hlfmoonshine

[hlfmoonshine]

sanem reached out and touched sofia's arm, roping her attention away for a moment. "i am overwhelmed in the best way with the thought are care you've put in sofia," she hummed softly, "but you did help last time, and that's one of my favorite parts, it counts." she scrunched her nose and moved back out of sofia's orbit, letting her finish setting the beautiful scene she'd planned.

"we source them from a local artist, she paints them all from a studio here." she fought the urge to pull her phone out and spend ten minutes looking at the plethora of pictures that sanem had been taking of their stock over the last two days.

she gave sofia's hand a light squeeze and felt it ripple though her, adoration and intrigue filling her whole being. it was an unfamiliar collection of emotions, but she was mostly struggling to remain calm about how sofia made her feel. "please, i have to thank you for asking."

"i know we don't know each other well yet, but something tells me you can't see yourself half as clearly as i do, sofia." she reached across the table and brushed her knuckle gentle over the curve of sofia's cheek. "i feel lucky that you are interested in me. you picked a good date idea, and i am sure you made a fantastic sandwich." she beamed, cheeks flushed.

"yeah, but i wasn't too much of a help." sofia teased back as she continued to empty out her bag. she might have went a bit overboard on lunch, but she wanted this date to be as perfect as she imagined it. she had food, drinks, and even dessert for later. hearing sanem talk about her work brought a smile to her face.

seeing how passionate she was about everything that she did was something that sofia wasn't used to. usually people said she spoke too much about her passion and didn't have anyone to really listen but that seemed to change the more they talked to one another. "painted anthuriums? i might have to stop by to take a look myself." she said with a smile as she finally finished setting everything up. after sitting down, she sighed happily and reached to take her hand across the picnic table.

"thanks again for coming with me." sofia said with a smile and leaned forward a bit. it had been a bit since she had even been out on a date, let alone felt like this toward someone. sanem wasn't scared of her, she wasn't giving her dirty looks or avoiding her eyes. she got to know the real her, and she felt like she could pull back all of her layers and open up to her.

"it was kind of a shot in the dark, but i wanted to do something more than just a movie or getting a drink. you deserve more than that." sofia said as her cheeks went a bit red once more. "but c'mon give one of my sandwiches a try, and be honest. i can take it." she teased with a smile.

[hlfmoonshine]

i was intending on coming on here tonight to do replies but the two mad scientists i am writing a novel about are worming around in my brain tonight and i haven't stopped writing since 9pm. so. sorry. love you and hopefully get some replies done tomorrow morning.

[hlfmoonshine]

sofia's motorcycle still scared sanem, some things were rooted deeper than she had expected, but she was able to find joy in it, in sofia, even through her fear. sofia would throttle the gas just a little and sanem felt like she was flying, tightening her grip around sofia as she held tighter while laughter trailed behind them. sofia could sense sanem's apprehension but she teased comfort and excitement in a way sanem had never expected from anyone before. easing her in.

"i walk a lot, i think technically it can be listed as like, a hobby i guess?" sanem absentmindedly squeezed sofia's hand, grounded even though she still felt the rush of their ride over to the park. "i do love coming here. butterfly gardens are fantastic ways to encourage the pollinators, which you can imagine is important for my job." she let herself slip into the pride and adoration of her work for a moment. "it's one of my favorite places, it's perfect sofia." sanem grinned, nose crinkling slightly.

sanem didn't date a terrible amount, but the effort already displayed was more than anyone had ever done for her before, crimson bloomed across her cheeks. "you helped cook our last date, sofia." sanem chuckled, soft roll of her eyes as she moved to help sofia set up.

"oh!" sanem's hands waved and her smile stretched wide. "we received the most beautiful order of painted anthuriums. i don't think i've ever seen any flower more beautiful, even if they aren't entirely natural. the blue shades are my favorite." she felt a buzz through her whole body. this was a level of happiness she wasn't accustomed to.

"well, consider this the first of many." sofia said with a grin as they headed over to her motorcycle. there were so many places that sofia could take her to but she had a feeling that the garden near the park would be the best. she'd be around flowers and more importantly, they would be able to spend more time together. as she handed her the extra helmet, she hopped on and relaxed against her touch before driving off. "i think you're becoming a natural." she teased as she kept her speed slow, but every now and then, sped up just a bit. there was a thrill of having her this close to her again and she would give just about anything to not lose this feeling. it didn't take too long for them to arrive at the park, and after parking her bike, she helped her off and went to take her hand.

"you probably come here all the time, huh?" sofia said with a chuckle as she started to head towards the picnic tables. "shockingly i've only been here once. i know there are a ton of different kind of flowers here. i was thinking we can eat a little bit, take a walk, enjoy the day you know?" she felt her cheeks go a bit red sicne she knew how nervous she was. while the dinner was still a date, this was their first 'official' date. they were starting to put labels on things and she didn't mind at all.

"now you get to try a little bit of my cooking." she teased as she reached in her bag to put out a cloth for the both of them. "and by cooking i mean some pretty great sandwiches." as she started to set some things up for the both of them, she gave her another smile and tried to calm down her excitement. "how's your day going? i know you were getting a new shipment

[hlfmoonshine]

sanem couldn't fight the wide grin on her face as she watched logan, there was a light that brightened in her at the mention of her kid, like the frustration melted away just a little. "coolest kid in the world is pretty high praise. i take it he gets some of that from you then." she said with an arched brow and cheeky grin. "i am fortunate enough to be a florist. i work at a shop on the other side of town. i get to make art with flowers every day. it's subjectivly the best job in the world." she teased, leaning against the railing, letting herself relax into their conversation. she let out whistle at the other woman's admission, the truth and source of her rush outside, away from the busy of the crowd inside. "wait, i'm sorry, i have to ask. did you know she was going to be here tonight?" she wanted to ask if she knew about the songs before, but worried that might be salt in a wound. "does she know you are here tonight? god, that—damn, pardon me but that fucking blows." the curse felt false on her tongue but she didn't know how else to express just how deep cutting the whole thing sounded. she felt a sting in her chest at the idea of it.

"yeah, his name is alex. he's... kind of the coolest kid in the world. objectively." she had to think about him, and how things like her ex being a fucking dick didn't matter in comparison. and yet, logan's heart seemed to get swept up in all things that had to do with romance. maybe she was desperate, because she could never have a good relationship. "well, i am not good at math which is probably why i'm bad at it." and thinking about baking and math and alex were good enough things to think about other than what had just happened in there. "so what do you do professionally, then? since it's not baking." she settled a bit, finally glancing over at the girl and feeling her face flush. she forgot how nervous women made her in general, let alone ones with eyes like hers. she quickly looked at her own hands, nervously playing with her rings. "i... can't go back in there. i don't think i would enjoy my ex girlfriend singing songs about how pathetic and sad i am."

[hlfmoonshine]

sara pursed her lips, she knew the answer was to pursue him, to have done what he did in seeking her out, but she wasn't sure where she should could spin that now that he'd already beat her to a punch she likely wouldn't have taken. "you're already here. i'm not sure now." she admitted with a small laugh. "in abandoned buildings? isn't that dangerous?" it sounded adventurous, even in a suburban kind of way, something she'd never have the guts to do herself. something that might be too adventurous for the boring simple life she was clinging desperately to. that didn't seem to quell the draw to something more exciting she felt in the pit of her stomach. archie seemed safe, he seemed kind if a bit strange but not strange in a way that was telling her to turn tail and run away from.

archie began to wonder if there was going to be an end to their conversation and how he'd see her again without making it weird. he focused on her, he listened to her words, and nodded along with them. he was making mental notes of all of the things she told him, that her therapist was named dalton and that her friend's name was idina. "well... what would matter? should you do something intentionally?" he questioned, tilting his head. he supposed him trailing after her wasn't something that she did herself... but she didn't wave him away. archie often wormed himself into people's lives, but was it for the better? he wasn't sure. "we could be friends. if you wanted. i normally hang out in abandoned buildings and the skate park on moore avenue." he offered the slightest smile, as if that would entice her.

[hlfmoonshine]

haddie nodded without thinking about it. "people can be the worst part of it. i like to think people are trying their best. even if what they think is their best isn't half as much as it could be." haddie tilted her head slightly, leaning into the movement like she was still considering the stance. "i like the people i work with though, and i love our regulars. it's nota career or anything fancy, but it's enough to keep me from having to turn tail and run back home to the one horse town i come from." she couldn't stand the idea of giving up. there were too many possibilities to chase here, too much to prove to herself before she could ever fold and forget.

the corners of his lips turned up slightly at her words, a chuckle leaving him. "has it been a good six months?" the question did sound almost teasing, but it was a nice respite to put the spotlight on her. it also helped that she seemed to like working at the diner, which meant that part of their conversation was bound to be lighter than what they'd been talking about previously. "because i've heard dealing with the public can be a very... taxing job. i think at least fifty percent of my conversations with madison are her threatening to quit every five seconds." an exaggeration, but he was going to fully lean into something lighter for the moment.

[hlfmoonshine]

tomas was patient with henry, patient in a way he'd never been before. their relationship started off so strong. fury and frustration and this intense yearning that neither had much of a hold on until they couldn't deny it anymore. when they fell into bed, it was one thing, but falling into marriage, tomas knew he was a goner for henry. he couldn't lose him. he couldn't imagine a life without him. and he never got there too.

"that's such fucking bullshit, henry." he grumbled, pushing himself back from the piano, the piece shifting at his swift movements with a soft echo. "what do you think it was when we fought? what do you think it meant when i showed up on your doorstep? i didn't get stuck, i sought you out."

he turned to face henry proper, standing up but not daring to move closer. "and so what if i had? i'm a grown adult, henry. i can stand up for myself, i can walk away. i can file for a divorce and run as fast and as far away as i can but i never did. not for a fucking second." tears welled in his eyes, betraying the strength he was trying so desperately to muster.

"i love you. i loved us. i didn't get stuck. i chased you. and you couldn't stop running."

It hurt, Thomas wouldn't even look in his direction but again this was the mess he had made for himself, he deserved it.

" I got scared." Henry admitted." It won't ease the pain you are feeling, I take responsibility for it but it is the truth." It felt good to say what had been on his mind ever since running away like a coward, often so worried that showing his feelings were a weakness, something made up in his mind, a burden not only to himself but to others as well. " We jumped all the steps, that frightened me, the realization that someday, maybe-" It had all been so sudden the admission of their feelings for each other, waking up married, a blissfulness that never seemed do fade, they were happy Henry knew that but in the back of his mind he couldn't let it go, the past that had hurt him so.

He was aware that Thomas wasn't him, but the fear had still been there that if one day he woke up to regretted it, everything, Henry wasn't sure he could handle it so it had been 'easier' like this, oh how stupid he had been. " We didn't even date, we just -" The professor breaths in." Y-You got stuck with me."

[hlfmoonshine]

she stood at the door, hands pressed nervously together as she waited for the knock, pulling the door open as soon as sofia finished knocking, a bright smile in place. her stomach whirled and her heart almost certainly skipped at the sight of the other woman.

"thank you, sofia." a soft blush bloomed across her cheeks. "you look good yourself." she beamed, a bounce in her step as she stepped out to meet sofia, locking the door behind her quickly and taking sofia's arm. the electricity left a small tremor in her hands, but the moment they touched, it eased, still there but grounded. like she'd been drawn to the other.

"i don't know the last time someone planned a surprise for me at all." she wasn't certain she minded the nerves at all. the line between excitement and anxiety was a hairs breadth, and sofia seemed to blur the line, every moment both wildly terrifying and filled with complete and utter hope. sanem couldn't help herself from leaning into it, into the woman who she'd been fascinated by for months.

usually sofia wasn't this nervous about setting something up, but she wanted everything to go perfectly. sanem deserved a great proper first date, and hopefully, she was able to pull through. after their dinner, sofia was drawn to her even more like a mouth to a flame. she found herself popping more and more into the flower shop just to talk or after dropping her off at home found herself lingering at her place once again.

today as she pulled up, her bag was filled to the brim with everything they would need for a nice picnic. while she didn't mind the cliche dinner and a movie, she wanted to go above and beyond for her and doing something a bit out of her comfort zone. she wouldn't just head out by herself to do something like this, but with sanem she wouldn't think twice.

after taking her helmet off and heading up to her door, she tried to keep the butterflies in her stomach calm as she went to the front door, knocking on it and leaning against the doorway. the smile on her face widened when she saw the brunette on the other side as she tucked her helmet under her arm. "hey, you look great." sofia said with a grin as she held her arm out for her to take. "ready to go? i promise i won't keep this all a surprise for much longer." she teased.

[hlfmoonshine]

"you were gone." susanna sputtered out, a worried look etched into her brow, eyes wide but no longer brimmed with tears as she took amethyst in. tyler's chest swelled, a lump forming in his throat temporarily that he swallowed. susanna's frown gave way to gigles when ame soothed her, little kisses to susanna's flushed cheek.

tyler gave a soft wave of his hand, he never needed to worry about amethyst here. he had been so worried about their arrival to golden, he'd never dreamed of how quickly she seemed to slip right into the painting, the picture perfect mess of love and hard work and trouble that living at golden seemed to be. she not only seemed at peace and a home, but she brought peace and made the ranch the home it had never been before.

"no need for that. someone wanted you when she woke from her nap, got worried but we knew we'd find you out here, didn't we suse?" he asked, crinkling his nose at the little girl with a cheeky grin in place. "oh she promised to keep an eye on the place while we searched for you. likely sipping a coke and ordering the boys around."

"you wanna go find maggie, suse?" tyler asked, eyes flicking to amethyst for a moment before returning to his younger daughter with a bright smile. she wrapped her arms tightly around ame, holding her a touch longer, like she couldn't bring herself to leave amethyst so soon, but then she was wriggling once more, her only mode of escape these days.

she'd gone out for a walk, not really sure where to until she was there. she felt like she hadn't done it in a while, just sat outside and soaked in everything around her, captured things that sang to her. with the way life had picked up lately, finding moments was much harder. not that she begrudged it at all, not in the slightest.

she ran her hand absentmindedly over lila's strong neck, flicking through her camera as it hung around her own. amethyst couldn't help but think that she needed to go back to film. some things just didn't feel right to her digital... but where would she find the space for a dark room?? it seemed more trouble than it was worth the longer she thought about it.

as soon as the thought passed she could hear the sound of swishing through the grass, familiar in it's tempo, frantic in a way, and her ears perked up. amethyst turned and smiled wide at the sight of susanna rushing towards her, her gaze flickering up at tyler fondly for a moment before crouching down to intercept the little girl in both arms.

" hey now, what's this face i see?? is that lil' lip out?? " she cooed as she perched susanna on her hip, pressing her face into a plump cheek to pepper it with kisses. she glanced over at tyler as he came closer and laughed softly, her brows raising in understanding. " mmh, i see. i'll leave a note next time, " she turned to tyler then, lips poked out expectantly. " jus' takin' some pictures. where's mags off to?? "

[hlfmoonshine]

"please, i gave you my number henry, and you never called. you wanted to call, you want to know me more. you like me, and you hate it. it terrifies you. you're used to hiding, but you aren't used to being sought out." lucien said, accent slipping out along with a slow laugh.

his smile widened at the simple admission, a win was a win and lucien couldn't pretend there wasn't a rush at the idea of henry waxing poetically about art history to him. warmth and light and words of intention and disgustingly romantic in a way only those who appreciated art could tolerate.

"go to dinner with me. and before you say no, think about this," lucien cut the space between them in half, not too close but close enough to capture henry's attention, "you talked to me forever at the show, and you're tolerating me now." he grinned, lowering his voice, letting it settle between them like something inevitable. "you like me despite yourself. why fight it? let me take you somewhere nice and you can tell me all about art history. or you could keep pretending you don’t like me, but we both know how that’s gonna end." a touch cheeky, but his eyes stayed on henry, sincere and tinged with hope.

" You were a teacher?" That catches Henry by surprise, a reminder of how little he knew about Lucien, he had considered asking Holly about him after all she was the one that was a fan of the band but in the end he decided against it, she would know that he was curious about the bassist. Henry wants to ask him what he thought but waits couldn't let him know that he was in fact interested.

Henry makes a sound at that." As if." Even if true he wouldn't let on, Lucien was better at this game that they were playing, the professor felt rusty, caught of guards of sorts, not he was ever any good at this any way.

" I see." He hums approvingly." Art History." Henry tells him plainly, it wasn't a secret what he taught, Henry was sure Lucien would find out sooner or later.

[hlfmoonshine]

it was a date, a real and proper date. sanem considered their dinner a date as well, but there was a difference between a planned date and a circumstance of fate. their inital date had been a circumstance of fate, at least in sanem's eyes, an intervention from the universe to finally push the two together. sanem couldn't possibly be anymore excited, listening carefully beyond her music for the familiar rumble of sofia's bike.

sanem knew she wanted to see sofia again during their dinner, she was immediately connected to the woman in a way that she couldn't explain, the further into dinner however, she knew it wasn't the same kind of connection she'd form with just anyone. how long was she part of sanem's day to day without ever having a proper conversation? she'd had no reservations in telling sofia she wanted to get to know her more.

there was a lull in the music, the record needed to be flipped, but sanem finally heard it, pausing in place, a buzz rising in her hands, a flutter in her chest. she wasn't quite sure the last time she'd been this excited for anything. /@heroexxs

[hlfmoonshine]

willa lowered her defenses only slightly, plucking the glass as adrian placed it down and she took a long slow sip of her own. "what was the dream about?" she asked, returning the glass to the table but keeping her hand on it, finger circling the rim as she looked up at him with a small smile on her lips. this was the most terrifying thing she'd ever done, but the thin sliver of light that adrian brought her made it worth the risk. for now at least. a trial.

Adrian shakes his head, he reaches for her glass bring it to his lips to take a swing before setting it back down between them." No games from me Willa, not tonight." He offers a smile, shrugging his shoulders at the questions." I told you I had dream and you were in it so I took it as a sign I had to see you."

[hlfmoonshine]

"something stupid. you can tell that, don't fucking pretend you can't!" coen shouted, his chest sore from how hard his heart was beating, like a caged creature trying to free itself. he turned, catching the look in silas' eye as he finally faced him. disbelief in the most infuriating degree. "silas. i am not—i cannot play this fucking game." he said, finally holding his ground.

"or what? what are you going to do?" silas asked giving a look, as if he doesn't believe anything coen says.

[hlfmoonshine]

tomas stood with a grumble, grabbing the bottle of wine on the lid of the piano before he stumbled away from henry, as if he might actually go away if tomas simply removed himself from the situation. he knew that wasn't true. he cross the room, not quite running, but taking up a perch near the build in faux fireplace.

"what could there possibly be to explain that would ease the hurt you are committing, henry?" he asked, still refusing to turn and look at his ex lover. tomas imagined a whole world from them a perfect home and some pets but more plants, some routine filled with music and beauty and the passion and pursuit of knowledge.

they were supposed to grow ancient and die in each other's arms. how could he offer any explanation that would ease the death of his passion, his drive, his hope and his dreams?

Of course he still remembered where the liquor cabinet was, he had mapped this place in his mind, carried it with him. " Thomas." Henry insists again, he knew that it was his own fault that they got to this point, as most things were in his life, he was at the center of it making it worse.

It had started out so small, a mere thought, insecurities that he had hidden away showing their ugly side again, the weight of his past relationship making itself known, old wounds that he carried with him and instead of talking, sharing what was wrong, he ran because it was the easiest route for himself.

Avoiding Thomas had been his decision, hiding at his sisters place like a coward and , as usual, Holly had some choice words for him calling Henry to his senses, even Harry shared his own opinion, but when he finally decided to stop his childish behavior he found the damage he had done.

Hurting Thomas, the person he loved, no wonder he didn't want anything to do with him. " I want to apologize, to explain myself."

[hlfmoonshine]

lucien's cheeks warmed and his smile grew as he nodded alone with henry's words. "yes, but i haven't written anything, or at least not published anything since i was teaching." lucien admitted, languishing the memory for the sake of baiting henry. he wanted to know lucien just as badly as the bassist wanted to know him.

he tugged slightly, not enough to unsteady henry, but enough to remind him that lucien was standing right in front of him. "i don't think you're doing it for the sake of mystery. i think i scare the ever living shit out of you." he shrugged softly, as if his words weren't half attack, playful or not.

"funeral rites during the victorian era in england, specifically in relation to victoria's burial acts." no hesitation, all pride, henry fought the smile that came with discussing history.

" I see. " Henry was definitely interested in his research, he wondered what could be so fascinating that Lucien would find himself writing about, something he was passionate about the professor could deduce. " Isn't that how all papers start? A mess, that with care and patience turns into something readable."

His gaze lingered on Lucien's hand as it reached out to take his lapel." Well-" Henry clears his throat." I think we both know I'm far too smart to fall into the trap you so carefully have set up for me. So I'll let you wonder, we have to keep some mystery between us." He could do this, pretend that everything was fine, he was calm and collected and that the bassist wasn't managing to get under his skin so easily.

" Tell me what your research is about and I will tell you what I teach, it only seems fair."

[hlfmoonshine]

haddie lake couldn't imagine having a single sister, let alone four. even with only being raised by three of them, matthew's situation was near impossible to imagine for herself. "you have nothing to apologize for, matt. don't be silly." she offered a bright smile but left no room to argue with her as she hurried from the table. closing out was quick and easy, taking a few minutes to clean herself up, change out of her uniform, lock away her till and say goodnight to the cook staff before making herself a quick little milkshake, chocolate as always, before she returned to matthew. "they love me here." she beamed as she slipped back into her seat across from him. "i have only worked here six months, but if i run amuck, i think they would still like me." she admitted, pride laced in her words. haddie came from nothing, some small no name town in the middle of no where, very one horse kind of place, and moving here had been a challenge to herself more than anything else.

"three is my normal answer, leaves out the complexity of explaining a secret half-sister - but four all in. there's sydney, then kiera, maddie and i were a two for one and nicole's the last one." there were times he almost felt guilty about the erasure of sydney, but it was the easiest way to navigate around the topic. especially with people he knew wouldn't particularly care about being careful with the information shared. somehow it was easier to tell her online, something he put down to the fact that if she ever did tell somebody - it'd sound too insane to be believed. nodding at her words, he paused for a second shaking his head. "terribly sorry, i should have asked before - i can buy you a drink to have while passing the time? i assume there's no rule against that after you clock out?"

[hlfmoonshine]

i am here. rough couple of days and to top it all off, i watched the end of yellowstone yesterday and cried the whole way through, so my eyes are actually remarkably swollen today (my body hates me). so i can't see well, but i miss my baby tyler and his family.

like this post and i will write you a starter featuring: tyler hancock (owner of golden ranch, ian bohen), maggie hancock (the heir to golden ranch, luca hollestelle), susanna hancock (the spare to golden ranch, madelaine petsch), or javier palma (golden ranch foreman, pablo pascal). let me know who you'd prefer (note maggie is a lesbian, everyone else is bi/pan.)

off to the drafts now. love you all.