#falling in love again

[daphlandia]

Severance (2022- ) // About Time (2013)

-I hope I see you again.

+You will. My whole life depends on it.

[ozimagines]

@9cbffs literally never considered these two until I read the tags on your reblog. Now I kinda want to try my hand at writing it. Let me know if I did ok for my first time.

Ryan O’Reily x Alonzo Torquemada

Falling In Love Again

The new fag was an absolute mystery to Ryan. Couldn’t get a read on the guy’s sexuality or gender, much less his intentions in Oz. He pretty much let everything roll off his back, and yet still somehow got revenge in the most intense ways possible. From calmly verbally emasculating Winthrop at lunch, to getting Zanghi’s girlfriend to leave him, to a now well known Oz rumor that he’d been responsible for Kenaniah losing half his pinky finger in the soup at lunch, Torquemada always got his way, and no one seemed to be able to read his next move enough to stop him. Even now, as he was sitting and watching Sallycize intently, with a haunting smile on his face in a gaudy and feminine suit, no one could tell whether or not he was attracted to the blonde or to her many backup men. Possibly both, if Beecher’s guess held any weight.

It really irked Ryan, who normally could read anyone’s true intentions, that the man threw up static in all directions. Ryan couldn’t figure out what the next move was, so he certainly couldn’t figure out how to capitalize on it. He heard humming behind him.

“Hmmm hmm hmmmm… never wanted to… hmmm hmmm hmmmmm… can’t help it.”

“Now,” Bob’s ears perked up and he turned over his shoulder to Torquemada, the owner of the hums. “That’s a song I haven’t heard in a long time.”

“Happy to recall the memory for you, abuelito.” Torquemada responded, a coy smile playing around his lips.

“What song?” Asked Poet, unable to keep to his own business in any capacity.

“Falling in Love Again. Marlene Dietrich sung it in-“

“The Blue Angel.” Alonzo finished, gazing at Bob appreciatively. Some of the other fucks in Oz were real philistines.

“Now how does someone as young as yourself happen on that movie?” Bob asked, ignoring those who told him to shut up as the balloon breasted former children’s star started crab walking.

“A pretty young thing of indeterminant yet powerful sexuality breaks the hearts of many and reduces men to clowns as she cycles through a great many scintillating and provocative outfit?” Alonzo replied, grinning impishly. “Darling, how could I not?”

Bob half rolled his eyes but was still smiling good naturedly. Ryan was bored and half interested in the discussion.

“Who’s Marlene Dietrich? Is she hot?” He asked over his shoulder. Now Bob really did roll his eyes. Ryan felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up so he looked over his shoulder to reveal Alonzo, staring him down, eyes as impassive and mysterious as ever.

“Devastatingly.” He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “She’s a nightclub singer. Turns all the little boys’ heads. Lola Lola. A local professor goes to give her a piece of his mind for corrupting the youth.”

Alonzo leaned impossibly further in, smiling now like a jungle cat leering over its prey.

“He sees her up on her stage and falls madly in love with her.” He shrugged a second after. “Or, at least, the idea of her.”

“The fuck does that mean?”

Bob took the reins.

“She never disguises the kind of person she is. She’s always honest. But he gets in his head that she’s someone she’s not, he just has to save her.” He nodded at Alonzo. “He’s reduced to a clown.”

“And that’s the song she sings in the movie?” Ryan asked, not sure what the last part meant.

“Three times.” Bob clarified.

Alonzo licked his teeth and let his head roll back.

“Falling in love again / Never wanted to / What am I to do? / Can’t help it / Love’s always been my game /Play it how I may / I was made that way / Can’t help it / Men cluster to me / Like moths around a flame / And when their wings burn / I know I’m not to blame / Falling in love again / Never wanted to / What am I do do? / Can’t help it.” He sang low and teasing, but his voice having an anything but playful bite.

Fuck, Ryan’s dick twitched in his pants. He shifted in his seat and looked away, Alonzo not breaking eye contact even once Ryan averted his gaze.

“Guys’ll do anything for pussy, I guess.”

“Oh, I disagree.” Alonzo contradicted, and at Ryan’s raised brow, he clarified. “Not with the literal interpretation of your words, but the essence of them. It’s not pussy that drives men crazy. It’s the game.”

“The pussy game?” He asked incredulously. Alonzo broke a small smile.

“The love game.” Most of the other men have gone back to watching the television with their headphones on. Bob bowed out of the conversation as soon as it had gotten weird. All that seemed to exist was Alonzo and Ryan. “The wondering if you can get this person, completely unattached to you in anyway, to live for your existence. The external validation of yourself; just one person to believe that you’re worth it.”

Ryan swallowed thickly. He tried to move his eyes away but he found he couldn’t. He remembered learning about that in school; about how cobras trapped birds in their gaze, the more feeble animal not being able to look away to save itself. It was as if Alonzo could read his mind.

“You can look away, cupcake.” He popped the K sound mockingly. Ryan bared his teeth.

“Watch your mouth, gay-lord.”

Alonzo oooooohed softly and touched his breast.

“Ouch, sparky, that one hurt.” He grinned and looked Ryan up and down. “Why don’t you come over here and kiss it better?”

Ryan hopped to his feet and sulked away. Any other queer and he’d have thrown a shot. He still didn’t know how dangerous this Torquemada jag really was. He stalked down the Em City halls, looking for something to let his aggression out on. He slammed the door to his and Cyril’s pod, startling the man in the process. He held up his hands.

“Sorry, Cyril, just having a shit day.”

“Sounds like it.” Cyril had his sock on his hand, flapping the ‘mouth’ as if he was talking to it. Ryan smirked. Cyril was so innocent, yet so perceptive. Bingo. Ryan thought of something.

“Hey, Cyril, maybe you’d like a little job.”

“Sure, Ryan.” He turned to his big brother, eyes a wonder. Ryan sat down in front of him.

“You know the new fag leader? Torquemada?”

“The blond guy with the white eye?” Cyril asked, and Ryan nodded, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I need you to find out some stuff on him. Pretend like you’re playing detective.” He looked at the common area. “Follow him for a day or so and let me know what you find. I need to know an angle on this prick.”

“What do you want me to find?” Cyril asked excitedly, already slipping into the role of Detective Cyril. Ryan smiled and made his brother lean in.

“Any vulnerability the fucker has.”

Cyril thought.

“Can you give me a present if I do?”

“Sure, man, what do you want?”

“Button Bear.” Cyril answered, resolutely. Ryan raised a brow and Cyril elaborated. “It’s a puppet. It’s a little brown bear in suspenders with-“

“Buttons, yeah, Cyril, I got it. You find anything I can take this fuck down with, and Button Bear is all yours, pal.”

Cyril’s eyes lit up and he rushed out of the pod, down the stairs to do some detective work.

Ryan didn’t see Cyril for the rest of the day. It freaked him out half way in, and when it got to be count, he was all but shitting himself. Cyril, however, sauntered up with a big smile on his face, and a small, knowing nod in Ryan’s direction. Ryan heaved a sigh of relief.

They entered the pod together, and Ryan ran to embrace his brother.

“God, Cyril, I’m so glad you’re ok.”

“Why?” Cyril asked innocently.

“I thought… nevermind. Did you find anything?”

“I think so.”

Ryan sat him down on the bottom bunk and leaned in.

“What happened?”

Cyril looked at Ryan but said nothing. Ryan rolled his eyes.

“What happened, detective?”

Cyril smiled and went on.

“Well, he was talking to Fiona for a real long time. Blah blah Destiny blah blah dagos. Then, he talked to Tony about eyeshadow. Something about a smoky eye but it just looks like when you punch someone real hard.” Cyril droned but Ryan made a face that said ‘continue, and quick’. Cyril got serious and lowered his voice. “Then, he took a phone call. I was behind him, pretending to talk to Aunt Brenda.”

He raised his hand like a phone and pretended to be talking to show off his skill. Ryan sighed.

“Go on, Cyril.”

“Well, he called some guy named Luis.” His face fell. “It didn’t sound too good.”

“What happened, Cyril? Was it a drug set up? A hit? A new prisoner?”

Cyril paused. Ryan furrowed his brow and made a gesture for his brother to continue.

“No.” Cyril reminisced thoughtfully. “I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget.”

He gave Ryan the notepad, and turned over to go to bed. Ryan got off the bottom bunk and moved to his bed, reading the notes Cyril made in his scrawling writing.

Hola, Luis, baby, how have you… no, I know you said not to call… I know… Jesus, Luis, you act like we never had any good times… I know… Luis please don’t… hello? Hello?

Ryan stared off into nothing that night, mind racing at how he could use this to his advantage.

The next day, Alonzo was surrounded by his army of shes, gays, and theys. He was wearing a mesh top with a little flower crown and velvet pants. He saw Ryan coming his way. Something about straighter than straight boys gave off a certain scent to him. Must have, because why out of all the gays in Oz did Alonzo have to poke the straight guys who wouldn’t suck a cock if it would save their life. He grinned at Ryan, blowing a kiss at him as he walked by. Ryan, uncharacteristically, went to let it go. It was what Torquemada did next that was the straw to break the camel’s back. Ryan was nearly past him, when he heard that same familiar humming.

“Falling in love again… never wanted to… what am I to do… can’t help it…” Alonzo pursed his lips at O’Reily, who walked past, stopped on a dime, and turned back.

“Fuck off, Luis.”

The smile disappeared from Alonzo’s face, replaced with subtle shock and then even subtler anger.

“What?” He asked, coldly, venomously. Ryan smirked, turning back to meet Alonzo nose to nose.

“Shit, sorry, Alonzo. Guess I forgot your name there for a sec.”

The threat wasn’t at all wasted on him. It was too pointed to be an accident. Torquemada’s chest swelled angrily, and for once Ryan actually could read what the man was feeling. Rage. Yeah, this was better. More familiar.

Alonzo and Ryan were nose to nose for a solid minute, but Ryan knew the other man would back down first. Alonzo wasn’t like the other men in Oz. He was much more like Ryan, at least when Ryan wasn’t scrapping and used his manipulation to take others down. To Ryan’s surprise, Alonzo smirked, and turned away, gesturing for his men to follow.

Ryan was grinning ear to ear with that stupid fucking shit eating smile. He’d finally got one on the man. He walked around with a shit don’t stink air the rest of the day. He stalked down every hall like his balls were made of brass and they rang when he walked.

He was walking down the hallway, back from the library, when it happened. He smelled Alonzo before he saw him. He always wore this sickly sweet perfume that smelled of light florals and whipped cream. He turned his head to Alonzo, but for the first time since his arrival, not with annoyance or guarded caution, but rather with superiority.

“Hey, Big Al, my man.” He teased, making a side motion with his hands to beckon Alonzo into the closet. Alonzo raised a brow and followed. The Irishman leaned against the wall. “Well?”

Torquemada kept his cool, impassive face.

“Well, you’re the one who asked me in here. Why don’t you tell me what’s ‘well’?”

“Luis.” Ryan said as though he had the whole answer. Something twitched in Alonzo’s face but he didn’t react beyond that. “Wanna tell me who that heartbreaker is?”

“Great question. No.” Alonzo said all in one breath, having too much grace to lean against the wall as Ryan was doing. Ryan expected such a response.

“Want me to start asking the fellas around here who this Luis guy is? Maybe have someone track him down so he can tell me himself?”

Torquemada hitched his breath in, and even though he didn’t react in any other way, Ryan knew he had him by the balls.

“That’s what I thought, Al.” He started to pace. “I think you know that to keep this secret, you have to keep me happy. And to be happy, I need green. You get that through your Destiny shtick. Cut me in and this stays between us.”

Ryan stopped his little villain monologue, and let his words sink in with a quiet and respectful, even if resentfully so, Torquemada. Torquemada waited a second, then chuckled a little in a way that chilled Ryan’s bones.

“Think you’ve got me beat, huh?” He started to pace. “I know how things usually work for you, Ryan. You get a little piece of information and like sand in a swimsuit, you wheedle enough to become more than a mere annoyance. I like that about you. You’re a scrapper. A do what it takes kinda guy.”

Ryan shrugged as if to say ‘fair analysis’, but kept smiling, if only as a facade to how creeped out he was by Alonzo’s calm demeanor. Alonzo’s smile disappeared.

“Let me tell you what kind of a man I am.” He snarled these words. “I’m a consume your life like a flame type guy.”

“Sorry,” Ryan said impishly; “did you say flamer type guy?”

Alonzo chuckled again.

“I know what you all think of me. That because I’m a fruit, I’m easy, right? That I don’t protect what’s mine; that I let others walk all over me.”

“Are you a full fruit? Because there’s a pool going for what piques your interest.” Ryan kept trying to gain control of the conversation but was losing, badly.

“Honey, there isn’t yet a word for what I am.” He let his lips twitch into a sadistic smile. “Ryan, I’m not what you’re used to dealing with. I’m so much more. Now, I don’t mind if we keep posturing to each other, believe me, I find the whole will they kill each other won’t they kill each other thing to be extraordinarily sexy,”

He stopped smiling again, voice going deep and angry. Quiet angry.

“But you will dignify me with the respect I’ve earned,” he added; “in love and war.”

“Love?” Ryan asked the air, hackles raised again. “There’s not a snowball’s chance in Hell we’d ever be in anything more than war.”

“Right,” Torquemada’s demeanor was somewhat playful again, but like how a cat playing with a mouse might be. “I forgot, you’re straighter than straight. A real he-man hetero.”

“You got that right, faggot.” Ryan spat, and Alonzo chuckled, wiping around his eye.

“I suppose you’ve never ever wandered into the caring embrace of another man. That you’ve never fantasized about meeting your match.” He backed Ryan up into the wall, Ryan trying not to be touched. “Finding a man who can keep up with you in every way. I understand you’ve had your little schoolboy crush on Gloria for the past several years now. I also know you never stop until you get what you want. And yet she’s not yours. Makes me think that on some level, you know she’s not for you. She’s sweet and loyal and, if you’re honest with yourself, a little boring.”

Ryan bristled and Alonzo chuckled.

“No, you need someone more your speed. Someone manipulative and cunning. Someone brutal and fierce. I think what you hate the most is that you’re more suited to any of the men in Oz more than your precious Gloria.” He had Ryan against the wall, his voice savage and grating now. It was horrible, being read to filth this way. The worst part about all of it is that it was true. If Ryan wanted Gloria she’d be his, but lately he pulled back on the endeavor. He did need someone as vicious and forceful as he. Someone who was as much a storm as he was. Someone powerful. Fuck, Ryan knew exactly what Alonzo was getting at. He wished he hadn’t poked. “What’s worse; you’re too much of a chicken shit to realize it. Do a little soul searching, you deluded, cowardly, polished little turd, you, and come back to me when you’re ready to stop running from the truth.”

Ryan was red faced but he couldn’t think of something fast enough. All his brain was thinking over and over again were two things; 1) Alonzo was ten times more a danger than he’d ever anticipated, and 2) he was absolutely, drop dead, cataclysmically sexy when he was angry. Oh, it pained Ryan to the very bone -literally- that Alonzo was as beautiful as he was threatening. Ryan’s heart was beating out of his chest, to the point of ringing in his ears. His cheeks burned and his chest was hitching breath after breath. Alonzo looked down his nose at the pathetic mess he’d reduced Ryan to, and went to leave.

“Wait.” Ryan outstretched an arm and caught the edge of Alonzo’s shirt. Even Ryan didn’t know what he meant to say. He just didn’t want the interaction to be over; not yet. He was, it seemed, a glutton for his own punishment. Alonzo stared him down, and Ryan got a good look at his sexy his eyes were, even if one of them was cloudy. He balked, but when Alonzo turned to leave again, Ryan felt himself say; “kiss me.”

Alonzo froze, but it wasn’t long before a sly smile appeared on his face. Ryan was embarrassed to holy hell that he’d made a pass, but nearly felt his heart leap out when he heard Alonzo say;

“You giving me an order?”

“Yes.” Ryan breathed. Alonzo took his time, getting his arms around Ryan’s neck and pressing his stomach into him, letting his lips dance around Ryan’s chin and cheeks.

“Beware of blonde men,” he grinned, pecking Ryan’s cheek. “They’re special, every one. At first you may be unaware but something’s definitely there. A little hanky panky can be fun. But from their clutches you’d better run….”

Ryan could barely take it, whimpering a little every time Alonzo did a near miss on his lips.

“Alonzo…” Ryan whispered, cock going full tilt just saying his new paramour’s name. Alonzo growled and bit Ryan’s lip.

“Yeah, that’s it, baby, say my name.” Alonzo plunged his lips to Ryan’s, who all but melted in his former enemy’s touch. He moaned as Alonzo dragged a soft hand across his neck, licking Ryan’s teeth and relishing the taste. Ryan was choking on Alonzo’s tongue, the thumping of their heartbeats colliding into one. Ryan started fiddling with his pants, going for his zipper, when Alonzo’s hand stopped him. Alonzo sucked his teeth and tutted.

“No, not yet.” He nipped at Ryan’s nose. “Not a cheap fuck in a closet running on hormones. It’ll happen, Ryan, and soon. But I want to savor it when it happens.”

He pecked a kiss on Ryan’s lips, and turned away, sashaying out the door. Ryan could barely breathe. He heaved in and out. In and out. Until he reacted in a way that even surprised himself.

He started laughing.

Oh, as much as the great straight part of him was crying out at the inconsistency, he hadn’t felt this alive in ages. Oz had the habit of squeezing the life out of people, but right now Ryan had life coursing through his veins. Alonzo was right; he needed someone more his speed.

Ryan went walking into Em City with the biggest, goofiest smile on his face. His eyes were alight and his face was beaming. He strode past all the dinks living their buttfucking normal lives and felt restored.

That was until he saw his brother.

His brother was playing with something. A new toy. A bear puppet with overalls and little buttons.

Ryan could have puked.

He rushed over to his brother.

“What the fuck is that?!” He asked, already knowing the answer. Cyril looked up and presented his toy.

“Button Bear!” He made the bear dance in the air.

“I didn’t get that for you. Who got that for you?” Ryan swallowed thickly, also having an idea of what this was. Cyril looked a little sheepish.

“He said if I gave you the note, I could have Button Bear and Lacy Lamb.” Cyril gestured to the lacy puppet of a sheep next to the bear. Ryan felt his knees go weak, holding himself up on the chair.

“Oh, fuck.” He felt his soul leave his body, crazily searching for the blonde leader amongst the crowd. When he spotted Alonzo, he made a beeline. Alonzo was standing on the second floor landing, taking with Fiona and Tony. Ryan blew past them both.

“What…?! How…?! I don’t…!” he couldn’t find the right thing to say, mostly because there wasn’t one. Alonzo smiled and motioned for Fiona and Tony to leave him. He raised a brow and shrugged.

“You’ll have to be more specific, pumpkin.”

Ryan was nauseous with anger.

“You had my brother give me that message. You promised him his toy if he gave me information you wanted me to have.” He looked away, hating that he didn’t see this coming. “There’s no Luis, is there?”

“There have been so many of every name, it’s hard to keep track. I’m sure I dated a Luis at one point or another.” He made some gesture with his hands brushing the subject off entirely. “But no, for our purposes here, there’s no Luis.”

“You played me.” Ryan felt the words leave his mouth as if he was watching from someone else’a body. It just sort of happened. Alonzo smirked.

“I knew you wouldn’t make a move until you thought you had the upper hand. I had to see what you were made of just like you sent Cyril to find out of me.” He held his hands up. “Don’t worry. I didn’t hurt Cyril. I promised him you’d be safe, and I’d double what you were giving him to spy on me. He’s a lousy detective but a fine double agent.”

Ryan was fuming. He could have sworn there was actual smoke coming out of his reddening ears. Alonzo leaned forward, voice serious and deadly.

“I told you; I demand the respect I’ve earned. I’m not punching up. You are. If you’re ready to play with the big boys, I’m here, willing, and able. Until then, take your rightful seat at the kiddie table.” He stared Ryan down, now smiling again but not at all in a joking manner. Ryan turned first, knowing the upper hand was still Alonzo’s. He stalked away, hearing over his shoulder;

“Love’s always been my game… play it how I may… I was made that way… can’t help it. Men cluster to me… like moths around a flame… and when their wings burn…” that part was pointed. “I know I’m not to blame. Falling in love again… never wanted to… what am I to do… can’t help it.”

Ryan reached his pod, ears still red, heart still beating out of his chest.

But fuck he still felt so alive.

Ryan sat down in his bed, thinking over the day, he found himself, against all of his instincts, smiling again. He knew he’d met his match. Even at the idea of revenge, his whole body was on fire with life.

Falling in love again. Can’t help it.

[sweethotspot]

Okay, hear me out.

Talia decided to be in Damian's life, so it starts off with her and Bruce going to Parent Teacher conferences together, Damian's fencing tournaments and school events.

Bruce then invites her to be his plus one at a gala, and she agrees. Soon, they start falling in love with each other again despite them denying it, although it's clear as day.

They soon realize it themselves and talk about it.

[lromanus]

Nina Simone _ Falling In Love Again

[atths--twice]

Passing the Time

While waiting for labs at the hospital, Scully helps Mulder pass the time.

Fictober day 6. Prompt: That's All? Easy.

For my dear friend Ingrid. 💓

February 7, 2018 George Washington Memorial Hospital 

“How much longer did they say?” Mulder asked Scully as she closed the door and rejoined him in the hospital’s waiting area. 

“Twenty minutes at least,” she replied and he sighed heavily.

“We’ve already been waiting for two hours.” 

“Lab work takes time. You know that.” 

“I do,” he said with a nod. “I also know that we’ve been out of the game for a while. Maybe there were advancements while we were away.” 

“Excuse me?” she asked, picking up a random magazine as she sat down. “We haven’t been away from anything. You have. I worked in a hospital until very recently, remember? I am aware how long labs can take.” 

“You know what I meant,” he said, rolling his eyes and she hummed. Glancing at the pages before her, but not finding much interest in them. “I guess I just forgot about the waiting part.” 

“No, you’ve never been good at waiting,” she said, turning the pages with a sigh. 

“In regard to some things,” he said and she turned her head to look at him. He shrugged and gave her a small smile. 

“Hmm,” she hummed again, her attention back on the magazine. His leg bumped hers as he began to bounce it and she pressed into him, silently telling him to stop. “Don’t you have something you can do on your phone? A game to play or something you can read?” 

“Not really.” 

“You had that one game you were playing. Just do that and the time will go by faster,” she said, feeling as though she was speaking to a large child. 

“But it’s boringgggg,” he said, dragging the word out dramatically while he bumped his leg into hers. 

“Mulder,” she said, huffing out a laugh. “Twenty minutes is hardly any time at all. You’ll be fine.” 

“At least twenty minutes. That’s what you said they said, right? So it could be more.” 

“You wanna find a supply closet and make out?” she asked, turning her head and looking at him as he immediately stilled. 

“You… you’re… seriously?” 

“Of course not,” she said, looking back at the magazine and shaking her head. “We’re working.” 

“If that’s the only hold up, I’ll take a rain check.” 

“Sure,” she said, turning another page and not giving it much thought. 

“I’m gonna hold you to it,” he said, his voice lower and she fought back a smile, enjoying teasing him. 

“With or without clothing?” she asked, her voice also low. 

“Definitely without,” he answered quickly and this time she was unable to hold back her smile. “Or whatever you prefer.” 

She turned her head and held his eyes, seeing the desire within them. Leaning closer, she grazed his cheek with her own as she brought her lips close to his ear. 

“I prefer without as well,” she whispered, brushing a kiss to his cheek as she pulled away. 

He groaned softly and she smiled as her attention turned back to the magazine. 

“Christ, Scully,” he breathed, putting his arm along the back of her chair and looking around the room. 

“You gonna make it?” she teased and he laughed as he shifted in his seat. 

“Honestly? Sometimes I don’t know, Scully.” 

“I do enjoy keeping you on your toes. Or your back.” 

“Fuck,” he breathed, shaking his head. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. 

“Can I offer any help to alleviate any discomfort you’re presently experiencing?”

“Yeah, you can stop talking,” he nearly growled. 

“Or I could offer a distraction.” 

“No, that’s how we ended up here.” 

“A different kind of distraction,” she said with a laugh. 

“I’ll be the judge. Let me hear  it.” 

“You consider yourself an intelligent man,” she stated, looking at the magazine. Pausing on a page, she considered the pair of pants the model was wearing.

“I do indeed, but I’m not sure I’m liking where this is heading.” 

“You have an incredible memory. Some might say it's too incredible.” 

“It’s definitely served me well,” he said, stretching out his legs and crossing the left foot over the right. “In more ways than one.” 

“Hmm,” she said, trying not to let her mind wander too far, knowing how well his memory had served in their sex life. Even from the very beginning, it was as though he had memorized every spot that made her cry out and beg him for more.  

“So what did you have in mind?” he asked and she shook her head, pushing away those thoughts. 

Later, she told herself. Definitely later. 

“Make a list of all fifty states,” she said and he looked at her. 

“A list of all the states? That’s your grand plan to help me pass the time?” he asked, moving his arm and sitting up, his brow furrowed even as he smiled. “List the states? That’s all? Easy.” 

“And the capitals,” she said as he stood up, patting his suit jacket, most likely looking for a pen. 

“What?” he asked, stopping and staring at her. “The capitals too?” 

“You said listing the states was easy. We’ve got time to kill so… capitals too,” she said, turning a page and raising an eyebrow at him. 

“Oh… you’re going to regret this. I’ll be done way before the labs are.” 

“So you say,” she said, looking at the magazine. “Yet there you stand, writing nothing down.” 

“Oh, you… you…” He shook his head, waving his finger at her. “I’m gonna find some paper and then… be prepared to be amazed.” 

“I’m all a tingle,” she said with an exaggerated shiver. 

“You… ha ha ha,” he said, walking out of the room to hunt down some paper. 

She smiled as she put the magazine down and reached for another. 

He was back quickly, heading to the small table in the corner of the waiting area, when she stood up and stopped him. 

“Give me your phone.” 

“You don’t trust me?” 

“No,” she laughed. “Not for things like this. Gimme it.” 

“I can’t believe you don’t trust me,” he said, taking his phone from his pocket and handing it to her. “I would never-”

“Dyspareunia,” she said, putting his phone in her pocket. “Thought of that word on your own to build off of your previous word spare?” She raised her eyebrows and he shrugged with his palms up, a guilty smile on his face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’ll be holding onto your phone. Go on.” 

“Bossy,” he said, as he continued past her. 

“You love it,” she stated and he nodded, grinning at her. 

“I absolutely do. Especially when-”

“Nope,” she said, pointing at the paper. “Get to writing.” He saluted as he sat down as she shook her head as she also sat down. 

Quiet fell over the room and she was surprised when she realized ten minutes had passed without any interruptions. Looking over at him, she smiled as she saw how focused he was as he wrote. Suddenly feeling sleepy, she set the magazine beside her, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes. 

“Hey,” Mulder said softly and she opened her eyes. “It always amazes me how you can fall asleep anywhere.” 

“Are you done?” she asked, sitting up and looking at the paper in his hand. 

“Why yes, Miss Scully. I got all my homework done,” he said in a southern drawl, handing the paper to her. She took it with a smile, her eyes running over his words. 

“You know,” he said as he sat down. “That was actually harder than I thought it would be.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed. “That’s not surprising.” 

“What are you trying to say?” he asked and she laughed quietly.

“Nothing about you in particular. It’s just not something we think about in our normal day to day life, so it’s not surprising that it proved to be somewhat difficult.” 

“As long as it wasn’t a dig at my intelligence,” he said, sticking out his lower lip. 

“I would never. Did I not call you an intelligent man earlier?” 

“No. You stated that I considered myself an intelligent man.” 

“Did I?” she asked, tapping her finger against the paper as she read. 

Juneau, Alaska. Austin, Texas. Olympia, Washington.    “You did. Find any mistakes?” 

“Not yet,” she said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. 

“You won’t. Because, I have a fantastic memory, as I believe you said.” 

“Ohhh. You were so close,” she said, closing her eyes briefly and shaking her head. “I said you had an incredible memory, but it looks like I was wrong.” 

“Fantastic… incredible. One would say they’re interchangeable,” he said, moving his hands as though weighing the words on a scale. 

“Hmm,” she hummed, nodding in agreement. 

Columbus, Ohio. Montpelier, Vermont. Bismarck, North Dakota. 

“So what’s the word, Teach?” he asked as she folded the paper in half. 

“All correct. One hundred percent,” she said, smiling as she turned her head to look at him. 

“A hundred percent. That should get a gold star,” he stated and she sighed. 

“Unfortunately, I’m all out of gold stars at the moment.” 

“Huh…” he said, rubbing his fingers across his chin. “No gold stars? You got anything else of value? I mean… a perfect paper achieved by my incredibly fantastic memory… it deserves something.” 

Smiling again as she leaned closer to him, she placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him softly. Then again. Then once more, her lips lingering on his. 

“Better than a gold star?” she whispered and he hummed as he kissed her before pulling back slightly. 

“Much better,” he whispered back, bumping his nose gently against hers. 

She pulled back further, smiling at him, her fingers scratching lightly at the stubble upon his cheek. He smiled and she dropped her hand with a sigh just as the door to the waiting area opened and the lab technician stepped inside. 

“Agents, I have the results you’ve been waiting for,” he said and they both stood to their feet and followed the technician down the hall. 

Though her focus was on the case and the new evidence they now had, her mind kept drifting to the softness of Mulder’s lips and how she wanted to feel them on hers again. 

Without clothing this time, she thought. Most assuredly without clothing. 

[bad-at-living]

glitter is my safety blanket. It’s pretty. It’s wearable. It’s lovable. Two thirds match the pattern I see up and down your skin. It shows you where I’ve been and where I’ll go— a roadmap of glory. It spreads faster than my gaze looking at your face and the shoulder I want to cry on. And the earbud you pass to me in the moonlight as I contemplate why I deserve this. Driving through the night hoping never to be seen. Wishing for more. Never getting it. Wonder why you hate to rely on me. Saw you cry once and I swear my heart broke right then and there. There’s never enough bandaids. Never enough first aid courses to heal that. But you pushed me away. Concealed in his shoulder. How can I walk in someone else’s shoes when that exercise is for understanding and empathy and my only diesel is envy. Little glass bottles filled with jealousy. And if you kissed me it would crash them all to the ground. Liquid seeping into the soil and out of my soul. but I know you never felt the same. Pity is an amazing motivator.

[djevilninja]

My whole world, I gave it all to you; Because of the love that we've shared, Girl, I know your heart will always be right here. I can't stop thinking 'bout my past - Girl, I wanna make it last.

BLACKstreet - Falling in Love Again

[bitter69uk]

“Dietrich is Lola Lola, star of a touring variety show, sleazy as they come. Sauerkraut and liverwurst vendors wander through the house crying their wares, the chorus girls smoke and hang out when they’re not actively performing, and they turn a spotlight on the men in the audience when they are, as if to make an alternate show out of the degradation beauty makes of men. Imagine what they see. We don’t have to; Sternberg has made a whole movie out of it … To see Dietrich in The Blue Angel is to understand why cultures set up codes of taboo; this movie celebrates the Dionysian urge to anarchy in Dietrich’s nonchalance, for her sexuality could blow a town apart. If a pedant can go crazy for her, who’s safe?”

/ From the 1983 book Movie Star: A Look at the Women Who Made Hollywood by Ethan Mordden /

Premiered 95 years ago today (1 April 1930) at Berlin’s Gloria-Palast cinema on the Kurfürstendamm: The Blue Angel (Der blaue Engel), visionary director Josef von Sternberg’s dark meisterwerk about sexual humiliation. (All these decades later, the film’s cruelty still stings like a slap across the face!). Emil Jannings stars as a pompous schoolteacher driven insane by his obsessive amour fou for nightclub showgirl Lola Lola – the breakthrough role for Marlene Dietrich (she was already a veteran of cabaret revues and several silent movies) and the first of her seven collaborations with Sternberg. The indelible image of Dietrich warbling Friedrich Hollaender’s “Falling in Love Again” perched on a beer barrel, crossing her silk stockinged legs, has become shorthand for Weimar decadence. Now sing along with me: “They call me naughty Lola, the wisest girl on earth …”

[zombocomme]

Between The Lines, Episode 4: If Only in My Dreams

Enjoy

SFW:Pg13: *mentions Christmas and alludes to Seasonal Depression, mentions weed, purse toiletries, and condoms.

"I loved him, and that is all anyone needs to know"- Roland

by John Connolly from "The Book of Lost Things"

🌃🌌🌧🧔🪑✨️🦇🫲🙂‍↕️🫱🦇✨️🎄👱‍♀️🌦🌌🌃

Jim inhaled a deep, cold breath and sighed it out, watching it dissipate in the empty air. Afternoons that were quiet like this gave him a little more room to think... to feel a little peace. He may be a preacher man, but the air and the trees were always his church. It was where he felt closer to something bigger than him... some thing that was bigger even than...than-

Jim cleared his throat and reached for his cup, the heat leaching through to his chilled fingers. It wasn't horribly cold outside, but it was enough that something hot seemed necessary to sit out here on the cafe patio... in his distraction, he gripped the cup off the heat protection handle when he lifted it to sip, sputtering violently onto his lap, the hot drink burning his skin and toungue. He growled grumpily, the velvety numbness of his mouth after the searing pain reminded him that he just seemed glutton for punishment...

It was his own damn fault. He was so focused trying to forget he was pining, trying so hard not to think of *Copia... copias hands. His eyes. His kisses*. Now, with his empty mouth burned, he knew he wouldn't be able to go the day, maybe even the whole night trying not to think of *him*.

Suddenly bright and smiling, a woman, blonde, green eyed, and pretty, plopped on the chair opposite his coffee table without even looking up, the momentary start of a bucket of rain slapping down on the wet pavement around him, was the only thing reminding Jim that he had even been cold moment ago.

*Not the pain of a burn, but the sound of bitter puttering rain.*

He blinked.

*was she even real?*

The woman in a coat and a grey sweater peaking out the sleeves draped over her hands slightly, a blue scarf hanging vividly from her neck.

She had made a mess of setting her laptop and purse down that the contents spilled dover the table.

"Aw fuck!" She cried out loud, then realizing the table she had invaded was occupied, turned a bright shade of pink.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry I didn't see you ,uh, I mean. Not that ,I just -" she fumbled, trying to rescue her paperwork and purse things from the wet pavement.

*Jim didn't even know a color like that could glow so dazzingly on a woman's face, her little nose extra red from the cold air*

"ORDER FOR MILLIE, LAST CALLORDER FOR MILLIE!" The barista called out, holding aloft a plated mug over the sink, threatening to dump it.

The woman groaned and seemed torn on what to do. Jim felt bad that he found her kinda cute like this, so flustered. He had seen her here before. Busy and somewhere across the Cafe. She was gorgeous, but Jim sort of wrote it off

*she was just like another regular at the shop, part of the atmosphere that seemed a little brighter when she walked in the room, chatting up the barista and meeting different people on occasion, with whatever work she had brought with her... Never did he think he would be sitting across from her at his table and despite his flabbers being gasted, he jumped to action, "I'll watch your stuff ma'am, gon git your drink, aint no trouble" he said trying to help her scoop things up without completely falling sideways out of his seat doing it.

"Oh my goodness, thank you, sorry, thank you!" She said, darting away to save her drink. "No problem, darlin," Jim replied, a colloquial habbit pf his southern upbringing that, for some reason as he said it, made his stomach flip upsidown.

Jim picked up some papers, a pill bottle he didn't look at the label of, chapstick, some pens, receipts. A half smoked joint that made him smirk... a spare pink wrapped tampon pack, which didn't embarass him in the slightest... and a spare couple condoms. Which did, in fact, make his face red.

As she trotted back trying to power walk and hold her drink and another one at the same time, Jim tossed the contraband into her purse and returned his hands to his cardboard holder on his paper cofee cup. Her drink was in a cup like his. The other was in a mug and was decorated prettily.

"Thanks! Hey, they gave me a second one of these bad boys. Do you want one?" She said, lifting the mug, the gesture friendly. Her smile..

*Inviting. Warming him right to his nose. Right to his toes.*

"Uh y-yeah, sure, no prob- no problem," he stuttered, not realizing what he was saying, "Yes," too, though he took the mug anyway.The womam smiled in relief, like she had hoped he would take it.

*her presence seemed less temporary. Non recyclable. It was a moment that had excitement and weight to it, and as he lifted the mug tk his lips. The temperature with the cold mill made the smooth drink a dream. Earl grey and light roast coffee, whole milk, and a lavander sprig decorating the purple and golden sprinkled foam... "Oh, that's nice" he said, his tone sound familiar to him, like he'd had this moment before, or like maybe he'd been doing this so often the words were like a like a Lome from a movie.

"Good, I do pick good ones" she winkek as her toung stuck out like a kitten as she licked her lips that were momentarily dolloped with whip cream a half moment to long.

* Long enough for Jim to have the flash of idea of him reaching over to thumb the sweetness from her lips, and his stomach dropped and his heart pumped a beat faster at the following idea of getting to taste it for himself...*

She sat down, trying to reorganize the purse contents. Her eyes were in there with her hands as she chattered, trying to reorganize the marry Poppins mess of everything inside. "Thanks for watching nystuff, sorry, I was supposed to meet somone here and I was late and I guess I got stood up anyways but that's fine ya know, not uncommon this time of year, the husbands get sentimental and i find out i just avoide an angry wife phone call, haha, but so thats a Lavander London Fog Latte, hope your not like lactose, I think it's better with almond milk myself but. You know a lot of people are afraid to put while milk in their drinks, but will DUHMP whip cream like assuming it's healthy. But it's the opposite I said and-..."

*She kept talking, a mile a minute, like a twittering bird that wakes up during the rainy season... just talking... talking to him... meanwhile, all the steam from Jim's drink wafted around, complementing the drink she had given him. It smelled so good. His eyes were glued to hers to try and get a glimse every time she did eventually look up at him, pausing from whatever she was momentarily fiddling with.*

"I'm sorry Darlin', now I don't, I don't mean ta cutch'a off but, I gotta ask, since I see you in here so much, and this is the first time I've had anyone come up to my table-" Jim said trying to shake his head and regain some semblance of composure.

"Oh I'm sorry. My name is Milagro!" She waved in a small circle, it was playful, and it was a welcome feeling away from the gloomy grey, around them, and her voice seemed to just...

*...Keep out the cold...*

"Well, hi there, Milagro. My name's Jim, " he said, holding out his hand for a shake. A little formal, the realization making him feet terrified all of a sudden. She looked down, tilting her head with a tiny smirk, and graciously took his hand, "Oh, well, nice to meet you, Jim. Where ya from, " she said, her lilting voice dropping a little, the swaying undertone making Jim's skin shiver, but not from the cold.

There was something in her accent he couldn't quite place. "The south and here and there on the West Coast, maybe like you?" he smiled, his eyebrows raising. Her eyes brightened under the string lights outside.

"Guilty. Californian gone to Texas, and 'here and back again', hehehe."

He had heard small fractions of it before, but never like this. Never for him. Hell, it had been a long time since someone laughed with him.. not since, since *he left*.

Jim's stomach sank a second when she noticed his split second shift in mood, toning herself down to accommodate.

*No, don't do that, please. I don't want to feel like that. I want to feel some more of this...*

*a reason to smile again. Even if just a moment*

"So California, never been, was mostly up un Washington or down in Baja, which dont count. So im told", they kaughed.

" So what's it like?" he said, trying to change the subject away from himself...

"Yeah. So Cal and yes. Baja doesn't count, though I love the beaches up and down. I miss it every day, " she said, almost wistfully.

She was like an enigma flitting effortlessly, like a pretty green and blue humming bird darting from flower to flower, nursing on their sweetness, spreading their pollen. And God... she was turning his face to something brighter, wasn't she...

...*The idea of avenue palms swaying to the music, "Here comes the sun, do do do-do". Swaying as if beckoning his mind to rest, and be in a momemt he had been needing for so long. A momemt to just, breath the moment in, right here, right now*...

They laughed and talked through the aftternoon and well into happy hour and after a couple cocktails and a couple beers, the Christmas lights outside glowed in the deep blue of evening in the city, the cold and damp rain at the edges of their perception but never comming in. They were warm in each other's company. And by the time they really did have to get going, he had her verified number and an invitation to a third get-together with her friends, with the plan to have a brunch in the morning because Daryn, her favorite barista would be there and he always snuck her an extra 'pan dulce' on his shifts, a thank you for covering his boyfriends tab a couple times...

Jim looked down at her number in his hand sighing.

"*Damn, when's the last time you got one of those scrawled on a napkin*"

When he got home and closed his door, hung his jacket and quietly plopped into the recliner. There was still a small smile playing on his face as he replayed that whole afternoon, that looked more golden than grey in his memory, something he hadnt seen or felt in a long long time...

His simple tree in the corner wasplain except for some modest ornaments, glittering

* like her eyes had done*

His stomach fluttered wildly like butterfly wings in a cage. He wasn't worried whether or not he was going to see her again. He wasn't worried if he may or may not see her soon, or even tomorrow at that. And it felt good.

*His mind wandered to that brief moment when he wanted to taste the sweetness dolloped on her lips, lips that smiled constantly and widened to make her pretty cheeks glow, cheeks he wanted to kiss so badly*

He humed contentedly, a sound he hadn't heard himself make in... who knew how long, his finger absentmindedly brushed his lip while he sat in the dim living, the syeertliggts beyond shining out, painting the room in silhouettes.. shaddows.. then he felt a pang of guilt.

*Ws he like this because he was just lonely? Was he so happy just because, for once, someone wanted to come see Him again; somone was excited to see him, and was initiating proactively to do so. Lile he was worth the fucking time of day... was that it? He was feeling giddy and excited to get to tomorrow because for the first time somone was doing...

*Was doing what, Copia, wasnt?*

Jim's smile faltered, and the sadness returned to the lines on his face. The blue curtains draped idly around the neck of the curtain rod as Jim looked out the window, heat not yet present enough to condense and wet from the inside...

Christmas was only a few weeks away,but would Copia actually "come home" for Christmas? Would he really pass that window and march up to Jim's front door this time? Without prompting and coaxing on Jim's side?

* The thought of Milagro's smile and warm hands made him feel a new layer of longing.*

He spent the rest of the evening nursing a glass of something strong.

*Stronger than he was, at the moment.*

"What'll I do, when I'm alone, with only dreams of you...that won't...won't come true... What'll I do..." Jim murmured, his singing voice rolling over to run away from him as he choked back another shuddering breath, without tears left to shed. Since Copia left, he hadn't had a reason to sing. Music stopped meaning something. And yet in this moment. It was the only song in his mind. The only thing that understood him was the absence of anyone else in his life right now...

He downed the last of the glass, the rain picking up again outside, the shaddows casting tear streaks on Jim's face where the ghosts of dried tears were too tired to come from his eyes again...

He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle pattern of the rain...as he lsitened and began to let go, consciousness drifting away, his face softer now, gentle in his sleep, while he dreamed he smelled lavender in the air, saw the glow of dusk after a golden afternoon, and heard the soft crashing waves on sandy shores...the little sprigs that had garnished their mugs he had set on the mantle, watching over him as their scent guided him through the niggt into the tomorrow.

[saditoe]

[trippercrazy]

Eagle-Eye Cherry

[wellthatsclever]

I've got some money

that we could spend

..not that you're like that

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

The Red String

Sirius could lie in that sand forever. Cornwall seemed like a magical place. Like a temporary bubble that separated Sirius from all his problems.

It was so nice to be vacationing with his friends. James and Lily had the most brilliant idea to bring everyone here. Sirius was having fun.

The only thing conflicting him was the boy next to him.

It seemed impossible that Remus could make him feel like this again. Sirius felt like a freaking teenager with a crush. He got nervous when Remus was around. His heart started beating fast.

God, he couldn't stop staring. Remus had gotten so hot with the years. He wasn't a skinny teen anymore. He was a very handsome man.

When they talked, everything was so easy. Sirius liked how they teased each other again with some sort of flirtatious tone.

It was like before they started dating. When they were best friends figuring out their feelings. The best stage for their relationship. But in this beautiful paradise.

Sirius was lying on his stomach. He had his eyes closed but he felt how warm sand was falling down his back. He smiled.

"What are you doing?"

Remus had been reading a few seconds ago. And now he was pouring sand on Sirius' back? What was this?

"I got bored"

"Oh okay, Lupin" Sirius giggled "I am glad to be entertainment for you"

Sirius didn't see it but he knew Remus was smiling.

"How about your book? Isn't it interesting?"

Sirius’s body temperature was rising and it wasn't because of the sun. The hot sand touching his skin was making him horny. But it was more likely to be because Remus was so close.

"I read it many times" Remus answered casually "Plus, I wanted to bother you because I thought you had fallen asleep"

Sirius felt disappointed when Remus stopped. He didn't even shook the sand away. Sirius was hoping to feel his hand against his skin.

Sirius sat. He needed to shake these feelings away.

Remus was smiling at him playfully. He looked so good with those shades.

"Now you left me covered in sand" Sirius pulled his hair up in a bun. He liked having it this long.

Remus laughed.

"The sea is right there" he said as he to returned to his book.

Sirius couldn't get his hopes up. It had been Sirius who had broken up with Remus many years ago. They had hurt each other with words and insults. It didn't end up very well. Then Sirius pushed Remus away. It hurt but Sirius thought they were better apart. That they needed to figure things out on their own.

Maybe Sirius had been right, or maybe he had made the worst mistake of his life. He had missed Remus. This Remus. Playful Remus. Sarcastic Remus. His best friend. The one he had fallen for.

But five years had gone by and Remus was with Grant now. At least that's what Lily told him.

And now the fact that Remus' life didn't revolve around Sirius, somehow made him more attractive.

They had agreeded to not let the past ruin this trip. They were only friends once. They could do it again.

"Where's everyone?"

Perhaps Sirius had fallen asleep because the rest of their friends were gone.

Remus' eyes were still on his book. But he smiled as if he had planned this.

"James and Lily went for a walk..." he said

"Which means more snogging"

"It's kind of their honeymoon after all" Remus smirked "Mary and Peter went to find something to eat... and Marlene was going to call Dorcas"

Sirius nodded. Now realizing he was alone with Remus made him kind of nervous. Sirius had had many lovers since Remus. But only Remus could make him feel this way.

"Are Mary and Peter bringing food for us? Because I am hungry"

"Me too!"

"You're always hungry, Remus" Sirius smiled

Remus rolled his eyes with a smile "I wanted to go with them but they didn't let me"

Sirius blushed. Of course their friends were trying to get them alone. Mary had always been the group's cupid.

"You are stuck with me, then"

"I am stuck with you" Remus took out his shades and put them on his head. God...

They stared into each other's eyes for a wild moment in which Sirius' heart wanted to get out of his chest and he forgot how to breath. Remus' brown eyes looked caramel under the sun.

"Amm... Do you...."

Sirius was going to suggest having a swim. Mainly because there were certain parts of his body that were reacting. He needed to cool down.

But a voice interrupted them.

"May the lovers be interested in something?"

Sirius and Remus turned to look at a woman. She was about 50. She had long curly red hair floating in the wind. Like Lily's but tangled and not quite clean as hers. She was wearing a long blue dress with long sleeves and many colorful necklaces, bracelets and rings. Her eyes were bright blue. So light that they were almost white.

She was kind of beautiful, not in a hot way, in a intoxicating way. Somehow Sirius couldn't look away.

They both stood up to meet her.

She carried a bag and a basket with lots of interesting objects: books, stones, necklaces, amulets, and those crystals balls that people use to see the future.

"Amm..." Sirius was too shocked to speak.

"I have love amulets to make the relationship longer..." she smiled pointing to them "Or perhaps instructions and rituals to make your sex life better"

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"Oh! We are not a couple" Remus smiled politely

Sirius reacted.

"Oh yeah right!" he added rather embarrassed "Just friends..."

Just friends.... Sirius had to accept that.

"Don't worry!" the lady said, as she put her books back "I've worked with gay couples as well..." but then she stopped talking when she saw Sirius and Remus. She stared like she had found something interesting. Sirius felt naked.

The woman smiled.

"I see what's happening here" she pointed between the two.

Sirius couldn't avoid blushing. Remus seemed embarrassed and confused as well.

"Aha!" the lady clapped their hands making them jump "Soulmates...."

"Soulmates?" Sirius asked hopefully.

"Of course! I can see exactly what is going on...." she added looking into her basket "I rarely encounter this kind of thing....."

Sirius and Remus looked at each other agreeing in something. This lady was crazy.

"The legend..." she kept saying.

"What legend?" Remus asked.

"Ha!" the woman exclaimed showing them a red wool string.

Sirius and Remus frowned.

"Amm..." Remus spoke for the both of them "We don't want to buy anything..."

The woman laughed.

"The legend of the red string.... I can see the string tying you two up"

"What legend?" Sirius asked curiously.

Remus shook his head as if to say: 'This lady is bonkers. Don't listen to her'.

"You don't know the Japanese legend of the red string?"

Sirius and Remus shook their heads.

"The legend says..." the lady began explaining with a very mythical voice, like she was meant to tell these stories "that everyone's little finger is tied to a red string..." as she said this, she tied the string into Sirius' finger before he had time to protest.

"Eh..."

"The other end of the string is tied to the little finger of someone they are connected to..."

"No no no...."

Even if Remus protested, the woman tied the other end of the string to Remus' finger.

The woman contemplated her work and smirked.

"These two people" she said pointing between them "Are meant to cross pads, to have a story together..."

Sirius and Remus gave each other shy looks.

"The string may tangle, contract or stretch but it can never break" the lady announced.

The power of her words lingered in the air. Nor Sirius or Remus knew what to say.

"The legend has become true with you two" she smiled at both of them "You're connected. You are soulmates. Meant to fall in love"

Sirius blinked in surprise. The way the woman was saying it with such conviction kind of made Sirius want it to be true.

His cheeks went on fire as he gave Remus a side glance.

But Remus didn't seem to be pleased. He was red as a tomato too. But he seemed offended. He snorted.

"Right..." Remus said "We are not even together..." he pulled the string and Sirius' finger hurt.

"Ouch!"

"Can you take this off?" Remus asked the woman.

The lady just seemed amused.

"I bet you've been apart several times but always had found your way back to each other"

Sirius almost gapsed. It was true. They got separated when they were kids and found each other again six years later. They fell in love. Then after they broke up, they didn't speak for five years. And here they were, back together in this beach.

Was it fate?

Remus got even more red if possible.

"That's ridiculous!" he snapped "We said we don't want to buy anything, miss"

Of course Remus reacted this way. He had gotten over Sirius, right?

"The string will always pull you together" the lady hummed.

Remus pulled the string to his side. Sirius groaned in pain.

"Ouuu... Rem!"

"Sorry, Sirius. I'm taking this off"

But it seemed kind of impossible to untie the string. The more Remus tried, the more it tighten. And it hurt. Sirius felt like his finger was getting purple with no circulation.

"Oh Remus, it hurts! Take it off!"

"I'm trying! I am bloody trying!"

"Let me do it!"

"No! I am almost there..."

"You are tightening it more!"

"Jesus Christ! this isn't working!" Remus groaned in exasperation.

Sirius couldn't avoid but looking at him. His soulmate. Sirius would love that. Moony being his soulmate.

Remus stopped trying and turned to the lady.

"Excuse m...."

Remus' eyes widened. Sirius turned and to his surprise, the woman was gone.

There was no sign from her around the beach. She couldn't possibly run that fast. Not with that heavy basket. The beach was practically desserted. Only the sound of the waves and the wind could be heard.

It was as if the woman had never been there. Or as if she didn't exist.

Perhaps not even the string was there. Sirius turned to look. But the red string was still tied to their fingers.

"What the fuck?"

Sirius started to freak.

"Where did she go?"

Remus was the same.

"She disappeared, Remus"

Remus sighed. He was more preoccupied with untying the string off his finger.

"It doesn't come off..."

"SHE BLOODY DISAPPEARED, REMUS!"

Remus looked at him.

"Calm down!"

"How do you want me to calm down? She bloody disappeared! What the fuck was that?"

Remus pulled from the string again.

"Ouw..." Sirius hissed "What are you doing?"

"Trying to take this off..." Remus said "Let me see your side"

"Aren't you freaking out? That was really weird..."

Remus pulled from the string, pulling Sirius closer. For a second, Sirius felt as if time stopped. He looked into Remus' eyes and he felt some sort of magic pulling towards him. Sirius forgot how to breath.

"Don't worry" Remus said in a mild tone. Sirius wanted to melt "She was just a crazy woman trying to sell us something"

"If she wanted to sell us something, why did she disappear before we bought something?"

Remus pursed his lips. Sirius had a point.

"Was she a witch?"

Remus swallowed "My mum used to believe in witches... She used to tell me creepy stories about women like her..."

"Are fucking kidding me?"

Remus nodded "I didn't want to say it but I think that woman cursed us" he raised his hand, showing the string "This is a curse"

Sirius started panicking.

"We need to take this off!! Quickly!"

"I am afraid is too late, Sirius"

"What?" Sirius asked "What kind of curse is it? What is going to happen?"

Remus went pale.

"We might die...."

"What?"

Sirius frowned, this didn't make any sense. What about that soulmate bullshit then?

That's when Remus began laughing.

"Oh my God, your face, Sirius" Remus giggled.

Sirius pursed his lips.

"Fucking hell, Moony!! It was not funny!"

He started hitting Remus' shoulder while he laughed.

"You were like: 'Oh! We're going to die!"

Sirius hit him more as Remus kept laughing.

"Wanker!" But Sirius was smiling like a fool.

Sirius accidently pulled the string and Remus hissed in pain.

"I can't believe we cannot take this off"

Remus sighed.

"That woman was weird though"

"Where did she go?"

Remus shrugged "Maybe she ran off when she saw we weren't buying anything"

"That doesn't make any sense"

Remus shrugged again.

"We will need some scissors..."

Sirius stared at Remus with a smile. He could pretend they were destined to be while they were tied together. Only for a second.

"Do you believe in soulmates?" Sirius asked before he could stop himself.

Remus looked at him.

"Why? Do you think what she said about us is true?"

Sirius blushed. But he smiled.

"Do you?"

Remus blushed as well.

As they looked into each other's eyes again, there was some sort of magnetism pulling them closer. Sirius got lost in Remus' caramel eyes. He was hypnotized and all he wanted was to kiss him.

"Eh... Moony?"

"Yeah?"

How could you be so stupid? A voice said inside his brain. Why did you let him go? Remus might be the love of your life.

While he thought this, Sirius felt goosebumps all over his body. A rush of adrenaline as if someone had electrocuted him.

Just a few inches away. Sirius had to kiss him. He had to or he would die.

He closed his eyes at the same time as Remus. Bloody meant to be.

His Moony...

"What's up, losers?!" a voice said "Do I interrupt something?"

For a second Sirius thought it was the witch who was back. So he jumped and pulled away from Remus as fast as he could, but he had to stop in pain because they were still tied to each other.

But the one speaking was only Marlene.

Marlene looked amused between the two. And then she spotted the red string and raised an eyebrow.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Both boys started explaining at the same time.

"Oh my God!"

"You won't believe what happened..."

"She was a witch, Marlene, I swear"

"She tied us up!"

"Talking about some soulmate bullshit...."

"Which we don't believe..."

"Which we don't believe at all..."

"Obviously...."

"Dah, it is so stupid!"

Marlene was still open mouthed looking between the two. But then she just bursted out laughing.

"Oh bloody hell...." she laughed so hard, she even grabbed her belly "Only you would come up with a such a lame excuse to be close again...." she caught her breath with some snorts "Just cut with the sexual tension and snog already!"

Sirius gapsed. He was used to Marlene's rawness by now. Sharing a flat with her for three years. But he still felt his cheeks on fire. Remus on the other hand was kind if purple.

"Marlene! We swear there was a witch!"

"Why would we tie ourselves?" Remus asked.

Marlene waved her hand now uninterested. She sat down in the sand, sighing profoundly.

"Where's everyone else?" she asked "I am bloody hungry"

Sirius groaned. He looked at Remus, who shook his head. One thing was clear. None of their friends would believe them. They would think it was some stupid plan to get closer to each other again. Everyone knew their history. It didn't mean it had to happen again.

And if Grant were to find about this... God, Sirius was so embarrassed.

Thinking Remus was his soulmate. It was bloody stupid. Nothing could happen between again. Not as much as Sirius wanted to. Not as much as Sirius loved him. Because Sirius loved him. He was still in love with Remus.

"Hello darlings!" They saw James and Lily waving at them.

"We got scones for everyone!" Mary said approaching from the other side.

"They are amazing!" Peter added.

"Thank God!" Marlene exclaimed.

Sirius and Remus smiled at each other.

'Ready to be teased?' Remus' smile said.

'Can't wait' Sirius' smile answered.

[georgiapeach30513]

➕

➕

[earth2andreeaa]

falling in love again

i thought we were coming to an end

but there you were, in front of me

fully clothed, yet bare as bone

and for the first time, you let me in

not just in — but through

i watched you peel yourself open

one layer at a time

with words

with silence

each inhale letting go of the boy who had to be strong

each exhale softening into the man who could finally be held

your wounds didn’t scare me —

they looked like mine

tender, trembling, ancient

your tears mirrored every one i ever swallowed

and suddenly, nothing about you was separate from me

we sat there

and time split open

ten years folding into one

and i was falling in love again —

but with all of you

not just the parts you’ve curated, but the ones you hide even from yourself

you saw me too

walls collapsed in your presence like they were waiting for permission

you were the only person who’s ever touched the version of me that doesn’t pretend

and in that space —

no defenses, no past, no pain

you

me

peace

the kind that makes your soul ache from remembering what it’s always longed for

and all i knew was you.

— Where Healing Happened, July 12th, 2025