#light reading

[chleem]

Casual /extra

One shot; college students drew x reader

Warning: explicit language and scenes (read at own caution)

⋆.˚ official one shot here | more

♡⸝⸝ "it's hard being casual when my favorite bra lives in your dresser"

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Whose bra is this?”

Drew’s eyes dart to the source, feeling wary. Who else could be in his room right now?

Oh right. The girl he met last night. She’s wearing his t-shirt like it’s his, rummaging through his dresser. She turns around holding a red bra. Your red bra. 

Drew raises an eyebrow, looking at the girl skeptically. What’s her name again? He honestly has no idea, and isn’t planning on remembering. “I..I thought you left.”

“Let’s grab breakfast together,” she happily chirps, before returning to the bra in her hands, holding it as if it contained some deadly disease. “Now, who’s bra is this?”

Drew doesn’t reply; and the girl adds on, “is it the girl you moaned out last night?” 

Drew cocks his head to the side. What is this bitch on, he thinks. He sends her a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, walks over, and snatches the bra out of her hands. He tugs it back in his dresser, pushing it close. “You should leave.”

He turns around and sees the graphic design that's on the shirt the girl's currently wearing. That’s the shirt you got him. One of his favorite. “Um, leave the shirt here.” 

It’s the girl’s turn to look at him skeptically. “What?”

“Yeah, uh, leave the shirt here, and forget this ever happened, alright?” 

Drew throws his towel over his gaming chair, and grabs his sweatpants. He puts it on, ignoring the shocked expression on her face. He lays down on his bed, picks up his phone, and starts scrolling through his messages. 

When she realizes that he doesn’t give a shit, she angrily takes the t-shirt off, throwing it into his face. “Thanks,” Drew says rather sourly, putting it to the side. She puts on her dress from last night, grabbing any remaining clothing around the place. 

“We have class together, you dick!” She yells, as if that would make Drew care. 

He hums, obviously too focused on his phone. Only the slam of his room door makes him slightly flinch, but even so, his eyes go back to his phone.

Now, what was he so focused on? Well, texting you. 

——

I’m at the soccer field

This simple text was enough to get Drew out of his dorm, walking as fast as he could to go see you. 

A smile on his lips that appear on its own, just from seeing you sit on the bleachers, watching the soccer team practice. Or more, get yelled at by their coach. 

You don’t even notice him sit down beside you; too engrossed in the music coming from your AirPods. 

It’s when he takes one AirPod out of your ear, when you finally notice him. “Hey,” he breathes out, putting the AirPod into his own ear.

“Hi,” you smile, your eyes landing on his shirt. Oh. He’s wearing the shirt you got him as a gift a few months ago, for Christmas. He wears it quite often, but every time you see it on him, warmth still fills your stomach. “Nice shirt, handsome.”

“Really?” He nudges your knee with his. “An amazing girl got me this.”

He says stuff like this; that makes you wonder if it’s still casual. 

“Interesting,” you lean in closer to him, your eyes glancing down at his lips and then at his eyes. You haven’t seen him in almost two weeks; due to spring break. Mentally, you were glad to be away from Drew, to clear your mind a bit. Physically? Well, let’s just say sexting was not as satisfying as the real thing. 

“What song is this again?” He suddenly asks, smiling fondly at you. You get ready to answer, but Drew beats you to it, replying to his own question. “The Smiths, right?” 

You mimic the ding noise, making him chuckle under his breath. “You know me so well,” you say, bit of sarcasm in your voice. Duh, he knows a lot about you; casual for more than five months at this point.

“Of course.” he’s smiling ear to ear. 

You roll your eyes at his response, but feel your own smile growing. You lean down against his shoulder, looking out onto the field. The weight of looking into his eyes was getting heavy. 

It’s quiet for a few seconds, until you speak up. 

“That guy has been yelled at by the coach ten times already.”

You feel Drew’s chest vibrate against you, his laughter erupting softly. “Ten times? What a dumbass.”

You chuckle softly, only because Drew finds it funny. “But the coach was being a meanie.”

The said guy has the ball now, and when he attempts to score it in, he misses and falls onto the ground. That causes the coach to yell at him again. “Well, eleventh time,” Drew adds on. 

“Next Fifa champion,” you add on. Drew laughs again, as if that joke was the funniest thing he’s ever heard. You pull away from leaning on his shoulder, and stare at his smile. “Was it that funny?” You ask. 

He turns his head over to you, the smile still there. Or more like, ever since he sat down, his lips were always curled up. “You should be a comedian.”

That makes you laugh, and you push his shoulder, “nonsense.”

Your laughter dies down when you see how smitten his stare on you is. 

His eyes glance down at your lips, then back to your eyes, “I missed you.”

Casual, casual, casual.

“You did?” You cock your head to the side flirtatiously. Part of you thought it was fun to flirt with Drew; to hear the nice things he has to say about you. The other part of you hated how sweet Drew was with you; when the two of you were just ‘casually’ sleeping together. 

“Think I’ve already said that over text though,” his voice drops low, and he starts to lean close to you. The look on his face says it all; he wants to kiss you.

“Flatter me and tell me in person too, won’t you?” You continue to say, a smirk on your lips. 

He leans forward and kisses your cheek gently, “how ‘bout I show you instead?”

Oh. Oh. The butterflies are throwing up in your stomach right now, because of this man’s sly mouth. How he just casually brings up wanting to have sex with you, within minutes of seeing each other. 

Seems like he really does miss you. 

Casual, casual, casual. 

“How is one suppose to refuse to that?”

“Hmm,” he hums, and his eyes glued to your lips tell you everything; his mind is already elsewhere, imagining the most dirty things to do with you. Or, what he’s going to do with you. 

He leans in, this time, kissing you on the lips. His tongue meets yours hungrily and lustfully, exploring every corner. He kisses you as if it’s the only way for him to breathe, only way for him to live on. 

You hate that; yet you kiss him back with the same eagerness. 

Make-out session at the bleachers? How romantic. How sweet. How casual. 

You pull away, feeling breathless from how good his kisses are. And you too realize that you missed him too, something you don’t want to admit. Because, who misses someone you only see casually? That’s weird.

His eyes are still glued to your lips, and you see a small trail of saliva near the corner of it. You chuckle softly, wiping it off with your thumb. “You know…”

He hums yet again, even though you haven’t even gotten to the main point of your sentence. “…I got a gift for you….in my room,” you manage to breathe out, and he kisses your jaw. 

Aka, let’s go have sex in my room, right now. 

“How lovely,” he smiles against your neck, planting a kiss there. 

“You wanna see it?” You run your hands through his hair, down his nape, fingertips scratching it lightly. That makes him bury himself deeper into your neck, his arms wrapping around you.

“Yes please.”

——

The moment you unlocked your room, Drew rushes you inside, until you land on the soft cushions of your couch. 

You giggle, watching him take his top off, his legs on either side of you, caging you onto the couch. “Should I continue my story or no?”

“Mmm, lemme guess,” Drew remains eye contact with you, but his hands focus on undoing the zipper of your shorts. “Everyone got food poisoning, just because of you.”

You lift your hips, him pulling your shorts down, “everyone was rushed into the ER.”

Drew laughs, ushering you to sit up. He pulls your top over your head, leaving you only in your bra and underwear. “And still you insist on cooking for me.”

“Only because you always ask to stay in,” you reply, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Making me improvise on dinner.”

“Mmhm,” he stares down at your lips, distracted like always. He kisses you sloppily, his hands running along your back. You moan into his mouth, as he pushes you down onto the pillows. 

“I miss you,” he murmurs, his lips trailing down your neck, sucking gently on the area around there;

The angel on your shoulder likes the sweet things he says; the devil on the other side likes to doubt his every word, repeating the phrase in your ear:

Casual, casual, casual. 

One hand kneads your thigh, the other pinning your waist to the couch. His lips move onto your breasts, where they skillfully move around the bra. He wraps his lips around your nipples, making you gasp in pleasure. 

But the bra starts to feel itchy, which you breathe out, “just take it off.”

He smirks against your nipples, pulling away just to unclip your bra. You help him, pushing the bra off, discarding it on the floor. He leans down again, this time, sucking on the other breast. 

“Fuck..” You moan, as he stops, trailing his lips down your stomach. He leaves soft kisses along your belly button, his fingers working with pulling your underwear down. 

“Missed you.” 

This time, he says it while looking down at your pussy. 

The air hits your wet pussy, soon cut off by Drew’s warm palm. 

“Wet already,” he chuckles, his fingers playing with your folds. Too consumed with lust, you don’t even reply to that comment. 

He sticks two fingers into you, thrusting in a slow pace. “You’re tight,” he breathes out, kissing your neck. 

You wrap your arms around his neck lazily, “haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Forever, huh?”

“C’mon, don’t act like its not the same for you-“ he adds the third finger, cutting off your sentence. You moan loudly, as he starts to move in a faster pace. Swear, you can cum just on his fingers alone. 

He smiles against your face, and kisses your ear. Occasionally, he grunts, trying to stretch you out as much as he can. 

Okay. Maybe you could cum on his fingers alone, but it wouldn’t be as good as the real thing. “I want you,” you manage to say between moans, his fingers working hard on your pussy. 

He kisses your forehead, “good to know.”

What a teasing prick. You squeeze his bicep, hoping he gets the message. It’s not easy to talk when he’s got his fingers deep in you. You give him a lazy glare; and he just laughs, “I’know.”

He pulls out of you, and you immediately clench around nothing, your folds missing Drew. He gets entirely off of you, and walks into your bedroom.

Drew knew where you kept the condoms; since, well, he’s constantly fucking you. 

You stare at the ceiling while waiting for him. 

A few seconds of silence passes.

“Y/n!” He yells, before walking out a few seconds later. You turn your gaze to him, who’s holding the entire box of condoms in his hands. He smiles wryly, “it’s expired.”

You furrow your eyebrows, sitting up slightly. He walks over to you, showing you the date on the box. Yeah, it is expired. But you bought this a few weeks ago. Wait…

“No wonder it was so cheap,” you groan, throwing your head back on the couch pillow. 

“This shit…won’t break that easily, right?”

You glance at Drew. He looks at you, hoping you would agree to his thought. His eyes shine in anticipation, the curl of his lips upwards. “…I guess?”

“I’ll…even pull out before I cum,” he shrugs, also hoping you would agree. 

“I… I take pills,” you add on, ignoring the calls of ‘bad idea!’ going on in your mind. Lust was in charge now, and it’s commanding you to get fucked by Drew, even with the huge amount of risks it comes with. 

He breaks into a smile, leaning down and kissing you. “Hey…so it’s okay?” He murmurs against your lips, an adoring look painted all over his face. 

“Have I ever said no though?” You say, which makes him chuckle. 

“True,” he replies, before taking a condom out of the box. You help him, by pulling his sweatpants off. He steps out of them, and you see his fully erected dick, screaming to be released from his boxers. 

“All fours,” his voice drops deeper, commanding you into the position he wants. 

You obey; shrugging your underwear off your knees, getting on your knees and elbows. You arch your back, to make your ass higher. You feel him dip on the couch behind you. 

He stays behind you, the noises of him preparing the only sound in the room. It feels like minutes have passed, and he still hasn't stick it in. “You done?” You ask, unable to mask the impatience in it. 

Drew replies with a hard slap to your ass, making you groan. He then asks, “did you buy this for someone else?”

“What?”

“Not only is it expired…but you got a smaller size,” he plants a kiss on your lower back. 

“What?” You say again, turning your head to look behind you. He holds the packaging in his hands; an M written on it. Oh. “That isn’t your size?”

He snickers, “you serious?” You must have just grabbed the first pack on the shelf, not checking anything. Drew delivers another rough slap to your asscheek when he doesn’t get a reply from you. It hurt, but in a good way. “Babe, you serious?”

“Dead serious,” you sarcastically reply, before laying your head onto the couch pillow in front of you. At this point, you’re pretty sure your pussy isn’t even wet anymore. 

But another hard slap to your other asscheek makes you jolt up, your brain betraying you by making you moan out. “Barely fits me.”

Can’t believe you’re attracted to this whiny man. “I’ll pay more attention next time,” you try to hide your annoyance, “just fuck me already.”

His hands grab the side of your hips, moving your ass to the right position. “Might slip off.”

What’s up with him right now? Is he seriously offended? You just bought the wrong size by accident, was it that big of a deal? “It won’t,” you assure him, “my fault, okay? Just put it in.”

“Fine. Fine, sorry,” he murmurs. 

You feel the tip of him against your hole, as he aligns his dick. And then, he sticks his entire dick inside of you. You moan out in pleasure, clenching around it. Fuck. He was right; you were tight, and you needed a few seconds to adjust to him. 

But Drew doesn’t let you; starting to slam his lower body into you, in a rather rough manner. 

Clearly, he’s not sorry for being whiny. 

“Shit,” you grip on the pillow harshly. “Slow the fuck down-“

He ignores your comment, continuing his pace. Drew rarely fucked you liked this, only if he’s putting his frustration or anger towards you. “Does this feel like an M?” You hear him grunt out, between thrusts. 

Who knew wrong sized and expired condoms could frustrate Drew this much?

You're forced to adjust to his size and pace, ignoring how each thrust that directly hits your core hurts a bit. “Fuck,” you breathe out, the pleasure inside of you building. His hands grip on your waist tightly; soft bruises might form later. 

His grunts and your soft moans fill the room, as well as loud, aggressive skin-slapping. 

He leaves sloppy kisses along your spine, causing your goosebumps to rise. You weren't going to lie; it felt good to be roughly handled by Drew.

You’re close; feeling the orgasm building inside of you. He knows it too; you clench around his dick. “Someone likes getting fucked roughly,” the tease in his voice is evident, “fucked like a slut, huh?”

Yeah. When Drew was mad or angry, he degrades you in bed. 

But you liked it, a moan you fail to repress escaping your lips. He slaps your ass again, a chuckle heard. “Cum then.”

He slams himself into you, his pace never slowing. The knot in your stomach eventually goes undone, your cum coating his dick. “Fuck..” He groans, as you relax yourself. He holds your ass up, continuing to thrust to help his own orgasm. 

He twitches inside of you; he’s close. 

Drew slows down after a few more, and you fell him pull out of you rather urgently. You completely fall on your stomach on the couch, your body giving up. 

But you force yourself to turn around, laying on your back. Drew sits back on the couch, his head leaned back as his cum fills the condom. He’s right; the M size condom covers 2/3 of his dick, probably not even half when he was erected. 

“I’m sorry,” you coo, a lazily smile on your lips. 

His expression softens; “Come here,” he takes the condom off, wrapping it and throwing it in the garbage can nearby. You force yourself up with the little energy left inside of you, snuggling yourself in Drew’s arms. You trace your fingertips along the lines of his lower stomach, laying your head on his chest. You and Drew’s legs tangled together, due to the small couch. 

The two of you stay silent, just enjoying the feeling of simply being in each other’s arms. 

This was casual, apparently. Cuddling after sex. Something people who have no attachments with each other usually do. 

Then, you suddenly joint up, causing Drew to look at you amusingly. “Wait, I actually do have a gift for you.”

“Really? You didn’t have to,” he murmurs, but the look on his face betrays him. He likes how you think of him when you’re away. You hum, getting off him and walking to your room. 

You come back with a small box, straddling yourself around his waist. You bite down on your lips in anticipation, hoping he likes it. He takes it; opening the box to reveal a men’s chained bracelet. 

It wasn’t from a luxurious brand, but you found it while shopping in your hometown, and thought it would look good on Drew.

He smiles ear-to-ear, “I love it.”

“No you don’t,” you chuckle, helping him put it on on his wrist. 

“I do; I love it, thank you,” he kisses your cheek, raising his hand and wrapping it around your nape. He pulls you down, and kisses you, almost in a loving way. Besides from seeing the smile Drew has whenever you get him something, the way he kisses you after also drives you insane. 

Casual, casual, casual.  

“Round two,” you murmur with a smirk on your lips, pulling away. He chuckles, before his eyes look down to your breasts. 

He bites down on his lip, obviously liking what he's seeing. Then, he shares the same look as you from earlier, remembering something. “Oh, your favorite bra, the red one?”

“...Yeah?” You cock your head to the side, wondering where this was going.

“It was in my dresser this entire time.”

“I knew it!”

“Found it the other day.”

“And… are you going to return it to me?”

“No.”

You slap his chest playfully, him sending you a cocky grin. “You got a bunch of other bras anyways.”

“Doesn’t compare to that one,” you pout, leaning down on his chest, hugging him. You lay your ear close to his heart, hearing the soft rhythm of it. 

It’s moments like this; that doesn’t feel casual at all. 

And maybe, it never will feel casual. At least for you. You weren’t the chill, flirtatious girl Drew knew, no, deep down, you were constantly doubting this situation-ship with him. Letting it drag so long, so long that it didn’t feel real anymore. 

Your stupid mind, constantly dreaming of the future with him. A shared apartment, shared furniture, shared everything. Him showing you off to his friends, admitting you’re someone special to him. 

You loser, he doesn’t even refer to you as a friend in front of others. Simply, a classmate. Fuck, you even visited his parents! Yet, he still denies. Everyone knows you two have something going on, except for Drew. Was he doing this on purpose? 

You don’t know; and honestly, too scared ask.

Because somehow, staying casual with him was better than not having him at all. 

The soft rhythm of his heartbeat helps you to slowly drift off into sleep, the thoughts disappearing. Hopefully, you don’t dream of Drew again, in a nice shared apartment, him showing you off to everyone, as his girlfriend. 

Was this dumb love? Maybe. Possibly. Most definitely. 

-------------------------------

word count: 3.5k

ִ ࣪𖤐 a/n: hope you enjoyed reading this! and this isnt an official part two, but rather, another 'pov' into being in a situationship with kinda-toxic drew. for better context, you can read the actual one shot here. i don't think there is going to be an official part two, bc i like this the way it is (sry!) and yes, inspired by chappell roan.

ngl...i don't like this writing as much....but i love the fluff parts! anyways, thx for reading and pls ignore any mistakes <3

elevator | other | more of casual!drew

[briabooknerd]

Confessions of a shopaholic

Shopaholic takes Manhattan

Shopaholic and sister

Shopaholic to the rescue

Christmas shopaholic

Shopaholic ties the knot

Shopaholic on honeymoon

Mini Shopaholic

Sophie Kinsella

[theresattrpgforthat]

hi! my sister wants to be able to play with me and my brother, but she has trouble reading and writing, do you have any ttrpgs that dont require a lot of reading or writing?? (like, character sheets dont take ages or whtvr)

THEME: Little Reading or Writing Required.

Hello friend, so for folks who aren’t great with reading or writing, I think the best approach is to use systems that provide you with small amounts of information that you can keep in your head, or games that provide you with a lot of visual cues. I’m going to include some systems that seem pretty rules-lite (because they allow you to create a character pretty easily) but I’m also looking for games that give you visual or tactile aids to help you remember what’s going on in the story or with your character.

The Best Job on Earth, by Hilander.

Welcome New Employee! Please fill out your personal info!  Note that supevisors are not beholden to know your name, and may refer to you by the 4-digit hiring code helpfully displayed on the front and rear of your uniform!

Players will take on the role of unpaid interns working for SolTech Industries, a perfectly ethical research consortium funding a Better Tomorrow! Of course, when these experiments get out of hand, our fine interns are deployed to clean up.

The Best Job on Earth is not a very long read for the GM, and probably an even shorter read for players. Your character sheet can fit on 1/3 of a piece of paper, with three stats and a little bit of space for the items you get from a d20 roll table. This game isn’t necessarily a one-shot: your interns can spent earned XP in order to get a promotion, which involves increasing personal scores and getting an extra Luck point, which basically is a resource you can use for a free re-roll. This game is great for fans of horror, paranormal science, and the crushing weight of unpaid internships.

Mausritter, by Losing Games.

Take up the sword and don the whiskers of a brave mouse adventurer in Mausritter, a rules-light fantasy adventure roleplaying game. Mausritter is built on the chassis of Into the Odd, with new rules for setting, character generation, magical artifacts, and mouse-scale adventures.

Mausritter has very concise character sheets, with only 3 stats to keep track of and a card-based inventory system. If you buy the physical version, or if you decide to do some printing, you can use these cards to put in/on your inventory slots, as visual reminders of what you are currently carrying and how much room you have left. The book is 25 pages, but character creation is one, maybe 2 at the most - and most of your creation process just involves rolling on tables! Make your mouse in minutes and you’re ready to play.

Flyover Country, by Headstone Hills.

Fields of wheat and corn ripple in the wind, hungry eyes peering out between the stalks. Billboards along the road advertise strange and dangerous attractions. Smiles are too wide, manners too polite, secrets buried too deep. The neon light of a diner glows in the distance, but you may never reach its doors. An empty highway stretches out to the horizon before wrapping back in on and around itself, twisted on into the forever horizon. This is Flyover Country.

Flyover Country uses a tarot deck as a resource and oracle as you play the game. Character creation is simple and quick - although I recommend the GM do a bit of reading and prep beforehand. Each character gains a score (or pool) of points for three aspects: Body, Mind and Wyrd. Every time they use their ability, they draw a number of tarot cards equal to their score. The player can then choose which card they want to use to represent their outcome. Characters that are injured will reduce the score of a relevant trait by 1.

One way to make this game a bit simpler is giving each of the players a card with their character’s Ghost and Haunting already written on it. This is a combination of your character’s dark secret and the strange ability that will manifest inside them once they make that secret known. When I played this with my characters, we used poker chips as tokens to represent our ability Scores, and players would hand in tokens whenever they had to reduce their scores. I think the tarot cards make for an exciting mechanic, although the game’s success certainly depends on how well the game master can interpret the outcomes of cards being drawn.

This House Will Outlive Us, by pludmale.

Residents change, but the house remains. Everyone is changed by the house, and the house, in turn, is changed by its visitors.

In this game players take turns building the story of a house. The narrative is guided by flipping a coin onto different areas of the game board. The game is played in 3 stages: determining the type of house, picking out character roles and playing out the history and future of the house itself.

This House Will Outlive Us uses a map of the house, a number of cards with prompts, and a coin that you flip in order to tell its story. Each card has to be read to figure out what happens next, but the amount of information you’re expected to retain and communicate is very small, and because the game is so collaborative, you could potentially have one person do the bulk of the reading while the table shares the role of providing answers to the prompts.

This is a game that also doesn’t really require anyone to write anything down, as it’s meant to be played in a single session, and the changes from era to era should be pretty easy to remember - although you could also assign someone to be a note-taker if you like.

Horse Girl Infinity, by Jordanfish.

The majesty of someone's passionate vague horse fantasy. Inspired and empowered by the grace and might granted from the union of girl and horse, hero and pony, pilot and mecha.

The combination perfect for horse-lovers and mech aficionados, Horse Girl Infinity is high-action but relatively simple to play. You are presented with a grid of strengths, three of which your horse is specifically good at. The amount of dice you roll is dependant on how close the skill you are using is close to one of your strengths. Some especially difficult challenges may require a group roll, where everyone has to roll their dice and contribute Victory Points dependant on your success.

Your characters’ advancement is built around their goals, which takes a mechanical effect. Your Dream is something about yourself that you want; when you act in accordance with it, you gain Determination or XP. Determination can be spent to give you an extra dice on a roll, while XP can be spent on a separate grid that gives you a new narrative advantage. I think the spatial organization of information may make it easier to find and keep track of, and you can use tokens like poker chips or coins to help you keep track of your Determination and your XP.

If you want a slightly different genre, you can also check out Demon Blade Ultimate, which is more aligned with Shonen-style anime.

Crescent Moon, by Ema Acosta.

Go on a strange journey into the patchwork world of the daydream in Crescent Moon ☾, a feelings-delving role-playing game of brave children and bold adventures.

Rules for crafting your own whimsical tale full of breathtaking landscapes and unlikely friends await inside. Delve in to uncover stories of daring deeds and fantastical creatures—of calm afternoon naps and of promises whispered under starlight.

I don’t own Crescent Moon, so I can’t say for certain that this is super non-reader friendly, but I’m willing to go out on a limb and say it is, because the character sheets remind me very much of Mausritter character sheets.

The most obvious connection is the hand-drawn inventory: you draw the objects you carry, as well as items and conditions that may affect you. Because you use cards to represent what your character is currently carrying, I think this element has the potential to reduce the amount of reading and writing the player has to do. The GM on the other hand, likely has a little more work to do in terms of planning an adventure - although I don’t think the work a GM does in this game is as much as say, a D&D DM.

[cringeartisthebestart]

So, I decided to read that "Balan Wonderworld" book because I thought it would be an 'it's so bad it's good' book but it is unironically a good story and made me genuinely care for these characters. I cried 4 times while reading it, and I WAS NOT READY FOR THE TWIST AT THE END. IT WAS SUCH A GUT PUNCH MY POOR BOY BALAN.

Anyway, it's like 10 bucks and an easy read, and I recommend it.

Okay, I'm going to bed now. I am still reeling over the ending.

[thatscarletflycatcher]

I have talked before of E.V. Lucas' Verena in the Midst and Advisory Ben as two fun, light reading novels from the early 20th century that you can get for free on project Gutenberg.

Today I bring you my latest discovery on that brand: A Bachelor's Comedy, by J.E. Buckrose.

The interesting bit about A Bachelor's Comedy is that it is a coming of age romance in which the main character is a young clergyman! Andrew has just gotten his first parish, after the squire of a small town heard him preach a sermon at the small London parish where he was a coadjutor. Shenanigans ensue as he tries to fill the shoes of his new role, and stumbles and grows through it.

There's a very sweet through line, of Andy meeting the grave of the first parson of the place -born and died centuries before- in coming and going from and to the rectory, and finding support, courage and inspiration from this connection across the centuries.

The romance is sweet, if a tad cloying at times, but heartfelt and not super clichéd, and it is helped along by sharing the space with the typical stock characters or an English country comedy.

So this one is also a recommend!

[amtvisuals]

Recharging while also gaining insight. Alone time is like stepping into a quiet, infinite library where thoughts can roam freely. It’s a space for clarity, creativity, and occasionally, just basking in the simplicity of stillness.

[jimslapass]

You know this book is banned in a couple States

[yeowninefive]

Light Reading

[gayregina]

The case of two lovesick fools!Dead boy detectives fanfic by gayregina

When the agency decides to take up on a mysterious case, the boys find themselves in an unfavorable situation and are forced to face the challenges of a very persistent ghost, at the cost of their own feelings.

Enjoy ;)

The case of two lovesick fools

“Please, miss Whistledown describe to us what the evil entity you claim to have take over your home is like.” Charles asked the client seated in front of him while hanging from his usual spot on the desk. He found himself so often perched up on the wooden vintage piece but for the first time he realized the numerous instances in which he had found the space to be perfectly empty, as if it’s waiting for him, in total contrast with the rest of the surface which was stuffed with all kinds of paperwork and books that solely belonged to Edwin. He wondered if his best friend was doing it deliberately, perhaps a sign that Charles would always have a place next to him. Before he could think of an answer, the woman’s voice brought him out of his busy mind.

“I don’t know the exact nature of this creature but I know for sure it is a vicious beast that roams my house and I want it gone as quickly as possible.” Her tone was extremely loud, perhaps in a desperate attempt to cover up her fear but her body gave her away as it trembled and breathed frantically. The poor woman looked like a wounded animal ready to strike and she could very much be. What she certainly was, however, is very much alive and she struck so different in the quiet of their office. Not even Crystal had made such an impact when she had first arrived.

“I will need you to calm yourself madam and then explain to us in detail what supernatural activity you have experienced so we may decide if we will work on your case.” Edwin said facing directly at the client, in a collective and cool tone as he always seem to do.

“Well, it started as a mere problem that all old houses seem to have in common; some creaking and pounding on the floors but never something so crude to draw my attention. Then, the whispers started and the laughter echoing from the walls. I tried to brush it off and started bringing over friends to the house so i wont be alone. But that was when the madness began." The lady took a deep breath and paused for what felt like a century. In the meantime, worried looks were exchanged between the boys and Crystal who stood on the other end of the desk.

“In the middle of a conversation between myself and my two friends, when I dared to turn my gaze away from them, I looked back after a moment of unresponsive silence to find them nowhere in sight. I searched the whole house and there was no sign of them. They didn’t respond when I called their names and their phones were still on the table next to their unfinished cups of tea. Needless to say I was already freaking out when I heard the haunting laughter coming from the attic.” Edwin had sat up fully now, almost hanging from the edge of his chair, the familiar look of intrigue in his eyes and Charles could almost see the wheels turning in his head. The plan was already set in motion and there was no version of him that would deny the adrenaline of a good mystery. Charles’s lips curled up at the sight.

“I checked the attic as well but no one was there either.” She went on. “I was thinking about enrolling myself in a psychiatric institution when suddenly my friends appeared out of thin air on the exact same spot I last saw them, looking exactly the same on the outside but all-together changed on the inside.”

“How do you mean?” Edwin asked in professional curiosity.

“They were acting awkwardly and couldn’t bring themselves to look me-or each other for that matter-in the eye. They both grabbed their belongings and stormed out of the house almost immediately, refusing to answer any of my questions. I haven’t heard a word from them since.” She sank down in the chair, seemingly defeated and temporarily run out of words, and the agency shared a knowing look. They squeezed together in the corner of the room, heads bumping into each other.

“Now this is an odd circumstance.” Charles proclaimed with an unimpressed expression on his face.

“Not gonna lie, at first I thought she was bullshiting like crazy too but I haven’t seen anyone so upset in my life. Maybe she almost scared herself to death or something and that’s why she’s able to see you, guys.” Crystal added in a hashed tone.

“Judging from the fact that she went all the way to search for us alone, makes me think she is being truthful.” Edwin answered and took an unsure pause. Charles watched the boy as he lowered his gaze and his demeanour shifted. “We haven’t taken up on a case for an alive person since-“ He stopped but the devastating scream of the name was ringing still in Charles’s head, the same way he knew it did for Edwin. Niko. He squeezed the other boy’s shoulder sympathetically. “But from the sights of it, the case is a proper supernatural mystery.” he continued, putting on a happy facade.

“Can’t argue with that.” Charles went along with it and at the same time all three looked at each other and nodded. They twirled around and left a breeze in their wake. Or at least, Crystal did.

“We will help you.” Crystal told the woman in distress and she, in return, jumped up due to her excitement.

“Ah yes, thank you so-“

“In exchange for proper payment, of course.” Edwin cut her off. “And I wouldn’t be quick to thank us, if I were you, until the case is closed.”

“Yes, of course.” she replied and offered them a smile for the first time that evening.

-

“Let’s hope you haven’t forgotten anything important this time, Charles. Although it would not pass off as a surprise, seeing the terrible state of the office which you refuse to tidy and organize as I often had shown you. The latter would prove to be, in fact, very efficient in our case but nobody seems to be listening to me these days.” Edwin complained for the second time that morning concerning the same subject. Charles didn’t think he was being fair on him. It wasn’t like he had forgotten anything vital on the last couple of cases. Only a few books Edwin wanted for some spells and one time, the key of the office had slipped from his pocket on a case and Crystal couldn’t get into their workplace for two days until he found it. But that one wasn’t his fault!

“I don’t understand why you are so fixated on cleaning up my side. It never bothered you and it had been this way since the day we moved in. Even the Night Nurse didn’t seem to mind. Don’t tell me you want personal space all of a sudden.” Charles glanced at him from the side and he looked another level of frustrated under the sunlight.

“You give me more than enough with all the time you spend away doing god knows what with Crystal.” The bitter answer caused his head to turn immediately in order to look at his best friend who was not facing him but whose unpleasantness was visible from ten miles away.

“Oi, that isn’t fair. We weren’t doing any-“

“Sorry to break off your lovely chitchatting but that’s the house.” Crystal cut them off before things could get out of hand and Charles was grateful for it. She was truly an amazing addition to the group, not only because of her psychic abilities but because her fresh energy and perspective daily reminded him and Edwin not to get lost in petty things. Their friendship was stronger thanks to her.

“Right.” Edwin cleared his throat and straightened his bow tie.

The two boys stepped through the door, momentarily forgetting that Crystal couldn’t follow them, and startled miss Whistledown who awaited at the nearby couch. She opened the door for Crystal and welcomed them in her home. She offered to show them around but the agency reassured her that they would find their way around the house.

Surely enough, there they stood in the infamous attic with a reputation for unexplainable activity. Edwin had the magnifier in his hand, inspecting the overflowing boxes, acting as if the ghost was hiding inside one of them.

“Mate, I don’t think your magnifier is very useful on this case.” Charles explained civilly, not wanting to start yet another argument.

“You’d be surprised, Charles.” He simply answered. “You never know if something important is right under your nose. Most of the times if you are not searching for it, you can’t see it.”

“I think you took this a little too literally, mate.” Charles said and Edwin sighed and lowered the magnifier from his face.

“And what would you have me do, Charles? We have been here for more than an hour, searching all over the house and there hasn’t been a single clue as to what is going on. I am starting to think this is a waste of time.” He was losing his patience but it was obvious the case wasn’t really what bothered him. Neither was the messy nature of Charles.

“Okay, I don’t know what is up with you two today but can you please shut up for a minute?I think I heard something.” Crystal interrupted them and signaled towards the corner of the room. They took a few steps forward and listened in carefully.

And soon enough, there it was. Quiet at first but stronger as time passed; humming. Not any kind of humming either but it had a rhythmical pattern to it as well.

Charles turned his head over to Edwin to check if he was hearing the same thing but the boy was already looking at him with the familiar gentle gaze that Charles could recognise anywhere. And he had recognised him, even in the depths of Hell covered as he was from head to toe with blood, terrified to the bone and running for his life. The sight of him that day had reached a part of Charles that unlocked a whole new wave of emotion and need to protect the boy who meant the most to him. That part was very present now in this very room where it had no reason to be but then again it had stayed with him ever since. Surprisingly enough though, he didn’t mind it. That was the last realisation he made before everything flashed white.

-

“Edwin?” Charles exclaimed quietly, still recovering from the temporary blindness. “Edwin!” He shouted when he didn’t hear a response and he squeezed his eyes in a desperate attempt to find him. But wherever they were, wasn’t the same place they had been seconds ago.

“I am here.” Edwin’s voice rang back and Charles let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Where are we?”

“I don’t know.” Charles looked around and took in the colourful environment with profound suspicion. He was pretty sure it was supposed to be a ball room but the choice of colour on the walls resembled a child’s room. There was a lot of pink everywhere. His eyes finally fell upon a throne on the other side of the room but what he found weirder than the piece and the placement itself was the person currently sitting on it. “But something tells me we’re about to find out.”

“Well, good evening boys.” Said the lady in the elegant gown and it was no surprise really when he noticed that everything she was wearing represented different shades of pink. Even the edges of her blond hair faded in hot pink! By the looks of his face, Edwin appeared to experience utter shock, perhaps living his personal nightmare and that said a lot, considering he had spent more than 70 years in Hell. Charles rushed over to the other boy, exchanging unsure glances with him the whole way. No sign of Crystal so far.

“Young love!” She sighed blissfully. “How much I adore to witness it.”

“Are you the one that has been harassing the owner of this house?” Edwin asked but the woman only swung her legs on one side of the throne while dipping her head backwards the other side dramatically.

“I am Pandora and I find harassing to be a very barbaric use of language. I was merely trying to help.” The lady pouted as if she was offended and she kicked her legs childishly under the long Victorian dress that was missing its long sleeves. And by missing, he meant ripped off completely.

“And what kind of services would those be?” Edwin went on with the interrogation, trying desperately to find out as much as he could about this unique creature. Was she a ghost? She could have been but then again what kind of ghost have powers or a special place to hide in?

“I specialise in bringing people together and watching as a fruitful relationship grows and inevitably flourishes into a successful marriage.” She smiled to herself, looking all proud, and Charles barely contained his chuckle. They were in for a treat.

“You are a matchmaker!?” The two boys said at the same time. Charles gave up and started laughing but Edwin, on the other hand, seemed repulsed at best. Charles remembered the stories his best friend had shared with him about the failed attempts of society members to find him a young lady to pursue a family with and he also remembered all too well his efforts to avoid anything relevant, as well as their disastrous results. It only caused more erupting laughter from Charles’s side.

“Well, if you must diminish my art so.” She rolled her eyes and stared daggers into Charles who then, admittedly fearful, cleared his throat and straightened his back.

“I am afraid this is a poor excuse for unfinished business and it is essential you move on to your afterlife.” Edwin demanded in a way that seemed to catch Pandora’s attention.

“You cannot force me to leave.”

“No. But if the housekeeper was to state her refusal with authority, then you would be obliged to. No spirit can stay where it’s unwanted.” The words and the seriousness of the situation looked like they finally clicked inside the woman’s brain. She let out a groan and turned her body around to face them properly this time. She rose up from her seat and slowly started to make her way towards them.

“Fine.” Edwin smiled in triumph but Charles had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy. “But on one condition.” Charles signaled her to explain further. “You allow me one last case.” She held her head high with her hands behind her back, smiling cunningly, and Charles could swear he saw her batting her eyelashes at them.

“I suppose there is no harm in that.” Edwin answered and glanced at Charles to see if he was on board. He just shrugged his shoulders. Then Edwin turned to the woman again, simultaneously pulling out his notebook and his pen: “Alright, where can we find them?”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.” Both of the boys frowned in return. “They are in this very room, after all.” Charles didn’t need to look at Edwin to picture his expression and he was pretty positive it mirrored his own. Pandora smiled sweetly at them and quickly snapped her fingers.

In that moment, the room seemed to come to life. The colorful walls were glistening and the dull pink ground turned into a dance floor painted like a chessboard. Charles even jumped up when he heard violins next to his ear and thought he was going crazy when he couldn’t find the source of the music. When he looked over to Edwin, the boy seemed to be identically lost and confused. So distracted they were that they hadn’t notice that the woman was no longer next to them but sitting on her throne once again. Her attire had changed as well; She was wearing a red glimmering gown and in her hands she was holding a bow. But that wasn’t the strangest part. Leaning on her throne was a case full of heart shaped arrows. Charles had to rub his eyes for the last part, just to make sure.

“Tell me this is a joke.” He whispered to Edwin but his best friend was not having it.

“What is the meaning of this? Do you wish to humiliate us?” He yelled at her and Charles was surprised at the loud display of annoyance.

“Humiliate? No, young child. Just to make you aware of what you so desperately try to deny.” Her tone was serious, perhaps for the first time, and Edwin scoffed in frustration. Charles watched as the other boy clenched his fists against one another. Uh oh. Charles stepped close and took hold of his gloved hands.

“You need to relax, mate.”

“How can I? This is insanity!”

“We’ve been through worse. I am sure we can handle this.” Charles smiled reassuringly, managing even for a split second to break Edwin’s angry facade and have him offering a smile in return.

“Now, now hush lovebirds. May the music be your anchor.” She clapped her hands and bright lights were immediately on them. Not only that, but there was a sparkling path which due to the structure of the floor, looked like a winning formula for a chess game. Something clicked in Charles’s mind. He knew what they had to do.

He hastily removed his gloves and placed them in his pockets. He grabbed Edwin’s waist so fast that the boy jumped at the contact. He widened his eyes and looked at Charles like a madman.

“What on earth do you think you are doing?” Charles ignored him. He took his one hand into his own and placed his other one on his shoulder before he returned his own to its rightful place on the other boy’s lower back.

“Have you lost your mind?” He whispered dangerously to Charles but he chose to let it go this once.

“Follow me and please don’t step on my shoes. They are new.” He offered Edwin’s baffled face one last smile before he started dancing to the tune of the music.

Dancing classes from the 1900s seemed to suffice because Edwin followed gracefully, perhaps because the meaning of their actions had yet to register in his mind. Light feet followed the winning line while their bodies were moving in perfect synchronisation. Something about the way everything felt so natural and easy with Edwin, made Charles slow down the pace. Their eyes, which had been stuck to the magic pathway, found each other instead. A question lingered in Edwin’s blue ones. Charles could almost hear them spelling it out, the same way they had on the staircase in Hell, where once again they were seeking out the ticket for their escape. When the stakes were high and their long since silent hearts could be heard thumping across the different realms. How the threat never stopped Edwin, whose courage served up his heart to Charles on a silver platter, not afraid to be vulnerable and ready to take a hit. In the moment where neither of them was hesitant to reach out and touch because the ghosts of their short-lived existence were still hovering above them, aiming to open the wounds they worked so hard to heal. A moment Charles had replaying in his mind consistently ever since.

“Are you okay?” Edwin asked softly and they weren’t moving anymore. They weren’t running and he had him still in his arms, not a single reason why he shouldn’t. They didn’t need to count the seconds or hide in his backpack again. They could simply stay on the same spot for the rest of time and Death or even Hell wouldn’t bat an eye. But it wasn’t the right question now and it hadn’t been the right answer then.

“I would do it all over again, you know.” Charles didn’t take his eyes off of Edwin because he didn’t want him to reduce the meaning of his words.

“What?” He answered breathlessly and Charles noticed that their faces had never been so close, Edwin’s lips had never seemed so soft. Their bodies were still snapped into place and their chests were connected proudly.

“I would refuse my afterlife again if it meant I’d get to spent one more moment with you.” Edwin looked taken aback by his best friend’s words, an insecure part of him not believing them and another taught to reject them.

“Don’t do this just because it will guarantee us a way out. This isn’t Hell, Charles. I don’t need you to save me and I certainly don’t need you to say things you don’t mean.” Edwin started to pull away from him but Charles couldn’t let him go just yet.

“No, you’re not listening to me, Edwin. I meant everything I said in Hell and everything I am saying right now. I never doubted my love for you and neither should you.” He took Edwin’s face in his hands, gently caressing his skin, the same way he had at the core of his best friend’s nightmare. But Edwin was right; this wasn’t Hell. His eyes weren’t glistening with tears that were threatening to fall, neither was his body trembling with fear for the inevitable. Instead, he was warm and radiant and something familiar sparkled in his eyes. Charles could even dare to name it without fear of jinxing it.

“I just want you to show me how to love you in the way you want me to. I am ready this time.” Charles smiled and Edwin’s lips curled up in return. It was the first time Charles wished the world could see them, could see him. The people didn’t know they were missing out. But this exchange rang out as a secret promise too, just between the two of them, the same way it had been for three decades. “So what do you say, deal?” Edwin chuckled and rested his hands on the other boy’s wrists as they were still on his face.

“Deal.” He agreed and as if almost on cue, the hard lights showering them dimmed. Slow clapping was heard across the room as it started retreating into its previous form.

“Bravo! I knew you were made for each other. My services have once again proven to be most efficient.” Pandora smiled proudly at them, admiring her work. “I didn’t even need to use my arrows!” She exclaimed happily and Charles was reminded of the heart shaped devils. He and Edwin shared a look of relief. They pulled away from each other.

“Now, please let us accompany you out of here and into the afterlife.” Said Edwin and the woman’s smile died down.

“Yes, of course.” She turned around and spoke to the empty room. “I’ll miss you a great deal, miss Diana!” The boys frowned at that.

“Who is she talking to?”

“I think it’s the room.”

“Well, let’s go, you beautiful lovesick fools.” She wiped a single tear from her eye and snapped her fingers. This time, however, the sound transported them back to the dark and quiet attic.

“Oh my god, there you are! You scared the shit out of me! Where have you been?” Crystal yelled the second they appeared in the room but the boys’ attention was elsewhere. Specifically, on each other.

Charles realized for the first time that there was nothing holding him back and judging by the look on Edwin’s face and the smile that he flashed him, he had realized the same.

They were walking before they could let the thought sink in, before the taught hatred could get in the way of the only normal thing in their troublesome existence. Their eyes closed as soon as their lips made contact. Charles’s hands tangled up in the other boy’s hair, holding on for dear life, and Edwin grabbed him by the waist, trying to balance them. Charles would have stayed in this embrace forever, which was possible because they didn’t need the air anyway, but he remembered they weren’t alone. He pulled back slowly and looked over to Crystal to find her holding out her hands in question and to Pandora to find her beaming and jumping because of her excitement.

“Is anyone gonna explain to me what the hell is going on?” Said Crystal on the verge of a mental breakdown but the boys couldn’t help themselves. After a long time, they laughed.

-

Tell me your thoughts and feelings!

[tetw]

10 Great Articles about the Apocalypse

Asteroids! Solar Storms! Nukes! Climate Calamity! Killer Robots! by Joel Achenbach - A guide to contemporary doomsday scenarios — from the threats you know about to the ones you never think of

Here Comes the Sun—to End Civilization by Matt Ribel - Every so often, our star fires off a plasma bomb in a random direction. Our best hope the next time Earth is in the crosshairs? Capacitors.

How Soon Might the Atlantic Ocean Break? by Sandra Upson - A gigantic, weather-defining current system could be headed to collapse.

How to Survive a Killer Asteroid by Cody Cassidy - The impact that wiped out the dinosaurs would probably have killed you too—unless you were in the exact right place and had made the exact right plans

Among the A.I. Doomsayers by Andrew Marantz - Some people think machine intelligence will transform humanity for the better. Others fear it may destroy us. Who will decide our fate?

Nuclear War is Unlikely to Cause Human Extinction by Landfish - A number of people have claimed that a full-scale nuclear war is likely to cause human extinction. I have investigated this issue in depth and concluded that even a full scale nuclear exchange is unlikely (<1%) to cause human extinction…

The Secrets of Supervolcanoes by Ilya N. Bindeman - Microscopic crystals of volcanic ash are revealing surprising clues about the world’s most devastating eruptions

The Really Big One by Kathryn Schulz - An earthquake will destroy a sizable portion of the coastal Northwest. The question is when

Omens by Ross Andersen - When we peer into the fog of the deep future what do we see – human extinction or a future among the stars?

Is Humanity Suicidal? by Edward O. Wilson - Are we racing to the brink of an abyss, or are we just gathering speed for a take off to a wonderful future?

Dispatches from the Ruins by Frank Bures - The human world has become bafflingly complex and strangely fragile making apocalypse the easiest thing to imagine

[chleem]

Casual /extra III

One shot; college students drew x reader

Warnings: explicit language + content (read at own caution)

⋆.˚ official one shot | more

♡⸝⸝ "bragging to your friends i get off when you hit it, i hate to tell the truth..."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Stop traumatizing the kid, geez,”

Drew shouts over the table at his friend, Pete, who’s deep into the ‘climaxing’ part of his story.

Drew’s already five bottles down, his words slurring just a little as he leans back in his chair, arms crossed, trying to maintain some semblance of control over the situation. 

This was just another normal hangout with his small friend group at the sports bar, except this time, they invited a first-year. 

Why? Well, Drew didn’t really care. He was just here to get wasted, not to babysit a freshman.

“No- it gets good,” Pete ignores Drew’s comment, equally as drunk. He flings an arm around the first year, pulling him in with a sloppy grin, “I snuck…a lollipop up her ass.”

He bursts into laughter, and Drew shakes his head in disbelief. But the smile tugging at his lips betrays him, revealing he’s more entertained than he’s willing to admit. 

Besides, this might be the most sane story Pete ever shares about his sex life. 

The freshman’s uncomfortable expression goes unnoticed by the others, as the friend group spirals into fits of giggles. 

“Oh wait-wait,” Pete signals them to tone it down, for him to add on, “I then popped it back in my mouth.”

Mixed reactions throughout the table; only Pete was consistently laughing.

“Dude, it probably has dew-dew on it,” one of the friends chimes in, raising an eyebrow with a smirk.

“Not the grossest thing that’s been in here,” he points to his mouth, before chuckling. 

Drew reaches across the table, intent on pouring himself another cup of beer—but then, thinking better of it, he grabs the entire bottle instead, twisting the cap off.

“Enough about me,” Pete starts again, before locking eyes with Drew as he takes a sip. “Get a load of that guy.”

The table shifts their attention to Drew, who raises an eyebrow, clearly aware of the sudden focus. His lips curl into an half-assed grin, his tongue grazing over his lower lip, “my stories aren’t interesting.”

“Bullshit!” Pete slams his hand on the table, grinning wide. He leans over at the freshman, asking him, “y’know y/n?”

Even in Drew’s wasted state, the mention of your name sends a jolt through him, his chest tightening for a moment. He straightens up slightly, a flicker of awareness cutting through the haze of alcohol. 

He watches the freshman’s reaction as his lips curl into a shy grin. The guy fidgets, scratching his head, “Y-yeah,” he stammers.

“Isn’t she hot?” Pete asks with a mischievous edge.

Drew’s jaw tightens, his grip on the bottle going white-knuckled. The grin on his lips drop, replaced with a tight frown. 

Even in the dim light of the bar, it’s clear the freshman’s face has gone red. He hesitates for a moment, but a quick scan of the eager faces around the table pushes him to respond, “Crazily hot.”

“You’re in luck! She’s single!” Pete exclaims, but as if sensing the sudden shift in Drew’s mood, the friend group holds back their laughter.

The last time anyone even hinted at something that bold… well, it never really went that far. Usually, their banter stays light—just teasing jabs about each other’s sexual experiences or partners. But this? This feels … different.

“Aw c’mon, I’m not wrong,” Pete leans over to the freshman again, poking his chest. “Drew knows what it’s like. Got him pussy-whipped.”

The freshman, whose name the group has long since forgotten, shifts uncomfortably. His eyes widen under the intensity of Drew’s glare, probably enough to set the whole bar on fire.

“Too far, man,” someone murmurs from the table, their voice quieter than before. “This—her— is a sensitive topic for him.”

Mumbled laughter follows, but it only makes Drew furrow his brow deeper. What was he doing?

His friends were right— you are single. It's only casual with you. If he felt good, he’d hang out with you, maybe get a little closer, but nothing more. 

Him getting all worked up would mean something more—and that? That’s a whole other kind of messed up.

Drew’s features soften, and he shakes his head, a faint smile creeping back onto his lips. He takes another sip—a deep one—letting the coolness of the beer settle him.

“Alright, fuck, you wanna know?” Drew chuckles, the sound low and playful, and it sets off a round of cheers and laughter around the table.

He licks his lips, his wasted mind trying to piece together memories of you. But everything blurs together. He tries to focus, but his thoughts spin, and before he knows it, random faces of other girls begin to creep in.

Shit. Was it you who he fucked in the dark theater? Or was it you that sucked him off at the back of the bus? 

Drew’s eyes briefly dart to the freshman, who’s looking at him with anticipation.

In that moment, the urge to bolster his own ego swells up inside him, almost overwhelming. 

It’s like a switch, and suddenly he wants to show off, to remind everyone in the room that he’s the one in control, not you. 

Pussy-whipped? No, no. 

“Compliment her eyes... and her pants come right off,”

The words roll off Drew’s tongue so easily, like he’s said them a thousand times before.

And for whatever reason, it’s the funniest thing anyone’s heard all night.

The freshman, wide-eyed and unsure whether to laugh along or stay quiet, looks around, clearly caught off guard by the sudden intensity of Drew’s statement.

Drew leans back, a cocky grin playing on his lips, “it gets boring sometimes- but fuck, the way she whimpers when she’s stuffed full…” he lets his sentence hang in the air, the memory of you overstimulated with his cock replaying in his mind. 

His wasted state shows no sign of guilt, and he continues to blurt out whatever pops into his mind about you. The others listen, some with smirks, others with raised eyebrows, but Drew doesn’t care. 

He’s lost in his own confidence, his ego inflated with every word.

And as the night goes on, the stories the group shares just get more unfiltered, fueled by the alcohol in their veins. 

——

The sunglasses Drew wears isn’t enough to hide how hungover he is. 

Moreover, he recalls nothing of last night, specifically after his third bottle. 

As he stumbles down the endless rows of bookshelves, he struggles to keep his eyes open, scanning the aisles in search of you.

Drew brushes off the attention he draws, too overwhelmed by the noise of the quiet library to care.

Finally, deep into the library and at the very end of the last row of shelves, he spots you. It isn’t entirely surprising; given your odd habits when it comes to reading. 

Plus, five-month casualness means knowing everything about each other, right? 

Oh, and it wasn’t just you. 

…Since when did you get a reading buddy? 

“Hey baby,” the nickname rolls of Drew’s lips effortlessly, walking over to you. 

He cuts into the conversation you’re having with the guy next to you, his presence shifting the dynamic instantly. 

Drew watches as you shift uncomfortably on your feet, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “Hey you,” you force out, hands fidgeting with the book in your hands. 

Drew’s lips twitch into a smile, one that feels natural compared to the awkward one you're trying to force. He leans against the bookshelf, and nods down at your book, “what you got there?” 

He could’ve sworn it’s either his sunglasses or own brain- but he definitely saw you glare up at him.

“Drew, um, this is Mike,” you start, and that’s enough to snap Drew’s attention back to the guy beside you. “Mike, Drew.”

Unintentionally, he’s ignored the guy beside you. He just assumed the guy would leave right as Drew entered- plus, he couldn’t care less. 

Through his sunglasses, he takes in the guy- ‘Mike’. Messy hair, baggy jeans that hang too low, a sweater, and he’s got those thick black glasses. And he’s…the same height as you. 

Drew can tell right away—nothing special, and definitely not your type. 

But as he gets a closer look at Mike’s baby face, something in Drew’s mind clicks. 

“y’know y/n?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Isn’t she hot?”

“Crazily hot.”

Drew’s eyes narrow just slightly, landing at how close Mike is next to you, and then on the outfit you’re wearing, a lot more exposed than usual. 

Okay. I see what’s going on. 

It’s petty, but there’s a flicker of something possessive in him, a sudden tension he can't shake.

“You’re- Mike?” Drew asks, his voice flat as he removes his sunglasses, like it might somehow sharpen his perception.

Mike nervously scratches the back of his neck, and Drew sees the same shy grin curling up on his lips- the memories of last night slowly flooding into him.

“Yeah- um, last night was fun, thanks man.”

Drew furrows his eyebrows, and he straightens his posture again. Okay. So this definitely is the first-year from last night. 

He lets out a dry chuckle, finding it amusing all the sudden. 

Tapping the frame of his sunglasses to his chin, he then says, “does he, uh, like your eyes or something?”

The sudden statement catches both you and Mike off-guard. You glance at Mike, who's looking down at the floor, biting on his bottom lip. 

“What- what are you talking about?” Your giggle was laced with awkwardness. 

“Nothing- nothing,” Drew smirks, his voice dripping with mischief. 

He can’t help but size Mike up- his blue eyes scanning all traces of flaw on the first-year.

“I think- this is my cue to leave,” Mike mutters suddenly, clearly feeling the weight of the moment. His voice is barely above a whisper, and he looks anywhere but at Drew. 

Before you can say anything, Drew cuts in.

“Awww, don’t go,” he coos, the smirk on his face widening. 

He reaches his arm out to drape them over your shoulders, but as soon as you feel the weight of his arm, you pull away sharply. 

Drew scoffs under his breath, a quiet sound mixed with surprise and amusement. 

“I’ll see you around, Mike,” you chirp, which is a contrast to the cold attitude you give to Drew. 

"Yeah, see you, y/n," he mumbles, his legs clumsy as he scurries away. 

Oblivious to the sour presence beside you, you giggle at the cute first-years’ flustered state. Drew, however, watches your reaction, his jaw tight with frustration. 

Why are you so focused on that kid?

He leans in, planting quick kisses along your jaw, pulling your attention away from the kid. The distraction works, because you immediately drop your book, hands attempting to push him away. 

“Drew- this is a library-“

“Just missed you a lot,” he murmurs against your skin, as if this reason is enough to justify being freaky in a library. 

He gently presses you against the bookshelf, his presence enveloping you, leaving no space between your bodies. Your hands instinctively rest on his chest, rising and falling steadily. 

You look up at him, a flicker of uncertainty flashes in your eyes, but it's overtaken by the hunger, the way your gaze lingers on his lips, daring him to close the gap.

It’s that look—the perfect mix of need and invitation—that drives him wild.

And as if it was too much, Drew takes his sunglasses and places them on your face. It comes off as a playful gesture, and seeing your confused smile, he can’t help but chuckle lowly. 

You then purposely tilt the sunglasses, wearing them sideways, and the sight of it makes Drew laugh—a loud sound that ripples through the air, completely unrestrained.

Before you can react, he’s there, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck. You let out a series of soft punches on his chest, your body shaking as you try to stifle your own laughter, sending him mumbled ‘shhh’s. 

“Shit,” he mumbles, his lips brushing against your skin. His laughter dies down, and he pulls away to get another look at you. 

His hand comes up and fixes your sunglasses, before giving you a quick kiss. 

But he decides that it isn’t enough- and holds the back of your neck to perform a deeper, more intimate kiss. 

You fight back at first, but the warmth of his mouth melts you right in, your body relaxing against his. 

It’s when a soft moan leaves your mouth when you harshly push him away, Drew pulling back with a sharp breath.

His expression shifts—a mix of either surprise, need, jealousy, or something else entirely. Whatever was going on in his mind, it was loud and thundering, yet all consumed with you.

“Not here, Drew,” you say softly. 

There’s something about the way you’re staring up at him that makes his heart race. 

“Don’t push me away,” he mutters, his voice low, almost like a growl. 

“I wasn’t-“

His hand goes to wrap around your waist, which you push off too. 

“Look, you’re doing it now-“ 

“Drew-“

He closes the distance again, bracing one arm against the bookshelf you lean on. Caging you in, his face is only a few inches apart from yours. 

“God-y’know what you’re doing to me, right?” Drew asks, his words laced with impatience. 

His gaze flickers down to your lips, then back up to the sunglasses, and in the silence that follows, the world seems to hold its breath.

You look straight ahead of you- as if afraid to look up. 

Drew knows. He knows there’s something on your mind—something you're not saying.

And you wouldn’t be pulling away from his touch.

“C’mon, y/n,” he starts, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. 

His other hand goes up, his fingertips brushing against your exposed collarbones. The way you catch your breath, a noticeable hitch in your chest, sends his mind spinning.

He likes the effect he has on you. Controlling you- holding you right on the edge between resistance and surrender.

It’s a power that excites him, the way you can’t seem to stop yourself from reacting, no matter how hard you try to keep your cool.

“What’s going on?” Drew asks, fingertips continuing the drawing against your skin. 

When you finally tilt your head up at him, a small smile spreads on his face. 

“Nothing- nothing,” you reply softly. 

He raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. 

But then you take his hand away from your collarbones, and drag them down the line of your stomach. 

Drew’s eyes follow the movement, his lips parted in curiosity as you guide his hand lower.

Just as you reach the top of your miniskirt, Drew lays his palm flat down against the fabric, feeling- or stopping, right there. 

You’re doing it again- distracting, seducing him to avoid the topic. 

But… why would he even care? 

His smirk says it all- he’s into it, and he’s not going to pull away. His thoughts slither away, now replaced with the lust building inside him. 

“You freaky bitch,”

He mutters, his tone teasing, not at all insulting. 

You chuckle lightly, as Drew’s hand drops lower, vanishing under your skirt. Your breath hitches when you feel him cupping your warmth over the underwear, his knee buckling to force your legs apart. 

He looks over his shoulder- as if expecting someone to walk by. 

No one does—just the quiet back of the library, tucked away from prying eyes.

“Babe,” he leans into you again, lips brushing your ear, “gotta keep it down, ‘kay?”

He nibbles down on the skin just below, his tongue moving in sloppy patterns. 

At the same time, the hand under your skirt yanks your underwear to the side, fingertips coming in contact with your clit. 

You bite down harshly on your lower lip, suppressing the moan that threatens to ripple out. He rubs soft circles on your pussy, playing with the wetness that pools. 

“Fuck,” he whimpers quietly, moving onto kissing the skin on your neck.

On purpose, he sucks harder on your sweet spots, and you immediately arch your back, arms wrapping around his shoulders to pull him closer. 

And then you feel it; two fingers entering you. 

“Oh god-“ you let out, your breaths becoming uneven. 

He starts moving at an agonizingly slow pace, each shift dragging your orgasm further away. 

Slightly frustrated, you lean back onto the bookshelf, eyes narrowing at Drew whose focused with dragging his lips further down your cleavage. 

But just as his mouth slips beneath the fabric, a sharp tug on his hair pulls him back.

The lazy gaze in his eyes meets yours- and behind the sunglasses, you’ve got a desperate plea in them. 

A smile creeps onto his lips as he can sense how impatient you are, and it builds to the dent in his own pants. 

“Faster,” you breathe out, almost like an order. 

Listening, he slips another digit into you, and thrusts in a much faster pace. 

It nearly knocks the wind out of you, your hands dropping back to his shoulders. Your nails dig into the muscles there, the grip instinctive, as your body tenses from the unexpected surge of sensation.

“Fuck,” you moan out, a bit louder than intended. 

Drew immediately lets out a throaty chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. He leans back beside your ear, ”tryna get us caught?”

You bite down on your lip again, trying to stifle the sounds that threaten to escape. 

With each push to your pussy, you could feel the tension boil up. 

The bookshelf behind trembles as well, the books rattling gently along with the muffled groans you and Drew both produce. 

Drew works hard with his digits, curling them inward to the irresistible spot he’s become familiar with, one that’s bound to send you over the edge. 

He knows he’s got it when another moan escapes you, grinning devilishly against the side of your neck. 

“You like that, baby?” he murmurs, his breath warm against your skin. 

And when you clench around him, both of you know you’re close, the pleasure in your lower stomach ready to burst out. 

“Drew,” you quietly call out, your hands moving up to thread through his hair. 

No matter how many times he’s heard you moan his name, it’ll always get him going, fueling him in ways you wouldn't expect.

And he tells you just that- how much he likes your voice, body, manners, everything- through his mouth to yours. 

His tongue fights with yours as it enters, a raw, passionate kiss that only Drew performs when he’s with you. 

It sends him into further frenzy when your hips buckle, the string in your stomach snapping. His pumps slow down as your cum coats his hand, the warmth of it not as strong as the one radiating from your lips. 

Drew’s got you whimpering, breath shaky as you struggle to keep up with his kiss.

He smiles against your lips, amused by how hard you’re trying. 

Then, he pulls away, along with the digits in you, the pop sound practically echoing through the quiet halls of the library. 

With Drew’s other hand that was caging you in, he reaches for your sunglasses, pushing them up, away from your eyes.

Shit. He could’ve easily nutted right there, staring at your ‘fucked-up’ gaze. 

It’s silent for a moment, both of you calming down, eyes locked, flickering with unspoken energy.

Aw, shit. You really have the most beautiful eyes. 

You let out a giggle between shallow breaths, one that pulls Drew’s focus back to who and where he is.

“These books are grilling my back,”

Your honest comment causes laughter to ripple through Drew, his chest vibrating against yours. 

“Ugh, poor thing,” he coos gently, his voice dripping with mock sympathy, which earns a light push on his shoulder. His smile only grows wider, "bring a pillow next time.”

The way your cheeks redden up makes it even more fun for Drew. 

“No- no, Starkey,” you stammer. 

He didn’t even realize his hand was still resting underneath your skirt until you brushed it off, quickly fixing your clothes. 

He watches as your eyes land on his soaked hand, the one that drips with your juice. It’s the same flustered and embarrassed look again- and he smiles cutely at your reaction. 

“Shit- I don’t have a tissue-“

Drew didn’t know why he did it- but he sticks it into his mouth, lips wrapping around his digits. 

Your eyes widen at the action, lips slightly parted. 

Oh- yeah, that’s why he did it, to get another reaction out of you. 

“Ew- Drew-“

“Nothing I haven’t done before,” he mumbles against his fingers, sucking gently. 

It’s sweet- a weird way to describe someone’s orgasm but to Drew, he likes the way you taste. 

He pulls it out, a thin string of saliva clinging to his fingers. He brings it closer to your face, and you instinctively cock your head away. “Drew! That’s disgusting-“

He laughs again, dropping his hand and wiping it against the bottom of his shirt. 

“Why would you do that?” you ask, giggling lightly. 

However, before Drew could respond, you take the sunglasses off, thrusting it into his chest. 

He catches it, his hand brushing against yours. 

“Here, your stupid sunglasses,” you insult, which sounds flirtier than intended. 

“They look better on you,” he replies, his tone softer now, a compliment that slips easily out of his mouth. 

Drew watches as you tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, your eyes darting away. It’s either you’re flustered, or not buying it—he can’t quite tell, but the uncertainty only seems to make him more intrigued.

“I wanna get out of here,” you say instead. 

“Sure,” he immediately agrees, stepping away from the bookshelf. Assuming you’re heading back to his room, he adds, “my roommate’s out.”

“Oh,” your shoulders slump, “I’ve got class though.”

“No you don’t,” he retorts instantly, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

You chuckle, rolling your eyes, the gesture making it clear that, yes, it was an obvious lie.

But c’mon, give Drew some credit—casually together for more than five months, he knows everything about you, including when you’re full of it.

He wraps an arm around your shoulders, hugging you close as you two walk out the library. 

It’s always a sweet moment for Drew, blissfully unaware of the weight you carry inside, forever scarred by this so-called ‘casual’ thing.

——

Moments before 

“Y/n?”

You look up from your book, towards the source. 

It’s Mike, the first-year. The one you were assigned to give a campus tour to, and also the guy from your class.

“Hey,” you greet, a polite smile on your lips. 

There’s no doubt you’re wondering how he found you, especially since this is the library, and you're tucked away in the furthest section.

He quickly explains, “um, you mentioned yesterday you liked reading, so I just assumed…”

His words trail off awkwardly, and you nod, “I do like a quiet corner,” you reply, trying to ease the tension.

“Yeah, yeah, um, that’s cool,” he mumbles, the corner of his lips curling up, “but actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”

At that, your brow furrows slightly, a flicker of curiosity in your eyes. 

“Y’know Drew? The tall guy- with the blue eyes.”

You wonder where this is going, and your face reflects that uncertainty.

“I was at the bar with him last night,” Mike’s voice almost drops to a whisper, “um, he-he’s not the nicest dude, y/n.”

Oh?

Oh. 

This isn't the first time you've heard something like this. Drew's tendency to talk behind your back, to show a side of him that doesn't match what you see in private... it stings, but it also feels strangely familiar. 

A flash of disappointment crosses your face before you can mask it, and you quickly look away from him. 

“You wanna tell me something new?” you say, a teasing grin forming as you nudge him lightly with your elbow. 

It’s a lame attempt to keep things light, and it catches Mike off-guard. 

He blinks for a moment, “sorry, I didn’t mean to—uh, I just thought you should know." He scratches the back of his neck, "I didn’t mean to come off rude.”

“It’s okay,” you reply, with a casual shrug, “not like I’m dating him or anything.”

The words feel weird leaving your mouth, even though it’s clearly understood with Drew that it’s purely casual.

“Really? You’re single?”

Your eyes narrow as you study Mike’s facial expressions- “yeah.”

“Then, actually,” you watch the blush creep up on his face, “there’s something else I need to tell you- something new, that you don’t know.”

You stay quiet, your gaze steady as you wait for him to continue. 

His nervous fidgeting fills the brief silence before he finally blurts out, “I was wondering if… you want to go out sometime? Like, on a date?”

You can’t say you’re surprised- all this nervous energy Mike has around you has to be because of something, right?

You want to say yes, but in the back of your mind, Drew appears. 

The thought of him makes your chest tighten, the casual thing you’ve got with him flashing in your mind. It feels wrong, somehow, to be dating other people. 

But with his pleading eyes staring into yours, you couldn’t help it. 

You nod, a tight smile on your lips, “okay, sure, I would love to, Mike.”

His hand comes up in an attempt to wipe the smile off his lips, but it's no use; the grin only grows brighter. He clearly wasn’t expecting you to say yes. 

He stares into your eyes for a moment, his gaze softening, almost mesmerized. 

“Your eyes,” he says quietly, a genuine smile spreading across his face, “they’re incredible. Like, really beautiful.”

There’s a warmth in his voice, something more than just admiration, as if he’s truly captivated by the way they shine.

The sudden compliment feels almost too much, especially coming from him. You quickly mask the surprise with a soft giggle, shrugging it off as if it’s no big deal.

“Thanks,” you say, your voice light, though the warmth in your cheeks betrays you.

Just as Mike parts his lips to say something, a distraction occurs. 

“Hey, baby.”

Shit. 

The familiar voice makes your stomach drop, and you turn to see Drew standing beside you. He’s got sunglasses on, the kind he only wears when he's nursing a hangover.

“Hey you,” you force out, feeling uncomfortable with Mike standing right there, the weight of your promise hanging in the air.

You tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, fidgeting on your feet. 

You hate it- hate this situation, Drew, and mostly yourself. 

Casual, casual, casual, you repeat like a mantra in your mind, trying to push the feelings aside.

But the more you repeat it, the less it feels like the truth. You can’t help but wonder where this is going—or if it’s already gone too far.

-------------------------------

word count: 4.5k

ִ ࣪𖤐 a/n: drew's pov....what do u think? is he in love? also, y they kinda have public sex kink...

anyway, another gut-wrenching chapter into the 'casual' situationship! aw god, words can't describe how much i love this 'series', and i love this song, so you'll probably see me writing a hundred parts to this.

hope you love it as much as i do <3

elevator | other | more casual!drew

everyone that wanted more (ily sm: @maybankslover @drewnationalgf @rafeyswifey @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account @amb3rsaurus @rafecamerons-national-anthem @milky321 @iraslore

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Light Reading (2007) by Ernest Vincent Wood III