zweigz

[zweigz]

        [    ...    ]        𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓   𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐒   𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎   precipitating   vapour   once   ice   meets   fire,     dissipating   into   the   thick   tension   still   lying   beneath   the   depths   of   their   touches.     there   will   always   be   a   stillnes   in   the   air     :     hesitation   and   uncertainty,     a   distrust   spurred   by   what-ifs   and   trusts   that   can   never   truly   be   mended.     not   when   he's   broken   the   pristine,     and   what   they're   left   now   is   scrambling   to   piece   together   remnants   of   who   they   are   and   who   they   should   be.     "     and   how   long   would   that   take,     y'think     ?     another   thirteen   years     ?     "     in   tennis   years,     they'd   all   be   old   and   grey     :     well   into   retirement,     pushing   wheelchairs   instead   of   dreams   that   could   never   truly   be.     but,     at   least   there,     they   would   all   be   together.     "     were   you   waiting   for   a   pretty   please,     donaldson     ?     wanted   me   to   roll   down   the   red   carpet   for   you     ?     "     it   wouldn't   kill   him   to   be   nice,    no     ...     but   it   would,     decimate   him.     tear   into   his   insides   and   reveal   the   rot   beneath     :     boyhood   companion   turned   scorned   rival,     a   doomed   narrative   of   a   tainted   love.     "     c'mon,     princess.     'snot   like   anyone   is   'gonna   find   us   lingering   around   the   hotel   this   time   of   night   anyone.     no   paps,     i   promise,     "     a   hand   reaches   out   for   the   other,     and   the   linger   remains   as   their   fingers   fill   in   the   gaps   of   one   another's.     just   how   it   should   be,     just   how   it's   always   been.     at   least   some   things   haven't   changed.     he   almost   smiles.     "     she   didn't   stop   you   from   smoking   too,     did   she     ?     "     surely   she   must've   let   you   have   this   one   thing.     surely.

He is sprawled on the bed, covers pulled half over, half under. The tiredness he spoke about lingers in his heavy limbs, coiling with a new-found energy brought on by steps towards reconciliation. Art's voice had an unfamiliar quality to it, there but not.

               ART           (hesitating)      You still have a long way to go if you're      doing all this to make up for it all.

Art rubs a hand over his eyes and turns over, further tangling himself in the sheets to get a better look at Patrick.  His eyebrows furrow, trying to get a better read on him.  How easily they were able to tear into each other earlier, digging fingers into insecurities they didn't even know existed.

He sighs and sits up, holding on to Patrick's arm as he does. He doesn't need to be steadied. He wants to be. He finds a shirt, his or Patrick's or Tashi's, and a pair of shorts on the floor and puts both on.

               ART      There are easier ways of saying that      you want me with you.

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        [    ...    ]        𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄   𝐎𝐅   chance   earned   him   a   jackpot   of   a   lifetime    :     having   him   meet   someone   less   well-adjusted   than   himself,     coasting   through   life   by   chasing   thrills   upon   thrills,     one   even   bigger   than   the   next.     through   natalie,     has   he   only   started   getting   perspective   on   his   own   life     ...     twenty-something   in   age   bit   seventeen-something   everywhere   else,     hand   that   usually   sits   on   her   upper   thigh,     possessing   and   fingers   teasing   to   brush   up   between   her   legs,     is   now   clutching   on   the   steering   wheel       —     he's   just   a   man,     it's   just   what   he   does     !     she's   fun   until   she's   not,     and   at   time   like   these,     everything   that's   wrong   about   her,    him,     and   whatever   this   is,     is   starting   to   become   a   little   too   real.     "     are   you       —     are   you   fucking   serious     ?     we're   in   the   middle   of   nowhere,     nat.     fucking   christ       —     you're   being   ridiculous,     "     but   the   lost,     prodigal   son,     does   what   he's   told,     for   once   in   his   life.     the   car   comes   to   a   screeching   halt   and   he   turns   to   her   with   a   furrowed   brow,     azurian   catching   sight   of   the   bag   clutched   tight.     a   vice   grip,     one   they   silently   promised   to   never   hold   oveer   one   other.     at   least   she   cares   about   something,     he'll   give   her   that     ...      "     all   this   because   what,     i   didn't   let   you   do   blow   on   my   dashboard   when   i'm   fucking   driving     ?     and   waste   whatever   shit   we   have   left   because   you   can't   keep   a   steady   hand     ?     "     you   destroy   everything   you   touch,     now   you   want   to   take   a   crack   at   whatever   is   left   of   her,     too     ?     "     ...     i   want   to   keep   a   clear   head   so   i   can   win   tomorrow   and   we   can   get   more,    okay     ?     "     so   we   can   go   back   to   being   happy   and   avoidant,     instead   of   angry   and   real.     "     why   is   that   so   fucking   hard   for   you   to   understand     ?     "

i can feel it. . . the come down that makes it all fucking suck. we haven't taken a hit since we started driving because patrick "needs to keep his wits when he's driving" as if he hasn't driven us coked out before. he's such a dick: convincing me to get in the car for a four hour drive to WHEREEVERSVILLE, USA for another tournament he's going to lose ( but gods forbid i remind him that maybe if he actually put hours in at the court he'd do better in the games he actually plays ) and not letting me take a hit off the dash.

as i roll my neck, each of the bones cracks in time before finally i land my glazed over eyes on him. patrick fucking zweig. why the fuck am i in this car if i'm not having a good time? isn't that what we're supposed to be? if i didn't want to feel good i'd call paul's sober ass. or finally reach out to lottie. or answer tai's phone calls. or -- or -- or --

" pull the car over. " the words are out of my lips before my brain can catch up. not for the first time the thought of would he really listen to my impulses? lingers in the back of my mind. " patrick -- pull the fucking car over. " i'm already reaching behind me, grabbing for the backpack that contains everything i took with me the night i slipped out of paul's bed. maybe i want this, maybe i don't, but the words are out so now the ball is in patrick's court.

literally.

[zweigz]

            ˚            ᵗʰᵉ   ʳᵘˡᵉˢ   ᵒᶠ   ᵗʰᵉ   ᵍᵃᵐᵉ   ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉˢ       :     "        𝚒   𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝   𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗   𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛   𝚠𝚑𝚢   𝚠𝚎   𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍   𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐,     "

            [      ...      ]                 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒     𝐀𝐍     𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓     to     relationships       (       or,       whatever     the     fuck     this     is       ),       and     all     the     toxicity     of     tying     himself     to     URL,       that     he     hasn't     quite     mastered.       he     knows     that     makes     @natal7e     tick,       and     how     to     fan     the     fuel     of     her     fire,       but     not     quite     how     to     extinguish     the     flames.       there's     a     gap     between     them     that     will     always     go     unmentioned,       of     a     past     hiding     behind     her     that     he     can     never     quite     poke     and     prod     at.       far     too     heavy,       holding     a     mysticism     that     he's     not     even     close     to     being     mature     enough     to     handle.       they'll     always     be     just     that       :       almost     what     the     other     needs,       but     never     quite     enough.       "       i     don't     know,       nat       ...       you     tell     me.      it's     fucking     tiring     being     the     villain     of     your     life     all     the     time.       give     me     a     break,       yeah       ?       "       worst     part     of     all     of     this       :       it     was     probably     his     fault,       too.       but     when     both     of     them     have     wilingly     tied     blindfolds     around     each     other's     eyes,       and     agreed     that     they     will     only     talk     about     the     stuff     that     don't     matter       ...       reality's     sharp     hit     stings     eternal.       "       ...       you     think     i     like     fighting     with     you       ?       i'm     fucking     tired     too,       "

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            ˚            ᵗʰᵉ   ʳᵘˡᵉˢ   ᵒᶠ   ᵗʰᵉ   ᵍᵃᵐᵉ   ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉˢ       :      "       𝚒   𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝   𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎   𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎   𝚏𝚘𝚛   𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜   𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝   𝚗𝚘𝚠,     "

        [    ...    ]           𝐀   𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑   𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑   case     :     she   runs   and   avoids,     while   he     ...     in   spite   of   all   his   ego,     chases   after   her   when   their   shared   flame   burns   into   a   forest   fire.     unrelentless   in   his   pursuit,     devoid   of   the   cool   confidence   he   often   exudes,     yet   now   borderlines   on   desperation.     '     pulling   an   art     '     the   nasty   part   of   him   adds.        if   it   weren't   for   the   incident,     the   fight   would've   ended   as   it   always   has     :     with   them   somehow   finding   their   way   back   to   each   other       —     not   him   having   to   beg   for   @tennismatch   to   even   look   at   him.     last-ditch   attempt   to   make   nice   after   he   missed   her   game   and   her   whole   life   ended   in   one   faithful   misstep.     "     c'mon,     tashi,     just     ..     you're   fucking   overworking   yourself   and   you   know   it.     you   need   to   recover.     you   need   to   slow   down,     "     at   least   something   hasn't   changed     :     he's   still   nothing   more   to   her   than   just   a   distraction.     "     can   we   just     ...     talk     ?     fuck,     anything,     okay     ?     slap   me   in   the   fucking   face   if   you   want.     i   just        ...     "     his   breath,     and   a   rare   show   of   honesty,     catches   in   his   throat.     "     i   miss   you,     "

[zweigz]

            ˚            ᵗʰᵉ   ʳᵘˡᵉˢ   ᵒᶠ   ᵗʰᵉ   ᵍᵃᵐᵉ   ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉˢ       :      "       𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎   𝚖𝚎   𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕   𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕   𝚋𝚎   𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎   𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗   𝚒   𝚠𝚊𝚔𝚎   𝚞𝚙,       "

        [    ...    ]        𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃   𝐎𝐅   someone   who   is   more   than   a   friend   but   less   than   a   lover,     but   something   far,     far   greater     :     never   falls   upon   deaf   ears.     tashi   is   his   twin   flame,     but   art   is   the   water   who   flows   and   subdues     ...     reminds   icarus   that   the   sun   will   burn   even   those   who   show   utmost   potential.     we've   all   seen   what   happened   to   her,     afterall.     "     ...     i   was   just   goin'   for   a   smoke.     don't   be   dramatic,     "     the   pack   sitting   in   his   palm   now   falls   heavy,     anchoring   him   to   stay   on   his   dip   in   the   bed.     patrick   rises   as   the   sun   does,     and   @tennismatch   remains   shrouded   in   its   shadows       —     maybe   even   all   these   years,     things   aren't   too   different,     after   all.     they're   still   just   seventeen.     "     y'miss   me   already,     donaldson     ?     still   haven't   gotten   your   fill   of   me   makin'   up   for   lost   time     ?     "     the   weight   that   hangs   between   each   syllable   begs   for   the   other   to   stay   just   like   this.     begging,     pleading   despite   the   uncertainty     ..     proverbial   hand   reaching   out   to   remind   him   not   to   fly   too   fast   and   leave   him   behind.     "     y'want   to   take   your   princess   nap   or   come   with   me     ?     "

[zweigz]

            ˚            ᵗʰᵉ   ʳᵘˡᵉˢ��  ᵒᶠ   ᵗʰᵉ   ᵍᵃᵐᵉ   ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉˢ       : "       𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎,   𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙   𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐   𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎   𝚢𝚘𝚞   𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎   𝚖𝚎,     "

        [    ...    ]        𝐓𝐎𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆   𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄   is   familiar.     even   if   he   resents   the   monotone,     he   likes   familiarity   and   the   comfort   it   brings.     familiarity   doesn't   force   him   to   evolve,     or   face   the   realities   of   his   present     ...     the   dreams   of   who   he   could   have   been   and   the   true   horrors   of   who   he   is.     he's   done   it   time   and   time   again     :     meeting   admiration   of   someone   with   a   career   that   actually   took   off   with   an   excess   of   his   own   brand   of   laissez-faire   level   of   douchebaggery.       no   one's   every   expected   him   to   be   anything   more   than   that,     anyway       —       he   has   the   talent   and   the   drive,     but   none   of   the   patience   to   wait   for   the   glory.     "     trust   me,     dude,     i'm   not   acting,     "     the   smile   he   offers   @roseguided   is    shit-eating,     borderlining   on   a   challenge     ...     the   high   of   a   win   he's   eternally   chasing.     try   me,     and   let's   see   who's   still   standing   in   the   end.     "     and,     to   be   fair     ?     y'kinda   make   it   real   fuckin'   easy,     zo-zo.     you   really   put   the   trash   in   eurotrash,    know   what   i   mean     ?     "

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me when i'm insane ...

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JOSH O'CONNOR as PATRICK in CHALLENGERS (2023) dir. Luca Guadagnino

[zweigz]

&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

(  various  dialogue  prompts  to  send  to  your  worst  enemy  (affectionate).  feel  free  to  change  how  you  seem  fit.  )

❛ oh great, it's you again. ❜

❛ you? kill me? that's funny. ❜

❛ for being someone you hate, i'm sure on your mind a lot. ❜

❛ you're the last person i wanted to see, actually. ❜

❛ do us both a favor. stay away from me. ❜

❛ you really are an asshole, you know that? ❜

❛ i'm the asshole? what does that make you then? ❜

❛ sometimes i think you must hate me. ❜

❛ i thought you said you never wanted to see me again. ❜

❛ if you want me to go, then you have to tell me to leave. ❜

❛ well, someone's cranky today. ❜

❛ well, someone needs to shut the fuck up. ❜

❛ just stay out of my way. ❜

❛ of all the idiots in the world, i'm stuck with you. ❜

❛ what is it you want this time? ❜

❛ sometimes i wonder if you're in love with me. ❜

❛ do you honestly think this is easy for me? ❜

❛ why would i ever want to be friends with you? ❜

❛ can we please just talk? ❜

❛ there is nothing for us to talk about. ❜

❛ you can yell at me later. just let me help you. ❜

❛ touch me, and you're dead. ❜

❛ oh, so now you care? ❜

❛ there is something deeply wrong with you. ❜

❛ i know i'm the last person you probably want to see, but... ❜

❛ you don't think we could be friends, do you? ❜

❛ i'm tired of fighting against you. ❜

❛ don't pretend you give a shit about me. ❜

❛ you're an idiot, but... i trust you. ❜

❛ oh, don't be cute. ❜

❛ wait, did you just say that i'm cute? ❜

❛ we're not good for each other. ❜

❛ if i say yes, will you shut up? ❜

❛ don't you have to be stupid somewhere else? ❜

❛ maybe we should kiss just to break the tension. ❜

❛ i'm sorry i can't turn off my feelings as easily as you. ❜

❛ maybe there's a universe out there where we're friends. ❜

❛ how can you be so smart yet so dumb at the same time? ❜

❛ don't think this changes anything between us. ❜

❛ you look ridiculous in that outfit, by the way. ❜

❛ if you die, i'll kill you. ❜

❛ is that a challenge? ❜

❛ ah, so you're not heartless after all. ❜

❛ i don't think i've ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ you never cared about me, so why now? ❜

❛ why didn't you kill me when you had the chance? ❜

❛ i don't even remember why we started fighting. ❜

❛ i don't have time for distractions right now. ❜

❛ you're not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜

[zweigz]

&. 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬.

( this is basically just a very self indulgent list of various fluff, angst, and suggestive themed dialogue sentence starters. )

❛ i could keep you safe. they’re all afraid of me. ❜

❛ i’m trying to fix your hair, so hold still. ❜

❛ your heart is beating so fast right now. ❜

❛ promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up. ❜

❛ you’re not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

❛ clean yourself up. you're getting blood all over the place. ❜

❛ here, give this a try and tell me what you think. ❜

❛ you can kiss me, you know. ❜

❛ come back to bed. ❜

❛ you look good like this. ❜

❛ working together again, it’s just like old times. ❜

❛ how is it you always know what i need, huh? ❜

❛ you’re lucky you got away with only a scratch. ❜ 

❛ i can’t imagine losing someone like that. i’m sorry. ❜

❛ you know you can always talk to me. ❜

❛ the only one who gets to kill you, is me. ❜

❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜

❛ ah, so you aren’t heartless after all. ❜

❛ may i have this dance? ❜ 

❛ it’s okay, you can touch me. i won't break. ❜

❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜

❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜

❛ we can't keep doing this. ❜ 

❛ you look like you've got something to say. ❜

❛ just relax and let me take care of you. ❜

❛ thought you’d be lighter without all that blood. ❜

❛ i had it under control. you didn’t need to do that. ❜

❛ everything looks so beautiful from up here. ❜

❛ you treat all your ladies like this? ❜

❛ well? how do i look? ❜

❛ can’t sleep? ❜

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

❛ i’m scared of ending up alone. ❜

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜

❛ you are losing my interest, and that’s very dangerous. ❜

❛ i’d suffer hell if you’d tell me what you’d do to me tonight. ❜

❛ you look really pretty right now. ❜

❛ i’ve never cared for anyone the way i care for you. ❜

❛ i’m not wearing any underwear. thought you’d like to know. ❜

❛ just a few more stitches and you’ll be as good as new. ❜

❛ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ❜

❛ i want you to forget this ever happened. ❜

❛ i'm here for business — not pleasure. ❜

❛ if i didn't know any better, i'd say you were jealous. ❜

❛ you'd look better down on your knees. ❜

❛ fine, keep acting like you hate me. ❜

❛ kiss me again. ❜

❛ are you asking me out on a date? ❜

❛ just sit there and look pretty and let me handle this. ❜

❛ you okay? caught you staring off into space again. ❜

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

❛ i'm not drunk enough for this. ❜ 

❛ why is it whenever we see each other, you’re covered in blood? ❜

❛ i was wrong about you. ❜ 

❛ the first time i met you, i had no idea you'd mean this much. ❜

❛ you gonna be a good girl / boy for me? ❜

❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜

❛ books mean more to me than people anyway. ❜

❛ i just wanted to say thank you for protecting me. ❜

❛ how about a kiss goodnight? ❜

❛ i don’t have time for distractions right now. ❜

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜ 

❛ if i have to think about one more thing today, my head will explode. ❜

[zweigz]

𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 (a collection of prompts for muses who just love to flirt. Feel free to adjust phrasing and gendered terms as necessary) 

"Let me distract you."

"Let's misbehave."

"I can't stop thinking about you."

"Can I borrow a kiss? I promise I'll give it back."

"I'm putting you on my to-do list."

"I'd look good on you."

"Don't bite your lip, I want to do that."

"Do you have a name or can I just call you mine?"

"I seem to have lost my number, can I have yours?"

"You're even more beautiful than yesterday."

"Shouldn't you be in my bed?"

"Trouble never looked so goddamn fine."

"You're a bad idea, but I like bad ideas."

"Maybe we should just kiss to break the tension."

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."

"You're a shy little thing, aren't you?"

"Let's flip coins. Head, I'm yours. Tails, you're mine."

"Smile is the second best thing you can do with your lips."

"Your lips would look so much better on mine."

"You know we should save some water, shower together."

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel."

"I'll do anything for a woman with a knife."

"The fastest way to shut me up is to kiss me."

"I just want you to be happy! And perhaps a little bit naked."

"I like my bed, but I'd rather be in yours."

"Are you cake? 'Cause I want a piece of that."

"Your shirt has to go, but you can stay."

"You owe me a drink because when I saw you I dropped mine."

"You must be tired, because you've been running through my mind all day."

"Maybe making out for a few minutes would help us figure things out."

"Stop saying things that make me want to kiss the hell out of you."

[zweigz]

INDEPENDENT     +     HIGHLY   SELECTIVE   REINTERPRETATION   OF   CHALLENGERS'   𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊   𝐙𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐆   AKA   EVERYONE'S   FAVOURITE   FAILED   PRODIGY.     REMIXED     +     REMASTERED   TO   MULTIPLE   VERSES.     LOW   ACT,     FRIENDS-ONLY     +     HERE   TO   VIBE.

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