#thth bear

[caitkaminski]

the goodest boy at the retreat

[mp3minded]

i really love seeing the disability rep this time around 🥺 and i wish i could get to know isla better platonically, but it's nice that she's a love interest too

[cxhleel108]

Just remembered tomorrow is the last day we’ll get to see Wesley’s sexy ass.…

[mrs-toohot]

Were you also a bit disappointed in how Kai looks in-game or am I just a bitch lol

He was so cute in the art they showed and in-game him just didn't live up to it and it sucks cause I wanted to go for him initially :((

Oh fr? As soon as I saw him I said to myself, “that looks like a guy who like to dance at all the hip hop spots and he cruise to crews like connect the dots not just urban he like the pop cause he was Livin' la Vida Loca.”

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

THTH 2

Warnings: non/dubcon, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Characters: Ransom Drysdale

Summary: You have a secret, but what do you do when it threatens to come out.

Part of the Backwoods AU

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

Bored brainless, you sneak out after your parents shut off their bedroom light. You don’t risk alerting them by borrowing the car so you light up your cell phone and use it to guide your way through the dark. Some people might call you stupid, it’s not exactly safe with all the breaking twigs and rustling in the trees. There are bears up here. You know, you’ve seen them too. Whatever. 

You come in sight of The Horn, annoyed by the dew that wets your ankles. You’re almost too tired for fun now. God, you hate this place. You want to be like those women in the movies who can catch a yellow taxi or even just walk to a club or a restaurant or a salon. Here, you can’t even get a good haircut. 

You smile at the bearded man who watches the door. Al knows you and his rocky exterior cracks just a little. You push inside, met by the castle of yellow lights and the garble of voices. The clink of glass awakens you and you approach the bar, eager to sate your sudden thirst. 

You wait for the bartender, Bill, as an old drunkard in plaid rambles at him. Is that Loretta’s husband? You thought they were such good people. That’s the thing about Hammer Ford, it’s all fake. 

Finally, Bill heads in your direction. Before you can greet him, a shadow slides in next to you, planting and elbow on the trim as his other hand hovers menacingly on the stool at your other hip. The man pens you completely. 

“Gin and tonic and whatever the lady wants,” he says. 

Bill gives him a look. You do too. It’s the same man from the cafe; the newcomer. There’s been a few of those lately. The designer emblem on his sweater staves off your instinct to send him away. 

“You know what I like,” you say to Bill as you face the stranger, “thanks.” 

“Mm,” he looks you up and down, still crowding you, “and what do you like, bunny?” 

Your cheek twitches and you swallow, “what?” 

He smirks and peeks over the bar. His gin and tonic is set on the wood as he reaches into his pocket to pull out his wallet. You’re frozen there, mind racing. It has to be a coincidence. Your drink is put up next; rum and coke, with three maraschino cherries in a highball glass. The man pays and faces you with a wink. 

“Those ears suit you,” he holds up his wallet with one hand. 

“How...” your breath wisps out between your lips. 

“I didn’t expect the real thing to be even better,” he takes the highball glass and offers it to you, “and I rarely admit when I’m wrong.” You take your drink, speechless as you watch him. He reaches for his own glass and whistles at Bill, “can I get a lime for this?” 

The bartender growls. He doesn’t appreciate being spoken to like a dog. He plunks a lime wedges into the glass and huffs. The stranger is entirely unbothered. 

“How did you... find me?” The question spurrs the startling epiphany. He’s one of them. A fan. 

“I can’t tell all my secrets,” he turns to the bar and brings his hand to the small of your back, “let’s sit. Chat. How about it, pinky?” 

You take a gulp of the drink. Oh boy. Pinky... part of your username is the colour pink with and exclamation as the i. It’s definitely one of them. You’re heart is racing. This is an actual nightmare and yet it’s exciting. The very sort of thrill you’ve been longing for. 

He ushers you across to a table and you sit in the wobbly old chair. He takes the one across from you, agitated by it’s crooked stance, and sets his drink down. You keep your hands on your glass, stirring it with the skewer of cherries. You watch him, trying to figure out what to say. 

He’s not bad looking. Thank god for that at least. His hair is combed back tidily away from his clean shaven face. His jaw is square, his nose romanesque in a way, and his clothing betray wealth. It could be a lot worse. 

“Why are you--” 

“You haven’t been online. At least I know you’re not lying. Service is shit around here.” 

His tone makes you wince. You’re not shy. Sometimes, that has been your greatest flaw, like now. Being so bold on the internet has dug you quite the hole. 

“How do you know it’s me?” You’re still reeling, questions bubbling up one after the other. 

“I’d know your ass anywhere,” he bites his lip and leans forward. 

“But why--” 

“Why am I here? Well, I was bored... and I hate waiting,” he sneers, “I’m not that type. I don’t wait.” 

“Wait... for?” 

“The pictures, the videos, it’s getting a little dull,” he hisses, “figured I’d have some of the real thing. You know, I see a resort on Insta, I usually get a flight. I see a new bagel joint, I got down and try the cream cheese, I see you...” 

His smirk remains. You talk a big game but you’re not prepared for this. For him. In the flesh. 

“_ransom_ware_?” You utter. 

“You know me,” he chuckles, “people call me Ransom. You can call me Mr. Drysdale, bunny.” 

“Ransom--” 

“Ah, what did I just say?” He taps his ear, “I know you can be a good lister...” he drawls your real name and you nearly choke. 

“How--” 

“Keep asking all these stupid questions and I’ll have to shut you up,” he warns, “go on, enjoy your drink, loosen up.” He leans on his elbows and looks around, “tell me I’m not a hundred times more intersting than these redneck fuckers.” 

You stare at him. You flutter your lashes and follow his gaze around the room. Others watch. You know this will be on the tongues of the town by morning. If your mom finds out... 

You look at him and find him staring. He sips his drink and tilts his head, “you really are too pretty for this place.” 

“Um, thanks,” you give that smile you give, the one that gets you a your three cherry special from Bill. 

He scoffs, “that doesn’t work on me, bunny.” His eyes drift down to your shirt, a checker halter with buttons down the front. “I came all this way. For you. That means you owe me...” he clucks and pokes his tongue into his cheek, “I mean I am your best tipper, aren’t I?” 

You take another gulp. You’ve got maybe one mouthful left. He eyes the glass. 

“Thirsty?” He winks. 

[cherryrohan]

thth season 3 spoilers

the new app is out which means i've finally been able to dig into the game files. surprisingly, they've added all of the upcoming episode descriptions from the jump this time unlike last season.

please don't ask me for sprite assets bc the game doesn't run on the same engine as litg so it's pretty much impossible.

anyway, major episode and character spoilers are under the cut and if you share elsewhere please give credit!

Episode Descriptions

EP 4 - Hearts on Fire

You caught Jirayu and Carmen whispering secrets! Are they plotting something, or is it just a harmless conversation?

EP5 - Desperate Measures

Poppy seems very interested in your business. Will she back off, or is there about to be trouble on the horizon?

EP6 - Stolen Moments

Your suite stay gets interrupted by an uninvited guest. Can you enjoy your night, or is Bad Lana about to ruin it?

EP7 - Betrayal

Lana’s fed up with your horniness. Is her plan going to help you, or tempt you even more?

EP8 - Rules Begone!

The secret is out — Poppy is a Spy! Suddenly, her behavior makes perfect sense… but can she be forgiven?

EP9 - The Love’s Gambit

Giselle is eliminating Sean! Is the drama over, or are there more surprises?

EP10 - Paradise Exile

You’re being banished! Are you about to leave the retreat for good… or does Lana have something else planned for you?

EP11 - Second Chances

You’re back from the Banishment Room, and everyone is excited to greet you! Well… almost everyone.

EP12 - A Lovers’ Goodbye

Carmen and Jirayu have been keeping secrets, but what was their motive?

EP13 - Unexpected Turnabout

Victoria’s announcement shakes things up. Are you prepared to handle what comes next?

EP14 - Secret Confessions

Can you save Giselle on time, or has this retreat taken a turn for the worst?

EP15 - Until We Meet Again…

It's your final night at the retreat, and Lana is ready to announce the finalists. Who will walk away richer, in both money and love?

Love Interests

Beatriz, 22 from Brazil

In a world full of followers, Beatriz is a shining star. Her spontaneous spirit craves fun, adventure… and a partner who can keep up with her rhythm. Even if you stumble, she’ll be there to catch you in her warm embrace.

Carmen, 23 from Puerto Rico

Fiercely independent and ambitious, Carmen is a seductive force that turns heads and breaks hearts. Her outgoing nature and irresistible charm are as captivating as her art. This bold soul can't be easily tamed, and only the bravest would even dare to try…

Isla, 25 from Canada

Independent, authentic, and a joy to be around, Isla is ready to find love that's as lasting as her carpentry projects. Her magnetic personality will draw you in, but her playfulness and kindness will make you stay. Her guide dog Bear is ready to make a new friend as well!

Jirayu, 24 from USA

If you like fun facts, you’re in luck - Jirayu never runs out of them! Sharp-minded and well-read, he’s always ready to engage in stimulating banter. Although he’d never admit that, this pilot finds navigating relationships harder than the skies…

Mattias, 25 from USA

Confident yet caring, Mattias is the guy who will always have your back - and while he loves the game, he’s more into baking than playing the field. If you date him, you’ll become his biggest flex… even though being an NFL Quarterback is a close second!

Taz, 26 from Germany

Taz is a chef with a sharp tongue but a tender heart. Assertive both in the kitchen and the bedroom, he always exceeds the highest expectations. Once you peel away his layers, he might trust you with his heart… and even some of his secret recipes!

Zayn, 28 from USA

Zayn has taken some time off to heal his broken heart, and he’s ready to tackle dating again. Trustworthy and kind, he's a catch who promises cozy nights in and fun gaming sessions. Now if only he could use cheat codes in his dating life…

Friends

Giselle, 26 from France

A foodie with a creative flair, Giselle is beloved in all of her circles. Her ability to find joy in simple things is unmatched. She might not be a problem solver, but she’ll definitely be your biggest cheerleader.

Julian, 28 from Canada

Julian’s a musician who’s looking for someone to tune in to his beat. Practical and down to earth, he knows just what to say to break the tension… and it’s usually a joke that’s going to leave you in stitches!

Victoria, 27 from UK

An accountant by day, an activist by heart, and a rule breaker by nature, Victoria is on a mission - and she’s not about to let anyone stand in her way. She thrives on her own, but if you’re able to meet her at the top, she might just let you in on the view…

Sean, 23 from Ireland

Sean sees his receptionist title as merely a stepping stone to greatness, using his charm and fit body to get what he wants. Although he seems outgoing and talkative, he’s not the biggest team player - and he seems to value his dog more than his partners…

Friends to Love Interests

(these characters start off as friends but can be romanced at some point later in the game similar to santiago)

Avi, 23 from Ireland

Avi mastered the game of love just like he mastered chess, always staying three moves ahead. With a charm that disarms even the toughest exterior, he is the perfect partner in crime… unless he’s too busy solving one!

Poppy, 25 from UK

Poppy sizes everyone up the minute she enters the room. Flirty yet fiercely clever, she’s not just playing the field - she’s redesigning it. Behind her architectural brilliance and smirks lies a gentle, yet elusive heart… but do you dare capture it?

[longbobmckenzie]

Too Hot to Handle 3: Episodes 1-3 Thoughts

We're back, bitches.

And as always, I have thoughts.

First off, the customization. It was fine. I like the hair options and that there are additional prosthetics/CGMs, but the rest of it felt like the same thing all over again and it took me a good 10 minutes to come up with someone I was relatively happy with but not thrilled with. Also the smiles are still creepy but at least we get to preview them this time

I love being a bombshell as it adds something fresh and means I didn't have to sit through the opening where everyone comes in because that takes soooo long sometimes (maybe next time we're an OG we can be one of the last to arrive?)

FREE PASS!!! Buuut all we got was some kisses and making out? Like come on. They should've either said we get a free kiss on the date or at least let us be extra naughty

I also like that we got to customize the LI we took out on the date and the customizations were permanent instead of limited to during the date

I picked Taz. I gave him a beard and manbun, and now he looks like Marshall 🤣 I have a type, okay?

I typically like to whore around during my first playthrough but after picking Jirayu for the tour and Mattias for something else (clearly not memorable since I don't remember what it was), I just keep gravitating back to Taz. Him being stuck-up about the food on the date kinda sucked but then he said he liked that I wasn't just saying stuff based on what he likes and he relaxed and became a lot more fun and then we made out and I shared a bed with him and yeaaahhh I like him. So I've been picking him every option ever since

But that doesn't mean I'm not already dying to see who comes in as bombshells

As for the other LIs, the biggest disappointment to me is probably that... WHERE ARE THEY?!?! If you don't pick them for scenes, they're almost non-existent. I've seen Bear more than I've seen Carmen or Beatriz. I'd love for them to be more integrated into the storyline, which I think S2 did a great job of. That said, once we lock in to our LIs I'm sure we'll see more, but how am I supposed to get to know these people if I never see them and don't want to choose them over Taz?

That brings us to the non-romanceable (yet) characters. We know from the achievements that there are 3 achievements for a BFF-to-lovers route, so I guess 3 of them will be possible endgames (not sure if this also includes any future bombshells or if it's just from the 4 OGs). Anyway, so far... I'm not liking them. Victoria's a fugly bitch (spoiler: good riddance to her), Sean is cartoonishly annoying (he gives me Felix vibes but I also wonder if they're trying to make him like Hamish), and I'm just not vibing with Julian or Giselle as friends, let alone future love interests. And the problem with that is that they're the ones constantly being pushed in my face instead of the other LIs, which is just making me more annoyed with them. Again, I think S2 did really well with this, so hopefully it changes. But otherwise, ugh.

Back to Taz - I love that we have such amazing chemistry and he's willing to break rules with me, and it's all just purely physical at this point. Like yeah, we've talked a bit about ourselves too and expressed an interest in getting to know each other, but I don't feel like either of us are emotionally invested yet and I love that - because this is THTH, not Love Island. We're not here for love, we're here for sex. I don't wanna feel after a day that my LI is already half in love with me. There's plenty of time for that

Is it just me, or have there been a lot of potential rule breaks already? I've only been in there a couple days and I've already spent so much money - lots of heavy petting and manual gratification with Taz so far, plus kissing

I'm so getting kicked out 🤣

I'm intrigued to see more of Bad Lana and how that plays out - I've only seen the first episode of the new season of the show, so it'll be interesting to see how they do it in the game

another HUGE plus: less time in the beach hut!! They're not doing a full chapter of beach hut confessionals anymore, just tacking on a bit to the start of one of the chapters, and I LOVE that change. it also means we get more actual game time!

There's a threesome in the achievements. I'm ready.

Anyway, overall I think I preferred the start of S2 (I remember being pretty blown away by the potential and the branching), but this is still a good start and I'm excited for the season. I'm ready for bombshells, and I'm definitely gonna play a 2nd profile to see what Jirayu is all about because I'm intrigued by him. And I wanna be messy on one route and more loyal on another, because I love seeing all the branching when you play both ways!

[mercedesdecorazon]

I’ve been seeing stuff about Love Island All Stars so, I’m a bit curious to learn about the MCs that you had for throughout the seasons! What were they like, who did they romance, stuff like that

Yes sure! Some are spoilers but not really. Bear in mind that my MCs are all black women.

~~~

My LITG MCs and their stories summarized

Season 1:

My MC is Rachelle and instead of being an OG, she is a bombshell along with Rohan, with Cherry being an OG. She couples up with Levi which leads to conflict with her and Jen. Levi is wishy-washy which leads to her getting it on Mason with no restraint, causing conflict with Allegra. On the next major recoupling, Rachelle goes for Mason but Erikah, angry at the attention Rachelle is getting, whispers to Mason that Rachelle likes only Levi, leading to Cherrygate. The storyline is the same mostly as in the game, with Rachelle burning through the Villa and everyone with deadly precision: she dunks Mason, Erikah and Cherry in the Water Dunking Challenge. She is known as the infamous bombshell who caused mayhem in the Villa.

She gets together with Jake near the end of the season and they date outside the Villa but broke up.

Later on, Rachelle starts dating Tim. They get married and have two children. The end.

Season 2:

My MC is the lovely Rosalia and you can read some of her story here. Her main love interest is Lucas and I changed the Season 2 story up a bit. Check it out.

[Rosalia is currently married to Lucas, and as of now, they are traveling the world together. They have a house, two cats and no children - bad economy and they're content with just each other. Lucas enjoys being married to the love of his life, and Rosalia is happy to be with the man she loves.]

Season 3:

My MC is Azere and she is my cinnamon roll MC: very sweet, sensitive and naive. Perfect for the drama free Season 3. This girl would not survive Season 1, 2, and 5.

She is paired with Harry first, then Harry is stolen by Genevieve which makes her cry. Then she paired with Camilo for the rest of the season, crying when Camilo flirts with Lily.

After the show, Camilo ghosts her and after the disastrous Boat Party with Harry and Camilo making fun of her, Azere distances herself from the Love Island show and is currently single.

Season 4 (Bombshell):

Tanya is my second bombshell MC and she shakes things up in the Villa. She pairs with Will but he dumps her for Thabi, making Tanya despise them both. Tanya is paired with Bruno but the Dylan situation happens, and when Bruno kicks Tanya out of bed and banishes her to the outside beds, things are over between them. Bruno goes for Valentina, leaving Tanya heartbroken.

She pairs up with Youcef as friends and she is eliminated just before the finale. As of now, she and Youcef still are together but are very private.

Season 5 (Ex in the Villa):

My MC Coco leaves the show early on, after Meera and Arlo come into the Villa. You can actually read my one-shot about it here:

She goes quiet on social media after Suresh and Gabi win the show, and she has blocked everyone from her season of Love Island.

But...

Coco returns to reality TV as she is cast on Too Hot to Handle Season 1, and she has a blast! Even with the sex ban. Suresh isn't there to harass her, and her other cast mates are cool (except Justin, but that's beside the point.)

She is currently dating Theo from THTH and she is very happy.

Season 6 (Double Trouble):

Thanks to her twin sister Amelia, Cheryl finds out during her time in the Villa that her sister dearest had slept with her boyfriend Zeph. It was humiliating.

After the show Cheryl has cut Amelia off entirely and Zeph had reached out to her, to apologize for everything. Cheryl accepts the apology but doesn't forgive him.

As for right now Cheryl is single and her friend Coco had given her a heads up about Too Hot to Handle....

Season 7 (Casa Amor):

Unlike my other MCs, Jenna is a Casa girl so her time in the Villa is much shorter, sadly.

Jenna manages to turn Alex's head during Casa Amor and he brings her back to the Villa. Alex's original partner, Estelle is left single.

Unfortunately for Jenna, Estelle makes her time in the Villa tough - making snide comments, pulling Alex away from her and making herself the victim. Alex doesn't even defend her.

Alex dumps Jenna and returns to Estelle, leaving Jenna infuriated. She is later on eliminated from the show.

Here is Jenna's one-shot in Casa Amor:

Season 8 (Tempting Fate):

Eve is my third bombshell and her story in the Villa is pretty basic. She couples up with Oakley and they had their ups and downs. That's it.

But Eve and Oakley are still dating so that's good.

Season 9 (All-Stars):

Jenna (from Season 7) feels that she didn't get a fair shot in the Villa so she is the only MC that returns to Love Island (because the rest of these hoes won't do that.)

She starts off as an OG (yay!) and is paired up with Hamish who chooses her. Later on, Christine steals him away and Jenna is paired with Henri and then later Jude.

She and Hamish remain friends in the Villa throughout the season and he is the one to tell her about Jude cheating on her during Casa Amor with Uma. Jenna is devastated because she thought Uma was her friend as they were in Casa Amor together in their original season and they hung out in real life too.

(The Uma storyline works better with S7 MC because they were in the same position before and presumably knew each other well.)

Anyways chile, Hamish couples up with her as friends after this and they get close.

Zeph enters the Villa and Jenna pays him no mind after what he did to her girl Cheryl.

Hamish and her begin to make a romantic connection, much to everyone's (except Natasha) surprise. They begin to date.

They win the show and Jenna shares the money with Hamish. They make history as the first Casa Islanders to win the show (in my LITG universe!)

Jenna and Hamish are still together ❤️

~~~

That's it!

[seospicybin]

okay i was jp about the hyunjin ask BUT LIKE SRSLY JUST IMAGINE.

(this is a little way of me asking if u could litterally do a hyunjin vers of to hot to handle series cs like he so hot and like so cute and like so fine and im litterally foaming after reading the felix and hanji series of TO HOT TO HANDLE but litterally cant handle it cs the way u wrote them out siunded so like them esp han and when i read the part two i swear to u. i was. fucking. foaming. no like litterally foaming in the mouth. how do u write liek that? will obv could be about learning but im also thinking inspo from other writers? anyway thats off topic. ur writing is so hot and i love people that write similar ways to u bc like idk how to explain it but its cliche but also like sk hot and ur writing is so detailed but not detailed enough to be weirdly detailed its just detailed aboutsolutely justtttt right and i love the way people like u detail things like ugh jt just makes me morejj no in loce anyway im writing this in a () way bc im shy to tell ppl ab my true feelings lmao wtf im high rn mb anyway i love u so much booboo bear and make sure to eat faily and take many rest and also pls lmk if u wanna do the hyunjin vers of to hot to handle bc yk haha.. like. why not? ive litterally sent so much asks to writers and they never reply so slmetimes i get a little scared and think im being too overboard so u ditn evn have to reply to this ask but pls do like sk that way im not overthinkigng.. hehehehehhehehe… okay litterally this time. goodbye lovely pookehhh. ‼️‼️)

-anonie 😙

No, I get it. Maybe you missed the announcement of me saying I'll do the whole 8 members their THTH season and it's fine.

And I think it's cute that you're ranting and telling me all about these sweet words and kindness you have in your message.

Thank you, you are very cute and not overboard at all, you must tone down the cuteness though, I can't handle it 😂

Thank you once again for the heartwarming message, you made my day. Have the loveliest day, sending you tons of kisses 😘 💕

[bakubub]

favourite time of year

w/c: 1.2k

written for @kal0psi-a 's halloween collab

folding the sticky dough carefully, just as the recipe instructed, i try my best to ignore the itching in my nose in a feeble attempt to stay concentrated, but give up when it starts to irritate my eyes.

"eughh, because of you there's flour in my nose," i complain to my boyfriend, who has his chin hooked over my shoulder and very heavily leaning over me.

"hey, don't complain! have you seen my hair?" he asks, stretching his neck to show me. sure enough, his hair is more white than it is black. i rake my hand through it before he can say anything, my dough covered hands clumping his hair together as an avalanche of flour sprinkles all over my chest.

he screeches, jumping back from me and i quickly use this chance to start running, because based on previous incidents, there's a 90% chance he will chase me relentlessly.

his cough from across the kitchen halts my escape plan, "are you happy now? i have flour in my nose too," he complains.

i watch in amusement as a cloud of flour puffs around him in the shape of a mushroom as he sneezes heavily, looking quite literally like a cartoon character and quickly near him to snap a picture. this will do nicely for the autumn section in this year's album.

since we started dating, tetsuro and i have been taking photos of one another, which we organise into albums by year, separated by season. it started when he gave me an album on our first anniversary, now, 6 years later and married, putting together an album of the past year has become tradition. each season we do an activity that correlates with the vibe, and today, we're making pumpkin pie with halloween shape indents because really, what else comes to mind when you think of fall?

i laugh loudly at the photo i took, his face caught mid sneeze, and it seems to flick the switch deep within tetsuro that i thought i had flicked earlier, and his feline gaze snaps to mine, before lurching forward in an attempt to catch me. i move just in the nick of time and run to the other side of the bench. he chases me until we're playing cat and mouse around the bench like children, slowly stalking one another as the other makes it as though they're backtracking but running forward instead.

"give up, wicked witch!" he exclaims, putting his right hand on his heart and holding the other outwards as he closes his eyes, apparently overwhelmed with emotion, "it is i, prince tetsu-" in the midst of his theatrics, i move in for the kill. his need for dramatics is most definitely his achille's heel, i think as i stab him in the hip with my fingers, and he yelps, opening his eyes only to find the mouse catching the cat.

"and the wicked witch of fall wins!" i yell, jumping up and down, getting flour all over the hardwood floors.

"fine, this round goes to you. your reward? a magical kiss from your prince charming," he says, leaning in and halting my celebration.

"the prince kisses the witch? haven't heard this fairy-tale before," i mutter before he silences me by placing a soft but unhurried kiss on my lips. my hands automatically make their way around his neck, and i lean back slightly as his hands firmly hold my waist, providing protection and support even in a moment as miniscule as this. in the glow of the autumn sunset, painting our kitchen with a golden hue, with the man i love in front of me, everything is perfect. we break off, his forehead leaning on mine, neither of us moving away.

"this is our fairy-tale, with its own happy ending."

looking up, I'm met with his golden brown stare, the small specks of gold especially visible in this lighting, practically glowing. his white turtle neck hugging his form nicely, and his raven hair sprinkled with flour, i can't help but wonder if this is what we're going to be like in the future, when we've lived our lives, and grown old together; the only indication of our age being the salt and pepper hair, and the slightly more prominent lines around our eyes from spending a lifetime of smiling.

because that's how it would be, i think, to have tetsuro next to me for eternity, to smile and to laugh every day.

he has to kneel down considerably to reach my lips with his own, to rest his forehead on mine, but the look on his face and the emotion in his familiar, beautiful eyes reflect nothing but comfort and content, genuine even as he says stupid and cliché things. in a way, he’s promising me nothing but a life full of the music of our happiness.

"i love you, witch," he whispers, as if afraid to ruin the moment by speaking.

i kiss him again, before pulling out my secret weapon and dumping more flour over his head. "love you too, prince!" i screech as i run away. i hear his chuckles as he chases after me, muttering empty promises of revenge just as he did before, and every other time, and hopefully, if my luck holds out, every time after.

---

"okay, nod gonna lie, dis ith really goo-dh" i say, speaking with a mouth full of the pumpkin pie we finally got around to baking.

i watch him snap a photo of me, smiling through my full mouth, knowing full well i have pie all over my mouth and teeth.

“you’ve never looked better, babe,” he says, chuckling, before trying it himself, moaning through his full mouth, "oh mhy gohd." i roll my eyes as he continues, "baby, thth is fudding amathing," he says, taking another, and then another bite.

“slow it down, moron. you’re going to choke and the wicked witch is going to have to ruin her comfy position to give you the heimlich,” i say, my legs crossed on the carpeted floor with my feet nice and warm in my thick panda bear socks.

“how abouth we sthip straighd to the kith of life?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows with a mouth full of pie.

"how about you shuffle the cards, prince? i'll pick a movie," i suggest, or rather order, raising my brows. he salutes sarcastically as he sets down his plate and goes to get our worn out deck of uno cards.

"i thought you were a witch, not a princess," he mutters once he swallows his pie.

"actually, i married the prince so that legally makes me a princess. c'mon tetsuro," i say, pressing play on a random comedy to play in the background.

with the fireplace going under the television, and our pumpkin spice and cinnamon candles lit, the room is cozy, warm and calm.

that is until tetsuro yells his profanities about me placing a 2+ on his 4+.

"THAT'S NOT ALLOWED! YOU CAN ONLY PLACE A 4+ ON TOP OF A 4+"

"since WHEN?! THIS WASN'T THE RULE LAST WEEK!" i scream back, refusing to back down. i am not picking up four cards. "i would never cheat. unlike YOU," i accuse, shoving another fork full of the pie into my mouth in defiance.

he dramatically gasps shoving a fork full of pie into his own mouth, and glares at me. i glare right back, both of us wordlessly agreeing that whoever loses the staring competition loses the uno argument. ignoring the burning in my eyes, i keep my expression neutral as i watch the tears building up in tetsuro's lashline, his right eye twitching and turning slightly red.

"YES!" i scream as he blinks, wiping his eyes and sighing dramatically before beginning to pick up six cards, unable to come up with an excuse.

i laugh mercilessly and we continue the game, which i ended up winning after he picked up another 12 cards, flashing me the 'please have mercy on me' eyes every time he reached for the deck.

"you really are a wicked little witch aren't you?" he mutters as he gets up. i snort in response, eating the last of my pie.

"i wanna another slice," he announces. "you want?" nodding eagerly, i give him my plate.

"i want a slice with a bat," i call out, referring to the misshapen shapes we cut out on the top layer of the pie.

when he came back, he halted at the door as he silently watches me set up face masks and mani-pedi equipment on the coffee table, the entire pie tray with two forks, instead of two slices, in his hands. i raised my eyebrows, and he mirrors my expression towards my makeshift salon on the floor of our living room.

we both shrug and he comes and sits next to me, picking up a face mask packet and reading the description.

"ooh! aloe vera!"

that's how we ended up watching shitty comedies all night with white face masks on and stomachs stuffed with pie.

---

laying in bed my head resting on tetsuro's shoulder and my hand rhythmically stroking his hair, i bask in the feeling of comfort and my mind being stress free. shielded from the cold night with a million blankets and the massive man sleeping next to me, with my especially cold, numb feet tucked under his thigh, i match my breathing with his easily as i follow after him into a deep slumber.

because that's what the season of autumn is about, really. taking it easy after the adventurous months that were spring and summer, to rewind and become a home-bug again as the weather cools down. and these moments with tetsuro?

these moments are what makes this my favourite time of year.

ahhh this was so, so fun!! special thanks to @/kal0psi-a for organising this entire collab <3