#high-converting lead generation

[leadzennnnnaiiii]

How to Craft High-Converting Lead Generation Campaigns

In today’s competitive business landscape, creating high-converting lead generation campaigns is crucial for businesses aiming to drive growth, increase sales, and build lasting customer relationships. Whether you are a startup, a small business, or a large enterprise, the success of your lead generation efforts hinges on how effectively you design and execute your campaigns.

In this article, we will explore how to craft lead generation campaigns that not only attract high-quality leads but also convert them into loyal customers. From understanding your target audience to leveraging the right tools and strategies, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to boost your campaign success.

1. Define Clear Campaign Objectives

The first step in crafting a high-converting lead generation campaign is to define clear, measurable objectives. Your campaign goals will shape the strategy, messaging, and tactics you use to attract and nurture leads.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What is the primary goal of your lead generation campaign? (e.g., acquiring new customers, growing your email list, scheduling demos)

What is your target conversion rate?

What metrics will you use to measure success? (e.g., click-through rate, form submissions, demos scheduled)

By setting specific goals, you’ll be able to assess the effectiveness of your campaign and make necessary adjustments to optimize performance.

2. Identify and Understand Your Target Audience

The success of your lead generation campaign depends on how well you understand your target audience. A deep understanding of your ideal customer profile (ICP) helps tailor your messaging, offers, and outreach methods to ensure you’re reaching the right prospects.

Here are key factors to consider when defining your target audience:

Demographics: Age, gender, location, income level, etc.

Psychographics: Interests, values, pain points, buying behaviors, and challenges.

Firmographics: For B2B companies, understanding company size, industry, revenue, and the roles of decision-makers is crucial.

Once you have a solid understanding of your target audience, create buyer personas to visualize the types of leads you’re aiming to attract. This helps refine your messaging to speak directly to their needs and desires.

3. Create an Irresistible Lead Magnet

One of the best ways to attract and convert leads is by offering something of value. This can be in the form of a lead magnet—a free, high-value resource that provides solutions to the challenges your target audience faces. Some popular lead magnets include:

Ebooks or Whitepapers: In-depth, informative content that offers solutions to industry-specific challenges.

Webinars: Live or recorded sessions that provide valuable knowledge on a specific topic.

Free Trials or Demos: Let potential customers experience your product or service firsthand before committing.

Templates or Checklists: Ready-made resources that make their job easier.

The key to creating a successful lead magnet is ensuring that it provides genuine value. When your lead magnet resonates with your target audience, they’ll be more willing to provide their contact information in exchange for it.

4. Design Compelling Landing Pages

Your landing page is where the magic happens. It’s the place where your leads will be asked to take action, whether that’s submitting a form, downloading a resource, or scheduling a demo. To maximize conversions, your landing page should be:

Focused: Keep the page simple and distraction-free. Every element should support the goal of your campaign.

Clear and persuasive: Use clear and concise copy that highlights the value of your lead magnet. Address your audience’s pain points and explain how your offer solves their problems.

Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): Your CTA should stand out on the page and guide visitors toward the desired action. Use action-oriented language like “Get Your Free Guide Now” or “Schedule a Free Demo Today.”

Responsive and fast: Ensure that your landing page loads quickly and looks great on all devices, especially mobile.

A well-optimized landing page can significantly boost your conversion rate by providing an easy, seamless experience for your prospects.

5. Use Multiple Lead Generation Channels

A high-converting lead generation campaign doesn’t rely on just one channel. To increase your reach and connect with more potential customers, you should employ multiple channels to drive traffic to your landing page. Some effective channels include:

Email marketing: Use personalized email sequences to nurture leads and direct them to your landing page.

Social media: Share your lead magnet on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to engage a broader audience.

Paid advertising: Use targeted ads (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads) to reach specific demographics and drive traffic to your landing page.

SEO: Optimize your website and content for search engines so organic traffic finds your lead magnet.

Referral programs: Encourage existing customers or partners to refer others in exchange for incentives.

By leveraging multiple channels, you increase the chances of reaching potential leads at various touchpoints, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your campaign.

6. Nurture Leads with Automated Follow-ups

Once a lead submits their information, your job is far from over. In fact, lead nurturing is a crucial part of the conversion process. Using automated email follow-ups is a great way to nurture leads and keep them engaged. The idea is to deliver targeted, relevant content to leads over time, guiding them through the buyer’s journey.

Here are some tips for successful lead nurturing:

Segment your leads: Not all leads are the same. Segment them based on their actions, demographics, or interests, and send personalized emails that resonate with each group.

Create a drip campaign: Set up an automated series of emails designed to educate and engage leads over time. Offer value in each email, such as tips, case studies, testimonials, or exclusive offers.

Maintain a conversational tone: Avoid sending overly sales-focused emails. Instead, build a relationship by offering valuable insights and solutions to your leads’ problems.

Lead nurturing can help keep your brand top-of-mind and increase the likelihood of conversion.

7. Analyze, Test, and Optimize

After launching your lead generation campaign, it’s crucial to track and measure its performance. Analyzing key metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and cost-per-lead (CPL) will give you insight into what’s working and what needs improvement.

Consider the following optimization strategies:

A/B testing: Test different versions of your landing page, emails, and CTAs to see which elements resonate best with your audience.

Conversion rate optimization (CRO): Continuously tweak and optimize elements like form length, button placement, and copy to improve conversions.

Analyze user behavior: Tools like heatmaps and session recordings can help you understand how visitors interact with your landing page and identify areas for improvement.

Through continuous testing and optimization, you can maximize the effectiveness of your lead generation campaigns.

8. Leverage Social Proof and Testimonials

Social proof is a powerful psychological trigger that influences buying decisions. By showcasing testimonials, case studies, or user reviews, you can build trust and credibility with your leads.

Including customer success stories on your landing page or in your email campaigns can demonstrate the value of your offer and reassure leads that others have had positive experiences with your brand. Highlighting awards or media mentions can also serve as powerful social proof.

Conclusion

Crafting high-converting lead generation campaigns requires a strategic approach that combines well-defined goals, audience understanding, engaging offers, compelling landing pages, and effective follow-up strategies. By leveraging multiple channels, nurturing leads over time, and continuously optimizing your efforts, you can create a lead generation system that drives growth and converts prospects into loyal customers.

[nczaffiliatessep2]

NCZ Affiliates: Boost Your Marketing with Facebook Ads

Are you ready to elevate your affiliate marketing efforts? At NCZ Affiliates, we help businesses and marketers unlock the full potential of affiliate marketing by leveraging powerful tools like Facebook Ads to drive conversions and boost sales. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your existing strategy, we're here to guide you every step of the way. Our expertise and tailored approach ensure that you can effectively use Facebook Ads to grow your affiliate marketing business and achieve your goals.

Why NCZ Affiliates Facebook Ads Stands Out

At NCZ Affiliates, we combine over two decades of experience in industries like online gambling and Forex to provide expert affiliate marketing solutions. Our team specializes in optimizing campaigns, identifying effective traffic sources, and boosting referral sales. Facebook Ads is a powerful tool for driving targeted traffic, and we know exactly how to use it to maximize your affiliate marketing success. Our tailored strategies help you reach the right audience and convert clicks into commissions, ensuring that every ad dollar works effectively for you.

What is Affiliate Marketing with Facebook Ads?

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting products or services through Facebook Ads. By driving targeted traffic to your affiliate links, you earn money every time someone clicks and takes an action, like making a purchase. At NCZ Affiliates, we specialize in leveraging Facebook Ads to supercharge your affiliate marketing efforts. Our strategies help you reach the right audience, optimize your campaigns, and maximize your revenue streams, ensuring that every ad dollar you spend generates a return.

What We Offer: Affiliate Marketing with Facebook Ads

Consultation – Start with a free 20-minute consultation to discuss our services, the affiliate marketing process, and how we can help you succeed.

Options for Collaboration – We offer various options, including one-on-one mentoring, strategic partnerships, and done-for-you services, customized to fit your business needs.

Proven Expertise – At NCZ Affiliates, we provide real-world examples of how our proven strategies have helped businesses like yours thrive, ensuring results you can trust.

How Facebook Ads Fit into Your Affiliate Marketing Strategy

Facebook Ads is a powerful tool for affiliate marketers, offering advanced targeting options to reach the right audience based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. This helps drive qualified traffic to your affiliate offers, increasing conversions and maximizing earnings. At NCZ Affiliates, we specialize in creating high-converting Facebook Ads campaigns that attract the right users and drive traffic and sales to your offers. From ad copy to creative design, we handle all aspects to ensure your campaigns are optimized for success.

Get Facebook Ads Help? Contact NCZ Affiliates Today!

If you’re ready to take your affiliate marketing to new heights, don’t wait. Reach out to NCZ Affiliates today for a consultation and discover how we can help you succeed with Facebook Ads and beyond. Call us at (+1) 954 251 0885 EXT #101 or visit NCZ Affiliates to get started. Let’s build the path to your Facebook Ads affiliate marketing success together!

[modernmarketingmethods]

How a Digital Marketing Consulting Agency Builds Lead Magnets That Convert

In the digital world, attracting traffic is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in converting that traffic into qualified leads. That’s where lead magnets come into play. A well-crafted lead magnet captures attention, delivers value, and moves prospects into your sales funnel.

For businesses that struggle with lead generation or are unsure where to begin, working with digital marketing consulting firms can be a game changer. A professional digital marketing consulting agency understands not only what kind of lead magnets work best for your target audience but also how to build, promote, and optimize them for maximum conversions.

What Is a Lead Magnet?

A lead magnet is a free resource offered in exchange for a user’s contact information, usually an email address. It is designed to provide immediate value while encouraging prospects to begin a relationship with your brand.

Examples of high-performing lead magnets include:

Ebooks or whitepapers

Industry reports or templates

Webinars or free workshops

Discount codes or coupons

Quizzes or calculators

Free trials or demos

Email courses

A digital marketing consulting agency identifies the format and message that resonates most with your audience to ensure high conversion rates.

Why Lead Magnets Matter More Than Ever

With increased competition in nearly every industry, businesses can no longer rely on passive contact forms or hope that visitors will return. Lead magnets help establish trust, demonstrate value, and initiate long-term engagement.

Effective lead magnets do the following:

Attract qualified traffic

Segment leads based on interest or behavior

Build your email list for future remarketing

Nurture cold audiences into warm prospects

Support long-term content and automation strategies

Digital marketing consulting firms help businesses use lead magnets strategically as part of a larger customer acquisition system.

How Digital Marketing Consulting Agencies Build Lead Magnets That Work

1. Market Research and Audience Analysis

An effective digital marketing consulting agency starts with understanding your audience. This includes their pain points, interests, buying behavior, and objections. Research and data guide every decision, from content format to call-to-action.

Agencies often use tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, Facebook Audience Insights, and survey tools to identify what your audience values most.

2. Creating High-Value Offers

A good lead magnet solves a specific problem or answers a critical question. Digital marketing consulting firms help you avoid generic or low-impact content and instead develop assets that deliver tangible value.

For example:

A SaaS company may offer a free automation checklist

A fitness brand might create a meal planner PDF

A B2B service could host an industry-specific webinar

The key is relevance and usefulness. Agencies focus on positioning the lead magnet as something people want rather than something you hope they download.

3. Designing for Impact

Visual design plays a huge role in conversion. A digital marketing consulting agency ensures the design is clean, branded, and mobile-friendly. Every asset is built with user experience in mind, including:

Clear headlines

Eye-catching graphics

Simple opt-in forms

Fast load times

Agencies also optimize landing pages where the lead magnet is hosted to reduce friction and increase opt-in rates.

4. Promotion Across Multiple Channels

Even the best lead magnet won’t succeed if no one sees it. Digital marketing consulting firms develop a promotion plan across multiple platforms including:

Paid ads (Google, Meta, LinkedIn)

Social media posts and stories

Blog content with embedded CTAs

Exit-intent popups and banners

Email campaigns to existing subscribers

This multi-channel approach ensures that your lead magnet is seen by the right people at the right time.

5. A/B Testing and Optimization

A digital marketing consulting agency doesn't just launch a lead magnet and hope it works. It continuously tracks performance and runs A/B tests on everything from titles and button text to visuals and layout.

Analytics platforms help monitor:

Conversion rates

Bounce rates

Time on page

CTA performance

These insights allow agencies to improve results over time and ensure consistent lead generation.

6. Integration With CRM and Automation Systems

To make the most of your leads, agencies integrate the lead magnet funnel with tools like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or Salesforce. This ensures leads are automatically added to workflows, tagged correctly, and nurtured through email sequences.

The result is a system that works 24/7 to turn new contacts into paying customers.

Final Thoughts

Lead magnets are a critical component of any digital marketing strategy. They offer value upfront, build trust, and open the door for deeper customer engagement. However, not all lead magnets convert equally.

That’s why working with experienced digital marketing consulting firms can make all the difference. A professional digital marketing consulting agency brings the tools, insights, and strategies needed to craft high-impact offers that generate leads and fuel business growth.

If your current lead generation efforts are falling flat, it’s time to invest in a smarter strategy that works.

[skillbabu]

How to build high-converting landing pages that actually generate leads in 2025

In 2025, landing pages are essential for effective lead generation. Unlike homepages, they focus on a single goal converting visitors into leads. 

This article breaks down why your business needs landing pages, the key elements that drive conversions (like strong CTAs, trust signals, and mobile-first design), and how to build high-performing pages using tools like Unbounce and Webflow. It also covers best practices in copywriting, A/B testing, and optimizing user experience to boost ROI. 

Whether you're a startup or a marketer, this guide helps you create landing pages that actually deliver results.For more info : https://deorwine.com/blog/landing-page-important-for-lead-generation/

[technologyequality]

AI-Powered Email Templates That Write Themselves: Because You Have Better Things to Do

AI-Powered Email Templates That Write Themselves Because You Have Better Things to Do Ah, email, the necessary evil of modern business. If you’re anything like most entrepreneurs, you’ve spent way too much time staring at a blinking cursor, trying to craft the perfect subject line that won’t get ignored faster than a “Hey girl” DM from an old high school acquaintance selling essential oils. We…

[binary-logic]

The Best Option For Targeted Traffic To Your Online Business

To succeed in the highly competitive digital landscape of today, highly valuable traffic is highly sought after. If you're looking for AI-powered marketing tools to boost your conversions, check out AI Deals Hub for exclusive offers on the best AI solutions. More than any other factor, if you need to generate targeted traffic using the right traffic service could be a game changer for you whether you are an affiliate marketer, an online business owner, or someone looking to generate passive income. This comprehensive guide will delve into the benefits of purchasing targeted website traffic, why solo advertising is very effective for affiliate marketing, and 2024's best lead-generating services in the USA.

Understanding Targeted Traffic Services

Not all of those people who visit your website will become paying customers. A big reason for this is because most businesses are trying to reach the wrong people — the people who don’t actually want what they are selling. This is exactly why for business laser-targeted traffic is urgent. Using tools such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads will help you optimize marketing strategies and boost conversion ratios. Clearly, Google Ads or Facebook Ads for lead generation— which is better will depend on your business.

Affiliate Marketing in 2023: Best Paid Traffic Sources

Affiliate marketers know that organic traffic strategies take time to set before yielding results. Investing in paid traffic for CPA marketing and the best solo ads for affiliate marketing is a highly effective approach to maximizing growth.

Now, the most popular top traffic sources that every affiliate marketer recommends are:

1️⃣ Solo Ads – A great option for make-money-online traffic service campaigns. 2️⃣ PPC (Pay Per Click) – Besides SEO, PPC is also a great way to advertise for content marketing. 3️⃣ Email Marketing – A trusted email marketing traffic source can provide potential leads for your business.

Want to generate targeted traffic using cutting-edge AI tools? 🚀 Explore AI Deals Hub and discover the latest AI-powered solutions for business growth!

Coupling website traffic with conversions, when you buy website traffic, you are increasing the chances of most probable audiences taking action once they land on your website.

Traffic Sources in the 'Make Money Online' Niche for Online Businesses

If you belong to the work-from-home market or affiliate marketing, then choosing the best traffic for ClickBank affiliates and other digital businesses is often a must. Here are several good choices:

✅ Top Lead Generation Tools 2024 – Essential tools for converting prospects into paying customers. ✅ Buy Real Website Traffic Cheap – A budget-friendly solution for boosting online services. ✅ Top Solo Ad Providers 2024 – Reliable solo ad vendors for consistent lead generation.

And then, you'd want to know the most effective ways to boost your website traffic instantly. Choosing good sources of work-from-home leads is crucial for getting long-term results.

Quick Summary — Should You Use Paid Traffic?

Without a doubt! Paid traffic for affiliate marketing, when done correctly, can lead to thousands of qualified leads and millions in sales. This is where a targeted traffic service comes in— by guaranteeing that you are targeting high-converting traffic to drive to your offer, ensuring that you are making the most out of your return on investment, and allowing you the ability to scale your business at a much faster rate than you would with organic methods.

🚀 Do you want to purchase boosted website traffic? Visit AI Deals Hub to find top AI-powered marketing solutions today and see the magic that your lead generation services can create for you!

[escapenevolve]

The Landing Page Cheat Code: Turning Clicks into Conversions

🌟 Your ad clicks are only as good as your landing page! Learn how to craft and optimize landing pages that actually convert. From bold headlines to irresistible CTAs, this guide has all the tips you need to turn visitors into customers. 🚀 #DigitalMarket

You’ve crafted the perfect ad. People are clicking on it like it’s Black Friday, but then… nothing. Crickets. No sign-ups, no purchases, no calls. What happened? Chances are your landing page is about as exciting as unseasoned oatmeal. But fear not—today, we’re diving into the art of creating and optimizing landing pages that actually convert. What Is a Landing Page, Anyway? Think of a landing…

[ronaldtateblog]

The Ultimate Guide to Building a High-Converting Email List

Exploring email marketing, I see how vital a high-converting email list is for any online business. This guide will cover email list building and strategies for success. Email marketing offers a great return on investment, with $44 for every $1 spent1. By using the right methods, businesses can make a lot of money and meet their marketing goals. Creating a high-converting email list is key to…

[insurance-brokers-india]

What are the next steps after obtaining an insurance broker license, and how can you generate potential leads using Mzapp CRM software?

Congratulations on securing your insurance broker license! The journey doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning of building a successful insurance brokerage. Here’s how you can proceed and leverage Mzapp CRM software to find potential leads:

Steps After Getting Your Insurance Broker License

Understand Your Market: Research your target audience (individuals, businesses, or specific sectors).

Develop a Business Plan: Set goals for client acquisition, revenue, and operational processes.

Build a Network: Partner with insurance providers and attend industry events to establish your presence.

Create an Online Presence: Build a professional website and maintain active profiles on social platforms.

Offer Value-Added Services: Educate customers on policies, claims management, and risk assessments.

Using Mzapp CRM Software to Generate Leads

Lead Capture: Utilize Mzapp’s integrated forms and web tracking tools to capture inquiries from your website or social media.

Automated Follow-Ups: Set up personalized email and SMS follow-ups to nurture leads effectively.

Lead Scoring: Prioritize leads based on their interaction history, ensuring you focus on high-potential prospects.

Data-Driven Campaigns: Use analytics to identify what works and launch targeted campaigns.

Seamless Policy Management: Impress leads by showcasing how smoothly you manage policies and claims through Mzapp.

Why Choose Mzapp CRM?

Mzapp CRM simplifies lead management, streamlines operations, and provides insights into customer behavior, making it easier to convert prospects into loyal clients.

Learn more about how Mzapp can transform your insurance business here.

[marketing-insider-group]

Convert Every Time with Strong, Creative Lead Forms: 4 Great Examples - Marketing Insider Group

Learn how to create high-converting lead generation forms by optimizing form placement, content, and creativity. Explore the best practices for designing lead forms that capture attention and drive results. Discover 4 creative examples to enhance your lead form strategies.

[241digital]

Unlock Business Growth with 241 DIGITAL: Your Professional SEO and Cloud-Based Software Partner

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Look no further than 241 DIGITAL, your one-stop solution for professional SEO services and a cutting-edge cloud-based software platform. With a focus on tools designed to supercharge your business growth, 241 DIGITAL is your trusted partner in the digital landscape.

Professional SEO Agency:

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Don't wait! Join the ranks of successful businesses that have partnered with 241 DIGITAL. Let's grow your business together. Visit 241 Digital now and unlock your full potential. 

[smth-in-theway]

𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅

Izzy stradlin/ fem!Reader

Tags: original female character, late 1980s, karaoke night, music, cussing, smut, p in v sex, not established relationship, implying drug use, teasing, just Izzy (is already a tag), drunk/high state, wall sex, fingering kind of, maybe some other additional tags to be added(tell me if I missed something) + also it’s very long and I’m sorry but still hope you enjoy (lol).

Description: Under the neon lights of the Sunset Strip, a night of karaoke with Izzy Stradlin takes an unexpected turn. As MDMA flows through your veins and classic rock anthems fill the air, boundaries blur between performance and desire. What begins as musical connection evolves into something far more intense, but in the haze of substances and stolen kisses, can anything real emerge by morning?

a/n: that was supposed to be one of the chapters for my Ao3 fanfic with Izzy “Anhedonia” (shameless promotion yeah ikr) but I changed my plans for the plot itself so this chapter won’t be originally there. But I was kind of sad to throw away this beautiful chapter so I changed it a little bit to make a smut out of it. (lol what a lovely way to let this chapter live) So maybe I will post it here and on my Ao3, I’ll see. Anyway, I hope you enjoy cause it’s my first time writing smut (sorry if it’s ass) and I kind of need to train for further usage of this “genre”. 🫶🏻🫶🏻

A strong grip grabbed your hand, leading you through the crowd of people who stuck to each other like tongues on ice, exchanging scents. His dilated pupils and clouded gaze could not be erased from your memory, while the “vitamin” taken half an hour earlier worked deep under your skull, creating a false sense of comfort in the middle of an ocean of the unknown. Izzy’s calloused and dry fingers intercepted yours, gluing the skin, so smooth, like child’s with his flaky and warm one. The difference was sensual. The rings he wore cooled some corners of your limbs, only to sweat again after a while, sliding like oil and electrifying the sense of touch. Like two teenagers, you ran after each other along the dark and dimly lit streets of the Sunset Strip, laughing with all your might and feeling especially free. It seemed to you that the whole world is just nonsense, you are the main character of your story where all those people are your friends and in general you are the queen of the whole world. You became more social and wanted to make friends with everyone. Izzy became more alive, you don’t know if you will remember him like this, if in the morning when the carriage turns into a pumpkin you will remember his happy eyes, saturated with euphoria. Remembering the fact that he threw off the shackles, running away with you from the imaginary guards of your prison with him inside your reality. Now in your heads there was not a single negative thought or guilt for actions, you felt good. And it doesn’t matter what the world thinks, because only you exist.

Somewhere in the distance, music was playing from some old convertible crookedly parked on the side of the road, spraying Bowie or Prince songs everywhere, you did not catch the familiar melody with your ears, not even having time to look back as Izzy pushed you after him into a dim alley lit only by neon and light from the windows of people who lived above. The air around you smelled of gasoline, burning, cheap street food and cigarettes, making the space just a thick impenetrable flow of mixed smells that your nose did not perceive well. Lifting your chest up, then down and then up again, you opened your mouth wanting only to inhale more air than everyone else, collecting a large armful of the remaining pure oxygen. It’s not real in places like this and soon it will be sold in bags along with drugs, because substances trick our brains, making us feel a constant need for something that our bodies do not need. Air is needed more than cocaine. One to live, another to not die. Izzy has the same reaction to you, especially now when his tall figure like a shield pushed everyone around, trampling a path for you through the tall grass and helping you further to the very corner of the alley where a red neon sign awaited you: “Backbeat Karaoke Lounge”. Slightly blinking, as if all the life was sucked out of it. The two letters “K” in the karaoke didn’t glow, which is why you couldn’t immediately read what was written there, already feeling like everything was swimming before your eyes. The other letters were still shining, like stars at the end of their lives, indicating the fact that soon no one would even guess what was written on this damn sign.

Izzy pushed the heavy wooden door with his shoulder, directing it forward. It was covered with leatherette like in underground clubs. Inside, behind this door, it generally smelled of cheap beer, overheated bodies and cigarette smoke that blurred the vision. Heat rushed into your body. You didn’t imagine Izzy’s brain being the genius of bad ideas, but in the last few days he began to show his bad side too often. Maybe this is for the best, fate screams run, but your brain says otherwise and begs you to stay. The impossible is possible, especially now when you realize that it’s already been several days since you met him and during this time you managed to spend more time together than apart. It says something, but you don't know what it is yet. It might be bad, it might be good, but it doesn't matter how fast your story does, it matters how deep it goes into your skin. And Izzy will stay there because he can't get his satisfaction.

Familiar pupils caught yours when you found yourself in place where everyone around you was free. Or rather, substances gave them wings of freedom sending them to heavenly heavens of pleasure while black filled the blooming surface of irises. Your euphoric wings of MDMA had long been digging in your brain, like a stick in an anthill releasing dopamine into free fall throughout the body while the world acquired colors and unusual softness, like moss. There was nothing under your feet and muffled music sounded in your ears, you feel it with every cell like a drowning man. Your senses were indeed the drowning Brian Jones. Yes, you are drowning just like him because breathing has become harder with every step. Like light through water, a neon sign on the wall meets you with Izzy inside "Sing your heart out" through this whole black hole of hedonism and damn prostitution of the soul. The ceilings were low, the walls were knocked off and only along them there were a few peeling booths with old posters - KISS, The Clash, Rolling Stones and many others that could be named during all evening. You liked them and now especially wanted to become one of them.

Izzy bought you drinks to sing karaoke for free, succumbing to another promotion and provocation to attract customers, selling more drinks. Karaoke evening once a week and you are already like Sherlock removing the mask from the false offers of an unpopular bar that is so eager to increase revenue. You looked around with your jaw lost somewhere as if you had never been to karaoke. In front of you was a small stage with two microphone stands, on the sides there were speakers on tripods, so old but powerful. They were so similar to guards. Behind the stage there was a TV with a convex screen and sometimes it seemed to you that it was about to pour out forward like liquid but solid magma. From the inside, there were low-res background videos of some beaches, random night shots of fireworks, waves and Tokyo. You wanted to jump right into the screen and be there among the azure waters and attractive pictures, only not here among the sweating crowd. A LaserDisc player, cassettes with soundtracks, a large remote control for selecting songs and a film were at your disposal when some idiots walked away realizing that real rock stars had come to replace them. You immediately took up the wired microphones with a metal grill and a power button, feeling like a real star. If only you could change your suit, you would be a real Freddie Mercury. Izzy was fiddling with the equipment when he returned from the bar counter, holding two large glasses of refreshing beer in his hand, which he left next to the screen, knowing for sure that both of you would sing until the end. What a tech geek. This guy knows his stuff and it seems he is not here for the first time.

- «Take on me.» you said out of the blue to which Izzy turned to you with a half-smile.

-«Is this flirting?» he asked in his usual raspy voice that jumped an octave higher, making him clear his throat. It was like he was hoping you meant something. Sometimes he was such a teenager that it made you smile and ruffle his hair with a smirk.

-«This is a song.» you pointed to the disc that laid out in a line with hundreds of others to which he turned his high eyes to you with disapproval not wanting to start with pop songs but noticing how your own puppy-like irises were looking at him, he nodded inserting the tape into the player, adjusting everything with the remote control as needed while you smiled with anticipation and nervously chattered your teeth. Familiar music came out of the speaker and it made you jump with anticipation, there was a small crowd around and you didn't care about them simply because Izzy and those songs meant more to your cheerful, high and exploratory view than a couple of idols that came to stare at you.

Izzy tuned in knowing that pop was definitely not what was on his playlist, but he decided to give you what you wanted. After all, it was his turn later. Anyway, he was here for one reason and that reason was reflected in his eyes as the first words appeared on the screen. Your voice was like that long yellow line, eating up the words, reproducing them from the screen into reality and pushing Izzy in the shoulder so that he would sing too and not stare at you.

- «…Today is another day to find you.» he blinked, returning to the screen and trying to catch the rhythm after the lost equilibrium he had just experienced when you had knocked him back into reality with your punch. Okay, lost social rating points again, he can give his cup back and run to the locker room in tears. How embarrassing, why was he staring at her? Okay..time to sing

- «Shying away.» Your voice complemented it and you turned to him as if apologizing for the awkward start. «I'll be coming for your love, okay?» such irony, such a sick and dishonest irony connected your views, which made you smile when his usual nut colored gaze caught yours. He sang it too and maybe it just seemed that way to you because you were high and all the people around you were your friends. But he clearly wanted to tell you something with this, because you weren't just joking around at the bar, but experiencing a small catharsis where even a small song is a confession.

- «Take on me.» Izzy's voice caught this chorus, which made you remember Morten Harket and his performative video where he calls a blonde girl with him to the world of comics on the other side of existence. Now this scene was similar to yours, it seemed that you were both about to run away to where no one would find you.

- «Take on me.» you smiled, catching his voice like a shooting star. Even if you couldn't sing, even if it didn't sound like Harket's, you both complemented each other. You weren't afraid to embarrass yourself, even if you were high, just because Izzy was there and he was in the same situation. 1:1.

-«Take me on.» such a cigarette and hoarse voice, completely unsuitable for a pop star, sounded from his thin and so desirable lips. Everything in the world seemed possible under the influence of drugs, even if from the outside you looked like idiots. You just wanted to forget and clasp his neck, giving him the opportunity to do everything he wanted with you.

-«I'll be gone... In a day or two» you tried to raise a high note, looking at the screen, then at Izzy, from which you got confused, feeling how laughter came out of your mouth by itself. Everything seemed so funny and simple. Even the fact that this phrase sounded ironic from your lips, you already forgot about everything looking into these deep brown or dark olive eyes, they changed color in the dark. You wanted to jump inside them, diving to the very depths, to his very heart. This feeling was repulsive knowing that you haven't even known each other for a week, but so what? No one cares.

The song continued and you began to dance when the melody began to gain momentum, pop music sometimes made you subconsciously shake your limbs and, like a hypnotized zombie, catch the rhythms in time with your heartbeat. Even despite your great love for rock, pop was sometimes the source of your joy, also doing magical things with your consciousness. A couple of people around you were also singing along, looking at you and nodding to the beat, someone was filming with a Panasonic camera, someone was laughing hysterically in the corner of the bar with a group of friends , some couple at the bar were kissing while the bartender was dusting himself askew, wiping glasses and having a strange hairdo like Elvis. You knew that you didn’t regret coming here at Izzy’s request, knowing that he has good taste in such places. He knows that music is a form of speech, and perhaps by sharing it with you this evening he was sharing words that none of you can say. The room was periodically filled with flashes of light, constantly illuminating your faces in different colors, while you tried different versions of Izzy on your tongue. Like a multi-colored Polaroid painted with different markers. The sounds of clicking, blinking screens and the muffled voices of those who chose songs danced around your temples. Your and Izzy’s song, came to an end with the cherry blossoms in the background as you sang the last line, your voice carrying through the room, feeling like it was your last day. You were so close, smelling the cigarettes on his body, dusting his skin with sugar, tasting the cherry gloss on his lips and the sheen of sweat on your collarbones. One touch and fate would chop his head off and burn you with the fire of karma, making you feel guilty for losing clear control in the midst of the musical and drug adrenaline.

-«Now it's my turn to choose.» Izzy said, pulling away and grabbing his glass of beer to ease the dryness in his throat.

-«What will you choose?» you asked, pulling the tape out of the player, still trying to get your breathing back to normal.

-«Gimme Shelter.» Izzy said as he picked out the right one from the stack of tapes and replaced pop with the Stones while you quickly gulped down your beer, returning your gaze back to the screen.

- «Classic.» You nodded back at him, getting ready to sing as the familiar guitar sound began to hit your chest so dryly with a rhythmic beat. Your fingers grabbed the microphone with a tremor, not from fear or excitement but from a feeling of dizziness, it seemed like you were about to fall when the Stones began to play, you loved this band so much and knowing that you were singing their song with Izzy gave your body a signal to lose gravity as the words began to appear on the screen one by one.

- «War, children, yeah..» He sang with you in unison as the words appeared on the screen again. The Stones really knew how to bring people together with taste.

- «It's just a shot away, it's just a shot away» you sang along feeling like Mick Jagger, as if your chest was about to fry in the hellish flames of submission to fate while the song, like a scream, pierced the ashes of war and desperation through a long slow motion.

- «It's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away..» Izzy sang along, closing his eyes and letting the music flow through his veins like heroin throughout your duet.

- «Kiss away, kiss away, hey!» you raised your hand up, feeling the energy of the melody only to splash it out of your body with different movements, understanding why the lead singers were dancing on stage. The culmination of the melody and different pictures on the screen did not take long to come and smiles of euphoria spread across your face again, washing it all down with more sips of beer, feeling how the glass empties quickly with the same speed as the pain, joy and adrenaline in your body after the «performance».

- «It's your turn to choose.» Izzy said, returning with another batch of drinks, using your wallet. Money was pouring out of it in stacks, although its joke, no, because you won't let him know that it's not even equal to what you have. Time is ticking fast again, not obeying your power.

- «Whole lotta love.» You smirked with a note of defiance in your voice while Jagger's voice and his sticky as gum Gimme shelter still pulsated in your temples. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe you were crazy.

- «Ohh..» Izzy whistled, replacing old glasses with new ones and leaning over the tapes, changing the Stones to Zeppelin. «Not bad, not bad.» The sound with a bad mix went through the speaker again, but with such soul. In the second minute of the song, you regretted that you were alive when sounds similar to moans went through your ears, you did not turn around to Izzy, not giving him a chance to look at you in a moment of vulnerability. But it wasn't long before the guitar sounds came to your aid, drawing your attention back to the lyrics. You still liked the song despite that small aspect, especially the fact that Izzy sometimes imitated the guitar with his fingers during the solo, making you smile at him. Someone lit a cigarette at the bar, and the smoke hung in the air, swirling in spirals under the very ceiling, letting imaginary clouds form, as if a karaoke machine was releasing smoke at the end or your and Izzy's minds. It all felt like an emotional episode. From Take On Me, where everything is still sweet and naive, to Gimme Shelter, where there is threat and desire, and to Whole Lotta Love, where everything becomes frankly physical and dangerous. The first is about escape, romanticism and illusion, the second and third are about threat, passion and an apocalyptic breakdown. Like your situation with Izzy, first a light hallucinogenic euphoria, then something much heavier and deeper, just like now.

Your hands, covered in glitter, then wrapped around each other as you drank glass after glass, song after song, losing your voice for hours. But you didn't care, because everything around you was floating. People - not people, but colored spots. The bar - not a bar, but a black room with lights, like a ship during a storm, screams, words and lyrics mixed, changing personalities like cards. You were two social chameleons exchanging yourselves for other people, becoming singers of fortune and world stages. Satisfaction, Stupid girl, Come together, Dude, Dream on, Light my fire, Somebody to Love, I love Rock’n’Roll… followed one after another eating up the minutes on the clock and erasing the passers-by, making people in the bar come and go, the places empty and faces spinning before your eyes, crossing out the exact contours. And yellow words appeared on the screen with white shadows, slowly emerging against the background of a murky view of Tokyo in the 70s, cars, women in kimonos, lights of night streets and meaningless shots, but it didn’t matter when the song was playing, all that was needed was the words and the rustling recording on the camera with the name of the song/band. Holding the microphone with both hands as if it were a life preserver, you danced, fooled around, half-hugged and just had fun with each other while the alcohol mixed with the drug, erasing any perception of shame. Your wallet didn’t lag behind the fun either, no longer supporting your and Izzy’s drunk faces. The last song of the night or already the morning, you don’t remember exactly, was because your pocket money that you took with you “just in case” betrayed you, leaving you on the sidelines of torn memories, barely moving carcasses and plastic cups with cocktails left by someone on the edge of the stage that trembled from the sound.

MDMA whispered under the skin and caressed, so pleasant and so satisfying. The heart beat out a rhythm, dancing in the middle of your chest, ready to jump out from there while your eyes were intertwined with each other among hundreds of others. Around nothing entered the memory, the brain seemed to block the ability to remember what happened next, everything was like a slow motion movie. As if the truth or a lie retold from mouth to mouth, playing a broken phone. Hot skin felt every touch three times stronger, everything went through goosebumps through the fabric of clothes, coming out as an acid kaleidoscope.

- «You are beautiful.» Izzy whispered through the broken film of neurons feeling how no logical thought would pass through your head.

- «It's a pill.» You answered, turning your gaze to him, half-open eyes, so sleeping, so drunk and so desirable. He, like Medusa Gorgon, turns you into stone with his gaze, grinding you into powder and inhaling it. All the songs grew like petals from your eyelashes, every blink like flowers bloomed in front of your eyes, letting the butterfly of his own eyes sit there and take all the feelings, like bees collecting pollen of secrets from where no one else has ever managed to get it.

- «No.» Izzy answered. «It's you.» His lips were next to your ear whispering a secret that only you will remember, only you will hear hoping that you will understand and he will not have to chew everything like for others. He knew that you will understand him more than others. They will not understand. You looked at him without blinking. The world seemed to be silent, only the projector clicked, the microphones hummed, somewhere in the distance someone was laughing, knocking over a beer bottle and a huge meteorite was already rushing towards the world, ready to blow up the planet. But even then there will be no silence, even then the music will continue to click on the temples bleeding from wounds, then the flowers will begin to grow again from the sent soil of the bloody rain of the dead. Then looking into his eyes you will find peace that no one has ever been able to give you, there the gardens will always be greener and life will be better.

He ran his fingers over your cheeks letting himself breathe in air while his lips greedily cut the distance breaking the rules and stealing your kiss in the silence of minds. Izzy was not a stupid guy and missing an opportunity is definitely not about him. You answered without thinking while your lips danced in an intimate tango of secrets and his hands outlined your body like a map wanting to know where was what. Your cheeks, then shoulders, then your back where he slowly slid to the very bottom of your waist. Alcohol and drugs mixed into one whole clouding your gaze completely, closing it with imaginary curtains when his tongue slid into your mouth. You couldn't think straight anymore, your hand slipped under his shirt, leaving you wanting more, until he let out a short groan, lowering his hand from your cheek to your arm.

-«Hold up, tiger...» he muttered, pushing his lips away from yours, causing his black curls to tickle your face and drool to form a line between your lips.

-«Izzy what the-» you didn't have time to express your displeasure when he grabbed you by your shameless hand and dragged you away from the hall itself, pushing you away from all of those people again.

Disappearing from the stranger's view, he pushed the first door open that was indeed the staff room. Fuck everyone when he closed the door with the latch, leaning you against the door, no one would dare come in here while he was here with you.

- «I'm not done with you yet.» He whispered, connecting your lips again, his tongue immediately slid between them, meeting yours, to which he squeezed out a quiet but such a pleasant moan. This sound warmed the bottom of your stomach while butterflies flew up in goosebumps on your skin. Your tongues played with each other, tasting, while his hand was the first to begin the unfinished, sliding under his T-shirt to feel your skin. You did not lag behind him, playing with his black hair on the back of his head, gradually going down to his shoulders to take off his leather jacket, to which he ran his tongue along your lower lip, biting it.

- «Izzy?!» You gasped and whispered in surprise, slightly pushing him in the chest but not having anything against it in your head.

- «Sometimes I want to eat you alive. Just like that pill so that you will fill me completely, and not just my brain.» he whispered, freeing you from your stylized long-sleeved top, leaving you up in just your bra, feeling the cold of this damn room.

-«I never thought of you as a cannibal.» you whispered back with a smirk as he pounced on your neck, biting and licking you like a hungry animal, wanting so desperately to leave hickeys. His hands slid under your skirt, squeezing your butt brazenly.

-«Well…I am but with very precise tastes and they only include you. The rest are garbage.» he whispered in your ear, making you bite your already wounded lower lip. You raised your hand to grab his hair and gently rip him off you, to which he only responded with a groan and disapproval in the form of a frown. «Hey-»

-"Then stop testing me and go for it.» you said through an irritated grin, to which he only raised an eyebrow again, sensing your annoyance.

- «Say the magic word.» He smirked without moving but you could feel how hard it was for him to keep everything in his pants when you were around.

- «Now.» You looked into his eyes while grabbing his belt on his pants to which he only sighed heavily.

-«How bossy...but alright. Time to release that tiger from its cage.» He smirked giving you free rein to which he unfastened your bra freeing you from your main female problem and sucking on that place with such impudence that you stopped halfway to unzip his fly. His tongue licked your nipples so precisely and so skillfully that you had to sell your soul to the devil after seeing the stars right in front of your eyes. You pulled his pants down so they fell down where they belonged. Your fingers grabbed his hair again to which he only continued his game of being a milksop. «Your cherry is the best.» he stated from which you snorted.

- «You’re high.» you responded to his strange ramblings.

- «On you. And I want to OD.» he answered again greedily kissing you and pressing you to the door lifting your skirt up and tights down to feel you. When his fingers slid where they shouldn’t you moaned into his lips. His smirk started to turn you on so much that he just continued without wasting a second and turning the corner of your panties to slip where you want him.

- «Motherfucker..» you mumbled into his lips through groans at his obvious teasing, feeling how your whole body went numb and touch became more sensitive.

- «I don’t think you will accent me having it with your mom rather than with you.» he inserted one finger, pushing away from you and checking your reaction. Sometimes he was so annoying and you wanted to hit him.

- «Than..Than…ugh! You piss me off!.» you sighed it at his movements, trying to release your energy from within and not die from an excess of emotions, looking into his eyes, to which he just amusingly snorted. Damn you, Stradlin.

- «I’m not and you know it.» His movements were impatient but very precise which made you wonder how much of experience he really have. Then the second finger entered and then you just kissed him while he pressed himself against you letting him feel how much you were the reason for his desire. He pulled away again and every time he did it, you wanted to press him back like an oxygen tube without which you can’t live. His long tongue licked those fingers that he pulled out of you with satisfied grin at which you laughed.

-«Tasty?» you joked at which he nodded.

- «As it should be.» and here again his lips and yours connected while his hands lifted you up by your thighs freeing themselves from any fabric and what had been bothering you before. Thoughts didn’t add up and common sense died before your eyes as he slowly entered you, making you both feel the highest kind of pleasure. You knew what sex was but he knew more. Your understanding did not go beyond groupies or rock stars. You just understood how much this thing was needed when the adrenaline was jumping up to the ceiling. His hands grabbed your thighs so tightly, pushing into you while your back was pressed against that very unfortunate door. Gasp, moans, short sighs and ragged breathing filled the room while you and Izzy were a puzzle for each other, the air you both breathe and the food you both consume.

- «So who are we now?…Who are we to each other?» you suddenly asked him through the blur, smeared images and incomprehensible sounds that came from inside your ears, pollinating your mind with fear that someone might catch you. But even if this happens, no one will remember your faces, but you wanted to remember Izzy's face. You didn’t know what to think or feel, but you knew that you wanted Izzy and you must stay with him until the very end. Until the north star goes out.

- «You are my oxygen. You are what I want to breathe every day.» He admitted through heavy and ragged breathing, feeling how with each push the knot in his lower abdomen was getting tighter. His immunity became stable because of you, you became the one who gives him the opportunity to breathe evenly.

- «Naive to the point of horror.» You answered through a giggle, to which he didn’t stop, continuing to mix your bodies together, like forbidden chemicals that do not work with each other but cannot react without each other. Paradox.

- «Whoever told you this is a complete idiot.» Izzy muttered, pressing his lips to your ears and making the last push with a rather drawn-out groan, releasing himself and letting you know that he was not joking, even under a pile of substances the picture is washed away, but you will not forget his words.

«I will love you very much even under the effect of the vitamin in my head.» he whispered to end this long night.

[goosewriting]

Our New Empire

summary: reader and Cal dress up for a costume party and share a moment alone.

relationship: college!AU Cal Kestis x gn!reader

warnings: fluff, maybe second-hand embarrassment lol, kissing

word count: 1.5k

A/N: inspiration struck just in time for valentine’s day! this one’s for @soka-writes-things <3 thank you for your support always and for your patience, this took a while :’) <3 this is technically a spin-off to class is now in session. i hope you’ll enjoy all the meta references xD

[all masterlists] 🪶 [star wars masterlist] 🪶 [ao3]

(english is not my first language. constructive criticism and grammar corrections are very appreciated!)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Every year, the university would host a handful of events, mainly for the freshmen to meet new people and explore the campus. Many of the older students still like to attend, though; the university does know how to throw a party, after all. You’ve been looking forward to it for months, and even pitched an idea to your faculty to make it a costume party. To your delight, everyone was immediately on board. 

Luckily, the organisation went without a hitch, and everyone even pitched in for food and decor. Since the event would become more of a party than anything else, the university would allow for it to still be held in one of the bigger halls, with the condition that there’d be an assigned group of people who’d stay and clean up afterwards. So the faculty held two raffles: one for prizes and one for the clean-up crew. The latter was announced before the event, and you and Cal both got drawn. But neither of you minded, as some of your friends got drawn too, so at least you know you’d have a good time with them. 

As for the party, you decided to dress up as Jedi Knights from that one movie, ‘Galactic Conflicts’. When you found out that Cal is also a fan, you were delighted, and you easily settled on matching costumes. Others also wore costumes from the franchise, and you’d go up to them with your plastic sword and challenge them to a duel, quoting some lines here and there, happy when they’d play along.

An hour or so into the party, you start to feel your shenanigans catching up to you. The air in the main hall, which has been converted into a dance floor, is pretty stuffy, and the bass thrums in your ears. The several layers of robes you’re wearing are starting to cling to your skin since you’ve been running around, taking your Jedi role very seriously. So you decide to step outside for a while, and look for Cal while you’re at it. You lost your companion a while ago in the colourful mass of people. 

You navigate through the crowd, careful not to hit anyone with your sword, and head for one of the exits that leads onto an elevated patio. The evening air is pretty cool, and you breathe in deeply, welcoming the sensation. With your hands on your hips, you stand by the railing, looking down at the cobblestone path that snakes around a small pond. You wonder if there’s any fish in there, and if so, if you could get the chance to feed them. 

“Hello there!” 

You recognise the voice, and turn around with a chuckle, shaking your head. Standing on one of the nearby benches is Cal, his arm extended, sword aimed at you. The lamp post shines a halo-like light over him, his copper hair glistening with specks of red and gold, contrasting his dark robes.

“General Kestis,” you respond, playing along.

”I have the high ground,” he continues, striking a silly heroic pose from where he looms over you.

”That’s not how the lines go!” you laugh, and he shrugs, giving you a lopsided smile. 

“I was looking for you,” he says.

”Yeah?” You lift your sword, shifting into a battle pose. “You want me to kick your butt again?”

”I’m afraid it won’t be so easy this time,” he says, flicking the switch on his sword to elicit a whirring sound effect, and the blue colour changes to red. “I’ve turned to the dark side. It’s Darth Kestis, now.”

You hum, not bothering to cover the fact that you’re checking him out. 

“I have to say, for a Sith Lord, you look really good,” you say, and Cal breaks character for a split second when he can’t hold back the smile spreading on his face. But he’s quick to return to his serious expression, jumping down from his bench and coaxing you to approach with his free hand.

”En garde!” you exclaim, holding your sword up, and he mirrors you so that your weapons form an X.

”That’s not-“ he breaks again with a chuckle, shaking his head. “Ah, never mind. Let’s go!”

You two play fight for a while, adding your own sound effects when your swords clash, throwing banter back and forth, switching to slow motion for particularly cool moves. It doesn’t take long for you to break out in laughter at the silly antics, unable to hold back any longer. This means you let your guard down, and in one swift move he swipes your sword from your hands, caging you against the railing. 

“Gotcha,” he says, panting softly; you two really took this seriously and are slightly out of breath.

”Oh no, whatever shall I do,” you say in mock distress, bringing the back of your hand to your forehead in an exaggerated manner. But the grin on your face betrays you. “So tell me, Darth Kestis. Did you perchance grow very powerful now that you’ve turned? Brought peace to the Republic?” 

“Indeed,” Cal responds, turning both swords off and clipping them to his belt. He places his hands on the railing on either side of you. 

“What about the younglings?” you ask, narrowing your eyes at him.

”All safely evacuated, of course,” he retorts, looking like he might add something else, but he decides against it. Instead, he continues, “I’ve brought peace, justice, freedom and security to our new Empire. I’ll overthrow the Chancellor. We can rule the galaxy together. You know how it goes.” 

His tone is so matter-of-fact, you raise a brow at him with a chuckle.

”So, will you join me? To rule together?” he asks, his tone surprisingly earnest, and it kind of makes your heart flutter a bit. 

Cal pushes himself off the metal bar, standing in front of you with an extended hand. In your mind, you can perfectly imagine your surroundings on the lava planet, everything bathed in reds and oranges. You give him a knowing smile, sighing dramatically.

”You know I always say the Queen should have gone with Vader.” Taking a step closer, you place your hand in his, and he brings it up to his lips to place a kiss on your knuckles. Without letting go, he lets his arm fall back down again. 

“So, what should our first official decree be?” he asks, his thumb brushing over the back of your hand as he comes even closer. You hum, as if musing it over, deep in thought. His face is so close to yours, you can feel his breath fanning over your cheeks.

”Free healthcare for everyone,” you start, and he hums in agreement. “Retirement plans for the Clones. Guaranteed food and housing for all inhabitants.” 

“Anything else?” he asks in a whisper, his lips brushing over your ear, sending tingles all over your skin. 

“And once the government stabilises a bit, I’ll bring you back to the light.” 

Cal stops his ministrations, pulling back to look at you in surprise. 

“Emperor or not,” you continue, bringing your free hand to cup his face. “I’d never let you lose yourself.” At this point, the line between reality and role-play is blurred. You swallow, feeling the heat rush to your face as you add, “You mean too much to me. I’d never give you up.” 

Cal’s brows furrow for a moment, then an unreadable expression washes over his face, and you fear you’ve ruined the moment. You open your mouth to say something, but your words get swallowed by his lips capturing yours. A squeak of surprise escapes you as he kisses you with urgency, but you reciprocate, bringing your arms around him to pull him closer. Cal’s hands sneak around your waist, slipping underneath the outermost layer of robes which aren’t cinched by the belt, hugging you to him. 

After breaking for air momentarily, he tilts his head slightly and kisses you again, this time much calmer. He pushes against you and you take a couple steps back until your backside hits the railing, where the kisses shift into a slow make-out.

“Hey lovebirds!” a voice calls out to you suddenly, and you both flinch in surprise. Cal takes a step back to give you some space, holding onto your hand as he turns to the patio door. Sabine and Ezra wave at you from there and call you inside, several more heads peeking out as well to see the spectacle, and you hear a whistle or two accompanied by cheering.

You groan in embarrassment, burying your face into Cal’s shoulder, who laughs heartily, and you feel it vibrate through your whole body, heart still racing. 

”We’ll be right there!” Cal calls to the group, then turns back to you. He places one last kiss on your temple as he unclips your sword from his belt, offering it to you. 

“Ready to go recruit more people for our cause?” he asks with his boyish smile that you love so much.

You bring your hand up to run through his hair, smoothing it down a bit after messing it up, then take the weapon from his hand. 

“And take down anyone who stands in our way,” you reply, placing a quick kiss on the tip of his nose as you take off. “Race you!”

”Hey, no fair!” he calls after you with a laugh, already spotting another Jedi in the crowd. Truth is, he didn’t care if he turned to the dark or light, as long as he was with you.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

🐥 taglist: [link to join in my pinned post!] @dybynyght @galaxtic-writings @kalea-bane @padawancat97 @riddikulus-obsessions @optimisticprime3 @starilicious @ivelostmyabilitytoeven @alternatescififandomelover @lovelyygirl8 @cathyket @wildefire @ghostkestis @reckoning-star @wyvernthekriger @padawan-solimar @batboysandgirls @toelady @hardkiddonut @theblazes-world @bluesprings18 @call-me-a-fool @braveangel780 @mmcringelordmcgee

[technologyequality]

AI-Powered Client Acquisition: Finding, Engaging, and Converting Your Ideal Customers

AI-Powered Client Acquisition Finding, Engaging, and Converting Your Ideal Customers So, you’ve optimized your pricing strategy with AI (if you haven’t, what are you doing?!). Now, let’s talk about what’s arguably even more important—getting the right people to pay those prices. Because here’s the thing: Not all customers are created equal. If you’re spending time chasing the wrong leads,…

[movingmusically]

Hello

Can I request an austin one shot where austin and single and the female lead is not she is In an high profile relationship like tomdaya and they are happy and engaged but she and austin are co starring In a movie together and they fell in love

Author's Note:

I wanted to make sure this was different from What Comes After, and I also struggled at first with how she’d go from being in a happy relationship to wanting to be with Austin instead. The film Endings, Beginnings and how the whole thing was improvised popped into my head and I thought that would be an interesting way to approach it. The film in the story isn’t based on that, just the location and method of filming.

Word Count: 13,514

Masterlist

Unscripted - Part 1

The engagement had been a media frenzy. Photos of the sparkling diamond ring on your finger had gone viral within hours, followed by countless headlines dubbing you and your fiancé Jack “Hollywood’s golden couple.” You were everything the public adored: glamorous but down-to-earth, talented but relatable. Together, you exuded a kind of effortless perfection that made people believe in fairytales.

You were happy. You had to remind yourself of that on mornings like this—when your schedule was packed with back-to-back meetings and the press continued to speculate on your wedding plans. Jack, one of the most sought-after actors of his generation, had always been your biggest supporter. His calming presence was the antidote to your whirlwind career, grounding you when the chaos threatened to overwhelm.

You’d met on the set of a film three years ago, and while your on-screen chemistry had been the talk of the industry, it had been nothing compared to what bloomed off-camera. Your relationship was the stuff publicists dreamed of and the world envied. You’d become a brand, a unit, your names almost synonymous with one another.

Still, there was a slight shift in the air lately, something neither of you had quite acknowledged. He’d begun talking more about slowing down, stepping back from the relentless pace of acting. He wanted to start a family, to settle into something quieter. You wanted that too—someday. But the timing felt like a conversation you both kept avoiding, and the weight of it sat unspoken between you.

Today wasn’t the day for that conversation. Today, you were about to embark on one of the most unconventional projects of your career.

The film was an experiment: no fixed script, only an outline that left room for improvisation, raw emotion, and organic discovery. It was a bold move, one that excited you as much as it terrified you. The director, Celeste, had insisted it would be a transformative experience—one that would strip away the artifice of performance and leave only truth.

Celeste had made a point of assembling the smallest possible team for the first leg of the shoot. You, Austin Butler, and Celeste herself would drive from Los Angeles to Big Sur together, stopping along the way to immerse yourselves in the mood and texture of the story. The idea was to break down barriers, to build the kind of trust and familiarity that would allow for true vulnerability once the cameras started rolling.

You’d only met Austin once before, at a cast dinner weeks ago. He’d been warm and easygoing, with an openness that had immediately put you at ease. You didn’t know much about him beyond the headlines—his recent string of critically acclaimed roles, the quiet but undeniable rise of his career—but there was something about his presence that felt grounding. Celeste had been adamant that his energy would complement yours perfectly on screen.

As you pulled into the studio lot where the road trip would begin, you spotted Celeste and Austin waiting by a beat-up vintage convertible that looked like it had seen better days. Austin leaned against the car, a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He looked effortlessly cool, but not in a way that felt curated. Just… comfortable.

Celeste waved as you stepped out of your car, her sunhat bobbing as she strode over to greet you. “There she is! Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?”

You laughed, adjusting the strap of your bag. “Let’s hope so.”

Austin straightened as you approached, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head. “Hey,” he said, his smile easy. “Good to see you again.”

“Likewise,” you said, feeling a little more at ease than you expected. “Is this our chariot?”

“She’s got personality,” Celeste said proudly, patting the hood of the car. “And that’s what we need for this kind of journey.”

The drive started off quietly, the kind of polite conversation you’d expect on a first meeting. But as the miles passed and the city gave way to open highway, the atmosphere shifted. Celeste played DJ, alternating between playlists she’d curated to set the tone for the film and moments of silence where only the sound of the wind rushing past filled the car.

Austin turned out to be an endless source of anecdotes and trivia, his stories punctuated by moments of genuine curiosity about you and Celeste. He had a way of making you laugh unexpectedly, his wit sharp but never cutting. By the time you stopped at a roadside diner for lunch, you felt like you’d known him much longer than a few hours.

Over plates of pancakes and endless coffee refills, the conversation turned to the film.

“This kind of work requires a lot of trust,” Celeste said, her eyes darting between you and Austin. “Not just with me, but with each other. There are going to be moments where you’ll have to push each other—emotionally, physically—and it won’t work unless you both feel safe.”

Austin nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I think that’s what excites me most about this project. It’s not about hitting marks or memorising lines. It’s about being completely present.”

You found yourself nodding too, though the reality of what Celeste was saying weighed on you. Vulnerability wasn’t something you struggled with as an actor, but the idea of sharing it so intimately with someone you barely knew was daunting.

Back on the road, the conversation flowed more freely. Celeste eventually fell asleep in the backseat, leaving you and Austin to fill the quiet. You talked about music, sharing songs back and forth through the car’s old cassette deck, and debated everything from the best road trip snacks to the most overrated movies of all time.

Somewhere along the winding coastal highway, Austin’s gaze shifted to your hand as you absently fidgeted with your engagement ring. “So,” he began, his tone casual but curious, “is it exciting, planning the wedding?”

You glanced down at your hand, surprised by the question. “We haven’t really started yet,” you admitted with a small shrug. “There’s been so much going on with work and Jack finishing his last project. We’re… taking it slow, I guess.”

“Fair enough,” he said, his smile easy. “Seems like the kind of thing that’d take a lot of energy to get right.”

You let out a soft laugh. “That’s part of it. I’m not exactly the ‘dream wedding’ type, you know? I never had a Pinterest board or anything like that. It feels kind of surreal even thinking about it.”

He nodded, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel. “Well, no rush. You’ve got time to figure it out.”

There was a beat of comfortable silence before you turned the question back to him. “What about you? Anyone special in your life?”

Austin shook his head, his smile turning a little wry. “Not right now. I’m taking a breather.”

“Taking a breather?” you asked, intrigued.

He glanced at you briefly, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah. I was in back-to-back relationships for… what, thirteen years? Both were great, but after the last one, I realised I didn’t really know what it felt like to just be on my own. So, I’m figuring that out.”

“That’s… really self-aware,” you said, genuinely impressed. “Most people just jump from one to the next without thinking about it.”

“Not saying it’s easy,” he admitted, his smile softening. “But it’s been good for me. Gives me time to focus on stuff like this.” He gestured toward the road, the film, the moment itself. “And not rush into anything I’m not ready for.”

You nodded, letting his words settle. There was an honesty to Austin that you appreciated, a lack of pretence that made it easy to talk to him. It was refreshing, especially in an industry that thrived on appearances.

As the conversation drifted back to music and movies, you realised how comfortable you felt. The kind of comfort that didn’t require effort or performance. It was rare, and you didn’t take it lightly.

By the time you reached Big Sur, the three of you were exhausted but buzzing with the energy of what lay ahead. The rugged beauty of the coastline stretched out before you, the waves crashing against the rocks in a rhythm that felt almost hypnotic.

Austin stood beside you as the sun dipped below the horizon, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. “This place is something else,” he said softly.

“Yeah,” you agreed, the words feeling too small for the moment. “It really is.”

You glanced at him, catching the way the golden light played across his face, softening the sharp angles of his jaw. There was an openness to his expression, a quiet appreciation that mirrored your own.

For the first time since signing on to the project, you let yourself believe Celeste might be right. Maybe this really would be transformative.

The first morning of filming began under the soft grey haze of Big Sur’s marine layer. The cliffside cabin serving as the main location felt like it was perched on the edge of the world, waves crashing dramatically against the rocks below. It was a far cry from the bustling studio sets you were used to. The air smelled of salt and pine, and the quiet was almost unnerving.

You were standing just off-set, holding your coffee like a lifeline, watching as the crew adjusted the camera angles for the first take. It wasn’t a huge team—just Celeste, two camera operators, a sound engineer, and a couple of production assistants. Enough to keep things moving, but without the layers of people usually involved in a project this ambitious.

“Are you as terrified as I am?”

The voice startled you out of your thoughts, and you turned to see Austin standing next to you, his own coffee in hand. His hair was tousled by the breeze, and there was a crooked smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re terrified?” you asked, a little incredulous. “You seemed so relaxed at the table read.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “That was all an act. Improvised, obviously.” His smile widened when you let out a soft laugh. “But seriously, yeah. No script, no set lines… It’s like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Hopefully, Celeste packed a trampoline.”

You smiled despite yourself, his honesty oddly comforting. “I guess I’m glad I’m not the only one.”

“We’re in it together,” he said, raising his coffee cup in a mock toast. “Here’s to not making fools of ourselves.”

You clinked your mug against his, the small gesture easing the tension in your chest. It was the first time you’d felt anything close to calm all morning.

The first scene was supposed to be simple. Just the two of you sitting at the weathered dining table in the cabin, talking about the past—your characters’ past, that is. Celeste had walked you through the beats during rehearsal: an old argument resurfacing, layers of unresolved tension starting to show. The scene had been lightly sketched out in the script, but Celeste had made it clear she didn’t want you tied to those lines.

“Use them if they feel natural,” she’d said as the camera operators took their places. “But don’t be afraid to let the conversation go wherever it needs to. If something’s not working, I’ll stop you.”

The first take was stiff. You kept glancing toward Austin, trying to gauge his reactions, while he seemed equally hesitant, fumbling over a line from the script that felt oddly formal in the context of the moment. Celeste stopped you after about three minutes.

“Okay, stop. That feels… forced,” she said, stepping into the scene with her notes in hand. “You’re trying too hard to hit the beats we talked about. Forget the script for now. Focus on the emotional core of the moment. What would your character actually say here?”

You glanced at Austin, who gave a small nod, his expression one of quiet determination. “Let’s try again,” he said, and you nodded in agreement.

The second take felt better. The conversation started naturally, with a few tentative improvisations that pushed the scene into more interesting territory. Celeste let you run with it for a full ten minutes before calling cut.

“Much better,” she said, a satisfied smile on her face. “But I want you to dig deeper. There’s still a sense of… holding back. Go further with the argument. It doesn’t have to be big or loud, but it has to feel real.”

With each take, you found yourself relaxing into the process. The lines blurred between performance and reality, your focus narrowing until it was just you, Austin, and the weight of the moment. By the fourth take, the tension in the scene felt palpable, the words spilling out in a way that felt raw and unfiltered. When Celeste finally called cut, you realised your hands were trembling slightly.

“That was it,” she said, her tone resolute. “That’s what I want. Keep following that instinct.”

Austin glanced at you as you both moved to the side to let the crew reset for the next scene. “That felt… different,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “In a good way.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, still catching your breath. “It’s kind of terrifying how real it gets, though.”

“Terrifying,” he echoed, a small smile playing on his lips. “But also kind of amazing, right?”

You nodded, and for a moment, there was a shared understanding between you, unspoken but undeniable.

The process continued like that for the next few days. Each scene started with the rough framework of the script but quickly evolved into something more fluid, more honest. Celeste encouraged you to let go of the idea of “performance” and instead focus on connection—both with your character and with Austin.

The trust between the two of you grew naturally out of that process. You learned to anticipate each other’s rhythms, to pick up on subtle cues and unspoken shifts in energy. There were moments when a scene would veer completely off course, only for Celeste to stop you and push you back toward something that worked. But more often than not, the improvisation led to unexpected moments of brilliance that none of you could have planned.

One evening, after filming wrapped for the day, you found yourself back at the small lodge where the cast and crew were staying during production. It was a cozy, rustic place nestled in the forest, with a communal living area where everyone would gather to unwind after the day’s work. Tonight, the mood was relaxed. Most of the crew had already turned in, and only a handful of people lingered in the lounge, nursing drinks and chatting softly.

You were curled up on one of the couches, a glass of wine in hand, absently listening to the murmur of conversation around you. The day’s scenes hadn’t been particularly intense—just quiet, character-building moments—but they’d left you with the familiar hum of satisfaction that came from creating something real.

Austin wandered in from the kitchen, a beer in hand, and spotted you sitting alone. He hesitated for a moment, then made his way over, dropping into the armchair opposite you with a tired sigh. “How’s the wine?” he asked, nodding toward your glass.

You smiled faintly. “Not bad, actually. Better than I expected for a place this remote.”

He chuckled, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Yeah, I’ll give them credit for that. The beer’s decent too.”

For a while, the two of you sat in companionable silence, the crackle of the fireplace filling the gaps in conversation. You were vaguely aware of the others in the room, but your focus was on the way the tension of the day seemed to ease in Austin’s presence.

“Do you ever feel like you’re still figuring this whole process out?” you asked suddenly, the words spilling out before you could think better of them.

Austin glanced at you, his brow furrowing slightly. “All the time,” he admitted. “Every day feels like… I don’t know, like we’re walking a tightrope without a net. But I think that’s part of what makes it exciting.”

You nodded, his words resonating with you. “I keep waiting for it to click, for it to feel… natural, I guess. But then Celeste tells me to forget what I thought I knew and just trust my instincts, and it throws me all over again.”

“It’s definitely a leap of faith,” he said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “But I think that’s why it’s working. Because we’re not trying to control it too much. We’re just… letting it happen.”

You swirled the wine in your glass, watching the way the firelight reflected in the deep red liquid. “Do you think we’re getting it right?”

Austin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied you. “I think we’re getting something real. And that’s more important than getting it ‘right.’”

His words hung in the air between you, their weight settling into the quiet. You met his gaze, and for a moment, the noise of the room seemed to fade, leaving just the two of you.

Eventually, you broke the silence, a small smile tugging at your lips. “That’s a very diplomatic answer.”

He laughed softly, sitting back in his chair. “What can I say? I aim to please.”

You rolled your eyes, but the tension in your chest eased slightly. Austin had a way of calming you, of making the uncertainty feel less daunting. You didn’t know if it was the way he spoke, or the way he carried himself, or the quiet confidence he seemed to exude even when he admitted he was scared. But whatever it was, you were grateful for it.

As the evening wore on, the room gradually emptied, leaving just a handful of stragglers scattered around. You and Austin stayed where you were, the conversation ebbing and flowing naturally. By the time you finally stood to head to your room, the wine had softened the edges of your thoughts, leaving you feeling lighter than you had in days.

“Goodnight,” Austin said as you gathered your things, his voice warm and familiar.

“Goodnight,” you replied, offering him a small smile before making your way upstairs. As you climbed the narrow staircase, a quiet sense of ease settled over you—one that had felt elusive since the project began. Maybe you didn’t have to have it all figured out yet. Maybe it was enough to just trust the process.

And maybe, just maybe, that trust would be enough to carry you through.

Back in your room, you sat cross-legged on the bed, phone in hand. The day had been long but productive, and the quiet of the cabin now felt almost too still after hours of filming. You scrolled through your messages, landing on the thread with Jack. It had been a couple of days since you’d last spoken properly—his own shooting schedule had him tied up on a set halfway across the world.

Hi, babe, you typed, fingers hovering over the screen as you debated what to say next. Filming’s going well. I miss you. Hope everything’s going smoothly on your end.

You hit send, not expecting a response. It was late here, and he was likely in the middle of his own long day, juggling lines and lighting setups. Still, you felt better having reached out, a small thread tying the two of you together across the distance.

The phone buzzed in your hand almost immediately, and Jack’s name flashed on the screen. He was FaceTiming.

Surprised, you accepted the call, and his face filled the screen, handsome as ever, though he looked a little tired. “Hey,” he greeted, his voice warm despite the faint chaos of background noise. He seemed to be outside, standing near a trailer with crew members milling around behind him.

“Hey,” you said, a smile spreading across your face. “Aren’t you supposed to be on set?”

“I’ve got five minutes before they need me,” he replied, his own smile widening. “Thought I’d check in. How’s it going out there?”

“It’s good,” you said, adjusting your phone as you leaned back against the pillows. “Different, though. The whole improv thing is a lot more intense than I thought it would be, but it’s working. I think.”

“I’m sure it is,” he said, his confidence in you unwavering. “How’s the rest of the cast? Or is it just you and Butler out there, staring moodily into the sunset?”

You laughed. “It’s not that dramatic. The crew’s great, and yeah, Austin’s easy to work with. He’s really good at this whole improv thing—makes it easier to stay in the moment.”

Jack nodded, though something flickered in his expression—a shadow, there and gone before you could read too much into it. “That’s good,” he said simply. “I’m glad it’s going well.”

“And you?” you asked, steering the conversation back to him. “How’s the shoot? Still stuck in endless night scenes?”

He groaned, running a hand through his hair. “You have no idea. I feel like a vampire. But it’s coming together. Just…really missing you right now.”

Your chest tightened at the words, guilt mixing with longing. “I miss you too,” you said softly. “But it’s just a few more weeks, right? Then we’ll have time to actually breathe.”

“Can’t come soon enough,” he said, glancing off-screen as someone called his name. “I’ve gotta go, babe. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Go be amazing,” you teased, though the warmth in your tone was genuine. He grinned, blowing a quick kiss to the camera. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” you said, the words lingering in the quiet after the call ended.

Setting the phone down on the nightstand, you stared at it for a moment, the reality of the distance between you settling in. Jack’s support was steady as always, but there was no ignoring how separate your worlds felt right now.

Shaking off the thought, you turned your attention back to the day ahead. You didn’t have time for doubt—not when tomorrow’s scenes would require you to dive even deeper into the dynamic you were building on screen.

The next morning, the set was buzzing with energy. Celeste had planned a particularly long scene—a continuation of a key sequence from the day before that relied heavily on Austin’s and your ability to improvise within the framework of the story. The script was only a guide now, and the pressure to stay in the moment was both exhilarating and daunting.

As the crew set up, Celeste called the two of you over.

“Okay,” she began, her voice calm but focused. “This scene’s going to push both of you a little further. I want it to feel as real as possible—don’t worry about sticking to the lines. If it takes a turn that feels natural, go with it. And if you hit a wall, just stop. We can always reset.”

You nodded, glancing at Austin, who gave you a small, reassuring smile. “Got it,” he said simply, his tone steady.

Celeste’s gaze softened. “You’re both doing great. Trust each other—that’s all I need from you.”

Trust. It was becoming a mantra on this set. You exhaled slowly, letting her words settle as the crew finished the last adjustments.

When the cameras rolled, the two of you eased into the scene. The dialogue started as scripted, a quiet conversation between the characters about what it meant to take risks—professionally, personally, emotionally. But as the minutes stretched on, the lines blurred, the conversation deepening in ways neither of you had planned.

Austin leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “What if it’s not enough? What if we try and fail?”

Your response wasn’t in the script, but it came out before you could stop it. “Then we fail. But at least we tried. Isn’t that the point?”

There was a beat of silence, the air between you charged. You could see the flicker of surprise in Austin’s eyes, but he didn’t miss a beat, leaning into the moment. “And if it’s too late to try?”

Your chest tightened, the vulnerability in his voice so raw it almost felt personal. You met his gaze, letting your own character’s doubt and fear seep into your response. “It’s never too late. You just have to decide it’s worth it.”

Celeste called cut, but the echo of the scene lingered as the crew began resetting for the next take. You sat back in your chair, your heart still racing from the intensity of the moment. Across from you, Austin gave you a small nod, his expression unreadable but his eyes warm. It was a subtle acknowledgment of what you’d both just created—a scene that felt alive in a way you hadn’t anticipated.

“Good work,” Celeste said as she passed, her tone approving but distracted as she moved toward the camera operator.

Austin leaned over slightly, his voice low enough that only you could hear. “That was good. Felt…real.”

You nodded, your breath still catching up with you. “Yeah. It did.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur of takes and retakes, each one pushing you both further into the story. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, the exhaustion was a welcome reminder of the progress you’d made.

Back at the cabin that evening, the cast and crew gathered for dinner—a tradition Celeste had insisted on to foster camaraderie. You found yourself seated between Austin and one of the crew members, the conversation easy and unguarded after the long day.

Austin nudged your arm lightly as dessert was served. “So, what’s your secret for keeping this up every day? Coffee? Adrenaline? Sheer willpower?”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “A little bit of everything, I think. And maybe the knowledge that I can crash the second this wraps.”

He smiled, his expression softening. “Well, whatever it is, it’s working.”

You thanked him, brushing off the compliment with a light remark, but something about his tone stuck with you long after the meal ended and you retreated to your room. It wasn’t anything overt, just a quiet kind of support that made you feel…seen.

Still, as you climbed into bed that night, you reminded yourself that this was just the nature of the work. Austin was a friend, a co-star, someone who was as committed to the film as you were. The trust between you was growing, and that was all it needed to be.

For now.

The final day of filming in Big Sur dawned with the same misty grey light that had greeted you every morning since arriving. There was a quiet melancholy to the air, as though the landscape itself knew this chapter was coming to a close. The crew moved efficiently, packing up equipment and loading it into the vans parked at the edge of the dirt driveway. Even Celeste seemed less chatty than usual, her focus entirely on ensuring the final takes captured the magic she was chasing.

The day’s scene was intimate but deceptively simple: just you and Austin walking along the rocky shoreline, your characters grappling with the weight of their shared history. Celeste had given only the barest direction, urging you to let the environment inform the dialogue and your movements.

“It’s the last moment before everything changes for them,” she’d said earlier that morning, her hands gesturing as if sculpting the idea in the air. “There’s still hope, but it’s fragile. Let that guide you.”

The ocean wind was brisk, tugging at your hair and stinging your cheeks as the cameras rolled. You let yourself sink into the moment, focusing on the rhythm of the waves and the sound of Austin’s footsteps crunching against the pebbled shore beside you. The words came naturally, unforced, your characters’ conversation weaving between silences that felt heavy with unspoken truths.

When Celeste finally called cut, the satisfaction on her face was clear. “That’s it,” she said simply. “We’ve got it.”

A ripple of applause rose from the small crew, a mix of relief and pride. You exhaled, the tension in your chest easing as you turned to Austin, who offered you a small smile. “Not a bad way to end things,” he said, his voice light but warm.

“Not bad at all,” you agreed, glancing back at the waves one last time before heading toward the cabin to pack.

The next few hours were a whirlwind of logistics. The vans were loaded, the cabin swept clean of any trace of your stay, and Celeste held a brief meeting to discuss the schedule for the next leg of the production. The next location was Mendocino, a small, picturesque seaside village known for its Victorian architecture.

As the convoy of vehicles pulled out onto the winding highway, you found yourself in the passenger seat of Austin’s car once again, Celeste trailing behind in one of the production vans. The road ahead felt different this time, less daunting than it had at the start of the journey. You were still nervous about what lay ahead, but the bond you’d built with Austin—and the trust you were beginning to feel in yourself—made the uncertainty a little easier to bear.

Mendocino came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting everything in a golden glow. The main street was quiet, lined with a mix of weathered shops and charming cafés, their signs swaying gently in the ocean breeze. The inn where the cast and crew would be staying was perched on a hill overlooking the water, its white clapboard exterior glowing faintly in the fading light.

By the time you arrived, the supporting cast had already settled in, their cars parked haphazardly in the small lot beside the inn. You recognised a few familiar faces from the table read weeks ago and felt a flicker of relief at the sight of them. The presence of other actors would shift the focus, giving you and Austin a reprieve from the constant intensity of the past few days.

The crew quickly unloaded their gear, and Celeste called a brief meeting in the inn’s lounge to go over the plan for the next few days. She spoke with her usual passion, outlining the scenes that would involve the expanded cast and the emotional beats she hoped to capture in the new location.

“This next section is crucial,” she said, her gaze sweeping the room. “It’s where the story begins to open up, where the world of these characters expands. We’ll still rely heavily on improvisation, but with the added dynamics of new relationships and tensions.”

Her words filled the air with a quiet anticipation, and you found yourself glancing at Austin. He caught your eye, offering a small nod that steadied you in a way you couldn’t quite explain.

As the meeting wrapped up, you retreated to your room to unpack and settle in. The energy in the inn was different from the cabin in Big Sur—livelier, with the hum of voices and laughter carrying down the hallways. You welcomed the change, though a small part of you missed the quiet intimacy of the past week.

Later that evening, as the cast and crew gathered for dinner in the inn’s dining room, you felt the weight of the day finally start to lift. The conversation flowed easily, the newcomers blending seamlessly with the core team from Big Sur. Austin was seated a few chairs down from you, engaged in a lively debate with one of the new actors.

You sipped your wine, the warmth spreading through you as you listened to the chatter around the table. The project still felt daunting in its scope, but the camaraderie in the room gave you hope that you weren’t in this alone.

The next morning, filming began in earnest. The new cast members brought a fresh energy to the set, their performances adding layers of complexity to the story. The scenes were messier, more chaotic, but in a way that felt alive and true to the world Celeste was building.

And through it all, you found yourself leaning on the trust you’d built with Austin. It wasn’t something you’d planned or even fully understood, but it was there—in the way he caught your eye when a scene felt particularly vulnerable, in the unspoken rhythm you’d developed in your performances, in the quiet moments between takes when a shared glance was all it took to steady your nerves.

The Big Sur chapter of the shoot was behind you, but its impact lingered, shaping the work you were creating now. The trust, the vulnerability, the willingness to take risks—it had all started there, on the edge of the world. And as the project moved forward, you couldn’t help but wonder how much further it would take you.

The following days were a whirlwind of energy. The small streets became a playground for improvisation, each corner lending itself to a new layer of the story. Scenes were filmed in cosy cafés, outside weathered storefronts, and on the rocky shoreline that stretched along the edge of town. The added dynamic of the new cast brought a fresh unpredictability to each take, challenging you and Austin to adapt in ways you hadn’t anticipated.

As the days stretched on, the intensity of the shoot ebbed and flowed. The lighthearted moments became just as important as the weighty ones, and the camaraderie among the cast and crew grew stronger. You found yourself laughing more—at Austin’s dry humour, at the impromptu singalongs that broke out between takes, at the way the smallest mishaps turned into inside jokes that bonded everyone together.

One evening, Celeste announced an impromptu break from filming. “We’ve been pushing hard,” she said, her tone unusually light. “Let’s take tomorrow off and recharge. You’ve earned it.”

The news was met with cheers and a ripple of relief. Plans were quickly made—a group hike along the coastal cliffs, a beach bonfire in the evening, and a promise of s’mores and storytelling under the stars.

The day off felt like a gift. The hike was both challenging and exhilarating, the sweeping views of the ocean a reminder of how far removed you were from the noise of the outside world. At the bonfire that evening, the crew gathered in a circle, their laughter mingling with the crackle of the flames. Someone produced a guitar, and soon the night was filled with music, the kind of impromptu concert that felt effortless and magical.

You found yourself sitting next to Austin, his arm draped casually over the back of your chair. He’d been the one to start the music, strumming a few chords before passing the guitar to someone else. Now, he was quiet, his gaze fixed on the firelight dancing across the waves.

“It feels good to just… be,” you said softly, your voice barely carrying over the sound of the waves.

He turned to you, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. It does.”

The moment felt simple, unguarded. You weren’t thinking about the film, or your schedule, or even the quiet weight of Jack’s absence. For the first time in weeks, you let yourself just exist, surrounded by people who felt like more than co-workers. They felt like a strange, temporary family.

As the night wore on, the circle thinned, and the laughter quieted. Eventually, it was just you and Austin left by the fire, the embers glowing faintly in the dark. You sat in comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need filling, until he finally spoke.

“You’ve changed since Big Sur,” he said, his voice thoughtful.

You looked at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “It’s like you’re… lighter. More open. It’s good to see.”

You considered his words, letting them settle. Maybe he was right. The experience so far had pushed you in ways you hadn’t expected, stripping away layers you didn’t even realise you’d been holding onto.

“Maybe I’m just getting used to all this,” you said, gesturing vaguely at the ocean, the crew, the stars above.

“Maybe,” he replied, though something in his tone suggested he thought it was more than that.

The following morning, the light was softer, diffused through the coastal fog that clung to the shoreline. There was a calmness to the air, but the day’s schedule suggested anything but. The scene planned for later carried a weight you’d felt in your chest ever since Celeste outlined it. It wasn’t just another improvisation. This one required peeling back layers you weren’t sure you wanted to expose—not just as your character, but as yourself.

The café where you were set to film was small and unassuming, tucked between a used bookstore and a gift shop that sold seashell wind chimes. Inside, the crew worked quickly to set up, the space buzzing with quiet efficiency. Austin was already seated at one of the corner tables, flipping through a worn paperback he’d found on a nearby shelf. He looked up as you walked in, offering a small smile that immediately steadied your nerves.

“You ready for this one?” he asked, closing the book and setting it aside.

You shrugged, though your heart was already racing. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He nodded, not pushing further, and you were grateful for it. The bond you’d built over the past weeks was unspoken but deeply felt, and moments like this reminded you how much you appreciated his presence.

Celeste gathered everyone just before the cameras rolled. Her instructions were clear but minimal, as always. “This is a conversation about loss,” she said, her gaze sweeping over you and Austin. “Don’t worry about the script. Let the emotion lead the way.”

The scene began simply enough, your character and Austin’s sitting at the café table, the low hum of ambient noise filling the space. The conversation started lightly, circling around memories of childhood and fleeting moments of happiness. But as the dialogue naturally shifted toward the weightier topic of loss, something shifted inside you.

You hadn’t planned for it, but the words you spoke felt too close to home. Your character was recounting a deeply personal memory—one of love and grief and guilt—and somewhere along the way, the line between the story and your own reality blurred. The details mirrored something from your past that you rarely allowed yourself to think about, let alone share.

Before you knew it, your voice cracked, and tears welled in your eyes. You tried to push through, to stay in the moment, but the emotions surged uncontrollably. The tears came harder, spilling over as your chest heaved with a sob you hadn’t meant to release.

Austin leaned forward slightly, his voice soft and steady as he responded to your character’s pain. He didn’t break the scene; instead, he anchored it, his words and presence pulling you through even as your emotions overwhelmed you. The camera captured everything—your trembling hands, your tear-streaked face, the rawness you couldn’t hide.

When Celeste finally called cut, the café fell into a stunned silence. You wiped at your face, suddenly self-conscious, and glanced around. The crew looked momentarily frozen, as if unsure whether to celebrate the take or check on you. Celeste stepped in quickly, her voice warm but direct.

“That was incredible,” she said, her eyes filled with genuine awe. “But I need to make sure you’re okay.”

You nodded, your throat too tight to speak, and waved off the concern. “I’m fine,” you managed, though the words felt hollow.

The crew buzzed around, resetting for a few additional takes, but you stayed in the corner, trying to collect yourself. Celeste gave you space, though you could feel her watchful eye on you. Only Austin approached, his steps quiet and deliberate as he pulled a chair beside yours.

“Hey,” he said softly, his tone laced with concern. “Are you really okay?”

You hesitated, the instinct to brush him off warring with the need to be honest. Finally, you exhaled and shook your head. “Not really,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

He waited, not pushing, just giving you the space to speak if you wanted to. And, somehow, you did.

“The scene…” you began, swallowing hard. “It’s close to something that happened to me. Almost exactly, actually. And I didn’t realise it until we were in it.”

Austin’s expression softened, his brow furrowing with quiet empathy. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice gentle. “That must’ve been… a lot.”

You nodded, tears pricking at your eyes again. “It was. I don’t really talk about it—not with anyone, not even Jack. It’s just one of those things I’ve kept buried because… I don’t know. It’s easier that way.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, his gaze steady but kind. “Sometimes things like that don’t stay buried,” he said finally. “And maybe they’re not supposed to.”

His words settled over you like a balm, soothing the raw edges of your emotions. You looked at him, grateful for the understanding in his eyes, for the way he didn’t try to fix or analyse what you were feeling. He was just there, solid and present in a way you hadn’t expected.

“Thank you,” you murmured, your voice still shaky. “For being there in the scene. I don’t think I could’ve gotten through it without you.”

He smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting just enough to ease the tension in your chest. “You didn’t need me. You were incredible.”

You huffed a quiet laugh, the sound bittersweet. “It didn’t feel incredible.” “Trust me,” he said, his voice firm but kind. “It was.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur. The crew wrapped early, satisfied with the raw, unfiltered magic of the scene. Back at the lodge that night, you replayed the moment in your mind, the emotions still lingering but no longer as overwhelming. For the first time in a long while, you felt like you’d let go of something you didn’t even realise you’d been holding onto.

Austin’s words echoed in your mind as you drifted off to sleep: Sometimes things like that don’t stay buried. And maybe they’re not supposed to.

The last few days in Mendocino felt like a bittersweet goodbye. The small town and its windswept coastline had become more than just a location; it was a cocoon where trust was built, boundaries were stretched, and the film began to take on a life of its own. Each scene filmed felt like another step into uncharted territory, the improvisation yielding raw, vulnerable moments that surprised even Celeste.

The final day of filming was marked by a reflective quiet among the cast and crew. Everyone knew the next phase would bring more people, more structure, and the inevitable sense of detachment that came with a bigger production.

Austin caught your eye as the last take wrapped, a flicker of something unspoken passing between you. Over the past weeks, the rhythm of working with him had become second nature. You didn’t need to fill the silence or overanalyse every look. There was trust now—earned and understood—and it had made you both better, freer.

Celeste called everyone together for a brief toast, raising her glass of sparkling water as she stood on the creaky wooden deck overlooking the Pacific. “This leg of the journey has been transformative,” she said, her voice soft but purposeful. “Thank you all for trusting me—and each other. What we’ve captured here is the foundation, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The group cheered, the clinking of glasses echoing into the cool evening air. You stood with Austin, your glass of wine cradled in your hand as you watched the waves roll against the jagged cliffs below.

“We did good, huh?” Austin said, his tone casual but his smile genuine.

“Yeah,” you agreed, a small smile tugging at your lips. “We did.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, you felt a pang of something close to loss. The familiarity of this place, of this group, would soon be replaced by the chaos of the next stage of filming. But for now, you let yourself linger in the moment, the salty breeze on your face and the quiet hum of satisfaction in your chest.

*

The energy on set shifted with the arrival of Jack. His presence carried an undeniable charisma, the kind that turned heads and made people gravitate toward him without effort. You’d been looking forward to his visit—it had been months since you’d seen him, and the separation had been harder than you’d anticipated.

He arrived on a crisp, sunny afternoon, stepping out of a black SUV with his signature easy grin. You felt your heart lift as you crossed the gravel drive to meet him, his arms pulling you into a warm hug. “Missed you,” he murmured against your hair, his voice a low rumble that still made your chest flutter.

“Missed you too,” you replied, pulling back just enough to look at him. “How was Europe?”

“Long,” he said with a chuckle. “But I wrapped a few days early, so here I am.” He glanced at you, his smile softening. “I wanted to see you before things get crazy again. The press tour for Legacy starts next week, and I’ll be bouncing between cities for the next month. Who knows when we’ll actually get more than a few hours together?”

His words lingered in your mind as you settled into the rhythm of his visit, a mix of gratitude for his effort to be there and the quiet awareness of how fleeting this time together would be.

The next few days were a whirlwind of catching up, showing Jack around the new location, and stealing moments together between filming. He charmed the crew effortlessly, his natural ease winning them over. You couldn’t help but notice how different his presence felt compared to Austin’s—Jack was magnetic in a way that drew everyone in, but with him came the weight of familiarity, expectations, and the life you’d built together.

One evening, as the two of you sat on the porch of the rental house you were staying in, the conversation turned to the wedding. You were curled up in a chair, a blanket draped over your legs, while Jack leaned against the railing, a beer in hand.

“I’ve been thinking about venues,” he said, his tone casual but deliberate. “Something classic. Maybe a grand estate or a cathedral. Lots of space for everyone to celebrate.”

You hesitated, your fingers tightening slightly around the mug of tea in your hands. “That sounds… big,” you said carefully. “I always thought something smaller might feel more personal. Maybe just close friends and family, more like a party than a formal event.”

Jack frowned slightly, though he tried to hide it with a shrug. “I get that, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Don’t you want it to feel special?”

“I do,” you said, your voice quieter now. “But ‘special’ doesn’t have to mean huge, you know? I’ve just never pictured the big white wedding. Honestly, I never really thought about a wedding at all.”

That admission seemed to catch him off guard. He studied you for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “So you never thought about it? Not even as a kid?”

You shook your head, offering a faint smile. “Not really. It’s not that I didn’t want to get married, I just… didn’t think about it much. And when I did, it was always something simple.”

Jack exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I guess we’ve got some things to figure out there,” he said, his tone light but tinged with something deeper.

The conversation lingered in the air between you, unresolved but not tense. Still, it left a faint knot in your stomach—a reminder that as much as you loved Jack, there were pieces of your future that didn’t align as seamlessly as you’d hoped.

The next day, as the two of you walked along the beach, the topic shifted to life after the wedding. Jack’s voice was steady, but his words carried a weight that felt impossible to ignore.

“I’ve been thinking about what comes next,” he said, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I’m ready to slow down, you know? Step back from the crazy pace and focus on… other things. A family.”

You felt your breath hitch, the implications of his words settling heavily in your chest. “You want to start a family right away?”

“Don’t you?” he asked, his tone gentle but expectant. “I mean, I know things are busy right now, but I figured we’d both take a step back after the wedding. Focus on what really matters.”

You hesitated, the words caught in your throat. “I do want that,” you said finally, your voice careful. “Someday. But I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet. There’s still so much I want to do, and—”

“And you’re not sure how it fits with all of this,” he finished for you, his tone more understanding than accusatory.

You nodded, grateful that he didn’t push, but the weight of the conversation lingered as you walked back to the house in silence.

When Jack left a few days later, the goodbye was warm but laced with an unspoken heaviness. He kissed you softly, his hands lingering on your waist as he promised to call the moment he landed. But as you stood in the driveway, watching his car disappear down the road, a hollow ache settled in your chest. You loved him, and you believed he loved you, but it was becoming painfully clear that love alone might not be enough to bridge the growing divide between the futures you both envisioned.

Back in your room, you perched on the edge of the bed, your gaze fixed on the ring glinting on your finger. The life you’d planned with Jack still felt like a dream you desperately wanted to hold onto, but cracks had started to spiderweb through its foundation. For the first time, you wondered if those cracks could ever be repaired—or if they would only deepen with time.

The house felt quieter in his absence, his presence lingering like an echo in rooms that now seemed emptier. The press tour would keep him away for weeks, and while you were no stranger to long stretches apart, this time felt different. The unresolved conversations about the wedding and your future hovered over you like a storm cloud, unrelenting and impossible to ignore.

Still, the demands of the set didn’t leave much room for reflection. The next phase of filming required your full attention, and though your mind kept circling back to Jack, you were determined not to let the weight of it all seep into your performance.

*

Celeste had saved the most intimate scenes for last, knowing that the weeks spent working together would build the trust required to handle them. You’d anticipated this part of the shoot with equal parts excitement and dread, unsure of how vulnerable you’d be willing—or able—to make yourself in front of the camera.

The day of the kiss scene arrived with a kind of nervous energy hanging over the set. You’d spent the morning running through the choreography with Austin and the intimacy coordinator, mapping out the movements and discussing boundaries in meticulous detail. It wasn’t your first on-screen kiss—not by a long shot—but something about this felt different. More charged. Maybe it was the nature of the film, the way Celeste’s process demanded you strip away pretence. Or maybe it was the weeks of building trust with Austin, the quiet understanding that had grown between you.

“Remember, it’s not about the kiss,” Celeste had said during rehearsal, her tone calm but firm. “It’s about everything that leads to it. The hesitation, the unspoken questions, the pull of wanting something but not being sure you can take it. That’s where the tension lives.”

Now, as you stood on set, an apartment with the aftermath of a house party still lingering in the scattered glasses and empty bottles on the kitchen counter, your heart raced in a way you couldn’t entirely attribute to your character. The warm, dim light of the living room lamps cast soft shadows across the space, the hum of the city below faint through the open window. The camera was set up to follow the smallest details—the brush of a hand, the flicker of an eyelash, the moments in between the words.

Austin stood across from you, his hands resting loosely at his sides. His posture was relaxed, but you could see the same tension in his jaw that you felt tightening in your chest. He caught your eye just before the cameras rolled, offering a small, reassuring nod. You nodded back, your breathing steadying as you focused on the moment.

“Quiet on set,” Celeste called, her voice cutting through the soft hum of the crew. “And… action.”

The scene began with silence, your characters standing across from each other in the softly lit room. The dialogue from earlier had already softened into something unspoken, the weight of the moment hanging heavily between you. You shifted slightly, your hand brushing the edge of the couch beside you as if grounding yourself.

Austin’s gaze found yours, hesitant but intent. He stepped closer, the creak of the wooden floor beneath his boots the only sound. His movements were deliberate, careful, as though testing the boundaries of the space between you.

“You don’t have to stay,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper, the line trembling with the vulnerability of your character.

“And if I want to?” Austin replied, his tone low, almost tentative. The words carried layers of meaning, each one pressing closer to the unspoken.

You didn’t answer right away. Instead, you let the silence stretch, your eyes searching his face as though looking for the answer there. His gaze flicked to your lips, just for a second, before meeting your eyes again. The air between you seemed to hum, the tension so palpable you felt it in your fingertips.

Austin raised his hand, the movement slow, giving you every opportunity to react. His fingers brushed lightly against your jaw, the touch so gentle it sent a shiver down your spine. Your breath hitched, but you didn’t pull away. Instead, you tilted your head slightly, leaning into his touch without realising it.

The kiss wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t even immediate. He leaned in slowly, pausing just before your lips could meet, his breath warm against your skin. Your eyes stayed locked on his, the world narrowing to this moment, this connection.

The first brush of his lips was barely there—a tentative question more than a statement. You responded in kind, your movements careful but steady, letting the kiss deepen naturally. It was soft at first, exploratory, but the intensity grew with each passing second. The kiss wasn’t just physical; it carried the weight of everything your characters couldn’t say aloud.

When Celeste called cut, the spell didn’t break immediately. You and Austin stayed close, your forehead almost resting against his as you caught your breath. His hand slipped away from your jaw, and he took a small step back, his expression unreadable but warm.

“That was… incredible,” Celeste said, her voice filled with quiet awe. “Let’s reset for another take, but honestly, I think we might already have it.”

The crew moved efficiently, resetting the camera angles and adjusting the lighting. You stayed where you were, your breathing steadying as the moment settled over you. Austin caught your eye, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You good?” he asked softly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

You nodded, your own lips curving into a faint smile. “Yeah. You?”

“Yeah,” he said, his gaze holding yours for just a moment longer than necessary.

The second take carried the same weight, the same raw intensity. By the time Celeste called cut again, you felt both exhausted and exhilarated. The intimacy coordinator approached, checking in to make sure you and Austin were comfortable. You reassured her that you were fine, and as the crew began packing up, you found yourself lingering in the quiet space of the set.

Austin was still there, leaning against the edge of the table as he scrolled through his phone. When he looked up and saw you, he tilted his head slightly, his expression soft.

“You did great today,” he said, his tone casual but sincere.

“Thanks,” you replied, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “You too.”

He smiled, a quiet sort of understanding passing between you. The boundaries you’d set, the trust you’d built—it had all come together in that moment, creating something neither of you could fully explain but both of you could feel.

As you left the set that evening, the weight of the scene stayed with you, not as a burden but as a reminder of what you were capable of. The vulnerability, the trust, the connection—it had all been real, even if only for those fleeting moments.

The intimacy of the scenes had grown with each passing day. At first, it was subtle: the brush of a hand against a cheek, the lingering closeness of a whispered conversation. But soon, those moments gave way to bolder, unfiltered interactions. The boundaries, though clear and respected, felt fluid in the way Celeste encouraged you and Austin to find the truth of each scene.

By the time the sex scene arrived on the schedule, you felt a complicated mix of emotions. You’d filmed sex scenes before, but this one felt different—not because of the nudity or the vulnerability, but because of the process. There would be no perfectly timed cutaways or carefully constructed edits to obscure the rawness of it. The camera would roll, and you and Austin would simply exist in the moment, guided only by the connection you’d built over weeks of trust.

The scene was set in the dimly lit bedroom of the apartment where your characters were staying—a space that felt intimate without being overtly romantic. The bed was unmade, the lighting soft and golden, casting long shadows across the room. The crew was reduced to the absolute minimum: Celeste, the cinematographer, and the intimacy coordinator, who gave you and Austin a final check-in before stepping back.

“You know the beats,” Celeste said softly, her voice calm and grounding. “But don’t feel confined by them. Let it happen naturally. If something feels right, follow it. If something feels wrong, stop. We’ll work around it.”

You nodded, your heart thundering in your chest as you exchanged a glance with Austin. He looked steady, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—nerves, maybe, or anticipation.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice low, almost intimate in itself.

You nodded again, swallowing hard. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

The scene began with you standing by the edge of the bed, your characters mid-conversation, the words laced with a vulnerability that had been building over the course of the story. The tension between you was palpable, unspoken but heavy in the air.

Austin stepped closer, his movements slow, deliberate. His hand reached for yours, his fingers brushing against your palm before curling gently around it. The touch felt tentative at first, but as the moment stretched, it deepened, his thumb tracing small, almost imperceptible circles against your skin.

You could feel the warmth of his body as he stepped even closer, his free hand lifting to brush a strand of hair from your face. The gesture wasn’t scripted, but it felt natural, his fingertips grazing your temple before sliding back to cup your jaw. Your breath hitched, the proximity sending a ripple of tension through you that wasn’t entirely tied to the scene.

When his lips finally met yours, it wasn’t hurried or mechanical. The kiss was soft, exploratory, his mouth moving against yours with a tenderness that felt almost too personal. Your hands found his chest, the fabric of his shirt warm beneath your palms as you leaned into the kiss, your movements hesitant at first but growing bolder as the moment deepened.

His hands moved to your waist, the grip firm but careful as he guided you back toward the bed. The loose structure of the scene came into play here, the choreography giving way to instinct as you let yourself respond to the moment. He kissed you again, harder this time, his hands sliding beneath the hem of your shirt to rest against the bare skin of your back. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through you, your breath catching as his fingers traced the curve of your spine.

The process of undressing was slow, deliberate, each movement carrying an unspoken question and answer. You pulled his shirt over his head, your fingers brushing against the smooth expanse of his chest as he worked to remove your own. When his hands found the clasp of your bra, you nodded subtly—an unspoken agreement you’d rehearsed before—and he slid the straps from your shoulders, letting the fabric fall away.

His gaze dropped to your bare chest, and his touch was reverent, his fingers trailing lightly along the curve of your breasts. The intimacy coordinator’s presence was a faint reassurance in the back of your mind, but in the moment, all you could focus on was the heat of his skin against yours, the way his thumbs brushed over your nipples with a gentleness that sent a wave of sensation coursing through you.

You let your hands wander lower, finding the waistband of his jeans and hesitating for only a moment before undoing the button. The modesty covers waited in the background, the last barrier you’d discussed and agreed upon, but everything else was stripped away. When you were finally both undressed, the covers placed discreetly between you, the vulnerability of the moment hit you with full force.

The bed creaked softly as he lowered you onto the mattress, his weight shifting above you as his hands explored your body with a mix of hesitancy and confidence. Your breathing grew shallow, your heart pounding as his lips trailed down your neck, the heat of his mouth searing against your skin. Every touch, every movement felt amplified, the boundaries between performance and reality blurring in a way that left you breathless.

When his hips moved against yours, the thin barrier of the modesty cover did little to mask the intimacy of the moment. His movements were slow, deliberate, the friction sparking a heat between you that felt almost unbearable. You arched beneath him, your hands finding his shoulders, his back, your nails digging in slightly as you let yourself be fully present in the scene.

The cameras captured everything—the subtle arch of your back, the way your fingers gripped his skin, the quiet, unguarded sounds that escaped your lips. It was raw, unfiltered, and unlike anything you’d ever filmed before. The combination of the style of filming and Austin’s ability to stay so present made it feel achingly real in a way that left you shaken.

When Celeste finally called cut, the silence that followed was heavy, almost tangible. You stayed still for a moment, your chest heaving as you tried to process the intensity of what had just happened. Austin was the first to move, pulling back slightly as his gaze flickered to yours, then quickly away.

His expression wasn’t unreadable this time—it was hesitant, almost bashful, a faint flush creeping up his neck. You realised with a start that he wasn’t entirely unaffected by the scene either. The realisation sent a rush of warmth to your cheeks, and you quickly averted your eyes, suddenly hyperaware of your breathing, your skin, the lingering heat between you.

The intimacy coordinator approached with robes, her voice warm and reassuring as she handed them to you both. You snatched yours with a quiet “Thanks,” your hands fumbling slightly as you wrapped the fabric around yourself. Austin did the same, his movements quick and a little stiff, as if he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the atmosphere tinged with an awkwardness that felt almost surreal after the vulnerability of the scene. You found yourself avoiding his gaze, your fingers twisting in the knot of the robe’s belt as you tried to find something—anything—to say.

“That was…” you began, but the words trailed off, your voice too soft to carry any real weight.

Austin glanced at you then, a faint, sheepish smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah,” he said, his voice quiet and a little hoarse. “That was… something.”

You nodded quickly, your own awkward laugh escaping before you could stop it. “Definitely… something.”

The crew began resetting the room for additional takes, their movements brisk and efficient, but the two of you stayed rooted in place, neither willing to break the fragile silence. When Austin finally spoke again, his voice was even softer.

“You okay?”

You nodded, finally meeting his gaze, though the heat in your cheeks hadn’t subsided. “Yeah. Just… weird, I guess.”

He let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. Weird’s a good word for it.”

The shyness between you was almost endearing, a stark contrast to the raw intimacy you’d just shared. It made everything feel a little more human, a little more real. And though you weren’t sure what to make of the lingering tension, for now, you were grateful for the brief reprieve the moment of lightness provided.

The following days on set were a blur of moments that felt too real to call acting. You couldn’t pinpoint when exactly it started, but something had shifted in the way you felt around Austin. It wasn’t obvious—just a flicker of awareness that hadn’t been there before. The way your pulse quickened when his eyes met yours across the room, the faint flutter in your chest when he said your name, the heat that crept up your neck whenever his hand brushed yours during a scene.

It wasn’t just the intimacy of the performances, though that certainly played a part. The improvisation had forced you to trust each other in a way you hadn’t experienced with anyone else on set before. Every word, every movement, every glance felt like a tightrope walk without a net, and Austin had become the person you leaned on to keep your balance. That kind of connection didn’t just fade when the cameras stopped rolling.

You hated the way it made you feel—giddy, flustered, like a teenager with a crush. You hated the way your mind replayed certain moments, unbidden: the way he’d held your gaze in that last take, his voice low and steady, grounding you in a moment that had felt too raw to fake. And most of all, you hated the guilt that followed. The way it gnawed at you every time you thought of Jack.

Jack, who had been nothing but supportive, who loved you unconditionally, who was planning a future with you. The life you’d built together suddenly felt like a fragile thing, teetering on the edge of something you didn’t want to name. You told yourself it was just the nature of the work—that spending so much time in emotionally charged, vulnerable scenes would mess with anyone’s head. It didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t.

And yet.

It was a quiet moment on set when you felt the weight of it most acutely. You were seated in a corner of the room, flipping through your outline for the next scene. Austin was across from you, stretching out on one of the couches with a paperback in his hands. The rest of the crew milled about, setting up for the next shot, but the noise felt distant, like background static. You couldn’t stop stealing glances at him, your gaze darting away whenever he shifted, terrified he might notice.

Your phone buzzed in your lap, pulling you out of your thoughts. Jack’s name lit up the screen, and your stomach twisted with a mix of relief and dread. You quickly opened the message.

Hope the shoot’s going well. Miss you. Call me tonight if you can.

You stared at the words, your chest tightening. Guilt surged through you, sharp and unrelenting. You missed him too. Of course you did. But the thought of talking to him now, with your emotions tangled and frayed, felt overwhelming.

“Everything okay?”

Austin’s voice startled you, and you looked up to find him watching you, his book forgotten in his lap. There was a softness to his expression, an unspoken understanding that made your heart ache.

“Yeah,” you said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just tired. It’s been a long week.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment before he looked away. “Tell me about it,” he said lightly, though the concern in his voice hadn’t entirely disappeared.

You focused on your script, but the words blurred together, your mind racing. Every time you convinced yourself it was just the work, that your feelings were nothing more than a side effect of the intense, intimate nature of the project, something like this would happen. A look, a word, a shared silence that felt too heavy, too meaningful. And no matter how hard you tried to push it down, the feelings refused to go away.

That evening, back at your apartment, the guilt finally caught up with you. Jack called as promised, and you forced yourself to answer, plastering on a smile you hoped would carry through your voice.

“Hey,” you said, curling up on the couch with your knees tucked under you. “How’s the tour going?”

“Busy,” he said, his voice warm but tired. “You know how these things are. City to city, interview after interview. I swear I’ve answered the same question about fifty times.”

You laughed softly, the sound hollow in your own ears. “You’re good at it, though. It’s part of your charm.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” he teased, but there was an edge of weariness to his tone. “How about you? How’s filming?”

“It’s… intense,” you admitted, your fingers tracing the edge of a throw pillow. “But it’s going well. Celeste is amazing, and the whole process has been… different. Challenging, in a good way.”

“And Austin?” Jack asked, his voice casual, but the question caught you off guard.

“What about him?” you asked, your tone a little too quick, too defensive.

Jack chuckled lightly. “Nothing, just wondering how it’s been working with him. You mentioned he’s good at the improv thing.”

“He is,” you said, forcing your voice to even out. “He’s great to work with. Makes it easy to stay in the moment.”

“Good,” Jack said, his tone light but distant. “I’m glad it’s going well.”

The conversation drifted after that, settling into the usual rhythm of updates and reassurances. But when the call ended, you felt more drained than before. The weight of your guilt pressed down on you, heavier than ever. You curled up on the couch, staring at the darkened screen of your phone, and told yourself—for the hundredth time—that this was just a phase. Just the stress of the shoot messing with your head.

But deep down, you knew it wasn’t that simple. Something had changed, and no matter how hard you tried to ignore it, the truth was becoming impossible to deny.

The final days of filming were laced with a quiet melancholy, a sense of something extraordinary coming to an end. The cast and crew worked with the same focus and dedication as always, but the undercurrent of finality gave each moment a bittersweet weight. You found yourself caught in a strange mix of relief and sadness. Relief, because once the project wrapped, you’d finally have the distance you needed to sort through your feelings. Sadness, because some part of you knew this experience—this strange, raw connection you’d built with Austin—was unlike anything you’d have again.

The last scene on the schedule was appropriately intimate: a quiet moment of reconciliation between your characters after weeks of tension and conflict. It wasn’t physical, but the emotional vulnerability required was almost harder. Celeste’s direction had been characteristically minimal, leaving room for the improvisation that had defined the project.

The scene unfolded in the dimly lit living room of the set, the air heavy with everything left unsaid. Austin sat across from you on the worn couch, his character’s regret etched in every line of his body. You could feel the weight of his gaze as he spoke, his words quiet but charged.

“You were right,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I was scared. I still am. But I don’t want to lose you.”

The line wasn’t in the script, but it hit like a punch to the chest. You drew a shaky breath, your character’s hesitance blending with your own.

“Sometimes, I don’t think love is enough,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. “What if we break each other trying to make this work?”

Austin’s expression softened, the raw vulnerability in his eyes making it almost impossible to stay in character.

“Then we break,” he said simply. “But at least we’ll know we tried.”

The words lingered in the charged silence, neither of you moving until Celeste’s voice finally cut through. “And cut. Beautiful. That’s a wrap.”

The room erupted into applause, but you couldn’t move, your breath still catching in your throat. Austin leaned back slightly, his gaze meeting yours for a moment longer before he broke into a small, exhausted smile.

“Good work,” he said, his tone casual but warm.

“Yeah,” you managed, forcing yourself to smile back. “You too.”

As the crew began packing up, the reality of it all hit you. This was it. The end.

The cast and crew dinner was a lively, bittersweet affair. The small coastal restaurant buzzed with energy, everyone basking in the afterglow of finishing something truly unique. Plates of food and bottles of wine covered the long tables, laughter echoing through the space as stories from the shoot were shared like prized memories. It felt like a celebration and a farewell all at once.

You sat near the centre of the table, caught between conversations but not fully in any of them. Your mind wandered to the last few weeks—the long days on set, the improvisations that had pushed you to your emotional limits, the quiet moments when it was just you and Austin navigating a scene together. You glanced down the table at him now, watching as he laughed at something one of the camera operators said, his expression relaxed, his guard down in a way you hadn’t seen much before.

It was hard to explain the pull you felt toward him, the quiet gravity that had developed between you over the course of the shoot. You told yourself it was just the nature of the work—the intensity of the project, the vulnerability it demanded. But as the night went on, you found it harder to ignore how deeply that connection had embedded itself into your thoughts.

When the noise inside became too much, you excused yourself and slipped outside. The cool night air greeted you, a stark contrast to the warmth and chatter inside. You leaned against the wooden railing, staring up at the stars scattered across the sky. The weight of everything—the project, the goodbyes, the unspoken feelings you didn’t know how to handle—settled heavily in your chest.

The sound of footsteps behind you made you turn. Austin stepped into view, a cigarette dangling loosely between his fingers, his jacket slung over his shoulder. He nodded to you as he approached, his steps unhurried.

“Thought I’d find you out here,” he said, his voice low and familiar.

You offered a small smile, turning back to the sky. “Needed some air. It’s loud in there.”

He lit his cigarette, the orange glow briefly illuminating his face before he exhaled a thin stream of smoke. He leaned against the railing beside you, quiet for a moment before he spoke again. “Feels strange, doesn’t it? Knowing it’s over.”

You nodded, the truth of his words sinking in. “Yeah. It does. I keep thinking about everything we did, every scene we shot. It’s hard to believe it’s finished.”

Austin turned slightly to look at you, his expression thoughtful. “Do you think it’ll ever feel finished? Like, even when it’s out there and people are watching it… do you think we’ll feel like we’re done with it?”

You hesitated, his question catching you off guard. “I don’t know,” you admitted. “I think this kind of project stays with you. It’s not like anything I’ve done before. It’s more… personal.”

He nodded slowly, taking another drag of his cigarette. “Yeah. Personal’s a good word for it. I don’t think I’ve ever been this exposed in a role before. It’s like… we weren’t just playing these characters. We were putting parts of ourselves into them.”

You glanced at him, his words resonating deeply. “Exactly. And it’s scary, right? Like, people are going to see pieces of us we probably didn’t even mean to share.”

“Terrifying,” he agreed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But also kind of… freeing? Like, we left something real behind. Something people will feel.”

You looked back at the stars, his words settling over you like a weight and a comfort all at once. “It feels bigger than us,” you said softly. “Like it doesn’t belong to just us anymore.”

Austin nodded, the silence between you charged with understanding. “We made something special,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’ve never worked on anything like this before. And I don’t think I ever will again.”

You turned to face him, the sincerity in his voice making your chest tighten. “Me neither,” you admitted. “It’s… one of those things you’ll always carry with you, I think.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the quiet stretching between you as the sounds of the ocean filled the space. You wanted to say more, to tell him how much his presence had meant to you during the shoot, how he’d made it possible for you to go places emotionally you never thought you could. But the words felt too heavy, too dangerous to voice.

Austin stubbed out his cigarette on the railing, his movements slow and deliberate. “I’m going to miss this,” he said finally, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

“Me too,” you said softly, the words feeling inadequate for the depth of what you meant.

When he turned to look at you, his expression was open, unguarded. There was something in his eyes—something raw and unspoken—that made your breath catch. But before it could shift into something more, he smiled, a quiet, bittersweet expression that somehow made your chest ache even more.

“Goodnight,” he said, his voice warm but laced with finality.

“Goodnight,” you murmured, watching as he stepped back inside.

You stayed out there for a while, the night air cooling your flushed cheeks as you tried to make sense of everything swirling inside you. The project was over, and soon you’d be back to your life with Jack. The distance would help, you told yourself. It would give you the space you needed to bury whatever this was.

But as you stood there under the stars, the memory of Austin’s voice, his presence, lingered like a faint imprint on your skin. You pressed your hands to the railing, closing your eyes against the sharp pang of guilt that rose in your chest.

Back in your room that night, you stared at the ceiling, the events of the evening playing on a loop in your mind. Austin’s words, his presence, the way he made you feel—it was all too much.

But this was the end. Filming was over, and you had a life to return to. Jack. Your engagement. The future you’d been planning together.

You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. The feelings you’d developed for Austin—whatever they were—had no place in your life.

Distance would fix this. It had to.

[valtsv]

fuck it. silt verses oc masterpost. eat up.

- anastasis crane - god-hunter, atheist, and wandering vagabond. both predator and prey in a single being. does dirty work so others don't have to. it's ya boy annie.

- house crane - old money cult family who rebranded after their god was outlawed following the imago war. now they construct and review binding contracts for both peninsulan and linger straits bodies of commerce and government - with an emphasis on the "binding" aspect. rumour has it they've been granted special dispensation to keep practicing their illegal and rather nasty banned rituals, so long as they're discrete and keep providing their services to the people who matter. they don't mix much with anyone outside of the family except on business, and are rarely seen in public. it's generally agreed that the reports of many of them being not altogether human are just scary stories for children, but a few people have claimed (under the influence of a few rounds at the local bar) to have known someone who worked for someone high up in business or politics who can confirm the truth of such claims with their own eyes. of course, these people have generally since disappeared, which makes corroboration difficult. their characteristic spindly, spidery features are probably just a product of ancestral aristocratic inbreeding. probably.

- fen kahron - ferryman presiding over a treacherous stretch of marshland. you will not be able to cross without her help, but that hasn't stopped people from trying, either out of principle or to avoid the toll, which takes the form of something of personal value to the individual. fortunately, her god's mouth is always open. she's not terribly fond of the parish of tide and flesh - her relationship to her god is personal, and they keep trying to convert her. which is silly, really, because she's been dead for a very long time.

- the carrion-herald / the bleach-bone king - an angel/saint(?) of death and decay that feeds on the dead and dying in extreme, remote environments where rescue or retrieval is unlikely. his coming is heralded by his halo of carrion birds seen circling overhead. those who worship him see this as a sign of luck - either you've been chosen to meet him, or to bear witness to his procession.

- harmony joy - a love-saint who leads a dancing plague. once human, she called a god into her in her aching loneliness after being ostracised utterly from her community and forced to bear witness to their collective happiness together, which blessed her to dance forever so beautifully that she would never want for a partner again. she might seem sentient at first, but spend long enough in her company (not recommended) and you'll soon realise that her apparent personality is simply a fragmented collection of lovingly preserved scraps of her past lovers, who, once in her thrall, will dance until their bodies give out, even if their minds should break and skin and sinew should snap and be torn away in strips. sightings of her procession have dwindled in recent years, likely due to modern technological advancements allowing for more effective deterrence and warning systems, as well as the improvements in long-range weaponry, but she still features prominently in urban legends and cautionary tales about staying out late alone.