swizzcheese

[swizzcheese]

Heathers (1988), dir. Michael Lehmann

[swizzcheese]

LOCATION: ramen & roll FOR: @wildcstwinter ( tiff )

There was never a point in time Swizz thought he would be distant from every single Sugar Racer except for Tiffany. If he was being honest, he was surprised she even agreed to hang out with him off the track where she was forced to, but he had a feeling she appreciated the banter as much as he did. "You have to keep me updated," he insisted, glass of Shōchū  placed back on the table. "I hate missing all the drama. I have to resort to reality television to watch petty arguments."

[swizzcheese]

"Swordplay," he hummed, putting all of his self control into not making a joke about kinks he was fairly certain would go unappreciated.

Swizz tilted his head, noticing the look on Maximus' face, the way he turned away. Embarrassment? Maybe he thought Swizz would make fun of him, but he didn't think it was a dumb statement.

"You should do it. That'd be cool. Imagine you're the next Van Gogh or something." He wasn't the best at being an encouraging friend, but he tried. Sometimes. "Just think, you could buy me all the snacks I wanted."

Max followed the wrapping in it's abbreviated arch to the floor, frustration simmering under his skin.

"Entertainment and trouble often go hand in hand," he replied, leaning down and picking up the wrapper, stalking over to the trashcan and dropping the garbage with a crinkle of foil.

"'Let loose'?" Max repeated the phrase, propping his hands on his hips and shaking his head at Swizz.

"As riveting as reading local ordinances sounds, my hobbies have exclusively involved swordplay, running..." his gaze flicked to the painting hanging over his couch, his frown easing slightly as his eyes swept along the brush strokes.

"Well, I'm thinking of trying to paint. Don't laugh at me."

He felt the flush grow in his cheeks as he turned back toward the counter again, brushing imaginary dust from the surface.

"So, no. 'Letting loose' is probably not in my wheelhouse."

[swizzcheese]

— 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐙𝐙 & 𝐊𝐈𝐌.

"With my mouth," he repeated, his lips curving into a smile against her skin before pursing them again to leave more kisses on the inside of her thigh.

"Where do you want my mouth?"

Lifting his head to look up at her, he smiled again. She was beautiful, she really was, and he could spend all night just telling her that. He didn't know why she hadn't gotten tired of him yet, but he certainly wasn't going to push it... for now.

°•○ - KIM & SWIZZ

Every bit of focus narrowed to the feel of Swizz's lips on her skin, the fire growing with each press in a tantalizing trail.

She watched, lips parted slightly, hardly recognizing the sounds leaving her throat.

"With your mouth," she begged, blushing.

She'd never asked so boldly like this, but the moments spent building to this precipice had given her not only courage but trust to put herself into Swizz's hands and step off, to move their... whatever this was to a different level. To let herself be reckless, take what she wanted wholeheartedly.

"I'm all yours."

[swizzcheese]

He was an ass. Swizz didn't even realize it, didn't think through what he was saying. When did he? Not until he saw the expression that crossed her face, not until the meaning registered, not until he realized it probably felt like he was twisting a knife into her chest. So casually dropping the world girlfriend after avoiding labels with her for years. He swallowed roughly, wishing he could take it back. Rewind to just a handful of seconds ago before he'd fucked up any possibility of civility. He couldn't blame her for her reaction. And he couldn't explain, he didn't know how. That he'd been so afraid of losing her, he did everything in his power to... lose her. It didn't make any sense to him, not even to his painfully sober brain. His grip on the neck of the bottle tightened even more, surprised it had yet to shatter in his hand.

"Carmen," he started, tried to interrupt her but his voice came out too quiet. She was going to cry, and he felt a pang in his chest. He wanted to fix it, but it was always him. He was always the reason it fell apart. He wanted more than anything to pull her into his chest, to hold her, to apologize, but he couldn't. "Carmen," he said again, keeping his tone even and gentle, but then alcohol was dripping from his face, droplets falling onto his shirt like her tears. He deserved that. He should be on his knees, groveling for forgiveness, should be picking up the pieces. But it wasn't an apology that came out. It wasn't an admission. It wasn't even neutral. His eyes trained on her wet cheeks, instead, he said, in the same even tone: "Don't forget you're the one who ended it."

At the hint of his smile her shoulders loosened up just the tiniest bit. Maybe things could return to normal. They couldn't be friends, but maybe they didn't have to act like strangers. This limbo didn't have to last forever. That alternate reality, the promise of a better future between them suddenly shattering like pieces of glass raining down. Carmen couldn't believe what she was hearing, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment, disappointment, rage? She couldn't differentiate between these emotions anymore, it all felt the same when it came to Sterling Malarkey. She should've known better. Why the fuck didn't she know better? "Girlfriend?" She sputtered out in disbelief. her thoughts churning like a cog in a machine. Idiot, Idiot, Idiot. She didn't want him to see her cry, not over this, over him. But the rage was evident on her face, her eyes narrowed and her glossed lips tightening into a straight thin line. She needed time to process this revelation, and time wasn't something she could afford in this situation. For a long time she went silent, swallowing again before she pulled down the mask of indifference. "I'm so happy for you." She spat out viciously, each word more venomous than the next. "I'm so unbelievably happy that you found what you wanted! Congratulations Sterling, if only you could've found that happiness sooner instead of leading me on for YEARS. When you could've let me go at anytime, Instead of keeping me selfishly at arms length at all times. Using my feelings for you as an anchor when you temporarily wanted to hold on, then floating onto the next thing when I no longer served you." Silver was lining her eyes now and she hated herself for it, wanted to scream and hit him, but couldn't. "But thank you for the clarification Malarkey, because I was foolishly holding out hope for you. That you could change--that we could change. Obviously I was wrong, and yes I am here with someone tonight and now I finally have the clarity to fucking move on and start over without you." Each word escaping in shattered gasps between tears. Without warning she tossed her drink into his face. "I hope I never see you again."

[swizzcheese]

He wished he could read her mind. Then again, maybe not. What if he only discovered how much better off she was without him? He was sure it was true. He only ever dragged her down. But, fuck, knowing it would hurt more than he wanted to think about. Did she even miss him? "I— thank you." Maybe she did miss him. The thought made his chest warm, the smallest of smiles on his lips. He didn't say it back, but did he really have to? She had to know. He imagined she had the eyes of every guy in the club on her. It always made him jealous, when they were out. Not jealous enough to do anything about it, to take her off the market. "Yeah. Yeah, my girlfriend's probably at her place." Why did he say that? Were they official? He wasn't seeing anyone else, but they hadn't had that discussion. He was far too good at evading labels. Maybe he wanted to make her jealous. Maybe he wanted to be upfront. What he didn't want to do was ask the question, but it spilled out anyway. "What about you?"

"That's good to hear. I've been fine for the most part, yeah." She forced the sentence out of her mouth even though it was wildly untrue. Wanting to unleash the reality of the situation, but couldn't. No, I'm awful, I miss you, do you miss me? Kiss me. The image of his lips and how they used to be on hers sent her mind reeling. She needed to get back to Pen...he'd be wondering where she went. Instead her feet seemed to be melded into the floor. Carmen could've been wrong--but he looked exhausted. His eyes sunken in and dark, lifeless almost. As if he was operating on auto-pilot. Her heart felt like it was breaking all over again. She just wanted to help him, but it wasn't what he wanted. "You look good." She replied softly, not knowing what else to say. A half-truth. For a moment her eyes wandered around him. To the strangers at the dancefloor and the others that flooded the bar. "Are you here alone?" Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, god why did she have to ask that?

[swizzcheese]

His mouth opened only to close again, lips pressed into a thin line. It was meant to be a joke, he thought, but he didn't know. He couldn't read her. Since when had he been unable to read her? What was this? What were they? Nothing. Nothing at all. "Good." The word came out sharp, unrehearsed. It wasn't entirely untrue, he guessed. Swizz couldn't remember the last time he'd been good, but he'd been good... enough. He had his job, still, his boss was back. He had Kim, now. He had... alcohol, but not enough in his system at the moment. He could already see how the rest of the night was going to go. Watching her from across the room. Drinking one too many. Leaving blurry eyed once she was gone and he'd been cut off, stumbling into an Uber to go home, crack open a bottle of vodka or whiskey or whatever was sitting around. Pass out on the couch. Maybe he had some coke left over. How else would he handle this, if he didn't self-medicate? How else would he avoid spiraling? His grip tightened on his bottle, resisting the urge to bring it to his lips, finish off the beer in one gulp. "I've been... good, yeah, getting by. How are... how are you, Carmen?"

"So formal these days." The words came out before she could stop them, her voice teasing in that easy care-free way she had always been with him. Seven months apart and it was still easy to fall back into old ways. She couldn't allow it though, but surely she could still be civil towards him. Carmen bit the inside of her cheek, debating whether to continue the conversation or book it and run. It wasn't fair. She had missed him so god damn much. "Sorry about your shirt." her mouth beginning to upturn in a faint smile, pausing she took in a sharp inhale. "How--I hope I mean--I just know" The words were getting jumbled, and she wasn't sure if it was his presence or the alcohol that was making her nervous. This absloutely didn't seem like the time or place to have this conversation, but when would she get another chance? He wasn't seeking her out and vice versa. Noticing his absence at the track, it stung more than she thought it would. Had she ever truly mattered to him? Clearing her throat she shook her head softly, meeting his eyes. "How are you?"

[swizzcheese]

— 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐙𝐙 & 𝐊𝐈𝐌.

He was trying to tease her, but her whimper had him feeling like he was going to come undone, breath catching in his throat even though she wasn't touching him. His hands worked their way lower, from his grip on her sides to her hips to her legs, giving them a gentle squeeze.

Then his mouth followed, leaving a trail of kisses from her collarbone down the middle of her chest. He leaned in closer, as close as he could, his lips pressing against her stomach, hands frozen on her thighs.

"How would you like me to show you?"

°•○ - KIM & SWIZZ

His words hit her straight in the chest, then trickled lower, heat blossoming between her thighs as her teeth dug into her bottom lip, tilting her head to give him all the access he needed.

She shivered when his breath brushed across her, threading a finger through his belt loop again, tugging without really thinking about what she was doing.

"Please," she whimpered, throat bobbing as she swallowed once, hard, and flashed a smile at him.

"Show me, Swizz."

[swizzcheese]

He forgot. For a brief second, at first glance, Swizz forgot that they weren't talking. It had been... what, half a year, now? Seven months? And as soon as their eyes met, the corners of his lips turned up, ready to greet her, ready to fall back into a groove they had left behind. Then it hit him, and his face fell. Even after all this time, after all this space, silence on both ends, after everything that had happened between them, she was still his best friend.

"Carm—en," he said in a choked voice, the second half of her name added like an afterthought, realizing he'd lost the right to use a nickname. He'd lost the right to speak to her at all, but what was he meant to do now? His grip tightened around his half empty bottle, and he found himself wishing it was his fifth or sixth of the night instead of his first, so he didn't feel the pang in his chest so strongly. He had seen her since they last spoke, in passing, eyes never lingering long. But he'd stopped going by the track at all. He didn't hang out in their same group of friends anymore. He'd been doing a good job of avoiding her, or she had him. Maybe both. "It's... hey. Hey."

starter for: @swizzcheese

location: topsy turvy.

Carmen left the dancefloor, promising pen she'd be back with drinks. something fruity and refreshing. she was becoming breathless with the mashing of bodies and the heat it was creating. she wasn't complaining though, this was the first time she enjoyed herself in months. if she was being honest pen was a good dancer...and kind of cute. ordering two peach Bellini's, she whirled from the bar making sure the drinks wouldn't slip from her fingers. instead she crashed into a hard surface instead. that surface being someone's chest. luckily she only managed to spill a little of the drinks, but unluckily it all landed on the strangers shirt. "Shit sorry--" carmen's words immediately evaporated from her throat. the once loud room sounded like a far off noise, like she was suddenly underwater. time moving in slow motion except for them. "swizz." she stated softly, swallowing hard and straightening her shoulders. this was not how she wanted the night to go.

[swizzcheese]

— 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐙𝐙 & 𝐊𝐈𝐌.

He let her lead him, push him, pull him; at the moment, he would let her do absolutely anything she wanted to, just to keep kissing her. She really was driving him crazy, and he wanted more than anything to let his hands roam her body, but he played nice, patient, his lips working against hers instead.

"I really like what I see." A soft chuckle breathed into the air, he leaned forward, placing a kiss on her collarbone before speaking again, the words murmured against her skin. "Do you want me to show you how much I like what I see?"

— 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐙𝐙 & 𝐊𝐈𝐌.

"I can tell," he stated, a soft hum leaving his lips as he fought the urge to move against her hand. As much as he liked not being in control... it was still hard to not give in to desire.

Swizz wondered for a moment as she moved away from him if she'd changed her mind, but before he could really think it through she was asking him to her room. And she looked so damn cute standing there, staring down at him, hand outstretched, that he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Yes ma'am," he stated, taking her hand to pull himself up, though once his feet were on solid ground again he pulled her into him, leaning down to press his lips into hers.

[swizzcheese]

"Wow, thank you. Thank you so much." Swizz couldn't even pretend to be bothered. Maximus was right. He did have a shifty look. He was shifty. The fact that he would willingly try to befriend someone on the right side of the law was crazy in itself, but maybe he considered it a challenge. He really did like the guy. Beneath all the righteous crap, anyway.

He hummed in response, tossing the wrapper from his stolen snacks in the other's direction, watching it fall short of hitting him. "Don't knock the clubs and bars, Max-y! They keep the good folk of Evermore entertained." Including himself.

It was a bit of a game, seeing how long it would take him to kick Swizz out. He was shocked that it hadn't happened yet, honestly. "What do you consider fun?" He questioned, tilting his head. "Reading up on the laws around here? Paperwork? Crossing ts and dotting is? Do you ever let loose, my man?"

"You've just got a shifty look, Malarkey," Maximus replied without hesitation. Max considered himself someone who could read people. Those instincts had served and hurt him in many instances, and most recently had been subverted by his friendship with Flynn, however begrudging it had been at first.

"Well, I'm a little stressed if I'm being honest. Not much work for personal security around here unless I want to bounce at the shocking amount of clubs and bars in this town," he replied, pulling a disgusted face as he considered the possibility. It was a last resort, he decided, if the interview he'd acquired fell through.

He considered Swizz's offer though. Fun was a dusty word in Max's vocabulary. What would it be like to be just some guy, out and about? No expectations or kingdoms to represent?

"Depends on what you consider fun," he finally said, avoiding Swizz's eye.

[swizzcheese]

"Sure," he stated, though it was honestly a 50/50 on if he would order the right thing. He had two strong guesses . . . maybe he would order both, see which one was right, then down the other himself. He wasn't that picky. Alcohol was alcohol, and he had been known to drink bottom shelf when necessary. The last thing he needed to do was make a fool of himself five minutes in ; she'd never agree to hang out with him again.

Arms crossed against his chest when she released him, Swizz shook his head. "Good things are worth waiting for," he deadpanned, gaze moving to the bar but he hesitated to take a step towards it, attention caught by her next words. "The fuck you gonna do with a pony? Those things smell like shit."

maybe it was the low light of the club , or the shots already clinging to her tongue , but drizella frowned as she realized that he wasn't particularly hard on the eyes up close . in retaliation of the unspoken observation , followed by the horrendous nickname and the taunt that had come prior to it , drizella gifted him a roll of her lined eyes . " you actually remember what i drink ?? " drizella scoffed , still fisting his shirt , as if he'd make an attempt to embarrass her by running off and leaving her stranded . realizing how that may come off , however , she released him - leaning one hand against the bar as she pulled at one of the thin straps of her dress with the other .

" christmas was almost a week ago . so both you and my present are late ?? " she observed with a raise of her brows , turning her face away to survey the bar , the club , wondering how long it would take before another photo of her ended up in her mother's hands . wondering if she'd actually care if one did . a short laugh , a glance shot back in his direction , something resembling mirth gleaming in her eye ; " i asked for a pony , sterling , but i guess a drink will suffice . for now . "

[swizzcheese]

"Are we not?" Swizz feigned an even sadder face, pressing his palm against his chest as if he was heartbroken by Maximus questioning their friendship.

He laughed at the words that followed his I miss you, taking a large bite of his free snack, chewing and swallowing before he spoke again.

"Why do you always think I'm up to something, Maxi? Maybe I'm just hanging out. Just having a chill day. Checking in with my bestie. Unless you want to join me out on the town... looks like you could use a little fun. You're so uptight these days."

"Oh, so we're 'dear friends' now?"

Max shook his head again, trying to hide a smile as he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. Sharp eyes roamed over Swizz's face, trying to cut to the center of the other's motivations.

"I've missed you," he finally replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. "The peace and quiet was starting to grate."

It had been about three or four weeks, Maximus thought, wondering what Swizz got up to in his free time. He'd been so consumed with figuring out a long-term job, puzzling over what he should do about Rapunzel, and looking for Rider.

"What mad-cap adventures do you have planned for us after your feast?"

[swizzcheese]

"Now why does that matter? It gets the job done." Swizz sniffed, glancing over his shoulder as if he expected someone to be walking down the hallway to catch them. He would be lying if he said she was wrong . . . "Free shit is free shit, Tiff. You don't have an ounce of gratefulness in there, do you?"

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 : @swizzcheese !! 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: some back hallway in wonderland

" jesus christ , " tiffany winced , swiping the pad of her thumb beneath her nostril to rid it of any lingering powder as she wrinkled her swooped nose like that of a rabbit's . " god , swizz , the drip is awful . feels like battery acid down my throat . who'd you get this shit from - FRANCIS ?? "

[swizzcheese]

— 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐙𝐙 & 𝐊𝐈𝐌.

"I can tell," he stated, a soft hum leaving his lips as he fought the urge to move against her hand. As much as he liked not being in control... it was still hard to not give in to desire.

Swizz wondered for a moment as she moved away from him if she'd changed her mind, but before he could really think it through she was asking him to her room. And she looked so damn cute standing there, staring down at him, hand outstretched, that he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Yes ma'am," he stated, taking her hand to pull himself up, though once his feet were on solid ground again he pulled her into him, leaning down to press his lips into hers.

°•○ - KIM & SWIZZ

"Oh, most definitely, Malarkey," she whispered back, applying pressure, before tracing the waistband of his boxers.

Kim reveled in the feeling of being totally in charge. Throughout her teen years, she'd been beholden to the communicator, to agents on the other end of the phone who called for her help, to her parents, coaches, teachers.

Evermore had been the first taste of true freedom, making her own choices and forging her own path. She didn't know if she could go back to Middleton any more.

"Come to my room?" she asked, moving off Swizz's waist and standing, holding out a hand. Butterflies danced in her stomach.

[swizzcheese]

swizz: sorry swizz: ok*

tiffany: k ?? tiffany: what are u five tiffany: fix that attitude rq if u want me to show up

[swizzcheese]

swizz: k

tiffany: `` tiffany mutton calls a pocket and sinks the eight ball. tiffany mutton wins. `` tiffany: lol get fucked tiffany: drinks are on u tiffany: ofc u do. see u there in thirty