augustcastle

[augustcastle]

Luci wakes up a little later than she intended, but she supposes that's the great thing about this cabin, sleeping in. She stretches her legs, yawning and pulls herself from bed. She tugs on sweatpants and an oversized sweater and Sunflower huffs as she heads towards downstairs.

She hears soft voices being exchanged and she didn't realize August and Ryan were still up here.

She doesn't eavesdrop, persay, but she does see them---

Her eyes widen and she quickly moves down the hall, a soft laugh leaving her lips as she sees them share a kiss.

Well. Good for them.

August closes his eyes, letting his forehead rest against Ryan's. And something feels like it completely slots into place. He cups her cheek, pressing one there afterwards.

He hopes that's a good sign.

There's a tiny voice in the back of Ryan's mind that's giving her the warning of going through with this. That it could ruin the friendship along the way, they'll fuck it up and it'll leave them both with nothing. But she can't totally think that's an option because they've been through ups and downs as friends for years, years. August is her longest friend, her best one. Maybe somewhere along the line this makes sense.

Maybe it's not mistletoe magic, maybe it's simply the cabin. They all usually come out on the other side of this vacation with a bit of a clearer headspace.

Ryan's glances lifts to look at August and it's the way he says I want you that makes things feel utterly differently. Like a door swings open and it's inviting with their favourite things, things that make them happy, She doesn't feel skeptical about it, like August is pulling a fast one on her because it wouldn't benefit him in anyway. It feels genuine and there's definitely an emotion ricocheting in her chest at how good it feels to.

That he wants her.

She smiles at him, nodding multiple times. "Let's figure it out," she triple confirms, brushing some of August's damp hair off his forehead. And right after that, she presses another kiss to his lips like a phsyical confirmation.

[augustcastle]

He doesn't know if this will end up being a good idea. It could all blow up in his face. He knows that. And yet...part of him wants to try, he doesn't want to give up that shot. It's ironic, almost, because he's constantly telling Aiden he needs to go for it. That's how Luci ended up with Max, because someone can only wait around for so long.

And he should take his own advice, right? He feels something for Ryan, it's something strong, it's something that's always been there.

So why is he waiting?

If someone were to ask him what he wanted--

"Yeah," He smiles a little, "I want you," And it's as simple as that for him. "So we can figure it out."

Ryan considers the question as she looks out the window. Still a baby blue sky, the colourful leaves and the tall trees. It's peaceful outside, and it's peaceful right here too. When she thinks about what she wants, Ryan can name things that she has that makes her happy alright. She can also see potentials like moving out to LA and trying something new, that she won't be alone out there, that she'll find another job.

Many of those things boil down to August being there, and maybe happiness shouldn't be poured into one person but August has been that port in a storm for such a long time. August is a constant and she can't imagine much else without him. There is love there, appreciation and knowing. Perhaps their paths always weaves through each other.

Ryan turns to look at him, resting her cheek to her hand to prop her up on her side. "Yeah," she confirms. "It is. I want to figure it out with you. If that's something you want to do as well."

[augustcastle]

August is one hundred percent sure what Ryan wants, exactly, but he supposes this is a good a place as any to talk about it. When he brought up Bryce, he just meant he's knee-deep in a contract he signed. Which...he's stupid for signing anyways, but that's what happens when he thinks about his movies first. It's not like he was dating anyone at the time.

He didn't know this thing was Ryan was so prominent until it was staring him right in the face.

He breathes in, rubbing the back of his neck as he props some pillows up to lay next to her, lazily playing with the fabric of the sweater she's wearing between his fingers.

"What is it that you think you want?" He asks curiously.

Right, Bryce. Ryan's brows lift slightly about it because she doesn't know the inner workings about whatever arrangement August has. But the whole PR things just seems so stupid and a waste of his time, does he really need to be involved in that? Or it more so on Bryces account that see needs the publicity? And Ryan supposes that's the other thing. August is August to her. At the same time he is August that is an actor, working, on movie posters and red carpets, interviews, the works.

It doesn't intimidate her, most of the time she finds it fascinating but there is the lingering question of does she fit in that pocket of his life?

Ryan sifts on the bed, scooting back to lean against the headboard, "I think... things can be as complicated as you make it out to be," she says as she thinks. "Meaning that between us and how we are, we already have trust built and are open enough people towards each other to maybe... explore."

[augustcastle]

August isn't sure what to say on both counts. He's not going to say he hasn't thought about it, about her. That it hasn't been something that's been living in the back of his mind for a very long time, probably as long as Aiden has been feeling something for Luci. He just didn't realize it. Didn't put two and two together.

Until that mistletoe downstairs and it's...really fucking ironic that he joked about the magic of Christmas before this all happened.

He lets out a light laugh and looks down at their hands, running his thumb over her knuckles, "We can talk about it if you want," He shrugs, "This is probably one of the worst timings given fucking Bryce, but, I want to talk about it."

Ryan laughs softly, a small gap between their lips as she scoots a little bit closer to him. "It's a temporary yes while I figure out logistics and the job I still have," she tells him. Her job has done her well and she won't flake off without making sure her colleagues are fine and any deadlines she has is all tied up. Yet there is something thrilling about August's offer because Ryan knows it's actually a feasible one.

And with that, it's not exactly a rash decision either. They'll iron out some wrinkles and set some parameters, all of that. Speaking of such– yesterday.

Ryan leans back on her knees, "I... don't really know what quite to say about the basement yesterday. And if you don't want to talk about it right now, I get it. But I just wanted to say that it didn't, doesn't, feel wrong."

[augustcastle]

August knows that he's offering something that might be kind of wild, given that Ryan would be moving across the way to him. But his place is sort of big on purpose. And really...how crazy is it given that they sort of pop in on one another all the time?

Feels like something that fits into place more than a lot of things sometimes.

So he's genuine in that ask. He's not sure how it'll all work, but he's got plenty of money to go around, he doesn't need to rush her into finding a place or a job. He just wants her there. If that's what she wants to.

And in a way that she takes him by surprise (again), she leans over and kisses him. He kisses back instantly, as if it's not something that he's been thinking about since it happened.

"I'll take that as a yes," He says softly, a small smile pulling at his lips.

Considering all that they talk about, Ryan isn't too sure why she never brought up the thought of moving to LA to August. Perhaps sometimes she figured it was a fictional thought, one that lingered in her mind after too many drinks, or passing out on his couch, or the long flight back to Boston after a surprise 72 hour trip. Maybe even times when he came and left within 12 hours.

What two people do that? Them, Ryan thinks. Them, them, them.

She tips her chin up to look at August as he lays out the easiest offer to he's got. It's clean and simple, that he's got room for the two of them if she wanted to make the leap. Ryan's got savings, her school debt is low now. It's only her and Dahlia, nothing else really. The thought blooms warmth in her chest because yeah, maybe they could figure out the job thing. Maybe she could go back to her brief bartending days until another posting goes up.

Ryan smiles briefly, looking back at their hands and squeezes again. She leans towards August, taking her hands and touches his cheeks as she plants a gentle kiss to his lips. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't thinking about it all night. But this is more along the lines of a thank you.

[augustcastle]

August draws in a breath, his thumb lazily tracing shapes into her wrist as she talks, just to think things out. He feels like he should have known that Ryan was interested in moving. He supposes in a way, it makes it sense, given that the time they've spent there together has always been a good time.

He chews on his lower lip, knowing that the one job didn't work out but...

"I would love nothing more than for you to move to LA." He smiles a little, "You know...if you're fed up on Boston, you could always move in with me. Just until you found a place." He offers, shrugging his shoulders. "We can figure out the whole job thing."

Ryan wishes she could rewind and not tell him about why she fucked up. There's guilt sitting on her chest like a hundred bricks. She stands by what she says that it is her own fault, she's better than letting emotions get in the way of something important and unfortunately she let it get the best of her. Clearly not the Claremont way, if you'd ask her mother.

She lets out a short breath, continuing to look at their hands as she mindlessly moves their fingers around and traces over the lines on August's palm. It's a rather calming distraction when she thinks about it. "It's kind of been a toying thought for a little while, some days I'm ready to pick up and go. And then other days I've had to be a bit more realistic. You know, like, my job in Boston is fine. There's nothing wrong with it... I guess sometimes I feel stale."

She wonders if that makes sense to him. "I mean, I've been there for over a decade. It's great, it's close to home, to here and everything. But it's not exciting anymore, I don't want to feel stuck or complacent." And she knows how that sounds given everyone's different situations that is currently at this cabin.

Aiden got the short end of the stick, Luci's ex fucking drained the life from her, and August... whatever happened when they had their fight is hurting him too.

[augustcastle]

August shakes his head because how can he not feel responsible about this? He gets what Ryan is saying, that it was on her to carry the interview through but...maybe she would have been more on top of her game if he hadn't had a fucking breakdown over his fake PR relationship. He sighs, quiet as Ryan gently takes his hands. He squeezes hers back.

He'll accept what he's saying, he won't make her feel worse, but...he's not sure he believes it.

Maybe he can call the place she was interviewing, convince them to give her another shot.

"I didn't know you wanted to move to LA."

"No," Ryan removes the blankets and moves quickly to sit in front of August. She knew to a certain extend if she were to say what happen that August would shoulder the blame, it's genetic, he can't help that his family has got decency and morals. Yet, "Don't blame yourself or anything like that. We got into a fight, it happened but I had my own responsibility to go into that interview and do my best and I didn't."

Ryan searches August's face, resting back on her knees as she takes one of his hands and holds it with both of hers. "I was nervous, I messed it up, okay? It sucks but... maybe it's fine," she says, looking down at their hands. Gently she squeezes his fingers. "Another one will come up in six months, or maybe they'll need a freelancer. Who knows. Or another magazine needs someone, a blog."

[augustcastle]

August's mouth opens and closes like a fish in water because he...he didn't see that coming. Why did he have zero clue that she was interested in finding a job out in LA? Where he lives? Like she...she actually wanted to be with him, end up close together. He clears his throat, turning on his side to look at her.

"I didn't realize that I..."

And then she drops another bomb. Not only was she looking for a job in LA, she fucked the only one she had up because they got into a fight. He closes his eyes. Fuck. That fight was his fought.

"Fuck," He mumbles, shaking his head, "I really know how to ruin things sometimes."

There's movement again and from her spot in bed up against the window, she can see it's Aiden with Bee trotting behind him as they go downstairs through the crack of the door. Ryan tucks the blankets under her chin as she looks at the dumb reject email again and it doesn't matter at the end of the day. It's one fumble amongst a lot of good other things and she finds it hard to be super hard on herself right now given she's at the cabin with her friends.

Not to mention other things have occurred too.

Ryan's eyes slide to the door as August comes in, freshly showered and cozy looking. She moves her legs as he joins her on the bed. For half a second, Ryan considers lying because it seems easier. Exhaling, Ryan plays with the tassels of the blanket, "It was for a content writer at the LA Collective," Ryan shares with him, avoiding his eyes. She doesn't want to see some kind of pity look or anything of the sort.

"I want to try something different. I've reaches my threshold where I am now and there was a posting about two months ago, so I applied, got an interview..." she trails, already annoyed with the next part. "Then we got into our fight and I blew it," Ryan shrugs and finally looks at August.

[augustcastle]

There's the rumble of an amused laugh from August just because it seems like Ryan is a bit scattered and...did she just give him the thumbs up? He closes the door and showers, not taking up too much time. When he's down, he towels off, switches into some comfortable clothes, and makes his way into Ryan's room as he towels dry his hair.

He's dramatic when he plops down to her, surrounded by pillows and blankets.

"So," He tosses the towel aside, running both of his hands through his damp hair, "Tell me about this job that you were trying to get."

Ryan's smiles briefly, it's gone just as it's shown. "Yeah, well," she combs her fingers through the top of her hair and shrugs it off. "It is what it is, and it's alright. They'll be other jobs," hopefully. And maybe the interview wasn't as terrible as she remembers it but she blew it, completely. "Anyway... go shower, really. Sorry." Ryan apologies again, backing out of the bathroom without any bumping or injuries.

She gives August another small smiles with a ridiculous thumbs up before sharply turning on her heel and darts back into the cabin bedroom. Ryan rolls her eyes at herself for being in a mood and... what? It's not August's problem she messed up. Of course she's a bit upset it didn't work out but there's other things out there. Maybe she can look at New York or Chicago.

LA's a tough town anyway.

[augustcastle]

August wouldn't say that he's the most patient person, though he's been known to take those breathers for people he cares about. Ryan is one of those people. It's clear she's been through something and he can't imagine what it could be so early in the morning, but it has her startled enough to almost knock herself out in the bathroom so.

He waits and listens.

He frowns, glancing out of the bathroom in the direction of her phone. He didn't know she was looking for other jobs,

"Really? That fucking sucks, I'm sorry. Sucks for them, I mean, because who wouldn't want you on their team."

Ryan flinches and holds onto the side of the door. Sure, one small mishap of the morning and now the rest of it feels like she's sliding off the side of a cliff. She rubs her nose and winces, turning to look August, "I'm fine, don't worry. Sorry," she apologies again and decides maybe she should go be horizontal again before she does something else ridiculous.

"Go shower, really. I'm fine," Ryan assures him, straightening out her green knit sweater that goes just about to the middle of her thighs. But she sighs again, another rub of her nose and there's blood or anything so definitely not broken. Just a little sore. August has got this look in his eye that he's not going to let her strange mood go and she can't exactly blame him either. She'd press about it if it was the other way around, out of concern.

Ryan scratches her forehead, "I um, got rejected from a job. So, you know how that goes, annoying."

[augustcastle]

August would teasingly blame her lack of awareness on the fact that she's seeing him half naked, and while he'd love to own that, he doesn't think that's what this is. She seems...scattered, but not in a good way, but also like she's seeking him out in the way that they do when something is wrong.

He opens his mouth to tell her it's fine, the shower can wait, when she turns and bumps into the doorjamb. He winces, reaching for her elbow to gently turn her around,

"Jesus, you alright?" He asks, turning off the shower so he can give her his full attention. He gently lifts her chin, surveying her face, "Did you hit your head." He's definitely run into a doorjamb from time to time, it's not pretty.

Ryan's not sure why her body keeps inching its way into the bathroom. It's incredibly obvious that August is wanting to take a shower and now she's intruding on that time. She left her bed to see what was going on and she got her answer, so...? Ryan blinks and looks up at August, shaking her head. "No, no. You didn't wake me up, I've been up for a little while," she tells him, looking down at the tiled flooring then snaps back up to him a second later.

Is her face too readable today? It's early-ish, she hasn't had time to 'lock in' to some kind of default I-Don't-Give-a-Fuck facade that she's very good at from time to time. "Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing," she replies, worth a shot anyway. "Sorry I just– you're trying to shower and I don't know why I walked in. Sorry," she moves her hands around, turning to leave and bumps into the door like she's never walked a day in her life before right this second.

[augustcastle]

August clears his throat, turning to test out the water and it's not quite hot yet. He smiles just a little at this old piping system because while everything is updated? Still takes a little bit for things like this. For the water to get hot, for the air conditioner to kick on, for the heating to get started. He doesn't mind though, all part of the charm.

He turns a little as he hears movement, getting ready to close the door because he hopes he didn't wake anyone up? But then he sees it's Ryan and he pauses.

He smiles a little, "Hey, I didn't wake you, did I?" He gives her a once over, his eyebrows drawing together in soft confusion because she looks...different, or rather, something seems off.

"What's wrong?"

Ryan's isn't sure if she can really be upset about being rejected for this job. She did not go into it prepared, she couldn't set aside her emotions for getting into an argument with August and she... she fucked up the interview. It's her own fault for for separating the two situations and still giving it her all, her entire one hundred percent. And she would have been good at the job, it's the same as she does now in Boston with a lifestyle column but in a whole different city and a pay bump.

Now? Well, she's going to have to continue to scrape the barrel of Boston to find something interesting enough that she can write something decent to publish.

She rubs her hands over her face, letting out a small grunt of self disappointment. Ryan's head lifts as she hears movement and leans forward slightly, not realizing Aiden had went for a jog but... it's the wrong door that opens and closes. It sounds like the bathroom beside her room. So... August?

Ryan removes the blankets and stands, walking to the door and sees Bee trailing about before nosing her way into Aiden's room. Ryan turns her head and looks to the bathroom, seeing shadow movement and steps towards the door, peering through the gap. She breathes in and he doesn't appear naked so,

She knocks lightly, leaning herself up against the door frame. "Hi."

[augustcastle]

August wouldn't say he's a runner, at any rate, but there's something about spending the morning outside that's nice every so often. He's really not a person who wakes up early, either, but he feels like he's been on high alert ever since him and Ryan locked lips.

Like it's one of the only things he can think about.

He has no idea what to do about that.

Coming back to the house with Bee in tow, he comes in and toes his sneakers off by the back door. He feeds Bee and then tugs his sweatshirt over his head, tossing it by the basement door to be washed.

He's quiet as he goes upstairs, slipping into the bathroom and leaving the door open while water heats up.

reflections & rejections.

There's a woodpecker somewhere right outside the window that's been going at it since God knows when. Hammering away with it's beak as if its making toothpicks out of trees. Ryan ignored it for a while, drifting in and out of sleep until it became slightly too much that she gets out of bed, makes a coffee with the cabin is silent and creeps back up the stairs to lay in bed. It's a nice morning, a gentle breeze she can see from the leaves on the trees and some puffy clouds in the sky.

The window feels like a TV, just watching the sky move and the trees dance with the wind and animals. Every so often her mind weaves back and forth between kissing August yesterday and what that means, then to about twenty other thoughts that's been whirling around for a long while. Ryan props herself up against the headboard of the bed and engulfs herself in the blankets.

Ryan sips her coffee slowly, her phone pinging quietly on the small side table. She picks it up expecting some subscription email but it's coupons for the pizza place near her apartment. It's the magazine she interviewed with back when her and August got into that terrible fight. She can feel her heart in her throat as she clicks on it, only for her eyes to scan a mile a minute and get met with the rejection she knew was inevitable.

A shaky breath leaves her mouth as she reads it all, how she has such strong skills but she's not the candidate for the role at this time. Ryan's head hits the headboard as she drops her phone to the side, closing her eyes.

[augustcastle]

August blinks at his brother. So typical that Aiden knew where they were. He shakes his head and glances over at Ryan, who...is probably wearing the exact same expression he is. Luci covers her mouth as a soft giggle escapes,

"No, we totally didn't do that," August says, hands on his hips, "Why would we do that when they could have been in a storage bench in the middle of the living room.

Luci outright laughs now and he finds himself smiling too, shaking his head as he glances at Ryan.

"Time well spent anyways, I guess."

Ryan smiles softly at Luci and nods, no doubt it ended up being romantic because Aiden is involved. The man could make eating a peanut butter sandwich romantic somehow. And perhaps to a certain degree August's mistletoe magic was somehow in that same realm because Ryan can still feel heat throughout her entire body. Maybe she needs to get a grip.

"Oh yeah," Aiden puts some food in the first before setting the brown paper bag. "I saw that text, they're in here," he says and walks over to a handmade wooden storage bench, living up the lid. Instead there's hats, gloves, scarves and... Kim's shoes.

Aiden holds them up and Ryan can't help but stare in disbelief, looking to August. "What?" Aiden looks between them. "Did you go through all the bins in the basement?"

[augustcastle]

Luci puts away some groceries that her and Aiden must have picked up on their way back from the woods. Nothing too extreme, but it would explain why she talked about making different types of pie. He's not sure why it feels like him and Ryan look different, like Luci and Aiden will be able to tell something has happened between them.

Maybe it's not actually that easy to tell. Or maybe Aiden and Luci are too wrapped up in their own thing. Which is just fine with August.

"It was a lot of fun." Luci smiles, something just for Aiden.

He clears his throat, leaning back against the counter, "That's good. Mom had us on a wild goose chase for a pair of shoes she thinks she left here."

Maybe Ryan's thoughts are extremely loud because as August steps to her, she begins to lean too and... nothing. Reality snaps back into place instantly and Ryan's head spins to look towards the basement door. A short breath exhales as she swallows, this odd twinge of disappointment but maybe it's okay. Her hands slide up and down her arms as she nods, beginning to go towards the stairs to rejoin the picnic goers.

Bee barks excitedly seeing her and August emerge from the basement and Ryan smiles, leaning down to pet and hug her before she springs off to August. Be cool, she tells herself despite her brain going in a continuous loop. "How was the picnic?" She asks.

[augustcastle]

There's a moment in which August takes a step forward, like he might kiss her again, like he might not be able to stop--

but then the front door opens upstairs and he can hear the dogs running in, a bark from Bee. He blinks, glancing up and Luci is giggling and saying something about making multiple pies for dessert.

"I can ask Ryan and August what they want," She's saying.

August lets out a breath. He could tell her what he wants--five more minutes of kissing Ryan, figuring this out.

"I guess we should..." He motions towards the stairs. "Maybe Aiden knows where these fucking shoes are."

Sometimes Ryan leans towards the outlook of the glass being half empty but it's been a proven fact for herself when her and August are in one another's companies, it's full. It feels like her glass is overflowing right now in the middle of this kiss. She knows herself well enough that maybe this isn't a laughing matter because as she tips her head back at looks at August, he's got a similar look in his eyes that a door is opening.

Maybe it's always been cracked opened.

She breathes in, grounding herself as all her nerve endings tingle and she slowly removes her hands from his shoulders to bring towards herself. Ryan turns her head to look at the stupid bins and nods, almost forgetting the whole point for why they're down here is for a random pair of shoes. Thanks, Kim.

"No, definitely not," Ryan agrees, twisting her hair away from her face as she secures the lid back on the bin.

But she's got that itch, an itch that comes around when something is so thrilling or altering that you want to do it again. It's a twitch of her lips as she briefly glances back at August wondering what it'd be like to maybe kiss him again? It's not exactly some kind of time consuming math bother to understand that she enjoyed it either.

[augustcastle]

Something shifts in the air, though he doesn't know what it is, exactly. Only that he didn't expect it. It's like his body moves forward on its own. He wants to kiss Ryan again, wants to know what it feels like to make that choice, to live in it.

Anyone who doesn't believe in mistletoe magic seriously needs to reconsider.

The kiss ends naturally, maybe a bit too quickly, and he's pulling back and glancing down at her mouth. He cups her cheek, running his thumb over her lower lip.

All this time, all this history between them and...he doesn't know why this is something he's never thought about (or maybe he has, maybe he has plenty of times).

"Well I," He clears his throat, "I don't think the shoes are in that box, that's for sure."

It's a silly little kiss. It's not exactly the first time she's kissed August as well, some very blurry simple yet affectionate too many drinks on a random Thursday that lead to one or two. Nothing over board ever because... there's always been a line, right? Sure they play these funny games of showing up and surprising one another, ruining lame dates and everything in between. And so... a mistletoe kiss in the middle of October is simply that.

Perhaps...

Ryan barely can turn away from her kiss before August's mouth is back on hers. It's different, there's much more body and forwardness to it then she possibly expected. Maybe she was thinking they were just going to laugh, give up on the shoe hunt and go back upstairs like they planned. Instead, Ryan's lip locked with her bestest friend and there's a rush of heat and thrill pinging from head to toe.

Her hands rest on his arms, mechanically moving to his shoulders with her upper half leaning into his chest. The kiss stays consistent for a few good moments, it feels like many minutes.

This is... not feeling entirely wrong either.