midnightrainrp

[midnightrainrp]

Maeve had been lying awake for what felt like hours, knowing he was out there, doing whatever he did with other women. It never got easier—now that they weren’t together, there was no claim, no boundary. Just her, waiting, imagining the worst, feeling that familiar tightening in her chest. Swinging the door open, leaning casually against the frame, hair half-mussed and eyes tired but alert. “Lost your keys again, or are you just auditioning for the loudest knock in the city?” she asked, voice light, teasing—but measured, cool.

She stepped aside, letting him in with a small shrug, careful not to let her heart betray her. “You’re late,” she added, almost as an afterthought, keeping it neutral. “Don’t make a habit of it, Easton. I’d hate for you to think I’m waiting up for you every night.” Her lips quirked with a faint smirk, but inside, her chest was tightening anyway. She was fine, she reminded herself. Totally fine.

@midnightrainrp

Time was lost on him as Easton stumbled to the apartment. Tonight's client had been particularly demanding, but the money had been too good to turn down. Certain weeks were slower than others, so he wasn't at liberty to turn down an opportunity. No matter how taxing it was. He had sobered up some before coming home, but was still a bit of a mess. It wasn't until he was patting down his pockets that he realized that his keys were not on him. "Shit," he mumbled, hanging his head back in defeat. He only had one move to make as he began knocking relentlessly against the door.

[midnightrainrp]

Ophelia stretched across the couch, beer balanced on her stomach, legs draped over the armrest. Her eyes flicked to him, catching the slow, deliberate unbuttoning of his shirt. She rolled her eyes, pretending not to notice, but her lips twitched. Damn, he looked good. Infuriatingly good. “Seriously?” she murmured, voice soft but teasing. “Undoing buttons just to spite me? Not fair, Landon.”

Her fingers brushed the top button of her own blouse in a slow, casual motion, letting just the faintest hint of skin peek through. She shifted slightly, letting one leg slide closer to the edge of the couch where he was standing, toes grazing the floor, posture relaxed but deliberately inviting. Her grin softened, her gaze warm but daring, like she was testing him.

“And… reunion,” she continued, voice dipping just a fraction, eyes holding his. “You’re coming with me. I’m not going alone.” She tilted her head, lips curling into that soft, teasing pout, and leaned subtly into her position, letting the tension speak. “Now tell me… what do I have to do to make you say yes? Because I’m already lying here, making it really hard for you to resist.”

He shot her a look, the kind that was supposed to shut her up, though they both knew by now it never worked. “The best part of my day? You’re more like… a migraine with legs. A loud one. That steals my beer and food.” His gaze dropped for a split second to where her legs dangled over the counter then flicked back up with a pointed arch of his brow. “And for the record, I can eat frozen dinners in silence just fine. It’s peaceful. Civilized."

While a smile refused to form his eyes lit up with the most subtle amusement. With deliberate slowness, he tugged at another button, exposing just enough skin to tease. “If I were trying to impress you, you’d already be impressed. Don’t flatter yourself.”

At the word date, he leaned back, pretending to consider it. “So let me get this straight: you want me to put on a suit, stand around with people I don’t know, and glower at your old classmates so they leave you alone?” He paused, eyes narrowing in mock seriousness. "No way in hell did you think that I would actually say yes to this."

[midnightrainrp]

Dex grinned, watching her nose scrunch as she pouted. “Lame, huh? I’ll take that as a challenge,” he said, swirling his glass casually. “And yeah… drinking alone isn’t exactly a victory lap, but I figure misery loves company.”

He leaned in slightly, voice dropping a notch so only she could hear. “Seems like you flew all that way to witness disappointment in person. I’d say that deserves another drink—or at least someone to blame for it.”

A playful smirk tugged at his lips. “I don’t usually brag, but… well, maybe the company makes up for it. Even if you’re being stubborn about admitting it.”

"You look lame to me," she teased as her fingers played with the brim of his hat before taking the memorabilia off. "There-much better," Olivia set the hat on the counter gently before twisting a bit in her seat. "It was supposed to be the game of the year, and since my father couldn't make it, it only seemed fair I used the tickets-" but then they had to go and lose and that thought had her groan before resting her head in her arms.

"This was supposed to be a victory round," her words muffled before she sat back up to look at the man. As the new drink was set in front of her she took the glass and started sipping on it. Before leaning in to look at him, "...No one likes a braggart," her nose scrunching as she pouted. "But must not be much of a victory if you're out here drinking alone?"

[midnightrainrp]

Dottie huffed a soft laugh, her fingers tightening around his wrists. “You and your lawyers—always so sure of yourself,” she teased, though her eyes were still wet.

She leaned into his shoulder, letting the steadiness of him sink in. “Fine. But if you pick the movie, I’m using my veto power. I’m not watching another mindless car chase when I’m trying not to lose it.”

Her voice dropped, quieter. “Just… stay with me tonight. No calls, no emails. Just us.”

Dottie let her eyes close for a moment, leaning into the warmth of his hands like she’d done a hundred times before — only now it felt different. Different because there were vows and paperwork and a judge somewhere who now had the power to decide if her little girl stayed with her.

Her lips quirked into a soft, almost tired smile. “You know, you saying you love me more than certain family members… that’s a very low bar, Knight,” she teased gently, though her voice cracked around the edges.

Her hands lifted to cover his, holding them there against her cheeks as if that could anchor her. “I know you meant it when you agreed to this… I just can’t turn off the part of my brain that’s waiting for something to go wrong.” She searched his face, familiar and safe, the way she had since they were teenagers sneaking out to watch bad horror movies in his parents’ basement.

When his forehead pressed to hers, she exhaled slowly, matching his rhythm. “Okay,” she whispered. “In… and out.” Her shoulders eased, just a fraction.

She lingered there, her voice quieter now. “I just… I need them to see what I see. That this isn’t a deal or a performance. That this—” she gave a tiny nod toward him, “—is my family. Yours too, whether you realized it or not.” The part of her that was terrified of losing her daughter also realized how much she didn’t want to lose this.

[midnightrainrp]

Ophelia popped a chip into her mouth, grinning at his scowl like it was a reward. God, he was infuriating — rigid, grumpy, always on her case — and yet there was something about being in his space that felt… safe. Familiar. She hated how much she liked it. How much she liked him, if she was honest, which she never was. Not out loud.

“Paradise? Please,” she shot back, kicking her legs over the couch arm. “Without me, you’d be sitting here in silence eating something tragic and frozen. Admit it, I’m the best part of your day.” Her gaze slid to the undone button on his shirt, heat curling in her stomach even as her grin widened. “Careful, officer. Keep unbuttoning and I’ll start thinking you’re trying to impress me.”

She swigged her beer, heartbeat quickening though her tone stayed breezy. “Anyway—there’s this high school reunion. I don’t feel like going alone just to let everyone pick apart my life, so congratulations: you’re my date.” A pause, softer, almost sincere before she covered it with a smirk. “You’ll look good in a suit, terrify my classmates, and honestly? I like having you around more than I should. Don’t make me beg, grumps. I’d rather die.”

Ophelia arched a brow at the sight of his hand going for the gun. “Wow. Dramatic much? Imagine if you’d actually shot me—your life would be so much duller.” She let the words drip with mock horror, though there was a grin tugging at her lips. When he grumbled about trespassing, she just twisted off the beer cap with her fingertips, took a long sip, and leaned back on the couch like she had every right to be there. “It’s not trespassing if you gave me the key, grumps. That’s called an open invitation.”

Her eyes tracked him as he undid the top button of his own shirt, a sly grin curling across her lips. “Big day, officer? Or are you just trying to impress me with your post-work striptease?” Without waiting for an answer, she hopped up, padded into the kitchen barefoot, and pulled open his cupboard with zero hesitation. “You really should thank me. Most people would kill to have someone break into their home, drink their beer, and save them from eating sad microwave dinners alone. Honestly, I’m a public service.”

[midnightrainrp]

Dottie let her eyes close for a moment, leaning into the warmth of his hands like she’d done a hundred times before — only now it felt different. Different because there were vows and paperwork and a judge somewhere who now had the power to decide if her little girl stayed with her.

Her lips quirked into a soft, almost tired smile. “You know, you saying you love me more than certain family members… that’s a very low bar, Knight,” she teased gently, though her voice cracked around the edges.

Her hands lifted to cover his, holding them there against her cheeks as if that could anchor her. “I know you meant it when you agreed to this… I just can’t turn off the part of my brain that’s waiting for something to go wrong.” She searched his face, familiar and safe, the way she had since they were teenagers sneaking out to watch bad horror movies in his parents’ basement.

When his forehead pressed to hers, she exhaled slowly, matching his rhythm. “Okay,” she whispered. “In… and out.” Her shoulders eased, just a fraction.

She lingered there, her voice quieter now. “I just… I need them to see what I see. That this isn’t a deal or a performance. That this—” she gave a tiny nod toward him, “—is my family. Yours too, whether you realized it or not.” The part of her that was terrified of losing her daughter also realized how much she didn’t want to lose this.

It was a change in his life, coming home to the same person. After a busy day of dealing with directors, writers, and everything that could go wrong on the sets he was funding. He casually threw his sunglasses and keys into the bowl before turning a corner and saw the tornado that had gone through his living room.

He walked further into the house till he reached the kitchen and saw how tired and sad Dottie was. Without saying a word he took the glass from her hand and listened. As she bared her worries he sipped on the glass.

And if there's one thing he could do for her was give her comfort. He set the glass down and placed his hands on either side of her face with a small smile, "Stop thinking," he said as he let his thumbs brush against her temples. "You are still my best friend, I love you more than certain family members of mine. If I wasn't willing to make this real I wouldn't have proposed the way I did."

He knew how much Dottie loved her daughter and the last thing he wanted was for her to lose that connection. It would break her, and that's why he decided to go from Uncle Preston to her Step-father. "We are tired and and just need to rest, tomorrow is going to be stressful," he said resting his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "Breathe in...And out," he said following suit to help her meditate.

[midnightrainrp]

Eleanor’s lips curved, the smile gentling at the edges as if she’d been bracing herself for a refusal. “Then it’s settled,” she said softly, not with the triumph of someone who’d won a battle, but with the quiet relief of someone who’d been given a chance.

She stepped past him toward the table, fingers brushing lightly over the polished wood as she took her seat. “And you may call me Eleanor, at least when it is just the two of us. ‘Your Majesty’ makes it sound as though I’m about to issue an edict.” There was the faintest glimmer of humor in her tone, though her gaze lingered on him with open interest.

“I meant what I said,” she added after a pause, her voice quieter now, meant for him alone. “You are not here to be anyone’s ornament, least of all mine. Whatever the court whispers, I will decide my king for myself… and you will decide whether you wish to be that man.”

Her hand rested lightly on the stem of her wineglass, but she didn’t lift it yet. “For tonight, all I ask is that you eat with me. Tell me something of who you are. Not the polished answer you’d give a councilor—something real. A story, perhaps, from before you came to my door.”

It was the first time he'd looked like this, he was unrecognizable. But to think the queen thought him handsome enough behind the dirt and rags. Gwaine was also no fool, his pride was long gone to reject being the toy for the queen till she was bored.

At least he'd be able to live comfortably and even enjoy his time in the palace until he was thrown away, and whatever he left with was sure to keep him on his feet for the rest of his life. "No, I'll stay. If her majesty want's to call upon me who am I to say no."

His hand moved to lean on the table as he looked at her, before he felt a sudden rush of shyness and turned to look away from her. Gwaine was sure that he wouldn't be really king, he was pauper, it was unthinkable for him to have any aspiration such as this.

She did have a pretty smile though, "If that is what you would like, I am not opposed to having dinner with you your majesty."

[midnightrainrp]

Dex laughed, low and unbothered, tipping his cap back just enough for her to get a good look at him. “Some of those guys are lame,” he echoed, “but lucky for me, I’m not one of them.” He took a slow sip of his beer, letting her rant hang in the air before answering. “You flew all the way out here just to hate-watch the trophy ceremony? That’s dedication. Almost makes me want to give you a hug.” He smirked. “Almost.”

When she said he looked familiar, his brow arched slightly. “Yeah, I get that sometimes,” he said easily, though the corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding back a laugh. He slid a few bills toward the bartender. “Another for her,” he nodded at her glass, then glanced toward the TV where the post-game recap was still rolling in the background — a highlight reel featuring none other than him, helmet off, grinning as confetti rained down. “Good thing I’m not looking for compliments,” Dex added, turning back to her. “Just enjoying the company of someone who hates losing as much as I love winning.”

She glanced over, and noticed the colors he was wearing before his face and scoffed. "Some of those guys are lame," she teased as her finger tapped at the bar before flicking at the glasses in front of her.

"A fluke!" She double downed. "I don't know what happened, they killed it all season, were projected to win- I flew out all the way here because they had the numbers...For what? For a team who's quarter-back can't see a wide open receiver," Olivia turned to look at the man and brush her hair out of her face. "You look familiar?...Sure buy me a drink, but it'll be a cold day in hell when I give your team a compliment."

[midnightrainrp]

who: preston knight ( @oppulcnce )

Dottie tucked Sophie in with gentle hands, smoothing the stray strands of hair from her daughter’s forehead. “Goodnight, pumpkin,” she whispered, brushing a kiss just above Sophie’s temple. The soft glow of the nightlight made the room feel like a small sanctuary, far away from the mess of courts and custody battles waiting outside these walls.

Once the door clicked softly behind her, Dottie sighed and headed to the kitchen. The quiet house felt heavier than usual, every creak and hum sharper in the silence. She poured two glasses of whiskey — one neat, one with ice — and set them on the counter where Preston would see.

When he appeared, late from a meeting she hadn’t even known about, she handed him the glass and leaned against the doorway, voice low and tired.

“I’m trying not to overthink this,” she said, tracing the rim of her glass with a finger, “but what if we don’t look real enough? What if they see through us? The perfect house, the rings on our fingers… none of that feels like it’s enough.”

Her eyes met his, searching for steady ground. “I don’t want Sophie to get caught in the middle of some legal game. And I don’t want this — us — to be another thing she has to figure out.” She took a breath and let it out slow. “We’ve got to convince them. But more than that... I want to believe it too.”

[midnightrainrp]

Dex had been halfway through his first beer when the voice two stools down broke through the ambient noise. By the time she reached "fuck those guys", he was already grinning into the rim of his glass. “Careful, sweetheart,” he said, turning just enough for her to notice the championship cap still sitting backwards on his head. “Some of ‘those guys’ might be within earshot.”

He gestured to the TV, where the post-game highlights were looping. “A fluke, huh? That’s a bold take for someone whose team couldn’t put more than fourteen points on the board.” His tone wasn’t mean — if anything, there was a spark of amusement, like he was enjoying the fact she was still fired up. He leaned an elbow on the bar, studying her with that easy, lopsided smile. “Tell you what — I’ll buy your next drink. Consider it a consolation prize. But you’re gonna have to admit we earned it.”

"It's not that I had any money on that game- it's just..." Olivia had been rambling to the bartender since her second drink, unsure where she was at by now. Though to find the answer she could just count the four empty glasses in front of her. "I flew out to this city to watch this game in person, because they were doing so well. They'd gone 15-2 for the whole season to get to the finals! In the first time in forty years- so yeah I was hoping to celebrate but now I have to be in this stupid bar sad drinking- no offense to your bar, it's lovely," she said before her eyes glanced up to the tv hanging above the bar to see the celebration going on outside, "Fuck those guys!" She said holding up a middle finger, "It's not like they won on talent, it was a fluke." @midnightrainrp

[midnightrainrp]

She had been waiting by the fire, a book open in her lap more for the comfort of holding it than for the words on the page. When the door opened, her gaze lifted at once, and for a moment she simply looked at him — not the clothes, not the cut of his jaw, but him.

“You clean up well,” she said, her tone gentle, almost conspiratorial, as though this were a secret between them. She closed the book, setting it aside, and rose to her feet with the grace of someone who’d been trained all her life to move without wasted motion.

For a few heartbeats, the princess studied him in the flickering firelight, her expression unreadable but far from cold. Then she stepped closer. “You know,” she began, voice quiet enough that the words seemed meant for him alone, “I’m not in the habit of forcing anyone’s hand. If you wish to walk away from this, you’re free to do so. No guards will stop you. No promises will be demanded.”

Her gaze held his steadily, a flicker of something—hope, perhaps—beneath Eleanor's composure. “But… I would like you to stay. I would like to know you. And I would like you to be my king—not because the court expects it, but because you decide you wish to be.”

The faintest smile touched her lips, warm and genuine. “We could begin as strangers sharing a table. And see where it leads.”

Gwaine could only shake as he saw himself in the mirror, the dirt gone, and for the first time in months he looked refreshed. The warmth of the candles and fireplace were the only things reminding him this was real. The clothes he's to put on hanging off of the arm of a stranger, who wouldn't meet his eyes.

He wasn't a fool though, he knew he didn't belong here, the clothes he was being given to wear weren't meant for him. Gwaine had approached the palace with the plan to ask for work, and yet...

Here he was the paramour of the queen after a declaration from her, and a part of him was scared of what this all meant. How was he supposed to react, this was a queen on the other side of the door- waiting for him.

As he put on the clothes, he looked at himself once again unfamiliar with the man in front of him. But he let in a sigh of fake confidence before following instructions and opened the door to where the queen was awaiting his transformation. @midnightrainrp

[midnightrainrp]

who: robin ( @egotistival )

Keegan had told herself she wasn’t nervous. The rehearsal dinner was meant to be a celebration, not a test. Freddie’s friends had been nothing but warm so far—handshakes, smiles, little jokes about how he’d finally been “caught.” She could handle this. She had a glass of wine in her hand, her mother’s bracelet on her wrist, and the hum of conversation filling the restaurant. Everything felt… settled. Safe.

Until Freddie’s arm slid around her waist and he said, all casual, “And this—this is my best man, Robin.” She turned, polite smile already in place, ready to meet yet another name she’d heard in passing.

And then—like someone had cracked the air out of the room—he was there. Robin. For a second, she thought her brain had to be playing some cruel trick. But no—same dark eyes, same crooked mouth, same everything she’d memorized when she was seventeen and had spent years trying to forget. He looked… different. Older. Broader in the shoulders. But there was no mistaking him—she’d know him anywhere.

Her fingers tightened around the stem of her wineglass. She remembered the last time she’d seen him—shouting in the rain, hands shaking, saying things they’d never be able to take back. And now here he was, standing in front of her like none of it had ever happened, hands in his pockets like he wasn’t the last person she’d ever expected to see tonight.

She forced herself to breathe, her lips moving before she could think. “Hi,” she said, soft but steady, though her heart was hammering against her ribs like it might give her away. The smile on her lips a ghost of what it'd been, but enough for Freddie not to wonder.

[midnightrainrp]

Ophelia arched a brow at the sight of his hand going for the gun. “Wow. Dramatic much? Imagine if you’d actually shot me—your life would be so much duller.” She let the words drip with mock horror, though there was a grin tugging at her lips. When he grumbled about trespassing, she just twisted off the beer cap with her fingertips, took a long sip, and leaned back on the couch like she had every right to be there. “It’s not trespassing if you gave me the key, grumps. That’s called an open invitation.”

Her eyes tracked him as he undid the top button of his own shirt, a sly grin curling across her lips. “Big day, officer? Or are you just trying to impress me with your post-work striptease?” Without waiting for an answer, she hopped up, padded into the kitchen barefoot, and pulled open his cupboard with zero hesitation. “You really should thank me. Most people would kill to have someone break into their home, drink their beer, and save them from eating sad microwave dinners alone. Honestly, I’m a public service.”

The day had dragged due to the calls he was put on. So many disputes that were a waste of his time that he then had to stay later to finish up the paperwork. He was somehow overworked and bored at the same time, counting down the minutes to when he could get home for a quiet night. Getting home, there was a slight glow of light coming from the side window. Landon became on alert, knowing that he hadn't let a light on this morning. He hadn't even used the kitchen. Cautiously, he put his hand on his gun, clipped to his side, as he unlocked the door, not sure what he would find.

"For fuck's sake, Ophelia." His hand relaxed on his gun, but his heart was still racing. A look of annoyance formed at his intruder. "I don't think I should be thanking you for trespassing," he grumbled, putting his stuff down on the kitchen island. "What the hell were you thinking? You can't just sneak into a cop's place." Landon moved for the collar button on her shirt, undoing it. "I want every key that you have," he told her, knowing that he would never get it back.

[midnightrainrp]

who: landon keats ( @breakagain-writes ) where: landon's flat

How she’d ended up with a key to his flat was still kind of a mystery. It wasn’t like Landon liked her. Not really. Not in the here’s-a-spare-key-to-my-life kind of way. And yet… here she was, letting herself in like she belonged, and not feeling the slightest bit bad about it. To be fair, his place was closer to the office than hers. That was her excuse, anyway. A quiet, uneventful morning at work had left her restless, and crashing at Landon’s flat felt easier than going home to the silence of her own.

Kicking off her heels by the door, Ophelia shrugged off her coat and made a beeline for the fridge. She grabbed a beer and dropped herself onto the couch, legs stretched out like she owned the place. The lock turned a minute later, and she tilted her head lazily toward the sound of the door opening. There he was. Mr. Grumpy himself. Big, broody, and clearly not expecting a visitor. “Before you complain— yes, I used the spare key,” she called out with a smirk already tugging at her lips. “But really, you should be thanking me. I mean, imagine coming home to this level of beauty. You're welcome, love."

[midnightrainrp]

She didn’t go far. Once the soft hush of the bedroom door closed behind him, Evie found herself moving almost without thinking — barefoot steps slow along the hallway she knew like muscle memory. She stopped just shy of Max’s door, her hand barely grazing the frame. She shouldn’t be here, not really. This was his moment, his magic.

But still, she stood. Listening. The muffled rhythm of Sebastian’s voice made something clench tight in her chest — too quiet to make out the words, but she knew the cadence, the tenderness. Knew the warmth of it from too many nights past. A child’s hiccuped sob, a low whisper, the creak of the bed shifting beneath a father’s weight. The way he said hello, my star — the same way he used to speak to her in the sleepy corners of the morning.

The ache bloomed quietly behind her ribs. She pressed a palm there, as though she could keep it from spilling out. He’d always been so good at this part — soft where she was steel, present in a way she sometimes forgot how to be. And standing there, half-shadowed in the glow of the hallway light, Evie felt the shape of the distance they’d drawn between them, wide and quiet and too full of all the things they’d never said aloud.

Before he came out, she took a careful step back — not out of guilt, but out of fear. Fear of letting herself feel too much. Of him seeing it. Of knowing. Because he didn’t love her anymore. He couldn’t. The choice had been made and there was nothing to argue there, despite how much it ached to have him home only to realize this wasn’t home for him anymore, just like it wasn’t the home she wanted and needed it to be.

By the time he turned the corner, she was leaning against the opposite wall, arms loosely crossed, the cool plaster at her back a poor excuse for steadiness. Her eyes flicked to his face when he spoke. Was she alright? No, not at all. She hesitated — only for a beat — then exhaled the truth quietly, too tired for pride. “I don’t know.” A small shrug. “I just— I’m so tired, Seb. I thought I could manage it tonight. I really thought I could. But it’s like I’m always one step behind them lately. Like I’m failing at this whole… mother thing.”

She stopped there, voice thinning. She bit back the bitter reply that threatened to follow, about how the weight of that thought kept her awake at night. She hadn’t been a good enough mother, let alone a good enough wife, and he’d taken a step back because of that. “It’s…” She tried to speak, say something more, be fully honest but her throat tightened against the rest — the part that wanted to say I miss you, it’s not the same without you, the bed’s too big, too cold, and like little Max, I need you to sleep properly. Instead, she looked away, down the hall, her arms tightening slightly around herself. Evie was doing her best not to look up at him, fearful that if she met his gaze she’d break down entirely. “I didn’t want to bother you,” she added softly, a half-apology in her voice. “But he needed you. And I—I didn’t know what else to do.”

scratching tired, slightly reddened eyes, sebastian sat near the dim light from the lamp on the table next to him. his computer cast a soft glow around him as he graded exams and read over papers to ignore the loneliness that sat heavy in his chest. ever since he'd moved out, he'd felt adrift without his family nearby; he felt adrift without her. but he couldn't admit that to her because he felt like... maybe she didn't feel the same anymore. and to know that would hurt him severely, so he kept quiet regarding his feelings on the matter of their divorce out of fear, out of self preservation. love had never been the problem for sebastian - it had been other things that had drove him apart from her.

the call came and he'd immediately answered, voice concerned at the late timing of her call. he didn't let it ring more than once as he looked over the caller id before reaching hastily towards it. on the phone, her voice was drawn and tired. he could hear the exhaustion and the softness - he wanted to reach for her all at once, to fix whatever problem she needed him to. "don't be sorry; never be sorry." he needed her to know that she wasn't alone - ever. especially where the boys were concerned. but the problem wasn't so simple - max was feeling the effects of his absence keenly and sebastian's heart broke for him all over again. "i'll be right there."

and then he was shutting his laptop mid grading and jumping up to grab his keys to race across town. when he arrived, he knocked. it felt odd - this had once been his home too, but it was no longer. he waited only a breath or two before she was pulling open the door. his eyes trekked the expanse of her face, still so achingly beautiful when she was tired and soft from the day, before he silently stepped in. he listened, like he always did when she spoke, and he nodded once before gesturing down the hall. "i'll see to him." he said with a backwards glance, worry in his eyes, before he turned heel and left without a word.

inside max's room, the little boy had curled himself into a ball, silently crying still. seeing this, sebastian immediately dropped beside max on the small bed. max's eyes fluttered open at the intrusion and widened upon seeing his father there. "hello my star," sebastian's voice was gentle and he held his arms out for the boy to gather himself there, which max did immediately with a sharp sniffle.

on the ceiling there were glow in the dark stars that sebastian had put up when max was a little smaller - around fifty to sixty of them. "did you count the stars like i told you to?" there was a nod, small and unsure against his chest where he held max, and sebastian sighed, soft and fragile into the space between them. he did not tell max that his feelings over being afraid weren't valid or that there was no such things as monsters. he simply held his son closer to him and soon, very soon, the little boy's weight became more and more sturdy against him as he fell asleep. there was no need to be afraid of monsters now that his dad was here.

"goodnight, my love..." he spoke softly, laying the boy down and tucking him in; it was so late, max was so tired that he didn't stir. sebastian sat in the dark for a moment or two, looking at nothing before he rose and headed towards the door; he left it open in case max awoke again. "he's asleep," sebastian said as he came around the corner to meet evie there. he looked disarmed, soft and fragile, in the light from the lamps around the space. he stood a few inches taller than evie, and when he looked at her his entire attention was fixed on her face. "are you alright?" the question was soft, hopeful that she would answer honestly.

[midnightrainrp]

who: sebastian langford ( @egotistival )

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It was nearly midnight when the crying started again — not sharp or angry, but the soft, hiccuping kind that broke Evie’s heart every time. She was still in her work blouse, makeup smudged somewhere between mascara and shadows, a glass of untouched wine on the coffee table. It had been a brutal day — back-to-back meetings, a client meltdown, a half-hearted attempt at dinner with Max that ended with chicken nuggets flung across the kitchen floor. And now this. Again.

She padded barefoot down the hallway, her blouse untucked and her hair in a loose knot that had long given up. Max’s nightlight cast shifting stars across the ceiling, but it hadn’t done the trick. Nor had the lullabies. Or the stories. Or the stuffed dragon that used to be enough. “Sweetheart,” she whispered gently as she knelt by the bed, brushing sweaty curls off his flushed face. “It’s just Mummy tonight, Daddy will see you in the morning. You’re safe, I promise.” But Max only cried harder, curling into himself with a broken, whimpering, “No monsters unless Daddy checks. Want Daddy check.”

She closed her eyes. It wasn’t even about being replaced — it wasn’t jealousy. She could live with that. What gutted her was the helplessness. That she couldn’t fix this. That all the books and podcasts and parenting guides she devoured late into the night had no answer for the aching, human mess of a child who just wanted his dad. And she couldn’t blame him, not really — Sebastian had always been magic at this. He knew exactly how to chase the imaginary threats from under the bed and could somehow make Max laugh through his tears in under five minutes. Meanwhile, Evie… Evie was good at holding the fort. At keeping them all upright. At pretending she wasn’t falling apart.

But tonight, pretending felt like a luxury she didn’t have. She stood up and walked out of the room quietly, closing the door behind her. Max’s cries still floated through, muffled and raw. Her phone was already in her hand by the time she reached the kitchen. She stared at the screen for a long second before pressing Sebastian’s name, thumb hovering just a moment before committing. When he picked up, she didn’t even try to hide the exhaustion in her voice. “I’m sorry to call this late,” she murmured, a hand bracing the counter for balance. “It’s Max. He won’t sleep. He’s asking for you— only you. I’ve tried everything, Seb. I don’t know what else to do.” There was a beat. A breath. And then he said he’d come.

She didn’t even hang up properly — just set the phone down and leaned back against the counter, staring out at the dark garden. The guilt was loud in her head. You should be able to handle this. You should be enough. But some nights, love wasn’t the same as being the one he needed.

By the time the knock came, the house was silent again. Max had cried himself quiet, a small mercy, though it did little to untangle the knot in her chest. Evie padded to the front door, still barefoot, still in that same blouse from this morning, and opened it. For a moment, she just looked at him — silhouetted in the golden hallway light, shadows softening the tired lines around her eyes. There was a flicker of something in her expression, caught somewhere between gratitude and unraveling, but she didn’t let it linger. Instead, she stepped aside without a word, letting him pass as she quickly busied herself with the nearest cushion on the hallway bench — fluffing it once, then again, as if the fabric might somehow absorb the fray in her nerves. She didn’t look at him right away, fingers smoothing the same invisible crease as her voice finally came, quiet and carefully even.

“He’s still awake. Or half-asleep, maybe. But he’s been asking for you all night.”

[midnightrainrp]

so life happened and i've been surprisingly hella busy plus handling health issues. i'm jumping back in slowly and will be doing replies this week. also feel free to message me regarding our threads if you wanna drop any of them or start new ones. thank you for your patience ♥

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