wineassassin

[wineassassin]

he did this for me. please look at the curls

[wineassassin]

WILL THEY, WON'T THEY RELATIONSHIP PROMPTS *  for the people that just won't admit they're in love!

i didn't want you to go alone.

i can't do anything without you.

could you ever imagine us together?

how long have you been sitting here?

sorry if i fall asleep on your shoulder.

you're not like everyone else.

is this a date?

you have no idea what i'd do to keep you safe.

i brought you a coffee, just the way you like it.

could you not see i was flirting?

i should get going.

you're the only one i can turn to.

they thought we were a couple.

they were playing that song the night we met.

let's cook something together.

you're special to me.

i think i'm falling in love.

when did you get here?

i missed you more than you know.

you take the umbrella. i'll be fine.

i'll come pick you up. stay right there.

you're my missing piece.

let me see the menu. we could just split something.

i deleted all my dating apps.

there's only one bed.

i won't let anything hurt you.

i'll walk you home.

you said you were hungry, so i brought you something.

there's something i've been meaning to tell you.

you smile when you're nervous.

i get it. you're not interested.

have you ever considered... us?

nothing will ever be the same.

you're the only person who understands me.

was that flirting?

it would mean a lot to me if you stayed.

do you need a hug?

it's all right. i was happy to do it.

do you remember how we met?

i'm here for you. whatever you need.

do you need a lift?

never leave me again. do you understand?

you're my best friend.

you take the bed, i'll take the couch.

maybe i'm already interested in someone.

i'm on my way over. be there in ten minutes.

i don't want to overstay my welcome.

that looks amazing on you.

i'm not going out with them anymore.

i'm just a phone call away.

yes, i was flirting with you.

keep it. you need it more than me.

it was just one kiss.

you changed everything.

you can lean on my shoulder if you want.

i hate it when you leave.

can you walk me home?

you mean so much to me.

stay right there! i'm coming! i'll help!

i'm in love with you! i've been in love with you this whole time!

maybe i could make us breakfast in the morning.

you could hold my hand if you'd like.

wish you didn't have to go.

call me when you get home? so i know you're safe?

i forgot to tell you. we broke up.

check your front door. there's something waiting for you.

you could spend the night.

we're alone now.

need a ride?

that meant a lot to me, you know.

i don't know what i'd do without you.

do you feel the same way?

you... love me?

do you want to come inside?

you deserve better than that.

here, take my jacket. it's freezing.

this song reminds me of you.

are you dating someone?

i didn't know who else to turn to.

do you really have to go?

i don't understand what you do to me.

i won't let anyone lay a hand on you.

were you flirting with me?

i hate saying goodbye.

what happened between you two, anyway?

they shouldn't talk to you like that.

all this time i've been in love with you.

i won't say anything if you don't.

i remembered your order, by the way.

they think we'd make a good couple.

guess we have to share.

i brought you soup.

did you just say i love you?

it's just us now.

i could use a hug.

you are the single most important thing in my life.

i don't know how i survived for so long without you.

we could go on a date.

i've never felt this way before.

[wineassassin]

hey there, you look cute. you single? ;)

"are you attempting to reenact the night we met? can you imagine if that was the first thing you said. 'hey there. you look cute. are you single?' and i'm just standing there with my jaw on the floor as frank sinatra plays behind us..."

[wineassassin]

‘touching‘ shot by vassilis karidis for fantastic man, issue 30

[wineassassin]

"oh god, please, always call us." sebastian points to the hidden bottle of red wine tucked away on the counter, the very same one @asprinkle is hunting for. with the wine poured and two glasses saved for their partners, sebastian can't help but beam into his first sip as he listens to greg talk. "he was wonderful, greg. all good. went really well, didn't have any trouble. how was the food at the italian place?" this question comes behind a second sip, slightly muffled behind the rim of his glass. "what did you get? maybe we'll go next weekend and try it out, see if it's as good as you say." though it's been a long day already, the night still feels young (saved by the wine they're now drinking — this is a generous way to thank him for babysitting!). "this is incredible stuff, by the way. where'd this come from?" he fishes his phone out of his pocket and snaps a picture of the label. "need to buy this now. thanks for being a bad influence."

' i don't know how to thank you two enough, ' greg says, while eddie's happy to scoop up the toddler, ready to tuck him ( back ) into bed. greg is quick to sidle over to the kitchen island, looking for the bottle of red wine his fiancé had forgotten to put back on the counter. stemless glasses are produced — though two, one each for mason and eddie when they return are left on the counter — with a generous pour, greg slides the glass over to @wineassassin. ' we're all out of white, but we tried this brand last week, and i'm obsessed. ' a grin. ' i behaved tonight, too. i only had one glass. there's this brilliant italian place down on, uh. seventy something, i'll send you a pin. i think you guys should try it some time. ' a beat, and a glance towards rowan's bedroom. ' i hope he wasn't too much trouble ,,, this was our first date night since he was born. '

[wineassassin]

sebastian in his twenties is a night and day difference compared to sebastian in his thirties. if you met seb in his twenties, then met him again in his thirties, you'd barely recognize him. you'd be shocked. it's not the same person.

twentysomething sebastian was unnerving and not at all his true self. he was trying to shove himself into the expectations his father laid out for him — join the military, uphold the family name, follow in his father's footsteps, turn off the loving part of your brain and become something serious, trained, diciplined. his hair is cut or slicked back. he's cleanshaven. he's built like a weapon. he's distant, colder. you might expect a man in his twenties to be a little more casual and fun post-college, but sebastian is the stark opposite. he completes specialist weapons school, as well as the british army sniper operator's course. he's frighteningly accurate, steely, and, in truth... smothered by expectations. he basically turns all the kinder, softer parts of himself off for nearly ten years.

sebastian becomes himself in his thirties. he leaves the military. he's secretly recruited into TREADSTONE. they expect him to stay that cold, unnerving man, expect him to remain as dangerous and focused as he was... but they give him a cover job as an english professor. they know he studied english literature before enlisting, so they default to that work as his perfect cover... not realizing that in giving him a chance to reconnect to his truest love (english literature), they unintentionally reawaken the true sebastian. he comes alive again. he starts preferring that work to the spy work they're sending him on. he softens. he grows his beard, lets his curls grow out. you've given him access to his favorite thing on earth, and he's teaching shakespeare in front of eager students and relearning his true self because of it. TREADSTONE accidentally let him return to himself, and in doing so, he starts waking up, unlearning the bullshit his father shoved into his head, and realizing he's more than a gun.

if you saw seb in his twenties (cleanshaven, cold, highly trained) and you run into sebastian in his thirties (softer, bearded, wild curls, a big smile, lots of jokes and shakespeare quotes), you're just like... what the hell happened to you? and thank god you've changed for the better.

[wineassassin]

it's fun to step out of their usual busy routine and disappear into a sea of strangers. on vacation, far from home, sebastian and @greenelight can misbehave all they want. no work or auditions, no papers to grade or chores to do. for the next few days here in greece, they can shed inhibitions and mess around a little in public. there's no harm in that. mason clearly wants what he wants and knows what he wants — his kisses spin a tale of demand and dancing, encouraging his husband to follow the rhythm of the song. "if you insist," sebastian teases against his lips. though it takes him a minute, he soon loosens the tension in his shoulders and plays along. it's long overdue.

they get lost for a while. they always do. by the time sebastian comes to his senses, alcohol hazing up his brain, he's earned a full blown frown from the nearby bartender. "we should probably move ourselves elsewhere on the dance floor," he murmurs into mason's ear. "or we might get ourselves in trouble. bartender doesn't look too happy. you're being too sexy, mason." a loud snort. "can you just... tone it down or something?"

another part of the club allows for better freedom and a little less judgment from staring employees. they carry on as usual, dancing and mouthing along to the words (if they know them). sebastian's shirt ends up half-unbuttoned, sleeves rolled to his elbows as he kisses mason's neck and laughs through the end of a rather noisy song. "we have a private pool back at the room," he reminds his husband between two kisses. "you getting tired? i'm a sweaty nightmare right now. christ. my head's on fire — my head of curls is like wearing a fucking helmet." more laughter, this time pressed into the crook of mason's neck. "maybe we should... head back soon... unless you want to keep dancing?"

it's   good   to   see   sebastian   isn't   too   upset   over   that   whole   exchange.   annoyed   ,   sure   ,   but   not   nearly   as   upset   as   he   usually   might   have   been.   maybe   the   dance   scene   with   its   pumping   music   &   tasty   drinks   helps   to   cool   him   off   in   a   weird   way   ,   his   hand   gently   tapping   on   mason's   arm   to   the   beat   of   the   song   that   has   nearly   everyone   in   the   club   on   their   feet.   whatever   it   is   ,   mason   is   grateful   ,   though   he   does   make   a   face   at   his   husband   when   he   accuses   him   of   that   man   making   him   upset.   ❝   puh   -   lease.   you   &   i   both   know   you're   the   one   known   to   get   angry.   mister   jealousy   over   here.   ❞   he's   teasing   him   of   course   ,   his   hips   slightly   moving   to   the   beat   of   the   music   as   sebastian   hangs   behind   him   ,   waiting   as   patiently   as   he   can   for   him   to   finish   his   drink   so   they   can   at   least   dance   a   few   more   times   before   heading   back   to   their   airbnb. it's only been two hours , but it hasn't even hit midnight yet. the fun really starts past the witching hour.

❝   life   of   the   party   .   .   .   yup   ,   that's   me.   ❞   mason   grins   ,   chuckling.   ❝   honestly   ,   it's   not   even   that   hard.   i   don't   know   why   it's   a   struggle   for   you   when   you   drink   so   much   wine.   then   again   ,   you   drink   to   enjoy   &   less   for   it's   other   properties.   ❞   as   soon   as   sebastian   has   no   liquid   visible   in   his   glass   ,   mason   snatches   it   out   of   his   hand   &   places   it   on   the   counter   so   he   can   drag   him   out   to   the   dance   floor.   his   comment   about   how   long   they've   been   here   is   innocently   ignored   ,   if   only   because   he's   not   ready   to   go   back   to   rest   yet.   the   night   is   still   young   &   the   music   is   only   getting   better   as   the   night   goes   on.   just   a   few   more   dances   &   then   he   can   claim   him   for   the   rest   of   the   night.   for now , as if using it as a bargaining chip , mason immediately kisses his husband with a deep & passionate need , giving him all that love & attention he always longs to give him , panting once they part , but he never fully breaks from his lips. ❝   move   with   me   ,   ❞   mason   rasps   as   he   lets   his   arms   wrap   loosely   around   his   shoulders   ,   swaying   to   the   music   in   the   most   provocative   way   ,   enticing   sebastian   to   move   with   the   same   sort   of   energy.

[wineassassin]

sebastian is six foot five. grab the front of his shirt or his tie and tug him down to kiss him, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wineassassin]

JUSTICE JOSLIN FOR SCALPERS COMPANY, "SHADOWS OF VENEZIA".

[wineassassin]

[wineassassin]

from @warbyrds — honestly, that's a objectively terrible password.

"okay, excuse me, is it be mean to sebastian day? did i miss that on the calendar today?" at once, he's tickling carol's sides, tugging her up over the back of the couch and yanking her into his lap. she'd been peeking over his shoulder from behind, eyes on his phone, clearly eager to (mischievously) criticize his poorly decided password. and now she's in his lap, being tickled. "oh, how the mighty have fallen." setting his phone on the coffee table, he resumes his ticklish assault. "first i burn the eggs for breakfast, and i get a little look across the room like... sebastian, let me cook next time. then it's my password! what's wrong with my password! it's not password or 1234. that would be classified as objectively terrible, wouldn't it? so what's wrong with 'sebastianpassword?' it works? they let me use it!"

he gives up his tickling assault and peers down at carol draped across his lap, her blonde hair a wild mess just past his thigh. he's quick to brush his fingers through it, gentle compared to the furious way he was tickling her sides seconds earlier. "what's your email password, then, hm? 'starwars123' probably. or something having to do with han solo. i see how you ogle harrison ford." sebastian pats her cheek and dips down to kiss her forehead. "don't worry. your secret's safe with me. your very intensely protected password is safe, carebear. no one's getting in."

[wineassassin]

sprawled out on the couch now, reclined on his back, sebastian welcomes mason into a kiss they've needed for days now. too long apart, too far, too many days in a paralyzing distance. each kiss is a band-aid upon their open wound. the two need each other as much as possible, and solve their emotional devastation with plenty of heady, heavenly kisses... until the food arrives.

sebastian hears the footsteps. twenty minutes have passed of serious kissing (a full blown make-out, as they so deserve), and now sebastian must unearth himself from beneath @greenelight and his tender affection. wriggling, he laughs, crumbling to the carpet beside the couch as he escapes, and wrenches himself up from the floor to jog to the front door. he's gone for a minute as he pays, thanks the delivery driver, and carries their haul to the kitchen. the smell of amazing, all-too-familiar food fills the air at once.

"come and get it!" he calls. deft hands that once pulled triggers and hauled himself up buildings now unravel the plastic and sanitary sealed sticker keeping their food safe from misuse. at the kitchen counter, he happily unearths their assorted plates and plastic containers of dinner, setting everything out in a vast array along with napkins, plastic utensils, seasonings, and anything else stuffed neatly in the bag. sebastian ignores how rosy his lips are from all their kissing... but when he notices mason's lips, he winks. "that was fun. we should do that again sometime." he turns, retrieving plates from the kitchen cabinets, and gives one to mason. "it's a free for all. let's eat. i want to hear more about what you did while i was away. you went to a cast party, didn't you? with all your new castmates? tell me how that went. i'm sorry i wasn't there to come with you."

it's   so   sweet   of   sebastian's   mom   to   make   plans   to   move   closer   the   day   they   decide   to   have   children.   they   still   have   a   bit   of   time   before   that   ever   happens   ,   so   for   now   they   don't   have   to   worry   ,   though   the   sentiment   is   still   greatly   appreciated.   as   they   lay   on   the   couch   ,   there   is   a   sense   of   comfort   &   coziness   that   settles   over   him   as   they   move   closer.   the   couch   is   not   necessarily   the   most   comfortable   thing   ,   seeing   as   it   barely   fits   the   two   of   them   &   their   long   limbs   ,   but   it   feels   so   right   to   be   so   wrapped   up   in   one   another   like   this   ,   trying   to   become   one   in   some   sort   of   way   all   while   catching   up   on   what   was   missed.   again   ,   it   was   only   two   days   ,   so   not   much   has   happened   ,   but   even   still   ,   it   was   just   a   good   excuse   to   get   lost   in   one   another.   ❝   i   love   your   mom   so   much   ,   ❞   mason   confesses   as   sebastian   sends   her   the   selfie   of   them. ❝ &   of   course   i   was   going   to   send   you   videos   while   you   were   gone.   you're   usually   in   the   audience   seats   watching me practice when you get a chance   ,   so   i   had   to   keep   you   up   to   date.   ❞   mason   doesn't   say   anything   about   the   compliments   but   a   soft   thank   you   as   he   feels   his   cheeks   redden   from   his husband's   words.   even   after   all   this   time   of   seeing   him   perform   in   show   after   show   ,   sebastian   still   thinks   the   world   of   him   when   it   comes   to   acting.   just   knowing   he   has   such   an   amazing   support   system   in   his   husband   does   such   wonders   for   his   confidence   ━━   perhaps   the   biggest   cheerleader   he's   ever   had   ever   ,   &   maybe   the   cutest   one   too.

at   the   innocent   query   about   when   food   will   arrive   ,   mason   already   knows   what   his   husband   is   planning.   a   slow   smirk   begins   to   from   across   his   own   features   as   he   feels   wandering   hands   begin   to   close   in   on   his   form   ,   the   temptation   to   deepen   their   touches   &   affections   growing   by   the   minute   ,   but   only   until   mason   affirms   they   have   time   will   they   actually   enact   on   them.   mason   laughs   &   holds   up   one   index   finger   while   his   other   hand   digs   for   his   phone   ,   taking   it   out   to   look   at   the   time   estimation   to   see   if   luck   was   on   their   side.   sure   enough   ,   the   delivery   app   is   still   on   the   preparing   process   of   the  order   ,   the   estimated   time   of   delivery   still   marked   for   another   twenty   minutes.   perfect.   mason   puts   his   phone   on   vibrate   &   tosses   it   off   to   the   side   ,   moving   in   to   crawl   a   top   his   husband   &   kiss   him   deeply without   warning.   ❝   we   have   twenty   minutes   ,   so   plenty   of   time   for   this.   ❞   he   speaks   while   still   pressed   up   against   his   lips   ,   humming   as   he   savors   the   taste   of   sebastian's   mouth   ,   his   hands   moving   to   cup   his   cheeks.   ❝   god   ,   i   missed   you   ,   ❞   he   half   near   whines   ,   gently   coaxing   sebastian   to   lay   on   his   back.   ❝   you're   all   i   thought   about   these   last   two   days   .   .   .   ❞

[wineassassin]

"i was on vacation?" sebastian echoes incredulously, sarcasm dripping from his words. his voice rises a bit in volume, but it's not a shout or a disrespectful yell; instead, it's strained. it's laden with memory and the loss of time, all the wondering he did, the worries. @stcanines can be so casual with it all with little effort, and here's sebastian, fingernails digging so hard into his palms that he's sure he'll break the skin. "there was just... you didn't reach out, at all. no contact, no note, no attempt to tell me you were alive. all of a sudden you were gone, and nothing told me where you were." he wants to yank his hand away when damien touches his skin, but that agony-laced bit of instinct still burrowed inside his chest makes him remain still. damien then brings his clenched fist to his own face, and sebastian, frozen, watches. his chest is on fire. "i'm not going to punch you." repulsed by the notion, sebastian's nostrils flare. "that's — that doesn't bloody solve anything. i don't want to fucking hurt you, even if you hurt me." instead, the hand at damien's jaw opens, releasing the tension like letting go of a butterfly in hand. whatever strain he felt, the tug, vanishes like smoke when his palm is revealed. "thought you were dead," his voice sears. "lived with it. processed it. got over it. now you're here. how's my mind supposed to handle this, damien? how do you expect to just... appear? everything's changed."

YOU'RE CRUEL, sebastian says & he senses something like shattering glass within sebastian's voice, aching & fragmented along the edges of his thinly worn out patience. for a second, he thinks about where he left things off. fresh linens, a vase full of damask roses, poppy-seed cakes & the heat of skin, the summer breeze, wine-stained lips, an unforgettable face amidst of it all. the same face now before him, infected with the crushing agony of abandonment & betrayal. “ i was on vacation. a good one at that, went to madrid & vienna.” he starts as he leans out of the chair, & despite the calm demeanor, there's a faint bitterness like salt in his voice, eyes carefully focused on sebastian. “ what do you think? did you really think i'd go dark without notifying you first? ” there's a savage desire for rage, a maddening craving to burn & crash, to smash himself against something like a fine china shop & to ruin himself. but it was misplaced rage, he keeps his teeth concealed, the bite in his voice placated with a swallow. he was unfamiliar to it, the rage of a loss, for things that once were- but no longer, & exhaustion begins to wash over again, it was time to drop the act. “ my head's being hunted. couldn't risk yours being on the same list too. ” he glances at the whitened knuckles, takes a few steps in towards sebastian before placing his fingers over the knuckles, one by one, until his hand becomes fully enveloped over it. “ i saw death in the eyes & decided to take it to the ends of this earth. took two years to get it to lose sight of me. ” the hand brought to his cheek, he slides it down as he tilts his jaw, eyes closing briefly as he presses the knuckles to the line of his jaw firmly. “ for now, at least. go on, if you intend to punch, i'll take it. ”

[wineassassin]

he cannot read her expression. he cannot tell if @folkpoet is frustrated by the knowledge, or relieved to have final confirmation. she plays it far too cool for sebastian's comfort, aloof, casual with her arms crossed and a hum escaping her lips. instinctively, sebastian tries to mirror her pose. "a piranha is actually a good metaphor here. not as big as a shark, but still deadly. ready to rip your head off if you get too close. you know, pleasant things like that." his lips twitch side to side, thinned and pursed as he monitors her reaction to his language; he's very careful with his word choice right now. "you're... you're not causing them any problems. let's put it like that. you're not a national security threat. you're dealing with things beyond them — protecting the world, like you've explained to me multiple times beforehand. you don't exactly fall under the umbrella of people they'd go after, especially since you're actually ridding the world of ne'er-do-wells who hurt people. that's a good thing. so... no, no one's coming after you, darcie. you're just in their lineup of curiosities. keeping tabs in case of emergency." he shoots her a knowing look. "not too happy about the piranha metaphor, are you? your lips twitched. you'd rather be a shark, darcie? rather cause problems? that's unlike you."

you're funny. he's rewarded with a smirk in return. darcie's known for her cool head. she prefers a sharp tongue over a shouted word. only in extreme cases does she really fly off the handle. only once has she lost herself fully to anger - but she doesn't like to think about it. besides, this is no real comparison. so what, he kept a secret? isn't that the whole point of a secret agent. arms cross, head tilts slightly, a curious hum escaping her lips. she's somewhat insulted, but laughs it off. she supposes she gets it, but to be called a small fish isn't exactly good for her ego. ❝ right. so i'm a piranha in a sea of sharks. i suppose i can live with that. ❞ body leans against the doorframe. ❝ but they do have someone watching me, yeah? ❞ and there's something about it that makes her feel uneasy. that has the hair on her neck standing on edge. darcie fights for the greater good. she protects the world on a daily bloody basis! her feet have always been planted on the good side. that doesn't make her perfect. it doesn't mean she will win every single fight. she's heard stories of slayers who have been bitten or gone rouge. ivan said it could happen to anyone. we're all susceptible to the darkness. ❝ and if i step out of line, if i go too far, that same someone will do - what, exactly? ❞ @wineassassin

[wineassassin]

[wineassassin]

sebastian is a really good dancer (specifically ballroom-type dances) but he's horrible at singing. he's a good whistler! bad singer. this is why he recites shakespeare in the shower. if he sang in the shower his neighbors would complain

[wineassassin]

Frank Sinatra sings ‘You’re Sensational’ to Grace Kelly in High Society (1956)