getting kind of swampy down there,” he tried to repress a laugh but it only resounded all the louder, strangled at the back of his throat.

You chewed on your lip to stop it coming out. You really did, really did try and swallow it. But the temptation was just too fucking much, the opportunity too damn good to miss. “Good job I like sucking Coke.”

And that was when the woman in front rounded on you and raised her finger, but you were already high-tailing it out of there, dragging a bent-double, boggy-assed Jungkook behind you. When you burst through the doors and out into the lobby, the two of you fell into fits of laughter, falling against each other for mutual support and finding only a crumpling mess of giggles. “I can’t,” you sobbed, nearly incoherent. “I can’t get up.”

Sure enough, you were fastened to Jungkook’s waist like Velcro, your knees digging into the uncomfortably thin carpet, tears leaking from your eyes.

And then you heard him. “Noona?”

Why?

Why did he always appear like someone nearby had summoned him directly from hell?

Arms still cinched firmly around Jungkook’s waist, your head turned stiffly to heed his call. Seeing Taehyung there, his face, so charmingly betwixt confusion and amusement, was enough to extinguish your gaiety. Like having a bucket of ice water thrown callously over your head. “What’s going on?” he asked, and although his tone seemed pleasant enough, there was a strange look in his eyes, one you couldn’t identify.

“Uh, just a date,” you explained feebly, and Jungkook helped hoist you to your feet.

“Hyung,” he acknowledged him, beaming, and clearly unbothered by the unsightly brown patch marring the front of his jeans. “Nice to see you.”

Taehyung’s gaze flickered to Jungkook and, though he still seemed a little off, he smiled widely. “And you. I’m just here with—“

So today was the day you were destined to meet her. Why, why was Taehyung always just there, ready to ruin your day, your date, your fucking life.

Always.

And today he had an accomplice. Predictably beautiful, leggy, and with long, impossibly lustrous hair, Tara emerged from the ladies’ bathroom and hooked an arm through Taehyung’s. The way he fucking looked at her.

It decimated you.

It shattered you, inside and out, so severely that for a few long, vulnerable seconds, the extent of your hurt was broadcast plainly from your face. There was no strength to find, no desire to pin on some genial expression. Even when, internally, you were climbing the walls in a bid to do so. Your body was refusing to cooperate altogether. It was hopeless, trying to fake something welcoming, or excited, or any one of many polite – because she was certainly undeserving of your embittered feelings – emotions you should have been displaying. And now you were vaguely aware of Jungkook looking between the two of you when you didn’t respond to her greeting. He nudged you. “____?” and when you didn’t respond to him, “Noona?”

That had your and Taehyung’s immediate attention. “Noona?” Taehyung repeated slowly. “You’re getting on that well already?”

You couldn’t break here, not now. Not in front of either of them.

Hoseok will be there for me.

The reminder brought you to.

You approached the pleasantly smiling woman and reached out your hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m ____, Taehyung’s friend.”

She accepted with enthusiasm and nodded in recognition. “I knew it was you, as soon as I saw you. Taehyung’s told me so much about you. I’m so glad to meet you finally.”

Fuck.

She was nice.

You couldn’t even entertain the idea of hating her for being a bitch, now.

“Likewise,” your voice had taken on an abnormally high timbre, not far removed from your customer service charade. “I wasn’t expecting to until Yoongi’s party. This is a nice surprise.”

Taehyung was quieter than you were used to. Of course, the last time you had seen him had been that dreadful night at Hoseok’s, and although he had been texting you as diligently as ever after seemingly accepting your curt forgiveness, your replies had lacked the intricate subtlety of Hoseok’s carefully-worded texts. He could sense you were being weird, and you hoped to God, any God, all of the Gods, that he would never put two and two together. That night had been as dangerously close as you had ever come to letting on that you felt something other than happy-smiley friendship-love for him. “Noona,” Taehyung addressed you in an oddly assertive tone, and you felt Jungkook straighten just a fraction. “We should hang out soon.”

All the more for having witnesses, you wanted to end this painful interaction quickly. “Yeah, of course. Text me? We’ve got to go, Jungkook and I—“ you looked directly at his crotch and he faltered a little under your gaze, pulling down his shirt. “We had an accident, so we’re gonna get him home so he can change.”

Tara laughed; an enchanting, tinkling sound, and you tried so hard to hate her, but you couldn’t. “I won’t ask what happened, but you two looked like you were having a blast anyways.”

Jungkook grinned widely, flashing her his prominent teeth. Selfishly, you hoped she wouldn’t notice – surely it was impossible for any woman or man not to fall for them. “We were. We might have to come back and actually finish the movie some time, but—“

“No way,” you shook your head, visibly shuddering. “I’m not putting myself through that again. That was a stupid idea.”

“You’ve never been able to stick through the entirety of a horror film,” Taehyung sighed, smiling warmly. Tara was snug to his side and he seemed all the happier for it. “I should have given Jungkook a heads-up.”

The man in question shot you an imploring look and you were quick to defend him. “It’s not his fault, I insisted. I thought it would be, I don’t know,” you mumbled your latter words, coy all of a sudden. It was still weird talking about this kind of thing with Taehyung in earshot. “More fun.”

Tara clapped her hands and cackled. “She gets it.”

You laughed along politely before your face dropped a little too suddenly and you turned to Jungkook. “Let’s go?”

He nodded. You bid them both a hurried goodbye and walked a few steps closer to the exit, which flew open with the next person to enter it. A gale seemed to be blowing outside. Jungkook, of course, was already on top of your needs. It almost seemed like he’d been waiting for this opportunity. He removed his jacket and wrapped it securely around you, his eyes glinting gleefully. Peering over Jungkook’s shoulder, you caught Taehyung’s eye across the lobby and smiled weakly at him – honestly, your feelings for him were so mixed at the moment that you had no idea how to even interact with him. You loved him, you hated him, you wanted him, you resented him. You couldn’t be consistent, and it was fast becoming obvious that something was very off with you.

The drive home was quiet, just as it had been on the way there. But not uncomfortably. No, it was calm and content, and though the earlier build-up – of whatever that was – had died down in the face of some undue exhaustion, you’d had a good day. Yes, the appearance of Taehyung and his flawless girlfriend had dampened your mood to a large extent, but you weren’t about to take that out on Jungkook again, fuck no. He’d done everything right. And if, perhaps, one day you could just meet and not have Taehyung supernaturally teleport to the destination of your next date, that would be fantastic. As it was, that was what had happened today, and now you needed time to collect yourself. But you would not be unkind, and you would not spurn Jungkook out of melancholy.

When you arrived at your apartment, you felt glum. Did it have to be over?

Yes, it did, because you were not planning on continuing your dalliance tonight.

You heaved a sigh over your internal musings, and Jungkook looked over at you, unclicking your seatbelt. You weren’t so inept that you couldn’t work it yourself, but he just insisted on these things, half because he was too good for you, and half because he knew how much it annoyed you. The brat liked to tease.

“What are you thinking?” he freed himself from his own restraints and turned in his seat to regard you fully.

“I’m a little sad to go home,” you answered truthfully, and you hadn’t meant to be so candid. As a stranger to being so open, it was unnerving how easily you had offered up the confession. But Jungkook made anything possible.

He trapped one of your hands as it picked, in agitation, at your sweater, his touch instantly quelling your restlessness. When he so delicately interlocked your fingers, your heartrate shifted up a gear. You both just sat there, staring at where you were connected. It felt…

“Perfect,” he mumbled, and you looked up to see that he’d taken a bite of one of your cupcakes. “Oh my God, these are amazing,” he continued, an errant crumb flying with his full-mouthed praise.

You barked with laughter. “Way to ruin the moment,” you joshed, and grinned all the wider for seeing him hastily gulp down what he was chewing. “Not that I should be criticising you for that.”

“Wait,” he rasped. “Did I ruin the moment? Can I bring it back?”

“Only if you’re a necromancer,” you chuckled, letting yourself out of the car.

Unconvinced, Jungkook stumbled out of his side and around to you as you walked off. Your mouth twitched at the corners when you felt his familiar warmth surround your fingers, but you didn’t look back at him.

“Noona,” he tried to woo you, and fucking hell, of course it worked. You stopped to allow him to catch up, and he smiled as he passed you. Tugging you up the path to your complex, your hands now so intimately acquainted after today, you decided you would let him take the lead. Take what he wanted from you. Not, perhaps, that, not just yet. But in allowing him to reclaim the moment that you had so clumsily spoiled earlier.

You swung on his arm as he brought you around to face him, bumping into his chest gently. “____,” he smiled down at you, brushing a loose lock of hair from your cheek. He braced your upper arms with his hands and tilted you away enough so that he could examine your face. Jungkook loved to observe you. Whenever you chanced a glance at him, sure enough, he was usually staring. It both flattered and embarrassed you. You couldn’t understand what he might find so captivating. “Thank you for today.”

Jungkook’s jacket squeaked with the movement of your shaking head. “No, thank you. Even though I ruined things – as expected – it was so much fun.”

He tutted. “Stop putting yourself down. The way things turned out probably made it far more memorable in the end. Something, I hope, you will look back on and laugh about if you’re feeling a bit down.”

Ugh, he was so fucking precious. You sighed like one of those lovesick princesses who’d just been rescued by their prince. “I will. I’ll think about it often. The entire day I spent with you, I didn’t have one thought about work, or uni, or—“ you almost said it, but stopped yourself in time. You looked down, but he was soon cupping your chin and having you face the source of your squirming guts.

“I’m glad. I’m happy, if you’re happy,” he stated like it was God’s truth, and you believed him somehow. Jungkook swayed towards you, then, and in response, the heels of your feet left the ground. Your eyes fluttered closed, ready to finally receive him.

And that was when he grasped the lapels of the leather jacket still adorning you and steered your imminent face to the side. You felt his lips, but not where you had wanted, had expected them. They landed on the curve of your cheek, the heat of his mouth permeating where it pressed. The kiss was soft, and despite the innocence of its placement, mildly sensual. As he pulled away, you felt the coolness of the air rush against the wet mark he had left, the only evidence of his being there. Of its own accord, one of your hands drew up to your cheek to touch where he would be forever ingrained in your mind, and – like the lovelorn maiden you were so good at emulating these days – you had to suppress your knees from knocking together. “Oh,” you mumbled softly.

Jungkook scrutinised you with patent interest, delighted by his ability to disarm you. Fuck, if he caught on, he could get too big for his boots and employ it at any time. You weren’t simply wearing your heart on your sleeve, here, oh no. You were being far more obvious than that. The effect he had on you was apparent with his every touch. He might as well have been performing open-heart surgery on you for all your vain attempts at shielding it from view. You swore he could feel every thrum of it as he held you there, his arms having curled surreptitiously around your waist when you were too befuddled to notice.

“Uh,” you started benignly. For some reason, the closer your proximity, the less inclined you were to look at him. Probably because If you glanced at his mouth once, you’d be going in for a second helping.  “I know you might be busy, but would you like to go to Yoongi’s house-warming party with me next Saturday? I know you don’t know my friends yet, and--”

“I’d love to,” he mercifully intercepted the beginnings of a flustered ramble. “Anything involving you sounds like fun. We could set up another date afterwards, if you like?” Jungkook suggested, and you were painfully aware of the hands resting timidly on your lower back. You willed them to move lower, but they didn’t heed your immoral influence.

Mentally engaged elsewhere, you managed a stiff nod.

“I’ll text you soon, noona,” he filled in the silence while you stood there entertaining such unsavoury things. He seemed determined to adopt this term against you.

“Okay,” you smiled breathlessly, returning to the present. You slipped his jacket from one of your shoulders, but he halted you immediately.

“No, keep it,” Jungkook was firm.  “I want you to.”

Yet again, he left you awestruck. “Are you the leading man in a drama afterall?”

He quivered with mirth. “I did get my inspiration from that kind of thing, yeah. You warrant such treatment, though.”

“Oh God, stop it,” you were beginning to get giddy. It was time to exile yourself from his presence until you could rebuild your cool, collected façade somewhat. “I’m going, now. Good night, Jungkook.”

He stood there and waved until he could no longer see you. Of course he did. “Good night, ____.”

-

Next: 06 || WYLEI Masterlist

[shootymcshoot]

slorp

read on ao3

It was a hot, sunny afternoon when Lance finally decided to leave his bedroom and enter the kitchen. Thin material of his tank-top clung to his skin unpleasantly and so were his blue, star printed boxers and his short hair.

He looked around with bleary eyes until his sight reached the fridge. A tiny, weary smile graced his face as he shuffled towards it and opened it.

Cool breeze was indeed refreshing  but it wasn’t enough to fully wake him up.

No. He needed something better than this.

His eyes skimmed through multiple products stored in it until they stopped abruptly, finding what their owner was searching for. He reached for it and smiled giddily.

The carton was blue and deceivingly plain looking, a small, happily smiling cow was printed on the front and the back, right above the bold, sunny yellow letters. Lance opened it and, checking if no one was nearby to scold him for not taking a glass, started chugging with pure delight.

Ah, milk.

Healthy, multifunctional, tasty milk.

Milky milk.

Milkity milk milk.

Milk.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmilk

Yum yum yum-milk

Yumilk

hte molke

The boy could feel his bones growing stronger and his mind working better, heavy fog of sleepiness fading as if by help of a magical wand, each sip was like a kiss from Jesus himself. A kissus. Pure, white, cow energy empowered by calcium was slowly filling his stomach and spreading throughout his body, Metaphysical Milk Haters (MMH) screamed in agony as it drowned them in its creamy goodness. You could almost hear their

“What the fuck”.

Lance stopped, mortified. Not letting go of carton, he looked at the unexpected intruder.

It was Keith. His hair were dishevelled even more than usually and he wore his fanny packs over his red pyjamas. Hot and sweaty as ever.

Lance swallowed and took the carton away from his lips.

“Is there, mmm(ilk), something wrong?” he asked innocently, though his palms begun to sweat and he could hear his heartbeat picking up its pace. He never knew what Keith’s opinion on milk was but he was aware that his ex-rival, current roommate and (hopefully) soon to be boyfriend never came in contact with it during their shared meals.

Keith seemed hesitant.

“Is… Is this milk?” he whispered conspiratorially. Lance blinked once, twice. The other boy kept his gaze on him and so Lance, by sheer force of his personality’s nature, didn’t break the contact. Weird staring contest lasted for next few minutes, stopped by Lance’s slow, careful nod (his eyes god a bit too dry, dammit).

Keith smiled and his eyes shone like two navy rocks, shaped like human eyes and very shiny. It was beautiful and Lance could feel his breath hitch.

“Can I try?” Keith asked hopefully and  Lance looked at him, completely shocked.

“Wait, you’ve never tried milk?!”

Keith shrugged in response. “Shiro told me it was bad for my stomach so everything I ate had to be lactose free” he admitted sheepishly and Lance couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He laid his hand on his arm and smiled tentatively and Keith blushed.

“It’s okay, he’s off on a date with Slav, I won’t tell anyone you drank it” he whispered conspiratorially and winked.

Keith took the carton.

Meanwhile Shiro and his soon-to-be-husband Slav sat in  a quaint, little café, enjoying their hot drinks and a hearty piece of apple pie. After long two weeks of seeing each other only in passing due to the workload they had to deal with, they finally got some free time for each other and Shiro was content to hold his fiancé’s hand while the other chattered excitedly about his latest project. He looked at the other male with a dopey smile and was about to respond something to him when he felt it.The tingling in his left calf.He quickly let go of Slav’s hand, resulting in a sudden stop to his story, and bent down. Slowly, he rolled up his pant leg. Exactly like he thought, the goose bumps made his hair stand straight. He quickly rolled his trousers down and sat up. His fiancé looked at him, worried.“Are your Keith senses tingling again?” he asked, fidgeting with his hands and Shiro smiled sadly and nodded, taking his jacket off of the seat.“Guess we’ll have to put a rain check on our date honey, I’m really sorry” he apologised and peck Slav on the cheek before dashing out of the café.

Something bad was about to happen.

They lied on the floor in the kitchen. Stacks of empty cartons and plastic containers lied around them, a jar half-filled with yoghurt rolled away from Keith’s hand and he whimpered, trying to stretch and reach the thing without changing his position too much. Beside him, Lance was finishing his sixth bowl of milk cereals with extra milk. It was very milky.

“Can you feel the calcium strengthening your bones” he asked, as he threw the bowl to the side. It smashed into little pieces.

Keith barely moved his head to look up at him “hand me mah yohurt” he slurred, making grabby hands at him.

Lance was about to stand up, when the door to the kitchen burst open revealing a very distressed Shiro.

“I HAVE ARRIVED” he yelled, doing the hero pose™. Both boys looked at him in terror. There was a pause during which they all looked at each other in complete silence,  the three of them slowly processing the situation they were all in.

Suddenly Keith seemed to lose any remnants of his previous sluggishness. He jumped into a crouching position and stared at his brother wildly.

“YOU WONT TAKE ME ALIVE, I HAVE THE POWER OF GOD AND ANIME ON MY SIDE” he yelled  and before either Shiro or Lance could do anything he dived for his yoghurt, immediately damping the rest of it into his mouth. He threw away the jar and instantly jumped onto the counter and emptied out the leftover container of sour cream, while Shiro woke up from his stupor and launched at Keith to catch him.  The boy tried to escape but he got caught by his leg right before he managed to leap down.

“LANCE, HELP ME” he screamed desperately as he trashed in his brothers arms. Lance looked at him, his eyes showing how big of a battle he had to fight with himself. Finally, he stood up and looked at Keith.

“You have to promise me, that you won’t treat me differently if I do” he pleaded, keeping his fists close to his body..

“Lance, don’t” Shiro tried to interrupt, his arms tightening around Keith, as the other failed at trying to jab his elbow into his stomach. The boy smiled wobbly and a little laugh escaped his mouth

“Oh Lance, I will love you no matter what” he confessed. Lance looked at him, shocked, then smiled back brightly. Suddenly, he started changing. Shiro dropped Keith to the ground, and the boy ran up to Lance.

“Lance?!  Lance what is happening?!” he asked franticly. He couldn’t stand close to him for long though, his brother tried to catch him again and so he had to dart to the side to avoid his strong, manly arms.

The fight ensued while Lance’s body folded and grew, slowly changing its colour. Legs turned into hooves, a thin tail with a small ball of fur grew out, body got covered in patches of black and white.

“I love you too Keith” the boy managed to say before the transformation ended “now jump on me!”

“NO!” yelled Shiro as Keith launched across the counter and bestrode the majestic cow that now stood where his friend and the love of his life has been before. The animal moved and soon it barrelled through the wall and onto the streets.

Shiro tried running after them but he couldn’t catch up to the couple.

Soon, the cow and it’s young rider disappeared down the road, into the slowly setting sun.