#the sweetest promise

[shyvioletcat]

ROWAELIN MONTH: Day 7 - All Dressed up

@rowaelinscourt

A/N: Well, well, well. Look what came back? If you need a bit of a refresher, the masterlist in below.

The Sweetest Promise Masterlist

~~~~

It had been nearly two weeks since Aelin had seen Rowan and she was officially freaking out. She was definitely questioning her reckless decision to ruin their friendship because she had lacked the sense to think with her big brain. Because obviously that is what had happened. There was no other explanation for the radio silence. Not only had Rowan cancelled any dates but he hadn’t replied to any of her messages either and that was damning. The only reassurance Aelin had was that Rowan’s regular payments had come through. 

But considering the situation, was it all that reassuring?

Aelin couldn’t figure it out, didn’t know where to begin with unravelling the situation. Not for the first time she was questioning her actions on that fateful afternoon. The opportunity had been there and Aelin had barely hesitated before she took it. The fact that it had only taken a few touches to get Rowan riled up had amused her but had also got her going too. You’d have to be blind not to realise how incredibly good looking he was, and he had snuck into Aelin’s mind more than once when she was scratching that itch herself, alone in her bed at night. She had been curious what it would be like to fuck him in real life.

In reality it had been beyond anything she could ever imagine. It was such a shame that it had become her downfall. The main issue Aelin kept landing on was that she had charged him the sex fee. When she had set up her profile on Sweet As Sugar she had filled in that section as a joke to herself. Aelin had never planned to use it. But clearly her horny self couldn’t be contained and she had. Rowan would have read her contract and would have known that stipulation was there. And considering what they were before they were friends she was owed… oh holy gods what had she done?

Before Aelin could stop herself she was out her door and knocking on the one that was almost perfectly opposite hers. It was a weekday and just after lunch, so there was a good chance that Kaltain would be home. And sure enough it wasn’t too long before the door opened.

“Good afternoon,” Kaltain said, she was dressed down in some legging and an oversized t-shirt. Aelin didn’t think she’d ever seen the woman look this casual. 

“Can I come in?”

Kaltain stepped back and opened the door wider. “Sure.”

Aelin walked into the apartment, trying not to act like she wanted to pace just to do something. “I think I fucked up.”

“How so?” Kaltain asked from the little kitchen. 

“Well, I… I guess the best way to say it is that I fucked my client.”

Kaltian froze, jug of water pausing midair, eyes rising to where Aelin was standing. “Did he hurt you?”

Aelin shook her head. “No.”

Kaltain relaxed a little at that and poured out a glass of water. “You get pregnant?”

“What, no!” Aelin nearly yelled. “I didn’t fuck up that bad.”

“So it was bad then, and he wants to do it again?” Kaltain rattled off.

Aelin swallowed, memories of how good it actually was flitting through her mind at high speed. “No, but I have concerns about the second part.”

Kaltain slid a glass of water across the bench. “Alright, explain.”

Aelin succinctly went over the situation, leaving out the finer, more intimate details. When she was finished she sighed heavily. “I think I ruined the friendship and charging him for sex is going to make him ditch me. Considering the whole entire situation I didn’t have anyone else to talk to about it.”

“Well, the continuing payments are promising,” Kaltain said. “If you had offended him or whatever he would have cut you off completely. You charging the fee shouldn’t have come as a shock.”

“But, like…” Aelin didn’t drink, she just spun the glass slowly between her fingers. “This is just a weird development for me.”

“I think your mistake was becoming his friend,” Kaltain said matter of factly. “You’ve become too emotionally involved.”

“I guess you’re right,” Aelin admitted. Damn Rowan and his surly likeability. 

“The best advice I can give you is to let the money keep coming in and if you want to be his friend just keep reaching out if you decide.”

“What about the sex stuff?” Aelin asked. 

Kaltain shrugged. “It was in your contract. He signed it. No big deal. And if it was good, and I’m assuming it was good, all it out and by all means keep fucking around and finding out.”

Aelin snorted at that. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Kaltain said.

Wandering back to her apartment Aelin felt a little better about the situation. Not much, but at least a little. The money that routinely entered her account wasn’t a bad thing. And if Rowan ever talked to her again, maybe they could work this out. But that was going to have to be up to him. 

It took another three days of Aelin pretending not to stress before the silence was broken. She was editing a particularly arduous paragraph when her phone buzzed beside her on the bed. Assuming it was a social media notification Aelin just gave it a quick glance before her brain registered exactly what app it had come from. She tapped on it, quickly diving into the text thread. 

Rowan: Hi Aelin. I’m so sorry about all the missed messages. I’ll just get straight into it. 

While the three little dots danced at the bottom of her screen Aelin’s stomach was a mess of butterflies. Some anxiety, some dread, all of them making her want to vomit. 

Rowan: My mother ended up in hospital with pneumonia. I was helping look after her and my parent’s place and all that and didn’t get a moment to myself. Mam, as you might have gathered, is incredibly nosey and I had to delete the app off my phone just in case. So anyway, I’m back. How are you?

Aelin felt pretty stupid right now. He was off being a knight in shining armour and she thought he was sulking. 

Aelin: How’s your mum?

Rowan: She’s fine now, completely on the mend. 

Aelin: Thank the gods

Rowan: I certainly do.

Aelin looked at her phone for a solid minute before she decided to bite the bullet. 

Aelin: I have to admit I thought you were put out because of the extra sex charge

Aelin: I just now realised my horrible choice of words there

Rowan: Okay

Aelin: Okay?

Rowan: I didn’t know what else to say.

This was going from bad to worse. 

Aelin: I enjoyed it, but I didn’t do it for the money just so we’re clear

Rowan: So, like me, you did it for fun?

Aelin: Yes. Fun.

Rowan: And the sex was so good you charged me for it?

Aelin sat up staring at the message. He was making a joke, she was sure of it. She could do this. 

Aelin: Maybe it was supposed to be taken as a compliment. 

Rowan: By that reasoning, shouldn’t you be paying me?

Aelin: Do you want a refund?

Rowan: I’m… I’m not sure at this point.

Aelin: Good, because I already spent the money

Laughing, Aelin laid back down. If they could joke about it, the situation mustn’t be as dire as she thought. 

Aelin: So, just so we’re clear. It’s not a big deal?

Rowan: Contract. Lawyer. It’s fine, Aelin. 

Aelin sighed out of relief. She usually wasn’t one to overreact and she'd really outdone herself this time. They were fine and it turned out he had a pretty good reason for his silence. She really did feel awful about Rowan’s mother. Iris had seemed so kind and genuine when they’d met at the markets. And she had to commend Rowan for looking after her so well. 

Rowan: Are we good for Friday night?

Aelin: Absolutely.

Rowan: Great. Wear something nice. 

~~~~~

Rowan stood outside the restaurant, waiting for Aelin. He had offered to pick her up but she had declined, letting him know that she was coming from the University rather than home so she’d just book an Uber. Of course he’d offered to get her from there and they’d gone back and forth until he relented. Aelin really knew how to wear him down. 

Even after their discussion he was a little nervous about seeing her again. Their last date… well, it had really been something. He’d been so embarrassed. Touch starved and horny, once he had been sure Aelin wanted to fuck him as badly as he wanted to fuck her, all he could say was yes. The sex had been mind blowing and had left him reeling for days. Rowan would be at work and at the most inconvenient times he’d remember how she looked riding him, the sounds she had made, the way she had made him feel. Even now, he tried not to think too hard about it unless he was left with uncomfortably tight pants in public—again. 

He meant what he said to Aelin about the extra fee. The charge had been a little unexpected, but he’d read over the contract carefully and he knew about that stipulation. Rowan had just never imagined himself as the kind of man that paid for sex. They were friends, but the sex thing was spinning things at a new angle. Would they do it again? Or was it just a one time thing? He certainly wanted to and he wanted to keep seeing Aelin, even if it was through their continued arrangement. 

Rowan checked his watch, it was just after seven, the time he’d made the reservation for. Aelin shouldn’t be too long then. A nondescript white care pulled into the drop off zone at the curb and a familiar figure emerged from it. Rowan smiled, stepping forward, but then what she wore had him stopping in his tracks. 

It was a gold number, made of a slinky, shimmering gold fabric that clung to every one of her remarkable curves. She held a small black clutch in her hand that matched the high black heels on her feet. What drew his attention were the thin gem studded straps that led to a low, curved, draped neckline. Everything was on display with her hair pulled back in an elegant bun— neck, collarbones, her breasts. He felt like a teenager the way he had a hard time looking away from the cleavage. Rowan knew what they looked like beneath all that fabric, what they felt like, tasted like. 

“Evening,” Aelin said, snapping him out of his thoughts. 

“You look amazing,” were the first words out of his mouth. 

“Thank you,” Aelin said, coming to stand beside him. “Sorry I’m a little late, and I forgot a jacket too. Do you mind if we go straight in?”

Rowan shook his head. “Not at all.”

He offered her his arm, and Aelin’s slender hand gripped his elbow. Rowan led them into the restaurant, gave his name and minutes later they were being taken to his table. The lighting in here was dark and a bit moody, almost an old Hollywood look. He had read about this place and thought Aelin would like it, that’s why he’d book here. When they got to the table he helped Aelin into her chair, her head swivelling around as she took in the room. 

“This place is very nice,” Aelin said. “I like it.”

“Good,” Rowan replied, tucking into his own seat. “I thought you might.”

Aelin gave him a bright smile. “You spoil me.”

With her sitting across from him looking like an old time movie starlet, she was spoiling him. They ordered and ate and chatted, conversation straying far away from the awkward topic that was looming between them. Rowan was happy to ignore it and enjoy her company instead. One thing that kept his attention was the way one of the glimmering straps kept slipping off her shoulder. Every time Aelin would pull it back up. He tried not to notice how far down it pulled the fabric of the gown. And failed. It happened again and Aelin let out a sound of frustration. 

“This dress is my friend’s and she threw it into my suitcase as I was packing ‘just in case’,” Aelin said, reaching forward for her wine glass. “She’s better endowed than me and I was worried about this thing staying up, especially considering I'm not wearing anything underneath it.”

Rowan’s knee hit the table, making all the contents rattle dangerously. She’d said it so casually that it had taken him by surprise. Aelin sat there, an amused smirk on her lips, her hand still holding the wineglass steady. 

“You okay there?”

Rowan answered her question with one of his own. “You can’t be serious?” 

“You saw this dress, every line and wrinkle would show,” she said, finally taking a sip of her wine. 

Rowan shook his head, wanting to laugh but also feeling a little warm. Knowing something like that was not helping the overall situation.

“You’re blushing, Rowan,” Aelin whispered conspiratorially across the table.

“Can you blame me?” He asked, just as quietly. 

Aelin shook her head, grinning now. “I like it.” 

Thankfully, the rest of dinner passed without Rowan embarrassing himself. For dessert Aelin had a fancy looking individual cake to herself that oozed a liquid chocolate when she scooped her spoon through it. Rowan enjoyed a smooth whiskey instead. When they were done and the bill was paid they were back on the sidewalk, waiting while the valet brought Rowan’s car around. 

“Let me drive you home,” Rowan said. 

Aelin was inching herself closer to him, leeching his warmth. To ease the chill Rowan rubbed his palms over her biceps which only brought her closer. 

“Mmm, I suppose so,” Aelin relented quickly. 

Ever the gentleman his mother taught him to be, when his car arrived Rowan held the door open and helped Aelin in with the other hand. She thanked him and he didn't miss the way her dress rose up her thighs as she sat. He needed to stop, he was torturing himself. Or rather she was unknowingly torturing him. 

The drive home was comfortably quiet. Everyone once and a while Rowan would hear Aelin humming along to the radio, but other than that they didn’t speak much. She’d typed in her address when Rowan had handed her his phone and it wasn’t long before he was parking in front of her apartment building. 

“You don’t have to walk me to my door. I’m a big girl, I can do it myself,” Aelin said. 

“No chance, my mother would be appalled,” Rowan said, already getting out of the car. He was sure he heard the echo of Aelin’s laughter when he did.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Aelin said, accepting the hand he offered to get out of the car. Once again, Rowan took a moment to appreciate how good Aelin looked and she caught him. “Big fan of this dress too?”

Rowan’s laugh was slightly nervous thanks to being busted. “It’s my favourite colour.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Aelin replied. 

They walked together to the lobby door and Aelin’s hand hovered over the keypad where she would enter her passcode. Rowan wondered at her hesitation, but then she turned around to face him, her expression uncertain. 

“I have to address the elephant in the room, or entryway,” she said, gesturing around them. 

“Okay,” Rowan stepped closer, knowing that she’d only get colder the longer they stayed out here. 

“We had sex, great sex. We’re both adults and can acknowledge that. I just wanted to clear up where we went from here,” Aelin said, the words coming out quickly. “Like, are we really all good about this?”

There was a harsh breeze, Rowan angle himself so that he blocked Aelin from most of it. “I am, are you?” 

Aelin nodded. “And, well… do we do it again or will that ruin everything?”

Her bright eyes stared up at him, trying to read him, watching for his reaction. Emboldened by the whisky, or maybe it was just Aelin, he crowded her a little closer to the wall. She backed up a step, standing up a little bit straighter. 

“The way I see it,” Rowan said, leaning in, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

He indulged himself with a slow perusal of the beautiful woman in front of him, no restraint on matching the vision that she was tonight with the one that had been living in his mind. Aelin’s hand landed on his side, her fist clenching a handful of his shirt. She was breathing heavily, the tension simmering between them affecting her as well. 

“And I hope you haven’t either. And, I would very much like to do it again,” he all but whispered. Aelin’s breath caught as he leaned in closer as she waited for his next move. Rowan pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek, maybe lingering longer than he should have. “I guess we’ll see what happens. Good night, Aelin.”

As Rowan pulled back she replied with a breathless goodnight of her own. He knew his smirk was cocky, more than happy with himself with the way he was able to rile her up after he’s made a mess of him the last two weeks. More than that, the cards were on the table now. Air sufficiently cleared. Taking their relationship to a friends-with-benefits level wouldn’t be the worst thing that ever happened to him. Rowan hoped Aelin felt the same.

~~~~~

Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous coming back to this and dealing with *that* whole situation. I think I did okay, though. Time for the real fun to start I guess *smirk*

[crabsnpersimmons]

This one goes out to all the slow burn enjoyers, the dense Y/Ns, and the soft robo jesters that suffer in silence!

Inspired by @bamsara's “Solar Lunacy” fic.

If you feel like reading my ramblings and want to experience more heartbreak for fictional jester blorbos, check under the cut where I detail all the planning behind the frames!

so i heard this song for the first time in a while and the opening lyrics immediately made me think of moon, so i was daydreaming some scenes and then i decided to thumbnail some ideas:

and it all went downhill from there as everything became a metaphor and a parallel to each other, which i will now go into detail on!

you thought the animatic itself was sad?

*writing muse laughs maniacally* IT'S ALL A METAPHOR

Frame 1. "turn down the lights" We start with a back view on Moon. The lights are out, the Moon is out, but we do not see his face. The music and the greyscale atmosphere are enough to establish the weight of the moment and the weight on Moon’s mind.

Frame 2. "turn down the bed" We cut to a shot of Moon's body, kneeling on the ground of the daycare, like a padded cell. Moon’s hands are twitching with the effects of the glitch, with purple sparks coming from his hands. We still do not see his face.

Frame 3. "turn down these voices inside my head" Cut to an extreme close up on the dark half of Moon’s face. Now we see his face, but only a portion of it. His left eye is wide open, red and glitching out. The voices in his head can refer to the glitch but also his repressed feelings. Or maybe it could be Sun's voice in their shared headspace.

Frame 4. "lay down with me" Y/N's hand enters the frame from the upper right corner, lowering down to meet Moon where he kneels on the ground. Only a corner of Moon's face appears on the bottom left corner of the frame, his starry nightcap beginning to cover his glitched left eye.

Frame 5. "tell me no lies" An full shot of Moon on the floor and Y/N standing in front of him with their hand stretched towards him. A light spills out from behind Y/N, creating a boundary between them.

Now we see more of Moon. It is only when Y/N enters the frame—enters his world—that Moon’s body is shown in its entirely. When Y/N is here, he is no longer fragmented. He is whole.

Frame 6. "just hold me close" pspspspsps Playfully, Moon extends his own hand, beckoning Y/N to come closer, to join him. His right hand crossed over his body as he uses the playful gesture to hide his true feelings—to put distance between him and Y/N. His hat continues to cover his glitching left eye. He doesn’t want to worry Y/N.

Frame 7. "don't patronize" In response, Y/N’s hand pats Moon on the head, returning his playfulness. Moon looks surprised by the action. Moon, notably, does not lower his hand—perhaps he has forgotten it or perhaps his invitation is still open.

Frames 8-9. "don't patronize me" Moon rotates his faceplate so Y/N’s hand is touching the side of his faceplate, a more intimate gesture than a head pat. However, his hat is in the way. At this angle, his starry nightcap fully covers his glitchy eye and the dark side of his face, hiding his defect and acting as a veil between him and Y/N. A self-imposed boundary. So close, yet thinly separated. It's better this way. It's safer this way.

The lyrics are broken up by Y/N's arm, both to illustrate how the song is sung ("patronize" is drawn out and "me" is briefly added in before the chorus starts) but also to show how Y/N interrupts Moon's resolve, highlighting the irony between the visuals and the lyrics. Demanding not to be patronized, yet Moon happily accepts this play at intimacy. Don't patronize me, I am weak for it.

This is also the only instance where the red light of Moon's eyes glow and tint the surfaces around it. Visually, it makes it look like Moon is blushing (heavily inspired by @restinsodaroni's art). But also, in this moment of honesty, Moon's intrinsic light spills out, colouring the greyscale world. In this brief moment of honesty, Moon touches the world with his own colours, his own light.

(and this is also where i forgot to clean up the shading on Y/N's arm, but it's okay it doesn't need to be perfect it simply needs to be. And Moon will still love Y/N even if they are a continuity error.)

Frame 10. "'cause I can't make you love me if you don't" A parallel to a frame 4, Y/N retrieves their hand away and immediately Moon is reduced to the corner of his faceplate in the frame. Only now his glitched eye is fully covered by his hat.

The lyrics here (and in the next frame) in particular grow lighter to emphasize Moon's diminishing resolve and agency.

From here on out, the lyrics here are broken up, carrying on this theme of fragmentation. Y/N is pulling away, Moon is breaking up, the words are breaking up. Everything is coming apart.

Frame 11. "you can't make your heart feel something it won't" Y/N turns to leave. The lyrics, broken up as before, highlight the irony of the situation. Y/N, a human, can’t feel something they simply don’t feel. Whereas, Moon, the machine, feels something his code never intended him to feel.

Frame 12. "here in the dark in these final hours" Another full shot that parallels frame 5, as Y/N steps towards the light and Moon leans forward into the space Y/N once occupied. Y/N is leaving—that which makes him whole is leaving. And he is only capable of making it to the boundary where the light cuts into the darkness. The "final hours" suggest it might be the end of Y/N’s shift, or perhaps this scene takes place right before the glitch takes over—the final hours that Y/N has with the true Moon. Either way, time is running out—and only Moon knows it.

There is a contrasting display of body language here. Moon is on the floor leaning towards Y/N with his hand still left out. Whereas Y/N is turned away, walking away, and has already slipped their hand away and into their pocket. Y/N is closed off while Moon is limply open. Y/N is actively moving while Moon is on the floor, waiting, hoping, for that which he lacks the agency to reach for himself.

Frame 13. "I will lay down my heart" A close up on Moon’s hand, rising up again, perhaps to beckon Y/N back once more. This is a slight parallel to Y/N's hand reaching out to Moon. While Y/N can freely reach out and touch Moon, Moon cannot. He can't enter the light and more importantly he can't risk potentially harming his relationship with Y/N—be it through the glitch or by his feelings. He can only lay down his heart—put aside his feelings or hope that someone will pick up his pieces and make him whole.

Frame 14. "and I'll feel the power" Still on a close up on Moon’s hand, now clenched in slightly. This initially was going to have the glitch effects. However, I felt it more meaningful for it to be left without. Leave it up for interpretation why Moon pauses his hand. What is the power that he alone feels and stays his hand?

Frame 15. "but you won't, no, you won't" A parallel to frame 1, a view of on Moon's back with his hand stretched out towards the light, and Y/N walking into the light spilling through the open daycare door.

The placement of the lyrics suggest two different “you won’t”—Y/N who won’t realize Moon’s feelings, and Moon who won’t dare speak them into reality.

Another note on the parallel to frame 1, this time we also see Y/N's back, but it is notably different from our view of Moon's back. With Moon, we literally see inside him through the hole for his loop. However, Y/N is shrouded in shadow, just a solid, obscure silhouette against the bright light of a world Moon—and Sun for that matter—are closed off from. We don’t see into Y/N, just as the Daycare Attendant doesn't have any vantage point of Y/N's life beyond their time at the PizzaPlex. (The unfortunate reality of a being a character made for the purpose of being a vessel for the reader.)

Frame 16. "'cause I can't make you love me" We finally cut to face Moon head-on, frozen in place with his hand stretched out, unable to cross the boundary into the light. His eyes have gone dark. Where we began by seeing bits and parts of Moon, and never seeing his full face—now we, the viewer, see the full Moon, open and vulnerable—unbeknownst to Y/N.

Frame 17. "if you don't" But in the dark, behind closed doors, there is no one to perceive him—no one to receive him. The light dwindles as the daycare doors are closed. Moon stays frozen where he kneels. It is no longer the glitch that plagues him, but a far deeper dread.

But a lone streak of light peaks through the gap in the daycare doors. Perhaps that is just enough. A silver lining. A frail hope. A single, ethereal thread out of darkness and into light.

Thanks for reading and watching!

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled fun and games shortly!

[delicatepointofview]

— Austin, TX. (07/07)

[gojoest]

can we … please

[ruvviks]

sweet sunshine girl ☀️ ↳ shots by the talented @mojaves, edited by me!

taglist (opt in/out)

@velocitic, @lestatlioncunt, @euryalex, @ordinarymaine, @bialanwake;

@mojaves, @shellibisshe, @dickytwister, @mnwlk, @rindemption;

@ncytiri, @calenhads, @noirapocalypto, @florbelles, @radioactiveshitstorm;

@strafethesesinners, @fashionablyfyrdraaca, @aemondtargeryen, @radioactive-synth, @katsigian;

@estevnys, @elgaravel

[i-may-be-anyone]

"よく眠れ小さな星"

New sketch for a futur fanart of GITM by @venomous-qwille !

Misuta this time, he's so soft and calm I needed to do something with this awesome jester <3

Also : this is not my oc this time but BK's one on discord (if you have tumblr please let me know I'll tag you sweetie)

(Ambiant songs in the second part of this post)

[strawberri-draws]

royal portrait of the alien moon queen (oc)

[the-kipsabian]

[coconut530]

BLOOD OATHS AND BAD OMENS

[kindaaaverage]

[shyvioletcat]

ROWAELIN MONTH: DAY 15

~ Meeting the Parents ~

Thank you for your patience. Get ready for some Awkward Rowan and some average editing because that's for people with better time management. Head to @rowaelinscourt for more Rowaelin month goodness,

The Sweetest Promise Masterlist

~~~~~

Aelin was hesitant to admit it, but she might have a new friend. On the way home from the gala she had been sussing out Sweet As Sugar, just see what happened next after her first successful date. Checking the page linking her and Rowan’s profiles there were a few prompts that led her through the process. There were questions that related directly to her date: was payment on time, was the information given accurate, did anything happen in his company that was not within policy. All Aelin could do was give him a raving review—Rowan had been a perfect gentleman and followed all the rules. The last was a simple query for her. Would she like to see him again? 

That was one she had to think about. Yes, Rowan had done everything right but he had very clearly stated that he was after a one time thing. He just needed her company for the gala, that was it. There was no indication that he was after anything else. On the other hand, he seemed like a decent guy and was nice enough, if not socially awkward to an extent. Would there be any harm in saying yes? If he didn’t want to see her again, all he had to do was not contact her. If he did want to, the extra money wouldn’t hurt. So once again, Aelin took that plunge and tapped through the request. 

Rowan’s reply hadn’t come through until she had finished showering and she was so ready to fall into bed that she almost missed it. He had said yes. 

Since then they had been on three ‘dates’. All had been Rowan taking her out to a fancy dinner where they ate and chatted about surface level stuff. Just asking about each other’s day or the food. Rowan really was fitting into the mildest of Sugar Daddy boxes. If he wasn’t so handsome Aelin might have reconsidered. The relief she’d felt when Rowan hadn’t turned out to be old was off the scale. 

On the first date after the gala Aelin had explained her reasoning of why she had decided to give being a sugar baby a go. The conversation had been dragging and Aelin was looking for anything to bring it back up to speed. Of course, the first thing Aelin had done waking up the morning after the gala was to Google Rowan Whitethorn. Turned out he was some big hotshot corporate lawyer who had a cold and efficient reputation. He could throw down verbally in a courtroom, but couldn’t carry a conversation over dinner. So she explained how this stunt was supposed to support her through the rest of her university degree. Rowan commended her for her resourcefulness, and she still couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not, and agreed on a weekly arrangement to keep her funds up. They’d even agreed on a pay rise now that Aelin was past the beginners stage. 

Although, tonight a message hadn’t come through today so Aelin started looking at other plans. She guessed he was busy and he’d request another meeting. There were night markets on in one of the larger parks in the city and she was determined to go. Aelin hadn’t found anyone to go with. She had thought of seeing if Kaltain wanted to go, but the chances of her being home on a Friday night were slim. Going by herself wasn’t that big of a deal. People watching was a hobby of hers. 

5 o’clock rolled around and Aelin decided it was time to get ready. She’d catch a tram into the city so she’d need to give herself time to get there. The weather was mild so she opted for jeans and a nice t-shirt, adding a light jacket for when the sun went down and the air got a bit cooler. She was going through the list of memes her friend Elide had sent her when another notification popped up on her screen. It was from Rowan, he wanted to see her tonight. 

He’d booked a table at some restaurant uptown, and Aelin literally tipped her head back and disappointment flooded her. Another stuffy restaurant? She’d rather not. The last two had allowed her to eat delicious food but she’d also been too frightened to raise her voice above a loud whisper lest she disturb the ambiance. Aelin had been looking forward to a casual evening out, where people were loud and they laughed. She was well within her rights to say no but she also wanted the money. 

There was an alternative and the worst that could happen was Rowan saying no. He was supplying the money, he had final say. Opening the chat Aelin didn’t hesitate before letting him know exactly what she wanted to do. 

>> Counter offer. I want to go to the food markets in Sandstone Park tonight. Want to do that instead?

It was no big deal, the markets would on tomorrow as well, so if Rowan wasn’t keen to change his plans that would be fine. They were on friendly enough terms that this wouldn’t be a huge drama. He did seem uptight enough that he would stick to his guns though. Thems were the breaks of Aelin’s new profession. That thought made her laugh. Being a sugar baby was by no means a career goal for her. It was currently a means to an end, nothing more. Aelin wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do once she had finished her degree. She could become a concert pianist or maybe teaching was in her future. Whatever it was, she’d figure it out once her thesis was no longer rattling every brain cell she had inside her head. 

The phone in her hand pinged and Aelin looked down. 

<< That sounds great. 

Aelin gave an excited squeal, dancing on the spot. It seemed she was wrong about Mr Rowan Whitethorn, he may not be as uptight as she thought. It didn’t take long for her to finish getting ready, declining his offer of an Uber and walked down to the tram station around the block. After a few minutes one pulled up and Aelin crammed in with the rest of the passengers. 

The city had that end of week buzz where everyone was excited for the weekend. Aelin was undoubtedly going to spend a good chunk of her time working on her thesis, but she was looking forward to a brain break tonight. 

Aelin swayed with the movements of the tram, catching snippets of conversation around her. Doranelle was just like any other city, full of people and hustle and bustle. It made Aelin feel a little less out of place and despite the different buildings and climate if she closed her eyes it was almost like she was back in Orynth. Her bouts of homesickness never lasted long. Thank the gods for technology—her friends and family were just a phone call away. 

The tram announced her stop and Aelin darted out the doors. A few last glimmers of sunlight were reflecting off the windows of the higher buildings. It wouldn’t be long until the city went dark and the night took over. Sandstone Park was a short walk away and rounding a corner the markets came into Aelin’s view. There were a variety of tents and vans, some vendors just had tables. As she crossed the final road the smells of all the foods on offer wafted over on a breeze. Thanks to her benefactor she was no longer surviving on instant noodles and had plenty of snacks to keep her going. She wasn’t hungry, but still her stomach grumbled. 

She weaved her way through the crowds, glancing around at what was on offer. Even though she was sorely tempted, Aelin held off on making any purchases and decided to wait for her date. Fairy lights were hung up in low branches of a gigantic oak to create a dining area with numerous tables set up beneath it. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and sent off a quick message. 

>> I’m under the big, old oak

People came and went with plates of food while Aelin waited. She kept an eye out for Rowan, and before too long she spotted his silver-haired head weaving through the crowd. His overall handsomeness still made her pause. This man seemed to have it all, good looks, money, a stable job. She supposed the consequence for his success was the reason for their situation. Something just wasn’t quite there personality wise. Tonight he had forgone his usual suit and tie get up and had dressed down. Rowan wore dark chinos and a light sweater on top. It was… different, and not in a bad way. 

He glanced over the crowd, no doubt looking for her. When he was looking in Aelin’s direction she gave him a wave to catch his attention. Rowan saw her, and made his way over. 

“Good evening,” Aelin said cheerily when Rowan was close enough. 

“Hey. This is…” he paused to look around, “busy.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Aelin asked.

Rowan shrugged a shoulder. “It’s different.”

“Have you not been to one of these before?” 

“Years ago, I haven’t really had the chance recently,” Rowan explained. 

Aelin was too impatient to continue with the small talk, they could do that with plates of food in front of them. “Shall we?”

They did a loop of the stalls together, just commenting on potential food choices and not much else. Then Aelin suggested that they split up and meet back under the oak. She headed straight to the vendor with fried wild picked mushrooms, served with a flat bread, and then to another to pick up a fragrant rice dish. That was all rounded out with a box of chocolate truffle selections. Rowan was waiting for her, all the tables with chairs were taken so he’d claimed a standing one instead. 

“Are you on a budget tonight?” Aelin asked, eyeing his plate while she put hers next to it. All that was on it were a variety of meats on wooden sticks, plus a salad in a paper side bowl.

Rowan looked confused. “Why do you say that?”

“Just not much variety,” Aelin said. 

“This is all I wanted,” he said simply.

Aelin was too hungry and just left it at that. Despite what Rowan said, they shared everything. It was delicious, even the meat skewers. What kept Aelin entertained through dinner was asking Rowan questions. She had vowed to make a friend out of him, if this was the painful road to it, so be it. 

“Favourite colour?” Aelin asked, loading up a slice of bread with mushrooms. They’d already been over childhood pets, school experiences and the like. Rowan’s answers had all been succinct and to the point, no reason to fluff up his words. This was probably why he made such a good lawyer. 

“Green.” Then he turned it on her. “Yours?”

“Hmm,” Aelin did have to think for a moment. “For years I tried to convince myself it was blue, but I always came back around to red. Favourite food?”

Rowan laughed under his breath and shook his head. “You’re relentless.”

“I don’t see the harm in knowing each other better considering the situation. We can be friends, you know,” Aelin said.

“A friend who I pay to spend time with.”

The dry but slightly humoured way he said the words had Aelin choking on her mouthful with a sudden laugh. “Well, it sounds bad when you put it that way.”

“There’s absolutely no way to put it that it doesn’t sound bad, Celaena,” Rowan said, his mouth trying to fight a smile and failing. 

“A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do,” Aelin poked some of her food around the plate before she glanced up to throw the final blow. “I think you’re just lazy.”

At Rowan’s indignant noise, a wide grin was spreading across Aelin’s face. For a moment he looked at her with narrowed eyes but then that smile he had been fighting won. He was about to say something when he cut himself off.

“Sorry,” he said, pulling out his phone. “This should just take me a minute.”

Aelin left him to it, picking at what food was left. Rowan was just texting away so she decided to look around again. There were all kinds of people out tonight, couples, families, loud and obnoxious groups of friends. It was nice to get out every once and a while to see that despite being holed up in her room or corners of the library at the university, the world still went on. 

“Celaena?”

It was clear that Rowan had said that name more than once, and she hadn’t responded. She’d made it up to give herself some protection but it was increasingly seeming pointless and precarious. 

“Yes, sorry,” she said. 

“I was just going to ask if you wanted a drink,” Rowan explained.

“Oh, yes please.”

He nodded and then left. Aelin watched him go and contemplated a few things. Celaena had been a precaution, she hadn’t been keen to give random strangers on the internet her real name. But now, with how decent Rowan was, she wasn’t really seeing the point anymore. In the spirit of true friendship, that would be the first thing on her list she would rectify. Rowan came back a few minutes later, two cups in hand. 

“What’s this?” She asked as Rowan put a cup in front of her. 

“Old fashioned lemonade,” Rowan said just before taking a sip. 

The words were out of Aelin’s mouth before she could think better of it. “How old are you?”

“I’m 32,” Rowan supplied. “Does this lemonade mean I’m old?”

“Ah, well,” Aelin hedged. “I guess I was just expecting something else.” Maybe something a little stronger.

“How old did you think I was?” Rowan asked, leaning on the table. The gesture accentuated his broad shoulders. 

“Originally, old,” she laughed a little remembering how his blurred profile picture had done him no favours. “Very old. But not ancient, even if your social skills suggest otherwise.”

Rowan laughed, maybe one of the first true laughs she’d managed to weasel out of him. “You’re just being mean.”

Aelin laughed too. “It’s better you know that now.”

For a while they just stood there, basking in the mutual humour. Then Rowan said, “It’s meat on a stick, by the way.”

“What?” Aelin was entirely lost. 

“My favourite food, you asked.”

“Ohhh.” Aelin’s mind caught up with her. “Guess that explains dinner. Speaking of, I got dessert.”

Aelin opened the box of truffles but Rowan made no move to pick one. 

“I don’t mind which you take, just not that one,” she pointed to the one on the end. “That’s choc-hazelnut. That’s my favourite.”

“You can have all of them,” Rowan said. 

“Gods, are you allergic?” That was cause for some panic. 

Rowan just shook his head. “I just don’t like sweets.”

“You what?” Aelin had nearly yelled the words, drawing a few curious looks. When the insane man in front of her just shrugged she just shook her head. “And to think, I was going to share a secret with you.”

He gave her a look full of curiosity. “A secret?”

“I guess because you’ve paid I owe you something,” Aelin said, making sure to add enough flair to create some drama. “It may surprise you to know that my real name isn’t Celaena. It’s Aelin. I thought it safer to use a false name but since we are to be friends.”

There was an offer there, she hoped Rowan took it. 

“That’s smart,” Rowan said. “And as your friend, I thank you for telling me.”

Aelin took a sip of her lemonade, noting how tasty it actually was. “I may rescind my friendship due to the lack of sweets thing. That’s just unnatural.”

“I stand by what I said,” Rowan said. “Mean.”

Aelin was grinning, Rowan was too and she was about to start on path to at least making him try one when they were interrupted. 

There was a bright and cheerful, “Hello,” and Aelin was sure she had never seen dread take over a man so quickly.

~~~~~

This was what a heart attack felt like, Rowan was sure of it. He recognised that voice and he had no idea what ill luck he deserved for this to happen. Turning his head just a little, Rowan found his mother standing there, her hazel eyes reading far too much into the situation. Rowan knew what this looked like, but that was so far from the truth it wasn’t funny. 

“Mam,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“Your father and I are on our way to see a show and we thought we’d take a walk through the park,” his mother said. 

Shit. His father was here too. 

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?” 

Every implication of that word came through loud and clear. She thought this was a date, it looked like a date. But it wasn’t, it really wasn’t.

“Cel—Aelin,” Rowan kicked himself over the stumbling. He couldn’t really be blamed; he'd just learned Aelin’s name less than five minutes ago. “This is my mother Iris.”

Rowan had watched the woman in front of him damn near charm the pants off an entire ballroom, and right now was no different. She smiled, something softer than the one she’d been wearing when she teased him all night, and extended her hand. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Aelin said. 

“Likewise,” Iris gave Rowan a sly smile. 

In that moment he had a sickening thought as to how well these women would get on. He’d never have a moment’s peace if they got started on him. 

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” Aelin said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Rowan watched as his mother tracked Aelin as she left. He could only imagine the thoughts going through her head. The loudest of which he could almost hear, it had something to do with how beautiful the grandchildren would be. 

“Do you have something to tell me, son?” Iris asked. 

If that wasn’t a loaded question. “No. Aelin is just a friend.” Who I’m paying to spend time with because I’m a lonely bastard with awful social skills. 

“I see,” Iris said. It was clear she didn’t believe him. 

“Rowan. What a surprise,” a male voice said. 

“Hi, Dad.”

“Oh, Evander. You have to meet Rowan’s new friend,” Iris said as she hooked a hand on her husband’s elbow. 

“A friend?” Evander said, brows high. 

“Yes a friend,” Iris reiterated.

“Stop saying friend like that. You two need to calm down,” Rowan told them. “Aelin is just that.”

“That’s a pretty name,” Evander said.

Iris nodded. “She’s very pretty too. Beautiful. Rowan has good choice in his friends.”

“Hellas save me,” Rowan muttered under his breath. He did not need his family meddling in this situation. 

Aelin returned and he didn’t miss the way that his parents’ faces lit up. 

“Hello,” Aelin directed at Evander. “Dad, I’m assuming.”

“You’ve assumed right,” Evander said. “And you’re…”

“Aelin, this is Aelin,” Iris said, far too gleefully. 

For a millisecond Aelin looked confused, and then realisation lit up her face. Rowan felt like had the distinct feeling that he was in danger. Tonight had made it more than clear that Aelin was finding joy teasing him, gods knew what she’d be able to accomplish if left alone with his parents for five minutes. 

“How did you two meet?” His mother asked, no hesitation or shame. 

“Um,” Aelin said, and she couldn’t help but smile. “The circumstances were pretty interesting.”

Rowan needed to think of an answer, and fast. “Work event.”

Iris sighed. “Trust my son to be so concise.”

“Oh, so he’s like that with everyone?”

The women laughed at his expense and Rowan let it happen. It was better than the alternative. He would rather this old oak give up the ghost and fall on him than admit to being Aelin’s sugar daddy. There were a few reasons why he kept up the dates with Aelin, he hadn’t been lying when he said he wanted to keep helping her out. But the other side of it was that he enjoyed her company, and it was so easy to spend time with her. There were no expectations. And when she had mentioned being friends tonight he’d worked hard to not show just how eager he was for that. 

“I know you’d love to stay and chat,” Rowan cut in. “But don’t you have a show to get to?”

His father checked his watch. “I’m sorry to say, but Rowan’s right. Nice to meet you, Aelin. I hope we can meet again soon.”

“Have a good night,” Iris added. “Don’t have too much fun.”

The wink Iris gave the two of them suggested that they in fact have all the fun they wanted. 

“Bye,” Aelin said to the both of them. 

Rowan added his goodbyes and he breathed a sigh of relief when he and Aelin were left alone again. She immediately started laughing. 

“Dodged a bullet there.”

The chuckle that escaped Rowan was half nerves. “You can say that again.”

“Your parents seem lovely,” Aelin added once her laughing stopped. “Your mother seemed very excited. Like it’s been a while since you’ve been giving out this kind of attention.”

Aelin didn’t know how right she was. “You could say that.”

Rowan thought he was in for it, but surprisingly he was shown some mercy. 

“I guess we can save that discussion for another time,” Aelin said. Then she piled up their used plates. “So, what should we do next?”

They ended up at an art gallery not too far away from the markets, and they spent some time browsing the displays. They kept the chit-chat art focused and their evening together seemed to wind down on its own. Rowan did the gentlemanly thing and walked Aelin to the nearest tram station. They waited for the traffic to stop just across the road.

“Until next week then?” Aelin said, giving him a smile. 

Rowan nodded. “Until next week, Aelin.”

Her smile grew just a little wider when he said her name, and then she was waving at him as she crossed the road as the pedestrian light changed to green. Rowan gave a short wave back and watched until Aelin was out of sight. He tried to deny it, but next week couldn’t come soon enough.

~~~~~

One day soon I'll get the time to play with taglists again

[tojiscrack]

NO WAY i literally just read liar liar on ao3 and boom you’re on my tumblr feed! i love the story so so much omg and i absolutely ADORE how mc is a total menace! plusss the way u write megumi and the dynamic between him and mc ughhhhh like oh my god???!!! anyways yeah ur amazing mwah

wait i feel like i’ve seen this comment before but now i can’t find it? 😭 idk if i’m going crazy but i swear i was gonna respond, i’m just a little lazy with it 😔✌️ (cringing at the idea that if it wasn’t actually you, this is gonna sound weird to you LMAO)

anyway, it’s like tumblr just KNOWS who my beloved little liars are that my shit is then magically appearing on ur feed (we love to see it 😮‍💨).

our main character is a little unhinged (a little is probably an understatement). you’ve only seen the beginning really, i’ve still got multiple flashback scenes i need to write out because her shenanigans didn’t just stop there (megumi would know 💀). i’m flattered that you love her character sm! writing it was amazing knowing that people like you would take the time out of ur day to send me a message about how much you adore her <3

this leads me to talk about her dynamic with megumi, you’re gonna make me cryyy, i’m touched that you really like it 🥹 it’s a lot of effort trying to get his character to mesh well with hers, i have to rethink sometimes and ask myself whether he’d really do some of the things i’d made him do, but then i’d backtrack and delete everything, you have no idea 😭 now i just chalk it up to the fact that no, he wouldn’t do any of these things (prank-calling his dad, writing a step-by-step guide for a girl about oral hygiene, fighting over a seat that puts some distance between him and a disgusting-looking child, laughing about literal mommy milkers, etc) at all. but yes, he would do these things if he was around such an influencer like y/n (majority of the time, she forces him to do stuff. he does enjoy it though.)

sorry this ended up being so long, i just get very giddy talking about this story with anyone. i love you anon <3

[lokidips]

good morning ! i should be getting ready for class but i've fallen down the rabbit hole and am now consuming all the content of your account; it's delicious

i hope you are well satiated, my friend! this means so much <3

[writing-good-vibes]

For Valentine's Day, number 1 under angsty prompts. The Replacement. A little bit of jealous ex!Corey maybe...

ahh thank you for your req !!

WARNINGS for (past) corey x gn!reader, jealousy, mildly stalkerish behaviour, dark post accident!corey, mentions of joan being The Worst and mild implications of violence.

💔 very cute divider by @/firefly-graphics 💔

taglist: @slutforstabbings @ethanhoewke @voxmortuus (just let me know if you want to be added or removed !!)

Corey didn't like being jealous. Being jealous made his stomach ache, a horrible sickly feeling deep down in his gut that wouldn't go away, made worse by his tossing and turning at night while he tried to sleep. Being jealous made his fingers hurt, and he'd clench them into fists, hard enough for his blunt nails to leave red crescents in his palms, to try and ease the pressure in his sore knuckles. Being jealous made his eyes water and his chest tight and it made him want to scream, sat in his bed alone at night, watching the radio tower blink tauntingly through his window.

But Corey couldn't help it, Corey was jealous.

Maybe it was his own fault -- it was definitely his own fault -- that you didn't want him anymore, that you got out the first chance you had, that you chose to dodge the bullet that is Corey 'Kid Killer' Cunningham.

And he can't really blame you because he knows that you were getting bored with his reluctance to go anywhere, and with all his nervous habits he still hadn't been able to shake.

He knows it's because the looks got too much for you. Because the mutterings behind your back were starting to take their tole. Because the soda thrown at him from a car window as you walked down the street was only a taste of what was to come.

He really only had himself to blame, and yet he couldn't make himself let go of you so easily. Especially not now he'd seen his replacement.

It's difficult not to compare himself. Corey's been monitoring his placement in every league possible since middle school; popularity, academics, looks. He'd skated along in the middle of the pack popularity-wise, which suited him just fine, and he was never quite top of the class but he was close enough to keep his GPA up, and well... he wasn't winning any prizes compared to some of the guys at school, but he'd lived with it.

But next to his Replacement? Oh, Corey never stood a chance.

And Corey doesn't want to do this. Of course he doesn't. He sees you from across the street, holding his hand. He sees walk you around the dollar store while he pushes the cart. He sees you take him back to your place. And he follows you back to his sometimes too.

Momma's upset with him when he's late for dinner.

It's funny how much he still misses you, even when he sees you all the time. You smile and your smile is like sunshine. You look and your eyes are sharp and clever and deep enough to drown in. Your voice, god he could listen to you forever and ever and never get bored.

He closes his eyes and thinks about it, reconfigures all these sightings onto himself. You smile at him, you look at him, you talk to him, not his replacement

He's cold, and his stomach aches, and his fingers hurt, and his chest is tight when you open your door. He doesn't remember looking through the kitchen draw, or leaving home, or when his cheeks got so wet.

"Corey? Is everything okay?"

Momma always told him no one else would ever love him, and that's Corey down to the bone: always wanting something he can't have.

on the topic of jealousy, you should also read [warnings apply]:

clean again by blake (@/slutforstabbings). after corey survives the events of ends he travels south and, against his better judgement, falls in love with the reader. corey's jealous streak is strong in this story, but it comes up most directly in chapter 7.

rock bottom by toxic (@/toxicanonymity). corey can't decide if he wants to do the reader or michael, so he does both. and even though he gets the best of both worlds, he's still somehow jealous of both of his partners.

[lunaetis]

[ you can tell i'm stressed & tired when i actively bounce between fluff & horny ]

[vaaaaaiolet]

vivi vivi vivi!!!!!! i'm at the beach but i found another song that gives me big vivi + juno vibes!!!

coming down - pheobe bridgers (its unreleased so you gotta go on youtube 😞)

fun juno fact! i have horrid insomnia (thus the ask at midnight...) so the line "its the first time in months i've slept the whole night and you never once left my bedside" just gives me lots of big sister vivi energy!!

I LVOE YOU SOSOSOSOSOS MUCH!!! Many kisses for you 💗 uni aint shit

I JUST FELL TO MY KNEES CRYING. juno i will wait by your bedside forever i can't believe i remind you of this :,,) WHAT A COMPLIMENT

i haven't listened to a lot of phoebe bridgers' unreleased but she's one of my bestie's fav singers and now she's even more special to me bc of you ❤️

you remind me of garden song, i don't remember how you got taller but you're growing up and your writing is getting SO. GOOD.

i couldn't be more proud :,,,))