roguexwrites

[roguexwrites]

"It's been three days." Eli could feel the irritation build in him. Somehow, he always managed to get swept up in the storm that seemed to be Aileen's emotions. Usually, he was a level headed, mostly calm person, but all of that self-regulation flew out the window when Noah was involved. There was just something about Aileen that put him on edge. "Listen, I get that this is hard for you, but I need time to think this through and you're not giving me that."

He couldn't imagine how this felt for her. Eli hadn't really spent much time away from Noah and he'd never been told that he wasn't allowed to see his son. He wanted to be empathetic, but it was easier said than done. "He's not home right now." Eli glanced at the time on his phone. "He's at the park." Noah would be home soon, but he didn't think telling Aileen that would help the situation. "Why don't you go home and I'll call you when he's back?"

Aileen scowled when he heard him say no on the other side of the door, ready to kick at the door again, but then she heard footsteps and stopped herself. She had to keep reminding herself that she had to be reasonable here but it was so damned hard to be. Not to mention, she didn't really have much practice with it. Her pep talk to herself was, as always, useless because it slipped from her mind in a second when Eli finally opened the door and asked her what she wanted. Aileen imagined his question to be more condescending than it really was. "What do I want?" she snapped at him. "I am waiting for you to get back to me, Eli, and instead of doing that you're ignoring my calls." she pointed out, sounding irritated.

She moved to the side a little, trying to look past him without much success considering how massive he was. She knew she really needed to give Eli his space to make a decision about this, but the more time he took, the more panicked she became -- because what if his answer ended up being no? "Is Noah in there?" she asked finally, looking back up at him before she cleared his throat rather obviously. "Is my son in there?"

[roguexwrites]

The last three days had been filled with an anxious sort of energy. There was simply no other way to describe it. Ever since he’d spoken to Aileen, Eli had been thrumming with anxiety. He was sure that everyone around him had noticed it, but he hadn’t been ready to discuss it yet. Noah’s mother had asked for permission to be a part of their son’s life again, and while Eli knew all of the reasons why he shouldn’t deny his boy this opportunity, a large part of him wanted to. Aileen had been so flaky and unreliable in the past and he wanted to hold that against her, wanted to put his foot down, and say that Noah deserved better. That he’d been the parent who’d stayed. But Eli also knew that had the circumstances been reversed, had he been the one who’d walked away for one reason or the other, he would want Aileen to be gracious to him even if it wasn’t fully deserved.

Eli groaned, glancing at the ringing phone. He’d get back to whomever was calling later. Or he’d ignore the world until everyone went away. That seemed like a more desirable alternative.

He’d been just about to throw himself on the couch, flip on a comfort movie, and forget everything when he heard the pounding at the door, followed by the voice. “No,” he called back even as he stood and trudged to the door. He slid the lock open and stood in the doorway eyebrow raised. “What do you want now?”

Aileen stared at her phone which lay on her table, irritation evident on her features. Three days had gone by. Three whole days and not a single text or call from Eli? Sure he asked for time but by god, how much time did he need? She needed to secure a job fast because thinking about Eli and Noah every waking minute was not helping her in anyway. She glared at the phone some more before picking it up and calling Eli. And her irritation only grew when he didn't answer.

That bastard.

Huffing, she pocketed her phone, got her keys and drove straight to his apartment. Unlike last time she wasn't going to be patient, or even tried to pretend. It wasn't long after that she stood before his door, pretty much kicking at the door rather than knocking. "Eli, you in there?" she called, louder than necessary, huffing as she waited for a reply. @lewistan

[roguexwrites]

endlesswilds​:

It was those fucking EYES. Andrej thought he was over Shane and thought he could resist him and had no feelings left for him but he just knew that as usual, he was lying to himself. It was probably stupid of him to even acknowledge Shane’s presence but it was a shock to his system seeing that face again. He wasn’t even sure how long it had been since everything from his past all blurred together in a mess of substances and whatever the fuck else was going on. “I need it to survive too,” he shot back, though he instantly knew how stupid and childish that sounded the second the words came out of his mouth. He’d forgotten the effect that Shane had on him and he wished to continue to forget that. 

“Can’t you just go to another coffee shop? There’s a million in town.” Literally any place but the one he worked in was fine because the last thing Andrej need was to see his ex every fucking day. Usually it wouldn’t have mattered but considering Shane was the one who got away – or whatever corny bullshit people said – he absolutely wanted him to remain away. It just made it easier this way because then Andrej didn’t have to miss what they could have had if he weren’t such a fuck up who destroyed anything good in his life. A suspicious eyebrow raised on his face as he stared at Shane. “Did you KNOW I work here?”

Another coffee shop? Shane supposed he could. If only to keep the peace. Thing was, though -- he didn’t want to. This shop had come highly recommended. This shop was close enough to his building that he could get a nice leisurely walk in, appreciate the sunshine, and still make it back before his break ended. He simply wasn’t willing to find and test out another shop. “No, I can’t,” Shane answered, the reply punctuated with a simple shrug of the shoulders. Had it been anyone else, he would’ve apologized. Better yet, he would’ve accommodated, but this was Andrej and the presumption that Shane could simply just upend his life because he was asked to. 

“No, I didn’t know.” Shane’s tone was incredulous. Did Andrej think that he’d come to this particular shop knowing that he worked here? As if Shane was trying to see him? “Why would I come here if I knew? I have better things to do than come visit you, Andrej.” Maybe that was a bit harsh, but their relationship wasn’t exactly cordial, and Shane was in desperate need of a caffeine fix. “If you’re done making assumptions, I need to go order my drink. I don’t have all day.”

[roguexwrites]

Shane’s life had become a lesson in monotony. Each morning, he’d wake up, go for a run, get ready for work, grab a coffee on the way in, and spend the next few hours eyeballs deep in paperwork only to resurface a few hours later, surprised that the sun was shining still. He’d head out for a walk, both to clear his head and remind himself that life was happening outside of the four walls that was his tiny office space and to grab his next cup of coffee for the day, before heading back to the office. The next time he resurfaced the sun would decidedly not be shining. Shane would head home to his small apartment, have dinner, shower, head to bed, and wake up just to do it all again. Such was the life of a lawyer who was determined to make partner before 35. The only way to do that was to clock as many billable hours as possible, and the only way to do that was to ignore everything else and focus solely on the job. 

It was with this singular thought -- mind fully on the path he’d need to take to earn a partnership -- that Shane made his way out. He was like a bloodhound, on a mission to get his next coffee fix, blocking out all distractions, which was probably why he didn’t realize who the voice belonged to until it was too late, until he’d engaged in conversation and he couldn’t simply pretend that he hadn’t seen him. “A friend recommended it, though.” Not a friend, a coworker. Shane wasn’t really sure that he had many friends nowadays. Friendships, like romantic relationships, were simply another causality to his career. 

So, naturally, life would throw a wrench in his plans at that particular moment. “What do you mean, what am I doing here,” he asked, eyebrow raised. “I’m getting coffee.” Because that should’ve been obvious. “Some of us need it to survive.” 

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑.

➵ ANDREJ VÅRVIK & SHANE HINDS. 

In Andrej’s experience, the most ordinary days were the ones where the weirdest or most life-changing shit happened to him. He’d started the day off as usual, getting up at a ridiculous in the morning to take his dog for a run, before heading off to the cafe to open it up. Nothing interesting happened at work. The customers were pleasant enough, he had the same amicable chats with the regulars and powered through the morning rush, and then it was mid-afternoon and he was free for the rest of the day. 

But naturally, that was when the day took a sudden turn-around. As usual when he finished work, the was a large coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other to occupy him as he walked back to his apartment. Dirty habit, he knew, but he’d kicked enough addictions in the face that he needed to hold onto at least one. He hadn’t even been paying attention to his surroundings until he looked up and suddenly saw a face that Andrej would NEVER forget no matter how hard he tried and his stomach instantly dropped. Out of all places? He was here? He was frozen to the spot as their eyes met and for a split second, he was completely lost for words but he HAD to keep his cool, show Shane that he was so much better than before. 

A little smirk appeared on his face as he spoke, though he knew it wouldn’t last. “Don’t go in Delia’s Cafe, it’s SHITE.” He twisted the coffee cup in his hand around so Shane wouldn’t be able to see the logo on it and then frowned at him. “The fuck are you doing here?” 

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

Manny grinned at the way Jay’s expression lifted, a look of joy across his features as he spoke fondly of his college experience. “I didn’t know I was dating someone with so much film knowledge. Did you have a favorite of everything watched?” he asked as he turned a corner. “Young Gregory Peck? You have good taste and it seems like you have a type.”

From the beginning, the circumstances of their arrangement were made delicately clear to him. Both men required a certain discretion when it came to their relationship. Manny had grown quite fond of Jay in a short amount of time, and though he was a little curious about the sort of person Jay’s wife was, he wanted to meet her if that’s what Jay wanted. “Okay. Then I’d love to meet her. It’ll give me a great opportunity to learn more about you. I can schedule us a private dinner some time in the coming weeks for all of us to get together.”

“Oh no, don’t be fooled,” Jay corrected. “I don’t have any kind of extensive knowledge or anything. I just took a class because I needed the easy boost to my grade and ended up becoming invested. Let’s just say that I learned a lot about myself during that time.” He laughed, the sound falling easily from his lips. The more he spoke, the more comfortable he became. “I was always particular to To Kill a Mockingbird, but I feel like that’s a generic answer.” His shoulders lifted slightly in a shrug. “I remember watching The African Queen, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, and a few more. Undoubtedly when I developed a crush on talented, classically handsome men.”

His high school and college years had been tumultuous times. Jay had tried to date a few girls, had discovered that he was definitely gay, and had tried to run from the idea of it all. That need to hide that part of himself had been the major motivation for his marriage. Lena was more than aware of the things he kept secret from his family, and she accepted him wholeheartedly. Marrying her in order to protect her from her family’s whims had seemed like a small price to pay for that level of acceptance. 

Jay felt his shoulders drop, a weight lifting that he hadn’t even realized he’d been carrying. “Thank you,” he breathed, gratitude apparent in his tone. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said that Yelena was important to him. “I wasn’t expecting anything fancy. We’d be more than happy to host you at home.”

[roguexwrites]

lewis tan + hands

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

Despite still being in a dress, Ahri sat cross-legged on the floor, pillow set upon her lap. For how tired she was from the day’s activities, she suddenly found renewed energy at the prospect of being able to skip her last obligation for the night. What surprised her the most, however, was how accepting Bastiano was of the idea. Ever the rule-stickler he was. Granted, that was his job. Being a bodyguard probably meant he had to follow her around all the time, keep her safe, but most importantly, keep her from doing anything fun or interesting. He was her very own boredom police sometimes.

She clapped giddily, pleased with the turn of events. Given how capable Bastiano was with his job, Ahri had no doubt that he would be able to easily find her food. “Get something for yourself too since you’re stuck with me all night.” A breezy laugh parted her lips as she teased him. Although she had promised to not run off for the night, her track record was probably not reassuring for anyone who knew her. “And I make no promises, B, but how much trouble could I possibly make from inside of my own room,” she replied. “Go, go. I’ll be stuck inside here. Never need to worry about me.”

All night. Bastiano couldn’t help but sigh. It seemed as if the bodyguard had made a mistake in assuming that a tired Princess would mean a quiet night. Knowing Ahri they’d probably end up sneaking around the palace on some covert mission. With a quick nod, Basti turned on a heel and left the room. He should’ve reminded her to stay put and be safe, but that seemed like overkill considering she’d just promised to do just that, but the words how much trouble echoed in his ears even as he made his way through the empty halls that led to the kitchens. A few minutes passed before he was stepping through the doors and heading straight to the cupboards. A few more moments and he was leaving arms loaded with leftovers he’d managed to find in the fridge and snacks to keep himself occupied throughout the night. The logical part of his mind berated him for not having had the foresight to bring along a bag. Instead, he was loaded up with food, hands unavailable should an emergency arise. It was foolish, but being around Ahri sometimes had that effect on him.

It was a quick trip. Ten minutes or less. How much trouble could she have caused indeed? Basti was almost hesitant to find out. Still, he pushed his way through her doors, and settled the food on a desk laying out the spoils of his recon mission. “Behold,” he exclaimed gesturing to the spread, just a hint of amusement in his voice. “More food than your heart could desire.”

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

The awkwardness lingered in the air for a few moments longer once the ring was removed. Sometimes he felt like he was asking Jay to hide a part of himself away in order for the two of them to be together. The secrecy alone meant they likely could never go public with their relationship. It was far more complicated than anything Manny would have expected, but Jay, well he was worth it.

“I was hoping you might enjoy it. It’s an old timey movie too. Roman Holiday,” he said as he started his car and began to drive off. The restaurant he had ordered from informed him earlier that it would be about a half hour before his food was ready, and Manny was all too happy to spend that time catching up with Jay. At the question, however, the actor paused momentarily in contemplation. It wasn’t that he was opposed to the idea, but he wondered if it was a good idea for Jay’s two worlds to collide. “Would you like me to?” he finally asked, one hand still on the steering wheel while the other reached out to his partner.

“Oh,” Jay exclaimed, pure delight flooding him at the mention of the film. “A good choice. I actually saw it once in college. I took a class on classic films. It was an easy A and I was able to watch a lot of films I’d never seen before. So, win win.” Jay shrugged almost sheepishly, one hand lifting to rub at the back of his neck as he continued. “I developed a crush on young Gregory Peck. So, you could say that I have a thing for classically handsome actors.” 

Jay was surprised at the ease with which the words rolled off of his tongue. He’d never been self assured enough to use lines. Especially not to a handsome, confident man like Manny. Yet, it had happened and he couldn’t take it back. Not that he would have wanted to if he could. Confidence felt good. Before the unexpected bravery could wear off, Jay nodded. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t sure. She’s important to me and I’d like for the two of you to get to know one another. Is that okay?” 

[roguexwrites]

make me choose:

@starlingisms asked: andrew koji or ricky whittle?

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

She knew his words were coming before he even said it. Her nose scrunched instantly and she sank deeper against floor, head leaning back toward her bed. “It’s one dinner party. We can just tell them that I’m ill or something,” Ahri groaned. All that meant she’d have to change–again– and get ready and that took forever, just so she could sit quietly at a table that talked around her as she stabbed her fork repeatedly into whatever meal was set before her. She was ready to throw her pillow at Basti, even though she knew it wasn’t his fault that she had to go to this damn dinner, when he continued.

Instantly, she perked up, sitting upright on the floor. “Really? I mean, yes. Obviously. A princess needs her rest,” she agreed quickly with his point. A beat paused as she considered how she’d pass this message along to her mother. “I do still want dinner though,” she added with a knitted brow. “In my room, okay? I already said I wanted to stay in so I promise I’m not trying to sneak out to get food elsewhere.”

A slow smile crept across Bastiano’s face as he watched the change in her expression. It had been almost instantaneous. He knew that she’d expected his initial response -- Basti was something of a broken record, constantly droning on about the rules. For good reason, he always insisted. Rules kept her safe and ensured that he continued to have a job. But this one time, he was prepared to make an exception. 

“Just this once,” he reminded her, holding one hand up to preemptively stem the flow of any objections. “I’ll see what I can do about getting you some food. I’m sure there’s something in the kitchens.” He slipped out of his blazer and carefully laid it on the edge of her bed. He’d have no use for it if they weren’t going out. “I’ll let your father know that you’re not quite up to a night out tonight and that I’ll take full responsibility for ensuring that you don’t get yourself into any trouble.” It was something of a big ask. Usually, Bastiano preferred to spend the nights in his own rooms, quietly reading until it was time for bed. More often than not, that left Ahri with the space to escape when the need struck, but Basti was never too far behind. 

Phone already in hand, Basti typed out a few words requesting that dinner be brought to the Princess’s rooms. Alerting her father to the change in their plans would have to be done through phone call rather than text. His gaze came to rest on her, eyebrows raised pointedly. “I’m trusting you to behave yourself.”

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

Perhaps it was too hopeful for Ophelia that people wouldn’t bring up her recent proposal and engagement. Rehearsals and work meetings had so many others coming up to her, congratulating her as she smiled and thanked them through gritted teeth. She couldn’t help but wonder if Edgar really had taken his ring off during their time apart. Ophelia couldn’t risk this plan being exposed, so she kept hers on as much as possible. It wasn’t a fancy or expensive ring but it still managed to feel heavy on her finger, like a constant weight and reminder of this impulsive plan. Those days blended and felt long and Ophelia felt as though she had memorized her lines for every possible question thrown her way. The party this weekend was going to be no different; she was sure of it.

She almost didn’t even get ready for the dinner party, but she finally forced herself to look presentable. The ring on her finger still felt foreign to her. Never did she imagine that she’d get married or engaged. Technically, they weren’t really engaged since this was all fake. Her thoughts occupied her attention so heavily that when she heard the doorbell, she jumped. One last look in the mirror before she grabbed her things and headed down.

“Good evening. You look… happy, for once.” Out of habit, she reached over to him, adjusting his clothing and dusting off his shoulder. “There. The perfect boyfriend.” She flinched before correcting herself. “Fiancé. Ring?”

“The prospect of marriage can do that to a man,” Edgar teased drily, lips quirking up as he remained still under Ophelia’s hands. She’d developed a habit of straightening his tie whenever she saw him. To the casual on looker, it may have seemed like a sweet and somewhat romantic thing for a partner to do, but a part of Edgar was offended. He took pride in his appearance and the suggestion that his tie was always crooked in her presence chaffed. Still, he remained still and allowed her to finish before brushing his lips against her brow. He’d never done that before and he knew that she’d probably make him regret it, but she’d requested that he put more effort in, and so, he was determined to do just that. 

“On. Of course.” He lifted his hand so that she could see the newest addition to the collection of rings that sat on his fingers. It seemed so out of place, Edgar couldn’t help but think every time he looked at his hand. “And...” he paused, hand sliding casually into the pocket of his pants. His other hand caught her under her chin, ensuring that her gaze was on his. “I don’t want you to be offended because the one you have is beautiful, of course, but I got something for you.” 

Edgar slid the velvet box from his pocket. Natalia had insisted that he do his duty as fiancé and buy her a ring. Even if she had one already. Even if he thought the custom to be antiquated. The oval cut he’d selected was simple (not quite in the same way as the one she’d selected, of course), but hinted a bit more at the wealth their appearances often suggested. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I figured, for appearance’s sake...”

[roguexwrites]

starlingisms​:

▶︎

Manny wondered if this would get easier or if he’d ever stop worrying about being seen in public with Jay. If reporters found out the two were an item and that Jay was married, Manny’s career might plummet. Being able to keep this a secret felt exciting and perhaps that was part of the thrill. But sometimes he wished the two could be more public. He could only dream of one day getting to bring Jay to a premiere with him.

His eyes watched carefully as the man removed his wedding ring and placed it into his pocket. It was a strange ritual to watch and to be a passive participant of while also being the reason for it. Manny took a moment to swallow thickly before a smile returned to his lips at the proffered question. “I was thinking we could grab dinner to-go and then maybe a movie at this drive-in I found.” It sounded like a fun date if it also wasn’t so explicitly made so that the two wouldn’t be easily seen by others.

It took Jay a few more minutes to shake the awkwardness that always came with removing his ring. Yelena knew about these dates, of course. She’d been the one to encourage him to find someone who made him happy. He deserved it, she’d insisted. Still, the ritual of it always felt strange. A part of Jay wanted to turn to the man beside him and ask if he felt the strangeness too, but that would only lead to more awkwardness and Jay wasn’t sure he’d recover from that. 

“That sounds fun,” Jay agreed, eyes lighting up. “Very old timey romance.” A teasing half smile tugged at his lips as he watched Manuel navigate the car. Jay was a driver, had been since his teenage years, but it was still interesting to watch someone else perform the task. There was a simple grace to watching Manny drive that Jay enjoyed. “And maybe afterwards...” The quietly spoken words hung in the stillness of the car for a bit as Jay debated the best way to say them. They could ruin this night, this entire relationship. Still, he needed to at least suggest it. “You could come inside and meet her. Lena, I mean.” 

[roguexwrites]

Edgar couldn’t remember the last time he’d driven himself. Usually, Natalia was in charge of transporting him between meetings and clients. At first, he’d chafed against the suggestion from his assistant that he hire a personal driver, but as the business had grown, he’d seen the necessity for it. Too much time was spent navigating the traffic that was part and parcel with living in a big city. That time was better spent pouring over client casefiles as Natalia threw the car in and out of traffic, somehow always finding that little bit of space that was just enough. With her background, she was more than capable of getting Edgar from point A to B with minimal effort, and he’d yet to be late to meeting. 

Today, though, Natalia had left him to fend for himself so that she could take care of a “personal matter.” The day had gone well enough and Edgar had managed to arrive unscathed to all of his meetings. Naturally, though, the final one had run late and he’d sat and watched as the sky had opened up and the first fat snowflakes began to fall, knowing full well that he’d never make it back to his apartment in time. He’d groaned internally and hoped that the client would stop talking. 

An hour later, he was once again groaning as he plodded through the snow towards the stranger. He’d noticed her just as traffic had begun to move again and had told himself to keep driving. Someone else would help. He was only a handful of miles away from home, and he had a full day tomorrow to prepare for, but still, despite his best arguments, Edgar had found himself pulling the car to the shoulder and walking through the snow towards her. “I’m not an expert,” he supplied. Perfect reason for why he should’ve never stopped in the first place, he thought again as snowflakes caught on his eyelashes. “But my car’s warm if you want to sit for a bit and my phone works. Maybe you can call someone.” 

Closed Starter: @lewistan​ Plot: Selected from THIS PROMPT list, it’s letter J on that list. (This is for muses Edgar & Madeleine)

When Madeleine had first set off back towards the city, she had been hoping that she would be able to miss the worst of it by reaching her apartment. She’d been sure to leave early, but traffic, likely due to others who were trying to beat the impending snow storm, had a different plan for her. By the time she had just reached the city, she found herself in a gridlock. The snow was falling heavy, and thick, and every time they were able to move again, she found it harder and harder. All she could do was hope that she would make the final push. After one particularly long pause in traffic, Madeleine was able to try to put her car in motion, except the roads were in such terrible condition, and her car was definitely not made for these driving conditions, she couldn’t stop before her car was sliding towards a pile of snow next to a curb.

Hopping out of the car after many failed attempts at getting out of that spot, Madeleine was forced to get out of her and try to find a way to get her car out of this predicament. No matter what she tried, it didn’t seem as though anything was helping the car budge, and finally Madeleine slammed her hands on the snow-covered hood of her car. She was glove-less, those hadn’t been needed where she was and she’d forgotten to pack them just in case. Although she wasn’t crying, Madeleine certainly felt helpless. That was before she saw Someone else walking up to her. “I’m sorry.” She immediately began to apologize. “I’ve tried everything I can to move, but…” She let out a rare frustrated huff. “I don’t know what else to do…” Madeleine rubbed her bare hands together, and brought them up to her mouth to try and breathe warm air onto them without much success.

[roguexwrites]

[roguexwrites]

Jay had always been an anxious person. So, as he settled himself in the passenger seat of Manny’s car, he felt his heart rate pick up speed. This would never not feel clandestine. “Hi,” he returned the greeting with a small smile and wave combo before folding his hands on his lap. Jay resisted the urge to drum his fingers against his thighs. 

“Oh.” The word exploded from his lips in a rush and Jay felt a burst of heat in his face. “I always forget,” he admitted. Carefully, he slid the ring from his finger -- it was more show than anything, but there had been a promise there, one he felt he was breaking every time he did something like this even though he knew that he wasn’t -- and dropped it into his pocket. “So, what’d you have in mind for today?” 

⇢closed starter for @roguexwrites​

“Hey,” Manny greeted Jay as he came out into the car. It had been a while since their last outing (date), so Manny had actually been looking forward to this all week. In between shoots and filming, he found himself counting down the days until the next time he saw his partner. Well, not officially his partner. Yelena’s partner.

Fighting the temptation to lean over for a kiss, he gripped the steering wheel as he smiled through it. “Do you um… the ring?” he gestured, pointing to Jay’s wedding ring. It still felt weird, even now, to be seeing a married man. All of this could blow up in both of their faces, and yet Manny could pull himself away from someone like Jay.

[roguexwrites]

Most days, Bastiano felt like more shadow than man, trailing a half step behind someone who’d rather he disappear than follow her. This was the job that he was being paid to do. Did people find fulfillment in their jobs, he wondered, because the majority of the time, he couldn’t wait for his shift to end so that he could just lay in the silence of his own room and imagine all the ways the Princess would try to get under his skin the next day. 

“No can do, Princesa,” he muttered, one hand tucked into the pocket of his pants. “Rules are rules.” The words felt wooden even to his own ears, repeated ad nauseum. Regardless of how many times he reminded her of said rules, Ahri had a way of breaking them. But this time she had a point. Usually, she’d disregard everything he said and find a way to sneak out, but this time, she was actually asking to stay in. Basti could almost feel the tension leave his shoulders at the very idea of a quiet uneventful night. “But,” he began, voice dipping to a quiet, almost conspiratorial tone, “if you’re that tired, I’m sure we can convince the powers that be to let you stay in just this once.”

⇢closed starter for @roguexwrites​

All these royal duties were such a pain sometimes, and some days were worse than others. Like today. Ahri had been stuck in back-to-back meetings with her father and various international diplomats. Her face ached from all the fake-smiling she had to do for the camera, and her back hurt from having to sit with her back so straight. And when all that was finally over, she was supposed to go to some fancy dinner with her mother and her oversea friends. But she was too tired, and as she sat on the floor at the foot of her bed, she plopped her shoes off with a pout, nearly hitting Basti with one of them.

“But I don’t want to go out. I never say that. I always try to sneak out–you know this. Can’t I just stay in for tonight?” she whined, now plucking a cushion from her bed and hugging it tightly against her chest.

[roguexwrites]

There were days when Charles loved his job. Being a high school teacher could be rewarding, but those days were few and far between. Mostly, he spent his days fighting off exhaustion and annoyance, not so patiently counting down the moments until he could kick off his shoes and lay on the couch with Ishaan. 

As he slid the apartment’s key into the lock, Charlie expelled a sign of relief. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath all day. “Ish,” he called, sliding out of his shoes and settling his work bag beside the door. The messenger bag had definitely seen better days, but that was another worry for another day. “Just wait ‘til you hear about what my favorite student said today.”

starter for @roguexwrites 

Ishaan loved his job but coming home to Charlie was the best part of the day. It was even better when he wasn’t on call. He wanted to do something a little sweet for his partner that evening. So, naturally, he stopped off at the grocery store to pick up dinner. He was still fairly full of energy, so it wouldn’t be too taxing. Going the extra mile, he picked out a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Who doesn’t love getting flowers? 

Opening the door, Ishaan let out a loud and exuberant greeting that accidentally scared the hell out of his long suffering cat. That animal had the misfortune of being owned by someone who was naturally loud.