#and still get invited to high level tables

[hey-itsdollie]

back for more your writing is bomb :3 as their plus one to a wedding they desperately do not wanna attend. Invited you just so they had a reason to not socialize. Get freaky smutty later on somewhere hidden in the venue. Sae, Barou, Shido, Karasu tysm!!

Venue Shenanigans

yesss i love this idea<3

‧₊˚ ┊ In which you're your boyfriend's plus one at a wedding!

୭˚. ᵎᵎ featuring » sae. barou. shidou. karasu.

⋮ ⌗ ┆cw ⪼ smut, female reader, aged up!, established relationships, public sex?, use of pet names, minors dni!

── .✦ Sae Itoshi

“It’s not too early to leave…” You turned to look at your boyfriend, his words unbelieving considering the fact the two of you were already at the wedding venue.

You noticed his tie slightly crooked, showing the fact he didn’t try as hard to look his best. Normally Sae tried to dress decently, knowing how the media took anything and ran with it.

You walked over fixing his tie for him before anyone could see. “Can’t let people see the messy side of my boyfriend…” Sae listened to your words, his eyes hiding his inner thoughts.

Though you could easily see right pass his barrier–more like he allowed you to.

“We can’t leave Sae, we still have another hour or two.” You reply to his recent statement. The red-haired male breathed out a sigh. “We already greeted enough people, we came and we saw. Let’s go home.”

“You know it wouldn’t be right.” You frown up at him, cupping the side of his face and kissing his lips. He pulled you closer, trying to deepen the kiss. His tongue grazing over your bottom lip.

You smiled pulling away hearing the quiet groan of displeasure that left his throat.

“Don’t even try it. We’re at a wedding of all places.”

You pulled him along to go conversate with others, trying to get him out of the mood. Of course, everything you did ended in failure.

The two of you sat at one of the clothed tables. Sae had sat close to you–nobody questioned it–moving the cloth to cover your lap as his hand snuck under your dress. Moving up your inner thigh slowly.

You glanced at him still in the middle of a conversation with one of the other guests. Sae leaned on one hand looking bored out of his mind. Despite the fact of his perverse actions.

You held in a gasp as you felt his fingertips graze your clothed pussy. You shoot him a look warning him to quit what he was doing. Sae pretended to not notice the look you were giving him, making you inwardly groan.

Thankfully the guest didn’t notice what was going on, still clueless to the fact your thighs were trying to trap your boyfriend’s hand.

Sae tugged on your panties, signaling to you. Pretending to fix your dress you lifted your hips. Sae took this opportunity to slip your panties down your thighs, leaving you bare under your dress.

Balling your clothing up and slipping his hand out from under your dress, slipping the cloth into his pocket. His face flat as if none of that just happened.

Your thighs rubbed together, growing needy due to the fact Sae just left you high and dry.

It didn’t take long after the guest excused themselves that Sae took his chance and dragged you off to a secluded area of the venue. The room had dimmed lighting, obvious signs it was not touched all day until now.

Sae pushed you up against the wall, moving your dress up your thighs as he kneeled down before you. His wet tongue licking up your clit, his hot breath making you shiver.

Your hands were buried in his red lockes. Soft breaths leaving your lips as you try to stay quiet. You felt dirty–doing this at a wedding, it was inappropriate on so many levels. Yet, compared to you Sae didn’t seem to mind at all. He licked and nipped at you like a starved man. Only pulling away–barely–to take a breath before diving right back in.

“You got so wet just from a bit of fingering? Blossom… thought you had more control?” His words made you curse softly. “Shut up…”

You felt the outline of Sae’s grin, his tongue circling your entrance teasingly. “Please Sae… don’t tease…”

The male groaned, “I don’t like to rush…”

“We’re at a wedding, Sae!” You gasp frustrated on so many levels. The male gazes up at you, his eyes heavy with lust. You could tell he didn’t care where you two were nor what you were wearing.

“Do you want me to stop?” He panted wanting your consent before he continued. You met his eyes, your own softening at his care.

“No… Please continue Sae.”

“Thought so.” He hummed before diving back in.

── .✦ Shoei Barou

Barou was dragged along to a wedding he did not want to attend. Due to this you went along with him, simply so you could make sure he didn’t lash out on anyone.

It was going good so far, Barou kept his attention on you. Catering to your every need as if you were a princess. You had to get him to greet the bride and groom, knowing he wouldn’t on his own. If you wanted food or were thirsty he was immediately getting up to get them. Of course he would grumble questioning why he had to get them even though he didn’t offer you the chance to get up from your seat.

Later on in the night, most people mingled in different areas, the guests beginning to leave the bride and groom to themselves. You and Barou were off to the side–bored out of your minds.

“Since when were weddings so long?” You groaned, leaning your head against your boyfriend’s arm. His tie was loosened around his neck, his bangs falling into his eyes. His normally pristine self not showing his more lazed personality.

Barou huffed in response, glaring at anything and everything. You let out another groan, catching his attention.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what? Expressing my displeasure?” You scoff looking up at him. Barou gripped your chin squeezing slightly as he glared at you.

“Stop your whining.” You frowned from his words knowing he was the one that never even wanted to come. “You’re an ass.” “And you’re being a brat.”

You stood up and started to walk away. Your actions annoyed the male greatly as he got up and went after you. Taking your hand in his and dragging you off somewhere.

The two of you ended up a little further into the treeline that surrounded the venue. Barou had you pinned up against a tree, his large figure towering over you. “Get on your knees.” He voiced his words coming out huskier. You kneeled before him looking up at him with big eyes, panting due to the makeout sesh the two of you had once your back hit the tree.

Your hands went to his belt buckle efficiently, undoing it before going to his pants zipper. Barou watched you get his pants undone–waiting patiently as you pulled his drooling cock out.

You raise your head and keep eye contact as you go down on him. Licking up from his base and pushing his girthy length into your mouth.

Leaning his head back Barou let out a low moan, his hand on your head, pushing you more on his cock.

Your hands were on his thighs letting him mouth-fuck you. Your pussy dripping from the thought of being caught. There was a whole celebration going on and here you were, giving your boyfriend a blow job against a tree.

Barou’s leaking tip hit the back of your throat, his guttural moan making you squirm in place. Your own moan vibrating around his cock.

“Fuck… taking me s’good…”

A whimper left your throat as he pulled from your lips. “Look at you… needy for my cock.” Barou growled as he pulled your head back from his saliva coated length. Your eyes glazed with lust, his free hand went down to run his thumb over your bottom lip. Wiping the precum off of you.

“You’re so pretty like this… gonna take care of you…”

── .✦ Ryusei Shidou

“Fuuhhh- R…Ryusei…”

Your head lifted up from the table, your body squirming as your boyfriend teased your clit. His warm tip moving over your sensitive nub repeatedly.

Shidou grinned from your soft whimpers, his white dress shirt partly unbuttoned, as his tie was around your arms keeping you from grabbing at his hands. Your dress was hiked up to your waist, panties hanging loosely in his pocket.

“Look at you~” He cooed, one hand placed on your pussy, pushing your skin up as his other hand rubbed his tip on you. Teasingly pushing it inside you and then pulling out.

You had been close to your orgasm too many times to keep count. Your mind filled with other thoughts as you struggled to keep quiet.

“No, no… don’t start getting distracted now doll…” Shidou grinned knowing how on edge you were from the guests that could walk in the abandoned room anytime.

He was more than happy at his choice of going to the wedding–bringing you along just made it better. He never even thought about having sex at a venue before but now. After seeing you squirming on an unused table for the celebration, sweating and panting. Your soft whimpers and moans luckily mixing with the music playing outside.

“Ryusei…” You pleaded, “Please stop teasing…”

The blonde grinned, your pleads sounding like music to his ears. “Stop teasing? Oh doll…” Ryusei shook his head, staring down at your squirming body as he pushed his cock into you.

You moaned loudly as you felt him stretch you inch by inch. Shidou pushed in purposefully slowly. You moved your hips, to make him speed up. Noticing this, Shidou grips your hips, making sure they stay in place as his thrusts gain more speed.

You gasp as he pounds into you, your slick dripping from the hole as his cock slips in easily. “Shii- You’re this wet just from a lil bit of teasing?” Kaiser chuckles, placing his right hand on your stomach, pushing slightly to feel his cock going in and out of you.

“Please… Please.. Ryu…”

Drawing his eyes up at your arms, watching you amusedly as you tried to get out of your confines. “You want to touch me that badly?”

You whined nodded squirming more.

“Alright, I guess I can be nice…” Shidou paused his movements and reached over you, easily untying your hands.

“That better doll?”

You nodded and reached for his face pulling him down into a kiss. With a groan Shidou picked you up into his arms, you still stuck on his dick. You moaned into the kiss as he pushed you against the wall and thrusted up into you. Soft curses and moans leaving his lips as he fucks you.

“Gonna fill you up… gonna have ya leakin…”

── .✦ Tabito Karasu

“Seriously? She couldn’t even match the dress code… that’s so embarrassing.”

You hit your boyfriend’s arm from his hurtful comments. “Tabito, enough someone might hear you!” The dark-haired male rolled his eyes. You often had to prevent him from making rude comments.

One of the reasons why he was dreading the day he’d have to come to the wedding. He normally couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Something that you would have to fix with excuses or shutting him up. Of course, he tried his best to listen to you–key word tried.

Karasu was thankful you came as his plus one. Seeing you get dressed up for the celebration. Your dress makes you look like a beauty in his eyes. The wedding itself makes him impatient for your own. Especially watching you catch the bouquet.

During the after party, the bride had changed into another dress, one that gave her more dancing freedom. Everyone–including yourselves–began dancing, it was late enough so the kids were away sleeping or playing on their parents’ phones. The adults were finally letting loose, dancing against each other and acting as wild as they would in college.

You rubbed against him as the two of you danced. Karasu’s large hands planted on your hips as his head was buried in the crook of your neck.

Your body shivering as he planted kisses along your warm skin. The heat and thoughts he was having became too much for him as he groaned into your ear.

Your body becomes aware of the bulge poking you from behind. “Sweetheart… need you badly…”

His silky voice made you turn to look up at him, shocked he’d be in the mood at a public place. “Tabito can’t you wait…” You whispered. Almost instantly the male shook his head, his hands pulling you more against him–his bulge becoming more prominent.

“Just a quick ride… please…”

And here you were, bouncing recklessly on your boyfriend’s thick cock. His balls hit your behind each time your thighs hit his own.

The dress you wore made your breasts accessible, something Karasu was thankful for, as he had one hand kneading your breast, while his mouth bit and sucked on your other one.

You moaned as you continued to bounce on his cock. Chasing your own release as Karasu bucked his hips up to meet yours.

Karasu slipped his lips off your mound with a sickly pop. His darkened eyes watching your pleasure filled expression move and change with each movement. The sound of skin slapping against each other as he used his free hand to take over the work. With his help you laid against him panting as he continued to thrust into you.

“Mmmngth… Ta–ahh–bito… mmmore…”

You whined in his ear, which encouraged him to pound into you faster. The both of you were completely drunk on pleasure as your location completely left your minds.

“Catchin’ the bouquet… fuck… gonna get you all pregnant sweetheart… You’re gonna be all round at our weddin’ yeah?”

His words worked their way to your pussy, making your walls clench around his cock. “Look at you… takin’ my cock so well…” Karasu praised watching your pussy welcome his length into your warm body.

“Gonna fill ya up… gonna be leakin for the rest of the time…”

Loved this idea so much, I hope you all enjoyed!

©hey-itsdollie please don't copy, change, or steal my work. Thank you!

[three--rings]

God that last one. I haven't even DMed a single game yet. I've spent FOUR MONTHS trying to corral the people who originally convinced me to DM for them.

I should not have to act like your parent to try to make you show up somewhere and reply to texts and do your character creation homework, while also doing all the DM work.

Like guys I want to DM here but this playing mommy shit is fucking killing me.

I now understand why in my regular game, my DM kicks out anyone who is at ALL flaky in attendance. It's a privilege to play with a good group and fucking with the DM's time is the #1 way to not get invited back IME.

I cannot emphasize enough that if you dream of having a group like the actual play ones you see on the internet, the number one thing you have to be is reliable and respectful of the DM. I've known so many Very Good Players that people like personally who are not invited back to tables because they piss off the DM.

D&D 5e supposedly has a GM shortage and idk maybe if the player culture of the game didn't treat GMing as a thankless job and the rules of the game as an issue to be fixed by the GM maybe things would be better. Ah well, who knows. Maybe a couple hundred more "we ruined the GM's campaign on purpose" memes will make people enjoy running the game better.

[xinganhao]

cherry on top 🍒 mafia boss!seungcheol x reader. (4)

stories like this always end with a damsel in distress. except—this time around—you’re not the one who needs saving. previous chapter + masterlist.

📄 Minutes of strategic information meeting, filed by Kim Mingyu (Mafia Soldier, Logistics & Recon)

Date: ██████████ Location: Safehouse Omega-9, Undisclosed City Perimeter Time: 03:17 HRS

ATTENDEES:

Yoon Jeonghan (Underboss)

Lee Chan (Combat Unit Leader)

Chwe Hansol (Surveillance Division)

Kim Mingyu (Logistics & Recon; Recording Officer)

Civilian Target [REDACTED] (Unauthorized Attendee)

AGENDA:

Contingency Plan for Retrieval of Boss (S.Coups)

Chain of Command During Absence

External Threat Assessment

[BEGIN TRANSCRIPT]

JEONGHAN: We go in through the east dock. Two snipers posted by 03:40. Chan leads breach. Hansol, your eyes stay on thermal—no improvisation this time.

HANSOL: I never improvise. My brilliance is structured.

CHAN: Can we not do this right now?

JEONGHAN: [ignoring them] Mingyu, once we get him out, you're on evac. Full blackout route. No trackers, no chatter.

MINGYU: Copy.

HANSOL: Any updates on who turned? Someone had to leak coordinates.

CHAN: There’s a list. We’ll handle it after we bring the boss home. One fire at a time.

[DOOR SLAMS OPEN. SOUND OF HIGH-HEELED FOOTSTEPS. SILENCE.]

CIVILIAN TARGET: You’re planning this without me?

JEONGHAN: [visibly tense] You weren’t invited.

CIVILIAN TARGET: He’s my belo—my boyfriend, Jeonghan. You think I’m just going to sit around while you play war games?

JEONGHAN: This isn’t a movie. You’re a civilian. You don’t belong in this room.

CIVILIAN TARGET: No, I’m the reason he still believes in soft things. I belong more than half the people at this table.

CHAN: She’s got a point.

JEONGHAN: Chan.

CHAN: I’m just saying. She’s not exactly fragile.

HANSOL: She did rewire one of my bugs with a paperclip. That was... not unimpressive.

JEONGHAN: [sighs] This isn’t about guts. It’s about blood.

CIVILIAN TARGET: Then you should know mine’s already on the line. Every second he’s gone, I feel it. And I’m done being sidelined. I’m not here to ask. I’m here to help.

[BEAT OF SILENCE. THEN—]

JEONGHAN: You get one job. And if you screw it up, I’ll personally drag you out.

CIVILIAN TARGET: Deal.

JEONGHAN: Hansol, give her the map. Mingyu, loop her in.

MINGYU: You’re going to need a comm. And a bulletproof vest.

CIVILIAN TARGET: Got both. And a knife in my boot.

CHAN: Okay, badass.

[MEETING CONTINUED UNDER LEVEL-2 SECRECY PROTOCOLS. TRANSCRIPT REDACTED. END OF MINUTES.]

FINAL NOTES:

Civilian Target formally added to Operation Homecoming roster.

Jeonghan authorized conditional field involvement.

Morale status: heightened.

Risk level: astronomically high.

🗂️ Operation Homecoming: Field Notes & Briefing Report, compiled by mafia underboss, Yoon Jeonghan

Clearance Level: Top Confidential Date Logged: ██████████ Location: Safehouse Omega-9

SUMMARY: Boss (S.Coups) was captured 48 hours ago following the receipt of a falsified emergency ping traced back to the civilian target’s encoded channel. The ping claimed she’d been injured and was en route to an undisclosed hospital in Sector D. According to surveillance logs, the Boss diverted course alone, abandoning standard security protocol. We believe he was intentionally isolated through signal jamming, then intercepted at the underpass beneath Route 14.

AUTOPSY OF THE TRAP:

Fake GPS tag mimicked civilian target’s bio-signal pattern

Voice distortion software replicated her distress call

EMP deployed upon vehicle arrival to disable tracking

Tactical unit waited with sedation-grade rounds

CURRENT LOCATION OF BOSS: Confirmed. Underground storage facility, formerly Syndicate-aligned. Defected cell now controls the zone. Reinforcements on site. Boss presumed alive—last thermal footage confirms faint movement.

INTERVENTION STRATEGY: OPERATION HOMECOMING

Phase One – Extraction:

Entry through east dock (03:40 HRS)

Chan leads breach unit, Hansol on thermal, Mingyu handling evac

All units silent channel only

Phase Two – Internal Sweep:

Civilian target assigned distraction and misdirection role (see below)

Two-minute window to locate and stabilize Boss

Phase Three – Extraction + Fade:

Mingyu initiates blackout route

Decoys deployed on west perimeter to delay pursuit

Rendezvous at Site Echo

CIVILIAN TARGET: PERFORMANCE LOG

Arrived wearing borrowed Kevlar and jeans tucked into combat boots. Asked if bulletproof vests same in women’s sizes. Did not wait for response.

Showed immediate enthusiasm, zero tactical finesse. Hansol gave her the map. She held it upside down. Twice.

Informed her she’d be working as the visual diversion. Her response: “Like bait?” Followed by: “Cool. I’m good at being annoying.”

Surprisingly effective. Created a loud enough ruckus on the perimeter to draw three guards off their posts. Managed to bluff her way past checkpoint by pretending to be a lost food delivery driver. Claimed she had gluten-free soba for a man named Kevin. There is no Kevin.

Still not sure how she pulled it off.

When Boss was found, he was semi-conscious but breathing. Whispered her name first.

END STATUS:

Boss retrieved.

Minimal casualties (1 injured – not fatal)

Facility compromised but not traced

Civilian target cried in the van. Then threatened to punch me for writing that down. I'm writing it down anyway.

FOOTNOTE — for Seungcheol’s eyes only: You’re reckless, stubborn, and impossible to reason with. But apparently, that’s your thing. You’re also luckier than most of us ever will be.

She didn’t sleep. Not once. Kept looking at every door like you might walk through it.

When you did, she didn’t even say anything. Just threw her arms around you like gravity stopped working.

Try not to make her go through that again.

– YJH

📱 Phone history log, filed by mafia soldier Chwe Hansol

Device: S.Coups' Personal Line (Encrypted Channel #017) Status: Outgoing Messages Only – Blocked by Signal Jammer Timestamp Range: ██:██–██:██ (Time of Abduction)

NOTE: Texts never reached intended recipient. Recovered during post-mission diagnostics. For archival purposes.

[01:12 AM] Where are you? They said you were hurt. I'm on my way.

[01:15 AM] Which hospital? No one's answering. This isn't funny. Call me.

[01:17 AM] Your signal keeps bouncing. Something's wrong. Stay where you are.

[01:21 AM] I swear to god if they laid a hand on you

[01:24 AM] No ambulance ever came.

[01:25 AM] This is a setup.

[01:27 AM] I'm so stupid. They used you. Fuck fuck fuck

[01:28 AM] I should've followed protocol. Should’ve sent Mingyu. Should’ve sent anyone but me.

[01:30 AM] If you get this, lock all the windows. Call Jeonghan. Stay put.

[01:34 AM] They knew I’d come for you.

[01:36 AM] This isn’t your fault.

[01:39 AM] Don’t come after me.

[01:41 AM] Love, beloved, please. Don’t try to save me.

[01:45 AM] You always do this—you throw yourself into fires you don't understand.

[01:49 AM] If they hurt you because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.

[01:52 AM] Tell Jeonghan to burn everything. Get out. Go far.

[01:54 AM] Forget me if you have to. Just live.

[02:01 AM] I love you. Please, please, please, don’t be stupid.

[END OF RECOVERED LOG]

📰 Excerpt from "The Ethics of Mafias: Love in the Line of Fire", a follow-up think piece by Xu Minghao

... If leadership within organized crime is already an ethical minefield, then love within it is something more volatile still: a paradox of vulnerability embedded in violence. New whispers surround the figure known only as S.Coups—the alleged mafia boss whose name, until recently, conjured images of discipline, domination, and an empire forged in precision.

Now, another narrative has emerged. One that reshapes how we understand not just the man, but the very myth he embodies.

According to rumors sourced from both within and outside the organization, S.Coups may have a romantic partner. Not a fellow operative, nor a political alliance. But a civilian. Someone unaffiliated and—crucially—untouched by the bloodied logic of the underworld.

If this is true, the implications are vast.

To love in his position is a risk. It is weakness, some would say. Yet others might argue that such love is the only thing capable of keeping a man like him from becoming monstrous. If the rumors are accurate, she is the reason he looks over his shoulder less. The reason he checks his own wrath. The reason his most trusted lieutenants have stopped fearing him and started worrying about him.

Love, here, is not a diversion. It is discipline.

And perhaps that is the most fascinating ethical twist of all: that this boss, so often theorized as either tyrant or savior, might be both—because of her.

Some say he texts her between assassinations. That he buys her gummy bears because she mentioned liking them once, months ago. That he has started folding her laundry and learning her aunt’s dietary restrictions. These are, of course, unconfirmed. They seem almost laughably mundane. But within the shadowed world of syndicates and secret wars, what could be more radical than tenderness?

Others claim that he was taken. There are now verified reports of a failed abduction and his eventual rescue. She was allegedly involved. They say she showed up unarmed, untrained, and utterly unafraid. They say she demanded to be part of the rescue mission. They say she was reckless, infuriating, and ultimately, instrumental.

And that when he saw her again, he wept.

To be loved, it turns out, is not always soft. Sometimes, it is brutal and inelegant and wildly inconvenient. But in the context of a life built on violence, to be loved is to be saved. Again and again. In the ways that matter.

Whether S.Coups is worthy of that love is not the question. The question is whether it has already changed him. Whether, in the end, the girl outside the syndicate might be the only thing real in a world made of smoke and mirrors.

And whether that, more than power or fear, will be his lasting legacy.

Mafia boss S.Coups is many things. Protector, manipulator. Brother, enemy, friend.

It seems we must add two more things:

Lover, and loved.

FIN. THANK YOU FOR READING CHERRY ON TOP!

› scroll through all my work ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ my masterlist | @xinganhao

[xo100]

Unwrapped feelings - LN4

*:･ﾟ Summary: At their birthday celebration, you feel upset when none of the gifts are for you. Lando reassures her of his love, making her feel cherished despite the oversight.

*:･ﾟ Word count: 1494

୨ৎ

Lando Norris was the sun in her life, a constant, warm presence that filled her days with joy. She loved him deeply, and after three years of dating, her heart still fluttered when he looked at her the way he did. They were each other's best friends, sharing everything from their quiet nights at home to the busy life he led as a Formula 1 driver. Lando loved her, too. There was no question about that. He made sure to remind her with every touch, every soft kiss, and every whispered word when they were alone. But no matter how much love existed between them, there was a silent, looming cloud that she tried so hard not to notice. His friends.

They never liked her, and she couldn’t quite understand why. She wasn’t arrogant or boastful. In fact, she was quite the opposite—introverted, sweet, and often quiet, especially around large groups. She wasn't overly outgoing or dramatic, and she certainly wasn’t trying to steal Lando away from his friends. But still, whenever they were together with his friends or the rest of the team, she could feel their subtle distance. The sideways glances when she spoke, the quick change of conversation when she joined a group—it all added up.

It wasn’t as though she had never tried to bridge the gap, either. Early in their relationship, she had gone out of her way to be friendly, to make conversation, and to show interest in their lives. But the more she tried, the more it felt like she was only getting further away from them. Over time, she stopped trying so hard, and she retreated back into the quiet comfort of just being by Lando’s side. After all, he was the one she loved. As long as they were okay, nothing else should matter, right?

But it did. Even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud, it hurt that the people closest to Lando—the ones he spent so much of his life with—didn’t seem to care for her. And that quiet hurt always seemed to linger at the back of her mind.

This weekend, however, was supposed to be special. A day for both of them, a moment to celebrate not only Lando’s birthday but hers as well. The idea to celebrate their birthdays together was something Lando had insisted on. They were only a few days apart, and since Lando had such a busy schedule, he suggested one big party where they could celebrate together. He even offered to host it at the McLaren Technology Centre, a place he called home and wanted to share with her.

“Everyone will be there,” he had said, his excitement bubbling over. “My friends, the team, some of the drivers. It'll be great!”

She had nodded with a smile, her heart hopeful that maybe this would be a chance to connect with everyone on a different level, in a more relaxed and festive atmosphere. Her own friends, though invited, couldn’t make the trip to England, and while she understood, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit lonely knowing she wouldn’t have her usual support system there. Still, this was about Lando too, and she wanted to focus on making sure he had the best time.

The night of the party had been a whirlwind. Lando was glowing, his energy infectious as he mingled with everyone, laughing and sharing stories. She stayed by his side for most of the night, smiling softly at his friends and the team members who came over to greet him, though she noticed the conversations were always directed toward him and never her. It stung, but she pushed the feelings aside. Tonight was supposed to be fun.

After hours of laughter, music, and food, the party wound down, and as the guests began to leave, Lando took her hand, guiding her toward a large table piled high with presents.

“Look at all this,” he grinned, his eyes twinkling as he took in the sight. “I think we’re going to need all day tomorrow to open them.”

She chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. There were a lot of gifts, far more than she had expected. She didn’t think either of them would need much, but it was still heartwarming to see how much effort people had put into celebrating them.

Or so she thought.

The next day, after a lazy morning spent in bed, they finally sat down to open the gifts. Lando was practically buzzing with excitement, while she was content to sit beside him, happy to enjoy the moment with him.

The first few presents were exactly what she had expected—personalized items for Lando. Some McLaren-themed memorabilia, a few playful gag gifts from his friends, and even a sleek, custom helmet from one of the drivers. She watched with a soft smile as he unwrapped each one, his grin widening with every thoughtful present.

But as more and more gifts were opened, a realization slowly started to creep in. Every single present was for Lando.

She tried not to let it bother her at first. After all, Lando was the one who had more friends here, the one with the larger circle. It made sense that most of the gifts would be for him. But as the pile grew smaller and not a single gift was addressed to her, the hurt became harder to ignore.

There wasn’t a single present for her.

Not one.

By the time they reached the last box, she felt her heart sink. She had tried to stay positive, tried to convince herself that maybe someone had forgotten to label a gift, or maybe they’d gotten mixed up in the rush of the party. But no. Every gift had been intentionally for Lando, and her name hadn’t even been a second thought.

“Wow,” Lando breathed as he looked at the collection of gifts surrounding them. “That was… that was a lot.”

She nodded quietly, trying to keep her smile in place. Her hands fiddled with the ribbon from one of the opened boxes, trying to distract herself from the growing ache in her chest.

“Hey,” Lando said softly, noticing her quietness. “You okay?”

She glanced up at him, his blue eyes filled with concern. She could see how much he cared, how much he genuinely wanted to make sure she was happy. It wasn’t his fault that his friends had overlooked her. It wasn’t his fault that she felt so out of place among them.

“Yeah,” she whispered, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. I’m just… happy for you. You got so many cool things.”

He frowned, clearly not convinced by her answer. “But you didn’t get anything.”

Her stomach twisted, and she hated that she was the one bringing down the mood. “It’s okay, Lando. Really. Today was for both of us, but I know how important you are to them. It’s fine.”

But it wasn’t fine, and he could tell. His brows furrowed as he scooted closer to her, taking her hand in his.

“Hey,” he murmured softly, lifting her chin so she would look at him. “It’s not fine if you’re upset. You’re important too. To me.”

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn’t want to cry, not over something as silly as gifts. But the hurt wasn’t just about the presents. It was about everything—the way his friends never really accepted her, the way she always felt like an outsider in his world.

“I just…” She swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I just feel like they don’t see me. Like I don’t belong here. I know I’m not outgoing or loud or… like them. But I try, and it never seems like it’s enough.”

Lando’s expression softened, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her close.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her hair. “I didn’t realize how much this was affecting you. But I promise, you do belong. You belong with me.”

His words were warm and comforting, but they didn’t erase the ache entirely. Still, being in his arms made her feel a little better. She rested her head against his chest, taking in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“You’re the most important person to me,” he continued, his voice gentle but firm. “And if my friends can’t see how amazing you are, then that’s their loss. I love you, and that’s what matters.”

She smiled softly, her heart swelling with love for him. Lando always knew how to make her feel better, even when the world around them felt like it was crumbling.

“I love you too,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s warmth. The gifts, the party, the friends—they all faded into the background as Lando held her close, reminding her that she was loved. And in that moment, that was enough.

୨ৎ

*:･ﾟ Notes; thank you for reading, love’s! Hope you all enjoyed it. If there is something wrong or need to be edited, let me know!

[lanf1an]

SEASONS lando norris x fewtrell sister pt.4 - january 7 2025

pt.1 pt.2 pt.3 pt.5 pt.6 pt.7 pt.8 pt.9 pt.10

Wordcount: 1936

The group was scattered across the slopes, each pairing off for a morning of skiing or snowboarding. Lando and Dylan had somehow ended up together after riding the lifts, and were carving through the snow in companionable silence. Lando had to admit Dylan was annoyingly good on a board, making it look effortless as he sped down the powdery trails.

At the bottom of the run, they paused to catch their breath. Dylan stretched his arms above his head, grinning. “Man, this is the life. It’s great you guys have been doing this every year.”

“Yeah, it’s the best,” Lando replied, adjusting his goggles. “You’re lucky you got the invite.”

Dylan laughed. “I guess I passed the test with her, huh?”

“Guess so.”

As they lined up for the next lift, Dylan turned to him. “Speaking of passing tests, she told me she’s thinking of taking that job in Japan. Pretty big deal for her, right?”

Lando froze. “Wait—what job in Japan?”

Dylan looked confused. “She didn’t tell you? It’s with her company. Some kind of high-level exchange position for a few months. She’s not sure yet, but we’ve been talking about it.”

Lando forced himself to stay casual, though his chest tightened. “You’ve been talking about it?”

“Well, yeah,” Dylan said. “If she goes, I’d probably go with her for a bit. There’s great boarding in Japan, so it’d be a win-win. But she’s still deciding.”

Lando didn’t respond immediately, pushing off as the lift began to carry them up the mountain. 

“She didn’t mention it to me,” he said finally, not wanting to admit it.

Dylan shrugged, oblivious. “She’s probably waiting until she decides for sure. I mean, she’s got you, Max, her parents—it’s a lot of people to think about.”

“Right,” Lando said shortly, staring out over the snowy landscape. — Later that evening, the group was lounging in the cozy living room of the chalet, the fire crackling softly in the background. Dylan was engrossed in a card game with Max and some of the others, leaving you and Lando alone in the corner, sipping your drinks.

Lando leaned closer to you, lowering his voice. “So... Japan?”

You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Dylan mentioned something about you getting a job offer in Japan,” Lando said, trying to sound nonchalant but failing. “You didn’t think that was worth mentioning to me?”

You sighed, swirling your drink. “It’s not set in stone, Lan. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it until I decided.”

“Decided what?” His voice had an edge now. “Whether or not to move halfway across the world?”

You frowned, defensive. “It’s an amazing opportunity, Lando. I’m not saying yes or no yet, but it’s something I have to consider.”

His jaw tightened, and he set his glass down a little too hard on the coffee table. “What about the season? You’ve always been there—well, mostly. I can’t imagine doing it without you around.”

Your expression softened slightly, but your tone remained firm. “Lando, I wasn’t at every race last season, and you were fine. Look at your results!” You gave him a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re a superstar. You don’t need me there holding your hand.”

He stared at you, his lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s not about needing you to hold my hand. It’s...” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. “You being there—it just makes things... easier. Part of my routine I’m used to”

Your brow furrowed. ‘’Part of your routine?’’

“I just… It’ll be weird without you around. You’ve always been there.’’

The sentiment was sweet, but there was something about the way he said it that made your chest tighten. “You’ll be fine,” you said, forcing a smile now. “You’ve got Magui, and Max, and the whole team. You’re not exactly lacking in support.”

“It’s not the same,” Lando replied, his voice barely above a murmur.

Your hand froze mid-reach for your drink. You set it down instead, the clink of glass against wood sharper than you intended. “What are you saying, Lando?”

He hesitated, like he hadn’t expected you to call him on it. “I’m just saying… you’ve always been part of this. Part of my life, my career. You get it in a way that—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Try,” you said, your tone sharper than he expected.

His brows furrowed, and for a moment, he looked like the boy you’d known all those years ago—earnest, vulnerable, and completely unaware of how his words could cut. “I guess I just… I need you. You’ve always been there, and I don’t know what it’s going to be like if you’re not.”

“You need me?” you repeated irritated. “Lando, I’m not going to Japan to sit on a beach. This is my career. My chance to do something for me. Do you even realize how that sounds?”

His eyes widened in confusion. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just saying—”

“You’re just saying you want me to put my life on hold so I can keep holding your hand through yours and be part of your routine?” you snapped, the words tumbling out before you could stop them.

Lando recoiled slightly. “That’s not what I’m asking.”

“Isn’t it?” you pressed, you voice rising. “You’re asking me to stay, Lando. To stay and make your life easier, while I give up something I’ve worked just as hard for. Do you know how selfish that sounds?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said again, but this time his voice was quieter, tinged with guilt. “I just— It’s not easy, okay? Doing this. And I thought… I thought you understood that.”

You stared at him, your heart pounding in her chest. “I do understand. That’s why I’m still here, isn’t it? That’s why I’ve always been here. But you don’t get to ask this of me, Lando.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, you thought he might argue. But instead, he nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. “You’re right,” he said finally. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

The tension in her shoulders eased slightly, but the sting of his words lingered. “I know you didn’t,” you said softly. 

— Mexico, 29 november 2023

The shrill sound of tires screeching and the thud of impact echoed through the paddock speakers. Your breath caught in your throat as the screen showed Lando’s car slamming into the barriers, a plume of debris scattering across the track.

“Red flag. That’s Norris in the wall,” the commentator announced, their tone serious but calm.

You were already on your feet in the McLaren garage, staring at the screen with wide eyes. The replay looped, showing his car losing grip on the exit of a corner before careening into the barriers.

“Is he okay?” you blurted, your voice sharp with worry.

One of the engineers turned to reassure you. “We’ve got radio communication. He’s fine, just frustrated.”

The knot in your stomach didn’t ease until you heard his voice crackle through the team radio, muttering, “I’m okay, I’m okay. Sorry, guys.”

You exhaled, hands trembling slightly as you sat back down. He might be physically fine, but you knew how much this would rattle him mentally.

The energy in the hospitality area was buzzing with activity, mechanics and engineers rushing around to prepare for tomorrow. You made your way over to Lando, who was perched on a counter, still in his race suit, a bag of ice pressed against his shoulder. His helmet sat beside him, a little scuffed from the impact.

“You alright?” you asked, leaning against the counter beside him.

He shrugged, wincing slightly as the motion aggravated his shoulder. “Yeah, I’m fine. Car’s a mess, though.”

You shot him a look. “The car can be fixed. I’m asking about you.”

Lando glanced at you, his expression guarded but softening under your gaze. “I’ve had worse.” Then, with a self-deprecating chuckle: “Though I can’t say the engineers are thrilled with me right now.”

“They’ll get over it,” you said firmly. “They know you’re pushing to the limit—that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

“Yeah, well, limits don’t win races if you’re sitting in the wall during quali.” He leaned back against the counter, his jaw tight.

You didn’t let the tension linger. “Oh, c’mon, Lan. You’ve come back from worse. Remember last season? You started at the back of the grid and still finished in the points.”

A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “That was different. I didn’t stuff it in the barriers first.”

You reached over, grabbing a nearby energy drink can and tapping it lightly against his knee. “Then tomorrow’s your chance to remind everyone what you’re made of. You’ve got the pace, and we both know you love a challenge. Besides,” you added, grinning, “you’ll make the highlight reel if you pull it off.”

That earned a real laugh from him, and he tilted his head toward you. “You think I’ll pull it off?”

“I know you will,” you said, your tone unwavering.

Lando sat there for a beat, then hopped off the counter, dropping the ice pack onto the surface. “Alright, then I guess we will see.” —  The garage was absolute chaos. Team members shouted and high-fived, celebrating an incredible recovery drive. Lando had fought his way through the field with surgical precision, finishing in a stunning P5. The relief and joy in the room were palpable.

Lando barged into the garage, his race suit unzipped to his waist, hair a wild mess from pulling off his helmet. He was grinning ear to ear, waving a bottle of champagne in the air.

“P5, baby!” he shouted, and the room erupted in cheers again.

You were standing with Max and a few others when he spotted you. “Oi, don’t act like you’re not impressed,” he called, pointing at you with the neck of the champagne bottle.

You crossed your arms, pretending to look unimpressed. “P5? Meh, could’ve been P4 if you’d overtaken Gasly one lap earlier.”

Lando strode over, uncorking the bottle with a loud pop and spraying it wildly, catching you and a few nearby engineers in the crossfire. You shrieked, laughing as the cold champagne hit your face and jacket.

“Alright, alright!” you yelled, holding up your hands. “You win, Norris! P5 is pretty damn good!”

“Damn right it is,” he said, grinning as he took a swig straight from the bottle, still dripping champagne. “You doubted me for a second, didn’t you?”

“Never,” you replied, swiping the bottle from his hand and taking a sip yourself.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “That’s mine.”

“Not anymore,” you quipped, handing it back to him with a smirk.

The atmosphere was electric, the team chanting and laughing around you both. It wasn’t long before the post-race interviews started pulling people away, but Lando lingered for a moment.

“Hey,” he said, leaning in so you could hear him over the noise. “Thanks for, you know, earlier. Couldn’t have done it without your support.”

You glanced at him, surprised at the sudden sincerity in his voice. “What are you thanking me for? You’re the one who clawed your way back.”

He gave a small shrug, “Yeah, but you’re always there. Even when I’m a proper idiot.”

You rolled your eyes, though your smile betrayed you. “You’re always a proper idiot.”

He laughed, holding up the champagne bottle. “Guess it works for me.”

“I guess it does.”

tl: @ash88-yep @lewishamiltonismybf @harrysdimple05 @lex2205 @il0vereadingstuff @martygraciesversion381 @joannaln4 @obxstiles

[squinch-depraved]

Jschlatt. But Y/N is being a brat. Thank you for your time. Have a good day.

okok you sweet thing thank you for your patience here we go

CW: killing bugs, aggressive facefucking, he smacks you once but its chill i swear

you had only agreed to a camping trip because you thought you would get to eat s'mores. but you were thoroughly disappointed when tucker forgot the marshmallows, crossing your arms and leaning back on the log you were sitting on with a harrumph, shrieking when you spilled backwards onto the rough pine needles behind you. schlatt helped you up as you giggled, chuckling softly himself.

"i texted you five separate times about the damn marshmallows, tucker," ted spoke through gritted teeth, eyeing his childhood best friend angrily.

"oh, you mean the marshmallows that were your job in the first place? you got everything else for 'em, ted, chocolate, graham crackers, but somehow you forgot the marshmallows for s'mores and I'M the one at fault!" tucker responded, chucking the pinecone he was playing with down at the ground in front of him.

"sshhhh!!" ted glanced at you, deep in a conversation with schlatt, and glared back at the man. "get up, let's walk down the trail to the general store and get some so we can have dessert," he grumbled, standing up and extending down his hand to help steady tucker as he followed suit.

the two men let you and schlatt know where they were going before heading a few dozen yards away to the rv where tucker and emma were sleeping to invite her along. she agreed and they set off, the couple holding hands and listening intently while ted made theatrical hand gestures and explained whatever tangent he was on.

it was quiet for a bit after ted's voice faded away, only the crackling fire punctuating the comfortable silence between you two, and schlatt tended to it solemnly, occasionally adding more wood to keep it big enough to last until they would return. he figured they'd be gone an hour and flicked his eyes to look at you about five minutes in.

you were still on your back, legs draped over the log you fell off, staring up at the brightest stars beginning to appear in the sky as dusk began to fall. he thought you looked angelic, and he startled you when he cleared his throat to speak.

"sorry," he started, shifting to face you more from his seat above you at the picnic table.

"you're good," you mumbled as you shook your head slightly, training your eyes back on the moon high above you.

"do you know if ted was kidding when he said we only have one tent?"

you laughed, remembering the sleeping arrangements, and shook your head. "do you see another one besides the one we have up?" you gestured broadly behind you somewhere, and, sure enough, schlatt saw a rather large rounded tent a small distance away.

he groaned and squashed a beetle on the ground with his boot, grinding the toe into the earth and smearing the bug beneath him. "i shouldn't have agreed to this," he complained. "two dudes above 6 foot in a tent plus you? no offense, toots, but we're not gonna all fit."

you sat up in shock, not at what he said, but at your clear view of his cruelty towards the feeble creature whose home he was invading. "why would you do that??" you shouted at him, weakly grabbing at his ankle and trying to move his foot by force. he picked his foot up and swiftly yet relatively gently shoved you in the chest with it, planting you on the ground once again.

"the fuck are you doin'?" he laughed mockingly. "it was just a bug, y/n, relax." he said it with a cruel smile and turned away to tend the fire pit. you growled quietly in frustration and sat up again, climbing to sit on the surface of the picnic table so you were almost eye-level with the tall man when he turned back to face you. you were quiet, apparently, and he hadn't heard you moving, so when he saw you there, he let out an embarrassing noise at the jumpscare and immediately began pretending it was something in the woods.

"no, i think that was actually a, um. a creature in the wilderness or something," he fumbled when you asked, sniffing his mustache a few times.

you continued to make fun of him, laughing at his stupid jokes and handing him small sticks to add to the burning pile. when he asked you to hand him his drink, just a few feet to your left, though, you said, "no."

he turned around slowly to look at you after adjusting the fire, as if giving you one final chance to pass it to him. "not askin' for much, toots," he warned.

"i don't feel like not killing bugs is asking for much, but here we are," you yawned. it was getting darker now, maybe 20 minutes had gone by since the rest of your friends had left. "reach for it yourself."

he sighed and grabbed the drink, taking a long sip of whatever he and tucker had concocted while ted, emma, and you worked on dinner. it was quiet for what you thought was almost too long before he spoke.

"are you gonna keep givin' me trouble all night?" it sounded more like a threat than a question. he was still facing the fire, watching the smoke, and you couldn't help but flush at his words.

"i dunno, depends what my prize would be," you teased as you slowly walked two fingers up his back. he shivered and whipped around, grabbing your hand so tight it hurt.

"don't do that, you don't get to pull that cutesy shit after bein' a bitch earlier," he chided down at you. "and i know you'll enjoy hearing what i'd do to you, you stupid whore, so i'm not gonna say anything. but i also know you're just gonna keep pushin' til you find out."

you moaned and bit your lip unknowingly, blinking up at him. he groaned in a mixture of disgust and attraction as he dropped your wrist and turned away.

after minutes of schlatt just tending to the fire, ignoring your increasingly desperate attempts to capture his attention again, you saw a beetle similar to the one he killed earlier crawling on the table an arm's reach from you. a wicked smile spread across your face before you composed yourself and reached down to coax it onto your finger.

quickly and quietly, you guided the little creature onto his shoulder and tapped him, stifling a laugh. he turned, huffing, an annoyed expression adorning his face, and jumped slightly when he saw the bug. for the second time that night, he shrieked, and he swatted frantically at his shoulder blade as you cackled at him.

"you stupid bitch!" he laughed incredulously when he was sure it was gone, turning around fully to tower over you. he put his arms on either side of you and leaned in, breath reeking of whiskey hot on your face as he spat his words at you through gritted teeth. "i'm gonna give you one last warning before i fucking ruin you."

he usually wasn't this patient! you smiled coyly at him and ran your hand across the top of his thigh featherlight, mimicking a skittering spider. his leg twitched and he looked at you, dumbfounded by your blatant desire to piss him off. your smile only got bigger after a moment when he rolled his eyes and smacked you playfully before turning to check the fire was still safe. he didn't know how long he had before your friends got back anymore, and he was going to have to take the risk of being caught if he was to punish you like he wanted.

he gestured for you to get off the table and sat down himself, facing outwards and gesturing for you to kneel between his legs. he looked like a god from this angle, chops framing his face perfectly; the firelight cast a glow on him that just called for you to worship at his feet. you shifted your legs underneath you on the cold ground in an attempt to get some friction at the sight of him undoing his pants and pulling out his cock, but he quickly snapped his fingers and pointed at his crotch before saying, "now. choke on it, doll."

you smiled slightly, shaking your head. unfortunately for you, schlatt was done with your little game. "not fuckin' playin' anymore, you stupid hole, i can be mean if that's what you really want. last chance," he almost pleaded. he was really scared of going too hard with you in the middle of the woods and not being able to get you help if needed.

you stuck your tongue out at him and he grunted, shaking his head as he grabbed you by your hair and shoved your head down his entire length. he used your head like a fleshlight, guiltily reveling in the sloppy noises your lips were making, along with the occasional whimper and moan— and don't get him started on the tears that fell from your eyes as you blinked up at him, those would be something he pictured every time he was by himself for years to come.

"god, toots, i should really plug your mouth up with my cock more often, huh?" schlatt let his head fall back and gripped your hair tighter when he felt you nod with him still in your mouth. he scoffed and peeked at the fire again. "yeah, you love this shit. you lil' whore," he mumbled.

in addition to slamming your mouth up and down on his shaft, he began fucking up into your throat, grunting rhythmically with every thrust after a bit. your throat was incredibly sore, but you were the one that asked for this, so you couldn't complain.

schlatt's groans echoed off the trees, and the nightlife of the forest sang in symphony with him as the dark settled over the campsite. "god, y/n, fuck," he panted, staring up at the universe above him. he wasn't sure if the stars were real or from how good you were making him feel.

but, since all good things must come to an end, schlatt froze when he heard ted's voice coming back from what he thought was a good distance away. "fuck," he muttered. he tried to pull you off but you continued to lick and suck his tip. "fuckin' stop that, y/n! i'm serious, they're almost here," he scolded.

"dude, we already saw! you're the only light source for like several hundred yards! it's cool though, take your time!" tucker called from the rv.

a faint, "dude!" and a smack was heard, followed by laughter. you grinned up at schlatt, who looked mortified, and stood up while he put himself back in his pants.

"come over here with my marshmallows, guys! i was promised s'mores!"

ilyyy thank you for your patience part two should be up sometime in the next few days mwahhhh

[saturnsag3]

What now? - will smith x macklin celebrini

summary: based off this post

wc: 3,431

Macklin had always told himself he wasn’t the type to get attached.

He’d mastered the art of the shrug, the casual wave-off when people asked if he was “seeing anyone.” He kept things light, easy, never let anyone close enough to mess with the gears inside. It was just safer that way. No tangled expectations, no late-night spirals, no being the one left behind.

That mindset worked for a while.

Until Will.

Will, with the annoyingly perfect blond curls and the cocky, lopsided grins that made Macklin’s stomach flip before he could stop it. Will, who could go from chirping him during pong to tracing gentle circles on Macklin’s spine in the same breath. Will, who always knew when Macklin needed silence and when he needed to be pulled out of it. Will, who was never his—but never felt like anyone else’s, either.

They weren’t exclusive. Not officially. They’d never even had the conversation. But there was an unspoken something between them. Something that lived in late-night texts and sleep-rumpled mornings, in the way Will always waited for him to walk through the door before opening another drink.

It was enough. Until it suddenly wasn’t.

Friday night came slow and heavy. Macklin’s head ached from back-to-back classes and the constant static of his roommate’s music vibrating through the walls. He declined the group chat invites, told himself a night in would help. Hoodie, popcorn, some mindless movie playing in the background. Safe. Controlled.

He was halfway through the third rewatch of The Nice Guys when his phone buzzed. A snap from Maddie, a good friend he met in his Stats class, Maddie never texted through Snapchat unless it was deemed top tier level important. 

Mads:

> you didn’t hear this from me

> but me nd lyla saw Will go upstairs with some girl

> like. actually left with her.

Macklin blinked at the screen.

Then the next messages hit:

Mads:

> her name’s Kelly or Kara or something

> red dress. super into him. they were all over each other before they disappeared.

It was a strange kind of numbness that followed. Not quite pain. Not yet. Just a slow, creeping hollowness behind his ribs, like someone had scooped something vital out of him without permission.

He stared at the message, reread it a few times, but it didn’t change. Will. His Will, in all the ways that didn’t matter on paper but mattered so much in Macklin’s chest, had left a party with another girl.

Someone else. Someone not him.

His heart thudded painfully against his ribs. He sat perfectly still, like any sudden movement might make it real.

The little voice in his head tried to speak. You're not dating. He doesn't owe you anything. You said you were fine with this.

But the rest of him—the part that remembered Will's hand in his, the way his lips felt pressed to Macklin’s temple, the way he'd murmured “you’re the only one I actually like waking up next to”—that part was screaming.

He was halfway to throwing his phone across the room when he stopped. Let the anger sit for a second. Let it simmer, boil, twist into something sharp.

Then he stood.

Blanket and hoodie discarded. He was going to that party come hell or high fucking water. 

---

The party was already pulsing by the time Macklin stepped through the door. The bassline thumped through the floorboards, people were yelling over each other just to be heard, and everything smelled like weed, cheap beer, and too much cologne. Classic frat house chaos. He spotted Leno and Gabe near the beer pong table, red cups in hand and cocky smiles already locked in place.

“Macklin!” Leno called out, lifting his cup like a salute. “Didn’t think you were coming out, pretty boy.”

Macklin forced a smirk. “Had a change of heart.”

Gabe passed him a cup, eyeing him with a grin. “You clean up nice. What’s the occasion?”

Macklin took a slow sip. “Just felt like dressing up.”

And maybe, just maybe, felt like dressing up to remind someone what they were so casually giving up.

Leno leaned in close enough that Macklin could smell the tequila on his breath. “Well, damn. You’re lucky I’m a gentleman, or I’d be getting all kinds of ideas.”

Macklin arched a brow, lips curling. “Who says I don’t like bad ideas?”

Gabe barked out a laugh. “Shit, Mack. You’re gonna get me in trouble.”

He didn’t deny it.

Across the room, Will had clocked him the moment he walked in. His eyes were locked, unmoving, like Macklin had walked in with a flashing neon sign that said look at me. He watched as Leno leaned in, whispering something in Mack’s ear that made him laugh—one of those head-tilted-back, glowy kind of laughs Will usually reserved for himself.

“Seriously, what the hell?” Will muttered, jaw tight, the plastic of his cup crinkling under his grip.

Toff and Ekky stood on either side of him, mid-conversation until Will’s stare pulled them in.

Toff followed his gaze. “You mean Macklin?”

“Who else would I mean?”

Toff shrugged. “He looks like he’s just having fun.”

“With Leno and Gabe?” Will’s tone came sharp, bitter.

Ekky raised his brows. “Bro, you said it was casual.”

Will said nothing. Just drank.

“Like, literally your words,” Ekky added. “Verbatim. ‘It’s chill, it’s nothing serious.’”

Toff nodded along. “You’ve slept with other people, right?”

“That’s not the same.”

“How is it not the same?” Ekky asked, tone suddenly sharp. “You hook up, act like a boyfriend, and then make sure to tell everyone you’re not. You can’t be shocked if he decides to act like he’s single.”

Will didn’t answer, eyes still locked on Macklin—who was now leaning into Gabe’s chest as Leno casually toyed with the hem of his shirt, fingers brushing skin. Macklin’s smile was sharp. Calculated. He wasn’t drunk. He knew exactly what he was doing.

It was punishment. And Will fucking deserved it.

Meanwhile, Macklin could feel Will watching him like a laser through his back. Every touch, every laugh, every flirtatious look he gave Leno and Gabe—it was all intentional, and it was working.

“You wanna take this upstairs?” Leno asked low into his ear, just loud enough for anyone watching to read his lips.

Macklin flicked a glance toward Will, who was still rooted in place like if he stared hard enough, Macklin might magically teleport back to him.

Mack’s lips curved.

“Sure.”

He let Leno take his hand. Gabe followed close behind, his hand ghosting over the small of Macklin’s back as the three of them turned and headed toward the stairs.

Will tensed like he might lunge forward, jaw tight, shoulders stiff.

“Are you serious?” he snapped aloud, though no one had addressed him.

Toff shot him a look. “You really gonna throw a fit now?”

“I’m not throwing a fit.”

“You’re definitely throwing a fit,” Ekky said calmly. “Bro. You had a girl on your lap two nights ago.”

“That was—” Will paused, trying to defend something he knew was indefensible. “It didn’t meananything.”

“Then neither does this,” Toff replied. “You can’t have it both ways.”

“But Macklin—he’s not like that.”

Ekky snorted. “You mean he doesn’t usually play the game unless he’s been pushed too far?”

Will looked away. Silent.

---

Upstairs, Macklin sat on the edge of Leno’s bed, legs crossed at the ankle, sipping slowly at his drink as Leno turned on some music and Gabe flopped into the desk chair.

“You good?” Leno asked, watching him.

“Peachy,” Macklin replied.

“You wanna, like… do anything, or you just needed an exit strategy?” Gabe asked bluntly, smirking.

Macklin laughed, tipping his cup toward them. “You guys are good sports.”

“We’re also not idiots,” Leno said. “Will was watching you like you shot his dog.”

Gabe raised a brow. “You think he’s gonna lose it?”

“I hope he does,” Macklin said, the first bit of honesty breaking through. “Might finally make him figure out what the hell he wants.”

Leno plopped into the desk chair and spun lazily in a circle. “So, we aren’t hooking up? Are we just being props in your grand emotional revenge scheme? Either way, I’m honestly having a good time.”

Macklin cracked a smile, relaxing a bit. “You guys are assholes.”

“Yeah, but we’re your assholes now,” Gabe said with a grin, nudging his knee against Macklin’s. “So what’s the deal with you and Smith anyway? You guys dating or... just aggressively not labeling it?”

Macklin exhaled hard and scrubbed a hand over his face. “We’re nothing. I mean—he says we’re nothing. But we hang out constantly. Sleep together. Talk until like three in the morning. He makes me breakfast and, like, kisses my shoulder just to annoy me.”

Leno raised an eyebrow. “Kisses your shoulder?”

“It’s a thing,” Mack muttered.

“So basically,” Gabe said, propping himself up on his elbows, “you’re dating, but he’s too pussy to admit it.”

“That’s generous,” Macklin said. “I think he likes the convenience of me without the responsibility. Like a boyfriend but with an off switch.”

“Oof,” Leno said, spinning again. “Harsh, but relatable.”

Mack rolled his eyes and leaned back on his palms. “Anyway, tonight was supposed to be a message.”

“It’s definitely working,” Gabe said, smirking. “His face downstairs? Dude looked like he was about to commit a felony.”

Leno leaned forward, elbows on knees. “So what now? You gonna let him keep stewing or are you gonna twist the knife a little?”

Macklin shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, I wanted him to be mad. But like- do you think I’m making a mistake? Doing all this?”

Gabe gave a thoughtful hum. “Nah. You’re just playing the same game he’s been playing. The only difference is, you’re better at it.”

Leno nodded. “Honestly? If it gets him to wake the hell up and pull his head out of his ass, I say full send.”

Macklin leaned his head back and let out a breath. “God, I hate that I care this much.”

“That means it’s working,” Gabe said, nudging him. “You’ve got him right where you want him. Now you just have to decide what you’re gonna do with him.”

Macklin looked toward the door, almost like he could feel Will still watching, still thinking, still fuming from downstairs. Then he looked at Leno and Gabe—their dumb grins, the way they were clearly having way too much fun with all of this—and he smirked.

“I say we hang out up here for a while,” Mack said slowly. “Let him sweat a bit.”

---

The next morning came slow and hazy. Sunlight filtered through the blinds like it had no business being that bright, and the frat house was unusually quiet—hungover, more like it. In the kitchen, the only sound was the hum of the fridge and the occasional clink of a spoon against ceramic.

Leno sat on the counter, barefoot and shirtless, a bowl of cereal in his lap. Gabe was leaning back in a chair, sunglasses on indoors for no reason other than the fact that he could. A half-eaten bagel dangled from his hand.

They were mid-discussion about something deeply stupid—ranking fast food fries—when Will walked in.

He looked like he hadn’t slept. His curls were a mess, hoodie pulled halfway over his head, and there was a tension in his jaw that hadn’t eased since the night before.

Leno glanced up. “Morning, sunshine.”

Gabe grinned. “Rough night?”

Will ignored the greetings and went straight for the fridge, grabbing the orange juice and drinking straight from the carton.

“Cool,” Leno muttered. “Just go raw-dog the Tropicana like we don’t share this house.”

Will finally turned, voice tight. “So. You two have fun last night?”

Leno blinked. “Define ‘fun.’”

Will crossed his arms. “You know what I’m talking about.”

Gabe tilted his sunglasses down just enough to raise an eyebrow. “If you’re talking about what I thinkyou’re talking about, then yeah. It was a fucking blast.”

Will’s jaw flexed. “So you’re not even gonna deny it?”

Gabe leaned back further in his chair, the picture of nonchalance. “What would be the point?”

“Jesus,” Will muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “So you just—what? Hooked up with him? Both of you?”

“Hey,” Leno said, pointing his spoon at Will. “Don’t act like you own him. Last I checked, you two weren’t exclusive.”

Will glared. “That’s not the point.”

“Oh, it definitely is,” Gabe said, calm as ever. “You wanna call the shots without saying the words. Macklin doesn’t work like that.”

Will looked away for a second, breathing hard through his nose. “You’re not even into him like that.”

“Maybe not,” Leno said. “But he looked good last night. Real good. And he clearly wasn’t trying to be subtle.”

“Plus,” Gabe added, “he deserved some attention. You weren’t giving it, someone had to.”

Will slammed the OJ back into the fridge. “You don’t even like him. You were just doing it to get to me.”

“Maybe,” Leno said with a shrug. “Or maybe we were just making the most of the opportunity.”

Will stared at them. “You guys are assholes.”

“And you’re jealous,” Gabe shot back.

Will didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. His silence said everything.

Leno jumped off the counter, rinsing his bowl in the sink. “Real talk, man—what exactly are you pissed about? That he hooked up with us, or that he stopped waiting for you to decide what he meant to you?”

Will’s mouth opened, then closed again. He didn’t have a good answer. Not one that didn’t make him sound like a hypocrite.

“You’ve been playing the casual game for months,” Gabe said. “You don’t get to be mad when he finally calls your bluff.”

Will gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles white. “Did you… actually sleep with him?”

Leno and Gabe exchanged a look.

Then Gabe smirked. “Does it matter?”

Leno grinned. “What are you jealous for, Will? You said it wasn’t serious.”

Will stared at them for a second, something raw and unsettled flashing behind his eyes—then turned and walked out without another word.

As the kitchen door swung shut behind him, Gabe let out a low whistle. “Ten bucks says he’s on his way to go find Mack.”

Leno chuckled, stretching his arms behind his head. “Bout time.”

---

The knock came just past noon.

It wasn’t polite. It was loud, impatient—three heavy raps, like a warning more than a request.

Macklin didn’t flinch. He’d seen the name light up his phone twice already and ignored it both times. He had a feeling this was coming. Will wasn’t the type to let things go when he was angry—especially when he was hurt and trying not to show it.

He opened the door anyway.

Will stood in the hallway, shoulders tense, jaw clenched so tight it looked like it hurt. He didn’t say anything right away. Just stared at Macklin, like he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to scream or kiss him.

Macklin raised an eyebrow. “You gonna say something, or…?”

“You fucked them.”

No hello. No hesitation. Just the words, heavy and sharp, like glass breaking between them.

Macklin didn’t flinch. “Okay.”

Will’s eyes darkened. “Okay? That’s all you’ve got?”

“You asked. I answered.”

“You seriously fucked both of them?” Will stepped inside, not waiting for an invitation, voice rising with every word. “Leno and Gabe? Like—what the hell, Mack?”

Macklin turned his back to him, moving toward the kitchen with calculated calm. “You want a coffee or something?”

“Don’t you dare try to play it fucking cool right now.”

“I’m not playing anything,” Macklin said smoothly. “I’m just confused why this is such a big deal to you.”

Will slammed the door behind him. “Because they’re my friends! You flirted with them all night, and then what? Took them upstairs  like it didn’t mean anything?”

“It didn’t,” Macklin snapped. “Same way that red dress girl didn’t mean anything to you.”

Will froze.

Macklin took a breath, voice tightening. “Or am I misinterpreting the texts Maddie sent me? You know—the ones where she told me she saw you go upstairs with some girl? Said you were ‘all over each other before you disappeared.’ Ringing any bells, Will?”

Will’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“Yeah,” Macklin continued. “Funny how that slipped your mind.”

Will’s eyes narrowed. “You’re pissed about that?”

“Of course I’m pissed! You disappeared with someone else while I was sitting at home thinking about you!”

“We’re not exclusive,” Will shot back.

“Exactly,” Macklin said, with a bitter smile. “You’re such a fuckin hypocrite, jesus. Sorry I decided to stop acting like we were.”

“…You don’t even care, do you?”

Macklin let out a slow breath, eyes tired but steady. “You mean the same way you didn’t care when I’m getting told by other people that you left with that girl? When Maddie told me what she saw?”

Will’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. “That was different.”

“How?”

“Because I didn’t want to hurt you,” Will said, jaw tight. “I didn’t want to mess things up between us.”

Macklin’s lips pressed tight, voice low and quiet. “And I didn’t want to hurt you either.”

Will’s eyes flickered with something raw, almost pleading. “Then why—”

Before he could finish, Macklin stepped closer, blocking the words before they left. “Because you never asked.”

Will blinked, breath uneven. “What?”

“You never asked if I wanted more. If I wanted anything. And when Maddie sent me those texts— I figured I was fooling myself.”

Will’s face twisted with frustration, anger bleeding through hurt. “So you went and what— had a fucking threesome with my friends?”

Macklin shrugged, voice quiet but sharp. “Guess I did.”

Will’s chest tightened. “You’re lying.”

Macklin said nothing.

Silence stretched. Will’s breath came faster, shallow and uneven, as jealousy, anger, and confusion stormed through him. His mind raced with images—what they did, what it meant, how it felt.

“Was it like you thought?” Will finally spat, voice bitter. “Did it feel good? Did it mean something?”

Still no answer.

“Say something,” Will demanded, stepping closer, voice cracking. “Say you don’t care about me. That you just used me.”

Macklin’s jaw clenched. He looked away, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not going to say that.”

Will’s eyes narrowed, pain sharp. “Then tell me the truth.”

For a long moment, Macklin stayed silent.

Will’s voice dropped, quiet but deadly. “Did you sleep with them or not?”

Macklin’s silence stretched. His face remained unreadable.

Will’s chest heaved, words coming faster, desperate and raw. “I can’t— I can’t believe you’d do that to me. After everything. After everything I’ve told you. After what—“

Macklin finally met his gaze, eyes dark and serious. “I didn’t sleep with Leno or Gabe.”

Will makes a confused face. “..huh?”

“I didn’t have a goddamn threesome with your BFF’s, Will.”

“..Then why would you make me think you did?”

Macklin looked down, jaw tight. “Because you needed to feel it. To know what it’s like to be the one left out, the one hurt. To understand how much it fucks with you.”

Will’s hands curled into fists. “So this whole time, you were just playing with me?”

“No,” Macklin said, voice steady but fierce. “I’m pissed. Not because I slept with anyone—because I would never do that to you. I’m pissed because you thought I could. Because you thought I’d betray you like that.”

Will’s eyes widened, words failing him. His anger and jealousy began to crack, giving way to something else—hurt, confusion, raw vulnerability he’d buried.

And for a moment, neither of them said anything. Just stood in the center of the kitchen, surrounded by all the things they couldn’t take back.

“I didn’t think you’d betray me,” Will finally muttered, voice low. “I just… I didn’t know where I stood with you. And I didn’t want to ask. Because I was scared of the answer.”

Macklin tilted his head, something sharp flickering behind his eyes. “So instead, you kissed someone else.”

Will didn’t flinch. “Yeah. I did.”

That hung in the air like smoke.

Macklin crossed his arms, holding himself tight. “And that made you feel better?”

“No,” Will said. “It made me feel like shit. But it was easier than admitting how far gone I was.”

Macklin scoffed, looking away. “God, you’re such a fucking coward sometimes.”

Will took a shaky breath. “I know.”

Mack’s voice dropped. “You could’ve just told me.”

“I didn’t know how,” Will said, frustration climbing again. “You act like you’re always fine. Like none of this means anything to you.”

Macklin’s eyes snapped back to him. “It means everything to me.”

“Then why didn’t you say that?”

“Because I thought you didn’t want it to!” Macklin shouted, finally breaking. “You kept treating this—us—like it was something casual. Like it was just sex and jokes and late nights and nothing that stuck. So I matched you. I shut the fuck up and played along. And then I got a text that you were upstairs with someone else, and I felt stupid.”

Will looked like he’d been punched.

Macklin pushed past him, pacing. “I wanted to believe you cared. That maybe I wasn’t just some fun distraction for the golden boy who can’t commit to anything real. But then I get that text, and suddenly everything made sense. Of course you’d move on. Of course it was never serious for you.”

Will’s voice broke on the edges. “It was serious.”

“You didn’t act like it.”

“Neither did you!” Will snapped.

Mack stopped pacing. Turned. “I was in love with you, and I didn’t know if I was allowed to be.”

Will blinked, chest rising sharply. “You—what?”

“I said I was in love with you,” Macklin repeated, quieter now. “And I hated myself for it. Because I thought I was the only one.”

Will looked like the floor had dropped out beneath him.

“I didn’t know,” he said, voice small.

“I know,” Macklin said. “That’s the problem.”

Will stepped forward, slowly, like he was afraid the moment might break. “I don’t throw that word around.”

“I don’t either.”

“I didn’t say it before,” Will said, eyes locked on Mack’s, “but I should’ve. I’m in love with you too. Have been. Probably since the third time you slept over and made me coffee like it was your kitchen.”

A breath left Macklin’s lungs, shaky. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

“You are too,” Will replied.

They stood there, eyes locked, chests heaving, still burning with everything unsaid but cracked open now, vulnerable and real.

Neither of them smiled.

Neither of them moved.

“So,” Will said, voice low and raw, “what do we do now?”

Macklin didn’t answer right away.

Because he didn’t know either.

sages thoughts⋆˙⟡: here it is guys sorry it took longer than expected, i wanted it to live up to everyone’s expectations so i was sort of second guessing myself the whole time, it may not be the best but i hope you guys enjoy !!

[azen13]

CW: Yandere Themes, Slight Spoilers for Penacony's Story Quest

I keep thinking about this one dialogue option somewhere in the Penacony Quest, where if you ask Aventurine to give you more money, he immediately sends you more, which led me to think about how Yandere!Aventurine would most definitely love to spend as much money on you as he can as a way of convincing you to stay with him, which led to this little drabble. Enjoy!

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Aventurine loves to take you shopping.

Whether it's the gilded streets of Oti Mall or the luxury departments of Pier Point, as long as the price tags are exorbitant and the clothes are high quality, Aventurine loves to take you on shopping sprees. Together, the two of you peruse store after store, boutique after boutique, shop after shop. Try and ask the gambler why and he’ll only flash you a casual smirk, drawing you closer to him and interlacing one of his hands with yours. “Do I need a reason why, love?” He questions, pulling you towards him gently and guiding you to the elevator of his penthouse. 

He can still recall the look in your eyes when he first invited you out to dinner in Pier Point. Aventurine had planned the date perfectly by getting a reservation to some state-of-the-art interactive dining experience that would surely impress you. However, once the two of you had been seated at your table, he saw you looking at your menu, eyes full of fear at the long trains of zeros preceding every item. It was a sight he’d never forget. Instantly, he told you he would pay for it all, and despite your best protests, nothing could stop him from giving the server his card

Tonight you and him are back in Pier Point, revisiting some of your favorite shops. Or rather, the shops that garnered the most wide-eyed reactions from you after entering them for the first time. You were never forthright about the shops and brands you liked, as if you didn’t want to return and buy more from them. No matter. Aventurine is always careful to gauge your reactions, a smile falling on his lips every time he sees that starstruck innocence in your gaze.

Your pure soul is so fragile. He could shatter it with a single breath. A flick of a finger. A silent stare. He knows firsthand how quickly that golden glow can fade away. So can’t he just have this? Him and you attached at the hip, the perfect image of lovers in every passing stranger’s eyes; completely in sync, moving to rhythms and melodies only he and you can hear.

He’s well aware that his grasp on you in this dance may be too tight and controlling as he forces you along with him in this spiritual tango, but he has good intentions. He knows it. You know it. It’s why you let him care for you, let him pick out your outfits and take care of your finances. Aventurine knows best. After all, he’s seen the worst parts of the world and climbed out of his own personal slice of hell. The universe is a cruel place and all he wants to do is shield you from it all by protecting the gold in your heart and the stars in your eyes. The boutiques are all devoid of anything befitting of your beauty, not that Aventurine cares. It just means he gets to go order something custom-made, tailored to fit you and match him perfectly, arguably even better than going out and buying something from a store. While it pleases him enough to know he’s paying for you, when he sees you all dressed up and matching him to a T in shades of green and gold–well, that’s an entirely different level of satisfaction.

As you begin the walk back to Aventurine’s penthouse apartment, the gambler is already looking online for new designers to contact. You ask him why he’s doing this. Once again, a soft smirk plays on Aventurine’s lips. “For starters, you look gorgeous in them,” he says, squeezing your hand a little tighter as the two of you fight your way through boulevards bustling with people. “It also makes it easier to find you in crowds when you’re all dressed up,” he adds, pausing for a moment. “And I don’t want to lose you, my love.” Aventurine lifts your hand up, softly whispering his words against the skin of your knuckles before he presses a chaste kiss to the back of your hand.

For a moment, there’s a slight tremor in his voice, his hand clenching even tighter around your own. It’s as though he’s afraid that if he relinquishes his hold on your hand, he won’t just lose you in the crowd, but forever.

The unspoken reason–that he likes to make sure everyone knows you’re his lover–lingers in the air around you like arms around your shoulders.

[blimpintime]

a jar of wind part two

Wynnie Lara is a fairy that was saved from a jar from Amarantha's reign of terror, but is soon figuring out that her time of peace is coming to an end.

warnings: none besides being slightly unedited.

word count: 1.4k

4 months later 

Dearest Wynnie Lara,

I hope you are doing well, we miss you very dearly in the Night Court but understand you leaving after such harsh things were spoken to you. I wanted to invite you to Nyx’s first birthday celebration. He does miss you so much. (As do we).

After finding out what Azriel and the other two had said to you I almost blew up their homes with the help of my sisters. 

Elain misses you very much, even though she writes letters to you weekly, you and her seemed to help each other heal after everything happened to you both. She won't tell anybody where you have gone so I will be handing this letter to her in hopes it reaches you. 

We miss you so much, and I hate that the boys said those harsh things to you for no reason. You are not a bother, or suffocating, you light up every space you go into which is so refreshing, I do not want you to feel forced to come home (Nesta feels otherwise, she misses you so much she almost started a war with another court in search of you.) But we do want you to know you do have a home here. No matter what. I know Rhys feels devastated with how the situation turned out, even though it is partially his fault.  I want to make it clear how sorry we are for their actions and that we adore you. 

Lovingly, 

Feyre

I crumple the edges of the letter with tears streaming down my face, with a shaking breath I fold the letter gently and put it back into the envelope. I set it with the piles of letters Elain has sent to me on my coffee table. I wipe my face and head over to my rough looking door of the tree house that I am living in and latch it. This area of the Autumn Court has always been on the poorer side but it was home. Growing up with no family and moving around as a fairy was never safe, so before Amarantha’s reign I settled in this area of Autumn. 

Having not been to this home in two years it took a while to get it back into shape, cleaning and removing critters that have turned it into their home while I was gone. I have wind chimes and wards surrounding this home just like my other one, the difference here though is the Autumn wind is much more soothing for me then in any other court. It’s almost like my soul knows it's safe here. 

I have my wind playing soothing music with the small instruments placed around the open room. Candles lit and windows open for the utmost ambiance while I research different wind patterns.

I hear one of my chimes go off near the front door that catches my attention, I get up from the table and walk back to the door.  Frantic knocking is what I hear once I get to the door itself, I rip it open to see what is wrong. 

“Miss Wynnie!” with a sob, and I look down to see one of the kids I help take care of from the children’s shelter near my tree house. Little antlers poke through his red hair, and tears stream down his tanned face as he launches towards me. 

“Oatie what is the matter?” I say and crouch to his level. I put my hands on his shoulders to sooth him and look him in the eyes.

“Those mean guards are back at the shelter, they are demanding more money.” Oatie is a twelve year old boy who had to grow up quickly due to being an orphan partially under Beron’s rageful reign, but he was still a gentle soul. Things have started to get better slowly with the new High Lord, but it is a slow process when the court has so much hate built in. 

“Okay sweet boy, it’s going to be alright. Go curl up on the couch with a book and some tea and I will go take care of this okay?” I tell him with a soft voice. He nods and heads off that way. Once he is settled on the couch I fix my dress, and re-braid the two long braids under my bob and fly off the balcony.

When I arrive at the shelter there are two guards yelling at the volunteer on duty at the shelter. With a burst of wind I separate them from the worker, and land in front of them. I motion for the worker to go inside.

“What is the issue here?” I bark at them, their heated eyes turn to me.

“They owe us money for protection.” The one on the right says with a grunt.

“That’s your job. The High Lord literally pays you to protect the people. So that was the wrong answer, do me a favor and try again.” I say while rolling my eyes and shifting my weight to one hip. 

“You bitch.” One says and I let out a laugh with a clap of my hands. I know I probably shouldn’t egg them on but it’s so easy. As I am about to respond they both seem to stiffen and look behind me.

“Well that’s no way to speak to a lady.” I turn to face the new voice, which belongs to High Lord Eris, who recently has had his hair trimmed since the last time I saw him. 

“She is barely a lady, my lord.” One said with a snicker. I respond with a glare and a large gust of wind knocking them both over.

I turn to face Eris completely and give him a graceful curtsy grabbing the edges of my green dress. To which I receive a sucking of the teeth sound from him.

“Wynnie dear, stand up please. You don’t have to bow to me, we are old friends.” He says with a soft smile. The two guards seemed to have disappeared leaving the two of us alone. I straighten and glow a soft pink with a cheeky grin say,

“Yes, well, I have to show my respect My Lord.” He chuckles and makes a small lunge toward me, so I float backwards and he narrowly misses me. 

“You’ll have to be quicker than that to catch me sir.” He grunts a small breath and lunges towards me again. And I am suddenly reminded of when we were younger.

“Eris! Where are you?” I yell knowing he is hiding behind one of the trees with his hounds. 

���Got you!” I hear from behind me and feel my waist being pulled into someone's chest. I look up over my shoulder and see Eris with a wide grin. I pout at him. 

“That’s not fair.” I whine. “You know I am afraid of your pups, they think I am a big bird waiting to be hunted.”  He laughs in response. 

“I would never let them hurt you Wynnie Lara, I would never let anyone hurt you.” He said softly. “You are my only friend in this wretched court. I will burn it down to protect you.” 

“Eris that is sweet but, you are an heir would that not be counterproductive?” I ask teasingly but my skin glowing a bright warm orange with endearment. 

“Not for you Wynnie.” He says.

“I can’t stay in this area long, but I did want to invite you to dinner soon.”  He tells me when we both are sitting on the forest floor. Me on a rock with my wings glowing and him leaned up against it. My hands naturally find his hair and gently run my fingers through it. 

“I would love to.” I tell him, “I might visit the Night Court here soon.” I say with a whisper.

“Oh?” He asks me softly.

“Nyx is turning one and I miss the girls a little bit.” I responded.

“Yes, that's understandable. I still am beyond livid for how you were treated there.” He says back with a huff. And I laugh a little, “You and me both.” 

“I will have to send you with a gift, hmm?” He tells me. 

“That would be very kind of you, my lord.” And in response I get him standing up and pinching my sides. 

“Mercy! Mercy!” I say in between giggles. 

“Alright Wynn. I will send a letter for dinner when you return. Be safe and have a good night.” He tells me with a pat to the head and soft voice. 

a/n: soooooooooooo what do with think???

I am a sucker for soft Eris omggggg. Please if any questions please let me know!

I am trying the taglist I hope it works lmao

taglist: @cazrielsfairygf @buckyloki888 @litnerdwrites @the-fandom-ness @booksbypisces @nerdyalmondlawyerauthor

[jacaerysgf]

Discovering yourself

Request: Hiiiii. Would you please write something with Aegon x f!reader? I would love to see something where the characters are opposite. Would it be okay for the reader to be a bit shy and socially awkward and loves books and music but at the same time wants to experience a bit of life but doesn’t know how and is a bit afraid to get out of her comfort zone. Once she gets to know someone she talks and is super fun but it takes her a bit of time. And then there is of course Aegon who we know is quite the opposite. The reader fancies him and the two fall in love? Could that be possible? Thank you.

w.c: 3.4k

c.w: baratheon!reader, ooc aegon probably, hes a bit of an ass sometimes, fluff, insecure/shy reader, sfw! no smut since the request didnt state it, not proofread

Unlike the rest of your family you had been more than happy when your family received an invitation to stay at kings landing in the red keep for a helena's name day festivities as she had become close with your sister floris. You had not been able to come with the rest of the family last time as you had been in bed rest. 

You couldn't even imagine how big the red keep had been and while on the way there you could barely sit still your sister hitting you on the shoulder more than once to stop you from moving around.

“Welcome back to the keep.” Alicent greeted the rest of your family before he eyes locked onto yours, “I don't believe I recognized you.”

You open your mouth to say something but there's a pause and nothing manages to come out so you put your head down as your father speaks, “my daughter, lady y/n, she was bedridden the last time we came to visit.”

Alicent lets out an acknowledged hum and you keep your head down fiddling with the fabric on your dress. You're sure your father will scold you later. 

“a pleasure, this is my son aemond and his lady wife heleana, aegon could not be here..”

you can hear the annoyance in her tone but choose to not acknowledge it and greet the other two siblings.

more formalities are exchanged between the two families, “it is so wonderful for house baratheon to join us for heleanas nameday festivities, she has grown quite fond of your family-” 

the doors of the room you were all in burst open, all head whip back to look in shock, “prince aegon!”

“I am here.”

“You are late.” you hear his mother hiss quietly to him as he stands in place next to his siblings.”

“apologies, my son prince aegon.” 

alicent introduces her son. You had heard the stories of Targaryen beauty and thought the two Targaryen siblings were gorgeous but Aegon, despite the fact he looked tired and a little sloppy, was a different level of beauty. He hadn't even needed to try and he wowed you. 

as if he could feel your stare he locks eyes with you and you shyly put your head down towards the floor oblivious to the smirk that's grown on his face.

Some more pleasantries were exchanged but you didn't bother to lift your head still feeling his stare. You wish you weren't so awkward, if you had been anything like your sisters who could keep their heads up high and smile while locking eyes while you could barely hold a sentence with these people.

You barely even notice you had all been dismissed until you felt yourself being dragged away by your sister floris. A part of you can't get the idea of Aegon out of your head, even  as you fall asleep that night you wonder if you'll get the opportunity to speak with him.

Today was meant to be the first of a three day long festival including a grand feast, a tourney and finally a ball all in honor of heleana.

The second you walk outside you are immediately hit with hundreds of people, it was definitely a celebration with music, people dancing, some watching the performers. It was magical, you had never seen such life brought to one place before. 

You and the rest of your family were sitting in one of the higher tables closer to the targaryens, you watch as floris eagerly runs up to greet heleana while you stand with your sisters who make many comments on the festivities.

“I can't believe he can put that whole sword down his throat.”

“It was just on fire too, how preposterous.” 

“Maybe he just has a lot of practice. Do you think he’s fond of men.”

Cassandra and Ellyn turn to you in horror while maris lets out your name in a chuckle while hitting your shoulder.

You shake your head with a grin but are horrified to hear the sound of laughter behind you and turn around.

“Prince aegon.” you're all clearly mortified as you all bow but he moves to stand next to you and stare at the man. 

“If he is not he should start to be there is so much potentially to be held.” 

“I am so sorry my prince i should not have-”

He waves you off with his hand and continues to look on in the crowd, “these events are such a bore they practically force you to make such a joke.”

“I did not mean to offend-”

“You talk like my brother.”

You have nothing else to say back instead just stand and watch the crowd disperse. It is only then you notice your sisters have all walked off elsewhere and you curse them in your head as the two of you stand in silence aside from the gulps Aegon takes from his chalice.

“What do you think about her?”

He points towards a contortionist not too far from where the two of you were standing. She had her leg way over her head.

“She is very pretty.”

“Oh come on, you must have some other comments to make.”

You tilt your head at her as she moves into a split and lays down flat on her stomach.

“Men must certainly fight for her attention, I am sure she is a rather capable woman.”

Your words are faster than a bird and quieter than a mouse but Aegon certainly hears them and bursts out into a roar of laughter causing those around you to turn and stare. Your face flushes and you stare at the ground as Aegon composes himself still chuckling. 

“You are a scandalous lady, y/n.”

You shake your head, “I do not know why I said such a thing.” 

“You said it because it is true, look,” he leans in closer to you, much too close, and subtly points, “look at lord simon staunton he looks like he wants to eat her alive.”

You gasp and bring a hand to your mouth as you take notice and look back at Aegon who has a smile on his face, “he is old enough to be her grandfather, no even her great grandfather! That is ridiculous.” 

Aegon shrugs, taking another sip of wine with a chuckle. “I rather think that's what he likes about it.”  

You can't help but laugh for the first time in this whole conversation keeping your head down. Once you finally lift your head and look at him he's already looking at you. You feel a rush of heat flood your face, he stares at you for a moment longer, his eyes drift down to your lips. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can you hear your fathers voice call out your name.

“I must go.” you quickly turn, feeling embarrassed about the sudden tension between the two of you and barely hear him as you rush away, “i shall see you lady y/n”

You can barely relax the rest of the day your conversion with Aegon playing in your mind over and over. It was the first time you had been sop open with somebody you barely knew. It was so refreshing to be able to joke and laugh with someone who was not your family.that night you toss and turn in bed with a big smile on your face. In turn you cannot sleep so you sit up and contemplate what to do. 

You would normally read a book but your father wouldn't allow you to take any on this trip saying there was no need for it but right now youre groaning and fall flat back on the bed. 

An idea suddenly hits you, you remember from the tour one of the guards had given you there was a library not too far from your room. It wouldn't be an issue to go and grab a book really quickly right. A grin finds itself on your face as you realize the red keep has many books you have never read or even heard of and before you know it you throw on an overcoat and begin to quickly make your way over to the library with a lantern in hand.

Nobody would mind if you just took one maybe two books to keep you sated for the rest of your stay here right? That's what you think as you manage to sneak in and out of the library with two books under your coat as you quickly try to make your way back to your room. You almost reach your door before a voice behind you rings out.

“Now what could you be doing, wondering about by yourself..”

You turn and gasp, “prince aegon.”

In your shock the books fall out of your hands, you quickly bend down to pick them up missing the ‘ah’ that had escaped his lips.

“So you read?”

“I am so sorry-”

“You did not answer my question.”

You stall for a moment, not daring to lift your head from the floor. “Yes.”

He hums, “you are quite like my brother. I see no fun in it.”

At a loss for words you keep quiet and take a step back closer to your door, turning around fully before you speak, “i shall bid you goodnight-”

“You will sit in the royal box tomorrow for the tourney.” your movements freeze and you're thankful you are not facing him as your face must be full of shock. 

You manage to compose yourself not turning around, “i thought my family would be sitting in one of the lower boxes-” 

“Not your family. You. you shall sit in the royal box. With me.” 

You feel a wild course of emotions run over your body. What does he mean, just you? Is he attempting to court you? He is trying to seduce you? Does he want something from you? Or maybe he is just trying to be kind? Maybe he takes pity on you after you had embarrassed yourself the last two days? 

You must be frozen for a while because he begins to laugh. You take a deep breath, “I must decline.” because you certainly cannot sit in the royal box with the prince. What would the people think? What would your father think? You cannot even imagine having to try and explain why you would be sitting with them tomorrow.

“This is not a request. You shall join me tomorrow. I am the prince. I say it is so.”

“But my family.” “They shall sit in the box in one of the many stands below.”

“I cannot just leave my family.”

He tsks and huffs, “then so be it your family shall join us too. I'm sure heleana would be happy to be seated with floris.” 

Did he want you to sit in the box so badly he was willing to just add your family at your request just like that? No, he wanted you to sit in the box. With him.

“alright, goodnight my prince.” 

You do not even wait for a response as you book it down the hallway and slam the door to your room shut. The books you had gotten drop to the floor as you cover your hands with your face. Out of breath like you had just ran a marathon you find yourself unable to stop smiling. 

When you and your family make your way outside you pretend to be shocked when your family is escorted to the royal box. You all greet the royal family who all stand to greet you. Aegon grabs your arm and ushers you to sit down next to him. You ignore the burning stares of your family as aegon quickly makes conversation with you. 

“Isn't the view so great from here aren't you happy I told you to sit here?” it's not a question more so a statement and all you can do is nod your head.  

“Oh come on you must have something to say to me.” he pouted at you and you swiftly turned away from him, “well you did not ask.” you mumble and he smiles, shaking his head and takes a drink of wine. “I certainly did not. You would have sat here one way or another.” 

You're thankful Aegon is sitting in the front row of the box while the rest of your family is all the way in the back so at least you won't have to deal with the questioning of your family.

“Did you prepare a favor lady , y/n?” you turn back to face queen who addressed you and nod, “yes my queen.” not mentioning it is the same favor you've had for awhile as no one had ever asked for your favor. You do not take notice to aegons clenched jaw at the question and narrow eyes at the question.

The journey begins and you've never seen a tourney as big as this one. But as it is it is pretty uneventful. You cannot hold your surprise when you see aemond being introduced. “He is competing?”

Aegon next to you hums as he continues to drink, “he does not like this stuff, calls it horse shit but heleana wanted to see him compete so he entered.” 

He of course comes up and asks heleana for her favor which she gladly gives him before he rides away.

“And his opponent, ser bronn beesbury!” The man rides in full confidence. When he takes off his helmet you can't help but admit he is a very handsome man, certainly not more handsome than Aegon but he was a very attractive man. He rides over near the royal box and Aegion sits up for the first time this whole tourney.

“Lady baratheon, you are the essence of beauty.” he holds up his hand towards the box and you're shocked in a haste you look over the edge and toss out your favor for him to catch. 

“You bless me this day my lady.” 

You sit back in your seat unable to say anything. You end up glancing at Aegon expecting him to make some comment about the man as he had been doing with all the other fighters that day. He was not even looking at you. An unreliable look on his face as he tapped his fingers on the table next to him. He started dead at aemond who stared back for a moment before nodding and slamming his helm down. 

The match began and you were wowed as aemond swiftly takes ser bronn down with an extra hard hit and ser bronn hits the floor and doesn't stand back up. You gasp as he's dragged off the scene and for the first time in the last couple minutes Aegon laughs turning to you. “What a fool thinking he can go against a targaryen.” 

A part of you feels like he's not just talking about aemond.  

you didn't speak to Aegon after the tourney as the men went out on a hunt and you're grateful especially since you're more than embarrassed after your thoughts during today's tourney. 

Though it is very tough to answer your family's questions when you don't even know yourself.

Finally it was heleanas name day and the day of the ball. You spent the morning with your family, the royal family nowhere in sight seemingly preparing for tonight's ball.

When you arrive back in your room that afternoon to prepare for the ball you and your maid are shocked to see a beautiful red and black gown laid out on the bed. “Did my father prepare this?”

The maid shook her head, she's been your maid for as long as you can remember so she freely speaks around you, “the baratheons may be wealthy little ones but your father could not afford a dress like this one.” 

The dress is gorgeous as you run your hands down it you can barely believe it.

“Well come on little one let's get you dressed.”

When your family comes knocking on your door their eyes all drop to your dress, “what is this look about?”

“Where did you get that dress?” 

“Oh I made it just today.”

“Shut your mouth and tell me.”

“I had no idea it was simply on my bed when I walked into my room.”

The discussion of your dress continued until you had been standing in front of the door waiting to be announced.

“Is it not obvious the prince has given her the dress?” You and Cassandra whip your heads to look at maris who shrugs. 

“Oh come on it's in the Targaryen house colors and obviously he seems obsessed with our dear sister.” 

“Be quiet you three” you would be surprised if your father could not hear the pounding of your heart as you consider maris’ idea.

Would the prince really leave you a dress like this? What could that possibly mean? Before you have any time to think, you and the rest of your family are being announced.

As you walk into the room you fail to ignore the stares of your fellow peers as they all seem to gawk at the dress you had been wearing. Keeping your head lowered slightly you eagerly rush to your seat. 

Soon after the main family is announced and everyone stands. When you see Aegon, a pit forms in your stomach. The suit he wears is basically identical to the dress you had on, your sister maris clearly also takes notice of this as she leans towards you, “told you so.” 

As the queen gives a speech and thanks everyone you attempt to hide yourself behind your father out of embarrassment but still manage to notice the smug look on aegons face as he looks over at you. 

Soon enough dinner is served and the music starts and you forget for a moment why you had been so embarrassed in the first place laughing with your family over good food and good music. After the food in front of you had been cleared you feel eyes staring into your back, refusing to turn around you attempt to continue the conversation you had been having with your sister maris who comments on the fact that one of the lords had stepped on ever girls foot whom he's danced with which causes you to laugh. 

A throat clears behind you and you freeze, maris smiles, “good evening my prince.” Everyone greets him as well and he gives a greeting back. You turn back to look at him and your eyes widen as he holds out his hand. 

“Dance with me.”

He says it in the same tone he had told you you were to sit in the royal box with him. It is not a question. “Aren't there any other ladies you would prefer to dance with?”

“No. Now come on.”

You glance over at your father who smiles and moves his head signaling for you to dance. 

You grab aegons hand and he is more than eager to let you onto the dance floor with him. “I heard you are fond of music.” 

“I am my prince,, where did you hear that?”

“One of your sisters had mentioned it. The plain looking one.”

You gasp, “how could you say such a thing?”

He chuckles his eyes never leaving yours, “I am simply stating the truth, I apologize.”

You huff and turn your face away from him, “if anything i am the plain one my prince.”

He huffs as he grabs your chin and turns your head to face him, “you are not. Now shut your mouth.”

A silence fills between the two of you as he continues to stare at you. “Why do you think that?” A pathetic laugh escapes you, “I am not the funniest, I am not the most pretty, not the most talented. I am the quiet sister who has no idea how to speak to people or has no confidence in anything. I shall remain alone forever as a spinster while my sisters all go off and get married.” 

The song ends and the two of you stand still while everyone claps. You do not look at him while he stares at you.  

“If you are so boring then why have you captured me so. If you are not unfunny then why do I find myself laughing more in your presence than I ever have. If you are so untalented then why are you the first lady I've enjoyed dancing with? If you shall remain alone forever then why do I wish to be by your side.” 

You don't even notice that all the eyes in the room are staring at the two of you, aegon is your whole world right now.

“Marry me. And I shall open up the world to you.”

[its-avalon-08]

Hai its-avalon-08,

I had an idea for a Logan Sergeant fic.

Can you do a Logan Sergeant x fem reader story; where Logan is invited to play a videogame with some of the rest of the grit. But he just started playing the game, and the rest of the group has played the game for some time and have really high level characters. So Logan feels a bit useless. So in the summer break he gets to know reader, maybe she see him struggling with is in a cafe or something. Not knowing she is really good at that game. And she helps him to level him up. And after the summer break the group play again and find out about Logans improvement. So Logan invites reader and they can believe how Logan gets help from a famous gamer.

If you can make it all platonic or Logan and reader getting a relationship is up to you.

And for the group members of the other drivers is up to you too.

level up (ls2)

✦ pairing - logan sargeant x female!reader

✦ genre - self doubt, fluff, logan being cute

The sun shone bright over the summer streets, bathing everything in a warm golden hue as Logan Sargeant sat hunched in a small corner of a cozy café. His eyes were glued to his phone, fingers tapping furiously at the screen. He wasn’t scrolling through social media or checking emails — no, Logan was fighting a battle. A virtual one. And one he was miserably losing.

A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, and he leaned back in his chair, letting his phone fall on the table in defeat. He didn’t know why he had agreed to play Legends Unleashed, the new game that had taken the Formula 1 grid by storm. It was a role-playing game where the drivers were tasked with taking on mythical quests, battling monsters, and leveling up their characters. The only problem was, Logan had just started playing. The rest of the grid, seasoned veterans by now, had characters with insane stats, fancy armor, and rare weapons. Meanwhile, Logan’s character — a low-level knight with a rusty sword — was stuck losing to even the weakest enemies.

He could still hear the teasing from the last game night echoing in his head.

“Logan, mate, that was rough,” Charles Leclerc had laughed, his voice crackling through the headset.

“Did you even hit the boss once?” Lando Norris had chimed in.

It wasn’t malicious. Logan knew that. It was all in good fun, but it stung nonetheless. He wasn’t used to feeling so out of his depth — not on the track and certainly not in a video game. But this game had turned out to be a much bigger challenge than expected. And now, with the summer break in full swing, Logan found himself with no races to distract him from his embarrassing performance.

As he took a sip of his coffee, he glanced around the café, hoping to clear his mind. His gaze flickered over the familiar faces of regulars and tourists enjoying their day, but it eventually settled on a girl sitting a few tables away. She had her laptop open and was intently focused, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she clicked and typed with ease. Something about her caught his attention — maybe it was the determination in her expression or the way she seemed completely engrossed in whatever she was doing.

Logan frowned, noticing the game she had minimized on her screen before returning to her work. His eyes widened slightly. Was that… Legends Unleashed?

He shook his head. It was probably just a coincidence. Tons of people were playing that game now. It didn’t mean she was some kind of expert. But then again, she didn’t have the look of someone who was just casually playing. Her focus was too intense, her movements too precise. Could she be good at it?

Before he could stop himself, Logan’s curiosity got the better of him. He stood up, gathering his things, and made his way over to her table. Clearing his throat, he caught her attention.

“Hey, sorry to bother you,” he began, a little unsure. “I couldn’t help but notice… are you playing Legends Unleashed?”

Y/N looked up from her laptop, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I am. You play?”

Logan scratched the back of his neck, feeling sheepish. “Uh, I’ve tried. Let’s just say I’m not exactly good at it.”

Her eyebrows raised slightly. “Not good? It’s a tricky game, I get that. How long have you been playing?”

“A couple of weeks,” Logan admitted with a rueful smile. “But it’s hard to keep up. My friends are way ahead of me.”

Y/N tilted her head, intrigued. “Well, it sounds like you’ve been thrown into the deep end. But don’t worry. With some help, you can get there.”

Logan chuckled. “I think I need a lot more than some help. The last time I played, I was more of a liability than anything else.”

Y/N leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers thoughtfully. “Tell you what — if you’re serious about getting better, I can help you. I’ve been playing for a while.”

Logan’s eyes lit up, his surprise evident. “Really? You’d help me?”

She nodded. “Sure. Everyone starts somewhere, and it’s more fun when you can hold your own. Plus, I kind of enjoy teaching people.”

Logan couldn’t believe his luck. Maybe this summer break wouldn’t be so bad after all.

As Y/N closed her laptop and got up, offering him a knowing smile, Logan felt a strange sense of relief. Little did he know, this café encounter would be the start of his comeback — and that Y/N was far more than just a casual gamer.

But for now, all Logan could focus on was the unexpected offer of help, completely unaware of the storm he and Y/N would stir up when the rest of the grid found out.

The summer break had just begun, and Logan Sargeant was about to level up — in more ways than one.

time skip

The sun had long set, casting the city in a soft, peaceful glow. Logan lay sprawled out on his couch, his laptop balanced on his knees and his headset firmly in place. The flickering lights from his game illuminated the dark room as the familiar sounds of Legends Unleashed filled the air.

“Okay, Logan, you need to time the dodge right after the first attack,” Y/N’s voice instructed through the headset, her tone both patient and teasing. “You’re still getting hit because you’re hesitating.”

Logan rolled his eyes, his character taking yet another hit. “I swear I’m dodging, Y/N! This boss is just ridiculous.”

On the other end of the call, Y/N’s laughter rang out, soft and infectious. “You’re dodging too late. Watch the movement of the arm, not the weapon.”

They’d been doing this for weeks now—spending hours gaming together, their late-night calls becoming routine. What started as simple game tutorials had turned into something much more. There were moments when they’d be in the middle of a game, only for Logan to get distracted by her voice or the way she’d make light of his constant failures. He often found himself zoning out, just watching her on the tiny screen where they video chatted while playing.

Like right now.

Y/N’s voice became background noise as Logan’s eyes drifted to her face, illuminated by the glow of her laptop screen. She was sitting in what appeared to be her room, comfortably propped up against pillows, her hair loosely tied back. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her explain the intricacies of the boss battle. She was so animated, so passionate. The way her eyes lit up when she spoke about strategies and the small laugh she had whenever he missed something obvious was quickly becoming one of his favorite things.

“Logan? Logan!” Y/N’s voice broke through his daze, and Logan blinked, snapping back to the game.

“Huh? Yeah, sorry,” he muttered, feeling his face heat up slightly as he realized he had completely zoned out.

Y/N chuckled, clearly amused. “Were you even listening to me?”

“Uh, yeah… definitely,” Logan lied, hoping she didn’t notice. But the knowing smirk on her face told him otherwise.

“You were staring at the screen again, weren’t you?” she teased, leaning closer to her camera. “I swear, you zone out so much I’m starting to think you enjoy losing.”

Logan laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Maybe I’m just strategizing, ever think of that?”

“Strategizing by staring at my face? Interesting approach,” she quipped, her smile widening.

Logan’s heart skipped a beat at her playful tone. They’d developed this rhythm — this back-and-forth banter that felt effortless. It was something he hadn’t realized he’d been missing until now. It was like he’d found a new kind of comfort, one that wasn’t just about learning the game. Y/N had quickly become someone he looked forward to spending time with. Their conversations had gone from strictly game-related to late-night talks about life, racing, and random things that made them laugh.

"Okay, okay, maybe I was zoning out," Logan admitted with a grin. "But you make it hard to concentrate sometimes. You get so into it."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? Is that a compliment or an excuse for why you're still losing to a level 30 boss?"

Logan chuckled, his cheeks reddening a bit. "Probably both."

There was a moment of silence between them as they both focused on the game again. But Logan couldn't shake the growing realization that his feelings toward Y/N were changing. The more time they spent together, the more he found himself drawn to her in ways that surprised him. She was funny, smart, and effortlessly cool in a way that made him feel completely at ease.

He didn’t just look forward to the gaming anymore. He looked forward to her — to the way they’d laugh until the early hours of the morning, or how she’d tell him stories about random things that happened during her day, or how she'd make even the most mundane game tasks feel like an adventure.

"Alright, we’ve been at this for a while," Y/N finally said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I think you’ve earned a break from getting your butt kicked."

Logan sighed in mock relief. "Thank God. I was starting to think I’d never get past this boss."

"You will," Y/N assured him with a soft smile. "You’re getting better, you know. Much better."

Logan’s eyes flickered to her again. Her tone was so genuine, and the way she smiled made something in his chest tighten. He knew she meant it, and for some reason, her words felt like more than just praise for his in-game performance.

"Thanks," Logan said quietly, his gaze lingering on her. "You’ve been a great teacher."

Y/N shrugged, brushing off the compliment like it was nothing, but there was a hint of pride in her expression. "Well, you’re a pretty good student."

They both fell silent again, but this time it wasn’t awkward. It was the kind of silence that felt comfortable, almost intimate, as if they’d said everything they needed to without words.

"Same time tomorrow?" Y/N asked, breaking the moment, her tone casual.

Logan smiled, his heart racing a little at the thought of another night like this. "Yeah. Same time tomorrow."

As they both logged off for the night, Logan lay back on his couch, staring at the ceiling. He should’ve been focused on his upcoming race or how much he still needed to improve in the game. But all he could think about was Y/N — and the way she made everything feel a little bit better, a little more exciting.

And as much as he loved the game, it was those late-night calls, those small moments of goofing around with her, that had him looking forward to tomorrow the most.

Logan was leveling up, sure. But it wasn’t just in the game anymore.

time skip

The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the horizon as Logan anxiously glanced at his phone. The night had finally arrived — a game night with the rest of the grid. But this time, there was something different. This time, he had a secret weapon.

"Everything okay?" Y/N’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She stood beside him in his living room, looking far too calm for what Logan was feeling.

"Yeah, yeah," Logan mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I’m just… nervous."

Y/N tilted her head, amused. "Nervous about what? You’ve been doing great lately."

"Not about the game," Logan clarified, shaking his head. "It’s just… I invited the rest of the grid over, and I didn’t tell them about you. You know, that you’ve been helping me." He paused, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I kinda want to surprise them."

Y/N chuckled. "You mean, you want to wipe the floor with them."

Logan grinned. "Maybe."

There was a knock at the door, and Logan’s nerves kicked into high gear. "They’re here."

He opened the door to find Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and George Russell standing outside, each carrying a different bag of snacks and drinks.

"Look who decided to finally host!" Lando announced, patting Logan on the back as they walked inside. "What’s the occasion? Felt bad for getting wrecked last time?"

Logan rolled his eyes, shutting the door behind them. "Something like that."

The guys walked into the living room, exchanging pleasantries with Y/N, not knowing just how involved she was in what was about to go down.

"So, Logan," Charles began, already sinking into the couch. "You ready to lose again, or did you actually practice this time?"

Logan shot him a confident look. "You’ll see."

"Well, I’m excited to see this ‘progress’ you keep talking about," George teased. "Last time, I thought I was watching a training video on how not to play."

"Ha ha, very funny," Logan replied, rolling his eyes. "Just wait."

As they all gathered around, setting up the gaming consoles, Logan couldn’t help but notice how cool Y/N was acting. If she was nervous, she didn’t show it. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the pre-game banter, sitting cross-legged on the couch and watching the guys with an amused smirk.

"Alright, let’s do this," Lando said, rubbing his hands together. "Logan, you’re gonna need a miracle to get through this one."

Logan exchanged a look with Y/N, who gave him a subtle wink before they all logged into Legends Unleashed.

The game kicked off, and almost immediately, the rest of the grid noticed something was different. Logan wasn’t the weak link anymore. In fact, he was holding his own — dodging attacks, landing perfect hits, and strategizing like a seasoned pro.

"Wait a minute," George said, his voice full of disbelief. "How the hell are you doing that, Logan?"

"Yeah," Charles added, his tone equally shocked. "Since when do you know how to time your moves like that?"

Logan grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, you know… just practiced a bit."

"Practiced a bit?" Lando exclaimed, eyes wide as Logan’s character took out a particularly tough boss in record time. "Dude, did you hire a coach or something?"

Logan glanced at Y/N, who was quietly sitting to the side, clearly enjoying the confusion. He could’ve revealed her identity right then and there, but where was the fun in that?

As the game continued, Logan kept surprising everyone, his movements smoother, his decisions sharper. The guys were losing it.

"Okay, this is insane," George said, throwing his hands up. "You’ve leveled up like, a hundred times since the last game night!"

"I’m telling you, Logan’s been holding out on us," Charles muttered, leaning forward in concentration. "This isn’t the same guy we played with a month ago."

Just as the final round was about to start, Logan turned to Y/N. "Hey, you want to take over for a bit?"

Y/N raised an eyebrow, a small smile on her lips. "Are you sure? I don’t want to embarrass anyone."

"Please," Logan said, smirking. "I think they deserve it."

She shrugged and took the controller, her hands moving with the kind of ease that could only come from experience. Within seconds, she was effortlessly leading the charge, her character cutting through enemies with precision.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Lando nearly shouted, sitting up straight. "Who’s playing now?"

Y/N grinned but stayed focused on the screen. "That’d be me."

The room went dead silent as the rest of the grid watched in stunned disbelief. Y/N’s gameplay was flawless, and it wasn’t long before they started putting the pieces together.

"Wait a second," Charles said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "You’re… you’re not Y/N from GameChix are you?"

Logan looked at Y/N in confusion. "GameChix? What’s that?"

Y/N let out a soft laugh, pausing the game to face him. "It’s… well, it’s a gaming channel I’m part of. A pretty popular one, actually."

"Pretty popular?" George repeated, looking like he’d seen a ghost. "You’re literally one of the top-ranked Legends Unleashed players in the world!"

Logan blinked, completely dumbfounded. "Wait. You’re famous?"

Y/N smiled sheepishly. "I guess you could say that."

Lando’s jaw dropped. "Mate, how did you not know? Y/N’s a legend in the gaming world! She’s like… a god at this game."

Logan felt his cheeks flush as the rest of the grid erupted into fanboying.

"I can’t believe we’re sitting here with the Y/N!" Charles gushed. "I’ve watched your streams for years!"

"This is unreal," George added. "I’ve been trying to beat your dungeon records for months!"

Logan could only watch as his friends lost their minds over Y/N, who took it all in stride, looking a little embarrassed but also clearly used to this kind of attention.

"You’ve been playing with a pro this whole time?" Lando asked Logan, incredulously. "Dude, no wonder you’ve gotten so good."

"Uh, yeah," Logan replied, still processing the fact that Y/N was way more famous than he’d realized. "But honestly, I didn’t even know."

"Well, now you do," Y/N teased, nudging him lightly. "Guess I’m more than just your tutor."

The room buzzed with excitement as the guys peppered Y/N with questions, asking about her strategies, her favorite in-game moments, and how she got into professional gaming. Logan watched her, half in awe, half amused at how cool she remained, even with the grid completely fanboying over her.

As the night wore on, the excitement eventually died down, and the others headed out, still in disbelief over the surprise twist of the evening.

Logan walked Y/N to the door, still shaking his head at everything that had happened. "I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were a famous gamer this whole time."

Y/N laughed softly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "Well, I figured it didn’t matter. You weren’t exactly hiring me for my fame."

Logan chuckled, his heart racing a little as he met her gaze. "No, I guess not. But… thanks. For everything. You’ve made this whole thing way more fun than I expected."

Y/N smiled, and for a moment, the playful teasing between them faded. The atmosphere shifted, a quiet tension filling the space between them. Logan wasn’t sure when it had happened, but somewhere between all the late-night gaming sessions and their growing friendship, he’d started feeling something more. Something that made his pulse quicken whenever she was near.

Before he could think too much about it, Logan leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a soft, hesitant kiss. Y/N responded immediately, her hand gently resting on his arm as she kissed him back, the moment both tender and electrifying.

When they pulled away, both of them were smiling, breathless and a little stunned by what had just happened.

"Well," Y/N said softly, her voice teasing again, "that’s one way to end game night."

Logan grinned, his heart still pounding in his chest. "Best game night ever."

[songsofadelaide]

refulgence — a companion piece to radiant point.

A montage of your favourite childhood memories plays in your head. Somehow you've forgotten all about how tired you were, and only the sound of your platoon members' laughter could be heard in the background.

Suddenly, you're five, and Soshiro just placed a wooden sword in your hand. You declared yourself his rival, but do rivals really get this excited to see each other again? Aren't they supposed to loathe each other while pushing each other to the very ends of their limits? (Honestly, how could you even loathe that adorable face of his?)

You're eleven this time, beaten to the ground right next to Soshiro while his older brother playfully berated you both for being little weaklings. Soichiro blew a raspberry in your direction, only for his head to hit your shinai with a small thunk.

"One all!" You screamed in complete delight as the younger brother rolled on the ground laughing with tears in his eyes.

Fifteen— you blinked your eyes, light and haze all over— And it's Soshiro handing you a copy of the curriculum for the Neutralization College he planned on attending. You both just started high school and college isn't even until three years.

"D'you want me to talk to your old man?" He asked you with a look of concern, but you shook your head at him. "C'mon, name yer price just for that pretty smile of yours and I'll get it!"

When you were eighteen, you cried your whole flight to France because Soshiro didn't see you off. You scolded yourself for being selfish— Come on, he can't put off everything for you, you thought to yourself. When you messaged him first thing after arriving, you didn't expect him to reply to you immediately. [ 😂😂😂 Glad you made it there in one piece! ] [ Miss you already, princess. ] [ Be good there. ]

You punched a guy in the face when you were twenty. "Ne me touche pas, connard!" And you would have buried your fist in his hollowed cheek again if not for your clubmates pulling you aside. "You don't get to call me your rival when you're hardly at my level! I only have one rival and he's waiting for me back home in Japan!"

Though Soshiro was hardly a rival at that time of your life. On your desk at your lodging was a letter asking him to ask for your hand in marriage but you'll subsequently die of joy afterward if he does. He was everything to you— your very first friend, your rival, your first heartache, your very first love—

"Oh, my gosh. Our Platoon Leader is crying! N-No, wait— I-Is she smiling?"

"Are you blind? She's obviously smiling while crying."

"That's what I just said!"

Somehow the voices in your head were getting realistically louder and your narrowed vision only showed several of your young officers fussing over you now that you're evidently drunk beyond sense.

Man, what a shining example I am to the rookies...

Now, you felt someone pry away your beer glass from your hand. There was a certain tenderness and familiarity to their touch, but all you could respond with was a low grumble of protest. "I'm fine...!"

"Yer obviously not fine. Come on, let's not make your team worry—"

Where were you this time? Was this some kind of memory again? Or perhaps a glimpse of something that had yet to happen? This can't be real, either. Your team members extended an invitation to the Vice Captain, but he said he was going to be busy tonight.

So who was this person who looked exactly like your Vice Captain— your silly little first love— trying to ease the half-empty beer glass from your hold?

"Soshiro? Ah, who am I kidding? You said you were busy, so... I'm probably just dreaming this up," you said with surprising clarity that seemed to shock everyone at your table. "You weren't there to see me off when I went to France! I'm still so sad about it!..."

The hand on your back started rubbing gentle circles that seemed to make you cry even more. "I'm sorry about that. Fer what it's worth, I did try to see ya off back then. I was just a li'l late is all..."

Your team members couldn't believe that their Vice Captain was there in the flesh now, an index finger raised to his lips as he still tried to coax the beer glass out of your hands. "I finished my reports early, so here I am. I forgot ta mention that she gets all weepy when she's had one too many drinks."

Your table fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop to the floor, and all they could hear apart from the izakaya's muted music was your soft sobs of relief and grief— relief that your officers were doing their best to get to your standard, and grief for tragedies that have yet to come. Tragedies you wish would never come. "My adorable little officers are doing so, so well, are they not? They have to keep up their good work b-because I don't want any of them to... to die!..."

"'Course they're doing great. You're an excellent Platoon Leader yourself!"

"Soshirooo..."

With your head lowered to the table, you cried and sobbed and hiccupped until you were eventually out of your wits and fast asleep.

"Out like a light. Now, don't stop on my account! I'll be here 'til you guys wrap up," Soshiro stated with his usual cheer as he raised your empty beer glass for a refill.

"W-We're glad to have you here, Vice Captain, sir!"

Even though he said they could carry on with their drinking, the excitement of the evening died out as soon as they heard their Platoon Leader crying over them even though they were still alive and breathing and celebrating.

"We didn't expect our Platoon Leader to be so... sentimental," said one of your newer members as they took a rather small sip from their glass. They all had the same strange and expectant looks on their faces as they eyed the older man and his uncharacteristically gentle nature when it came to you.

"Naw, she's always been like that. Ever since we were kids," the Vice Captain said as he received a full glass of beer from one of the servers. "I suppose you're all wonderin' why we're so close in the first place. Now you know!"

"The Platoon Leader and Vice Captain are childhood friends?!"

A small sigh of relief left your lips as you felt a cool hand gently brush away the hair stuck your forehead. The touch was subtle but tender and left a faint scent that reminded you so much of your first love.

It came to light that one of your platoon members had fencing experience, so what better way to have a test of skill than to duke it out with your sabres? A duel was declared, and when you returned to your quarters to retrieve your carrying case, you found one of the pockets neatly zipped closed.

Hey, wait a sec.

That specific pocket had something in it, but now it was empty. Your old letters to Soshiro were missing.

???

And it puzzled you because no one else has ever been to your room. No one but—

...

A knock on his office door prompted Soshiro to look up from the documents on his desk. "Come in."

His usual cheerful expression turned up even more when you entered the room all flushed and breathless. Regardless of your evident exhaustion, you maintained decorum and gave him a sharp salute.

"Vice Captain, sir!"

"Anything I can help you with, Platoon Leader?"

"Sir, you have something... No, I believe you took something from my... room after the, uh..."

So you already knew. Soshiro wanted to read them a little bit longer because they explained so much to him, especially why you stopped writing to him. The unsent letters were surprisingly honest and voiced the very depths of your feelings for him. Feelings that you promised your Captain would not get in the way of your work.

He chuckled at how flustered you were. "Use your words, Platoon Leader. I can hardly understand a thing yer sayin'."

"Y-You took my letters! The ones I—"

"You mean the letters addressed to me? The ones you weren't able to send because of how candid they were?"

"Y-Yes! Those letters are—!"

Soshiro could only shrug in his seat. "All right, you got me. I couldn't help myself. How was I not supposed to read those when they had my name on them?"

"I... uh..."

"C'mere," he motioned for you to approach him. "It's just the two of us here, so don't worry."

You made your approach, but he gestured for you to come even closer to him. When you were finally standing right before him, he took your hands in his and gently tugged you into his arms. A bold move, too, considering someone can walk right into his office and once again find you both in a compromising position. He hardly paid mind to that possibility, though, by the way he comfortably nuzzled and buried his face into your chest.

"V—"

"It's just us," he murmured against your chest, but you were far too embarrassed and self-conscious at how rapidly your heart must be beating this time.

"Y'know how I'd devour every single thing that had words on it, yeah? But your letters always made me the happiest," he continued. "You can always write to me even though we're just here. Just like this. If there's anythin' ya can't say to my face or whatnot... You can always write to me."

Soshiro looked as pleased as a cat with a treat when you raised your hand to caress the hair just above his nape, a smile pulling at your lips as you saw just how contented he was holding you in his arms. "All right, Soshiro. I think I will."

Your platoon members knew better than to cross your path when you were paged to the Command Centre to receive a call from the Sixth Division Captain. The drills you were holding forcibly ground to a halt as you tempered both your visage and your disposition, because of all the people, he had to be the one to call.

You took a deep breath as you held the receiver in your ear, greeting him with the same kind of snappiness you'd have for any superior. "Hello, Captain, sir!"

[ "You do know that there's no need to be so formal with me. We're friends, aren't we?" ]

"I could hardly call you a friend, Soichiro-san," you scoffed at the phone, closely followed by a soft chuckle. You decided it was safe to drop his honorific for now. "Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"

[ "I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement. I'm only glad to know that you're officially Soshiro's headache now." ]

You rolled your eyes at the older man's remark, feeling extremely lucky that he couldn't see all the faces you were pulling. "Oh, please, you exaggerate! I've always been a good girl to you and your family. Just admit that you couldn't handle my growth and the fact that you would have a wife your equal in strength and skill."

Soichiro laughed from the other end of the phone. [ "No one wants a brat for a wife. That's why you and Soshiro make a good match. You're both equally incredibly bratty and stubborn. I still remember that time he challenged me for you. He put up a fight, that one. I knew he'd bother me to no end unless he won with his own strength." ]

Huh. You didn't know that.

[ "Soshiro said that if I didn't want ya, he'd gladly take you off my hands. Too bad you pulled that stunt with our old man, though! Tellin' him and everyone else that you didn't want to marry me." ]

"That's still true, you know. I could afford to be a fool for lesser things back then. Now is different."

There was a pause from the other end of the phone, followed by another chuckle from Soichiro. [ "You like him that much, huh?" ]

"I like Soshiro more than you can ever imagine. My family knew I didn't like you, Soichiro-san. But considering everything, I was smart not to ask for your brother back then," you replied with a smile. "I was a beggar princess, after all. My family owed yours, so who was I to make any demands?"

[ "Ya didn't know any better back then, so cut yourself some slack. Though if you did ask... I'm sure you'd both be beggin'. He likes ya that much, too." ]

You knew that. You knew that Soshiro loved you to the point of humbling himself to your family, the very people who owed something to his own.

[ "Well, that's all I have to say to ya. I'm hangin' up. Knowin' Soshiro, he'd get all green with envy when he finds out I called you," ] He said. [ "Tell me if you want anythin' from Kobe and I'll send it to ya pronto. Consider it a gift from me." ]

"Thanks, Soichiro-san. For the record, you're an awful brother. But you're a pretty great brother-in-law," you replied to him. "I'll let you know if I ever do want something."

But you knew better than to take up his offer. Soshiro would sooner head to Kobe himself to get you something you want rather than have you receive something from his older brother.

"To Hoshina Soshiro-副隊長,

Please be more mindful when you refer to me as 'wifey' while we're here at base. You nearly gave my team members a heart attack when you let it slip while they were training! While it's true that I don't mind a simple ceremony, please don't give my members any crazy ideas because they will plan something, and they're already a handful as they are now."

For the record, I like how it sounds. It just gets everyone worked up, though! They're all so happy for me we can hardly train properly!

I'll see you at dinner, but please refer to me by my rank and name! You're incredibly lucky Captain Ashiro gives you a free pass! But remember that we're at work. You'll have all the time in the world to call me 'wifey' in the future, for as long as we're fighting for it.

I love you always, my hard worker. ♡ Let's continue our good work! Not that you even need me to tell you that lol."

✧ x

[smusherina]

bridges burnt - chapter 5 [epilogue series] (regina george x reader)

fandom: Mean Girls (all media)

pairing: Regina George x OFC/Reader

summary: When an invitation to Gretchen Wieners' wedding ended up in your mailbox, you'd been sure it was a mistake. Only, it read your name in neat, swoopy calligraphy. It was addressed to you. And Regina George, whom you hadn't spoken to in years.

additional clarification: This is set in the universe of yard work, a series of mine that can be found on my page! Reading this one might be a bit challenging without the context of the series :)

warning(s): weed mischief

chapter 1 / chapter 2 / chapter 3 / chapter 4

You were sitting at your table, chatting amicably with everyone, when Gretchen finally graced you with her presence. She was glowing, that much you could admit.

"Hey, guys!" She gave an energetic greeting. You smiled and waved.

"Oh em gee, Gretch!" Regina said as she stood up. She was considerably taller than the bride, with killer heels that gave some significant inches. They did air kisses on each cheek and cooed and squealed for a little.

"It's been so long! You're so rarely in town I wasn't sure you'd come!" Gretchen enthused. Her husband stood on the sidelines, looking quite put out but trying to hide it.

"Oh, you know I always make time for you," A blatant lie but you weren't going to say anything about it. "I'm so happy you've found love!"

"Me too," Gretchen gushed, snaring her boo-thang by the arm. He'd zoned out so startled a little but recovered quick with a dashing smile.

"Hi, I'm Michael." Of course, his name was Michael. What was next? Chad? Tucker?

"Regina. Regina George." Regina said, then turned to you. "And this is my partner."

You stood up and shook his hand, then said your name. "Nice to meet you. Congrats."

Michael nodded, smiling uncomfortably. He'd seemed sociable and open with the other guests so you didn't get why he was being all shy now.

"Thanks!" Gretchen chirped. Her eyes flitted between you and Regina. "Sorry if this is abrupt, but you two are still together?"

"We did go on a break right before college." Regina chose her words deliberately. "But after that, we just couldn't resist. True love just pulls you in, doesn't it?" She put her arm around your waist and pulled you to her. You stumbled a little, falling into her. Your arms came around her neck.

Gretchen looked quite unsettled by the close embrace. "It totally does." She said, tone falling flat.

"Mmh. Well, what plans have you got? Honeymoon?"

"Michael's been planning it for us," Gretchen said. That surprised you considering she was such a control freak. Perhaps you were wrong.

"There's no keeping secrets from her," Michael laughed. "Surprising her is too damn hard." His Southern twang was prominent. Something was charming about him, you supposed.

"I just want it to be right, Mike!" Gretchen teased, lightly hitting him on the shoulder. "I've been better haven't I? I let Deborah do the flower arrangements."

"Yes, dear," Michael said, looking down at Gretchen with real, genuine love in his eyes.

Seeing them interact, so sweet on one another, made you sad. First of all, because you were so similar. You were on the same level, people just the same as them. Looking at them like this, in just the context of the moment currently playing out, you didn't want to ruin their wedding.

But you had history. Gretchen had outed you to the school in junior year of high school. It'd had devastating effects on your life as a whole. Your father went from cold neglect to open disdain, you lost the jobs you were doing around the neighbourhood, your peers ostracised you. Those close to you, Regina mostly, got targeted rumours spread around and more negative attention than ever.

Gretchen was not the sole reason for your and Regina's break up but definitely one of them. You had settled to forgive and forget when you came back to town, to stay away and not say anything in a silent, mutual agreement. You buried the hatchet and thought she had, too.

You should've known better. Watching her make googly eyes at her husband as if the things she did had no bearing, no weight, infuriated you. She had ruined your life. Things had progressed since you were in high school and outing didn't have quite the same fallout, but what she did to Kylie was still unforgivable. There hadn't been that much progress. Gay marriage was still illegal in some states.

"Man, Gretchen, seeing you like this brings me back." You said, eyeing her. "Those sure were the days," You sighed and played wistful.

The bride and groom shared glances. Regina picked up what you were putting down and got involved.

"You'll be seeing just how much of a wildcat she is, Michael," Regina said, laying it on thick. "You have my number, Gretch, just give me a call if you wanna relive old times on your wedding night." She finished off with a saucy wink. You almost couldn't hold in your laughter.

"Toodles," Regina wiggled her fingers and took you by the arm, leading you away.

Once you were a safe distance away, you asked: "Wonder if they'll talk about that in private?"

"About Gretchen being involved, allegedly, in a lesbian threesome sandwich? I'd bet on it." Regina grinned.

You steered towards the exit to the parking lot where your car was. You had the kazoos and water pistols in the trunk. Maybe you spent a good fifteen minutes pinning Regina to the side of your flashy vintage—Betty the Catalina, you introduced—sucking the soul out of her through her mouth. Making out. Whatever, that was neither here nor there.

While Regina set out to find a gullible mother to deceive into giving out kazoos and water pistols, you called a guy. Rick was his name and he owed you a favour. He happened to be the owner of several karaoke bars. He'd hook you up.

"Yeah, anything will do, just needs to connect to the loudspeakers—uhh, pretty new I'd say, nothing too fancy but they didn't skimp out, that's for sure—yeah, yeah, I'll give you the address. Can he get here in an hour? Maybe less? I can pay his speeding tickets, no worries."

After making sure a karaoke machine would be delivered to the reception, you strutted back towards the building. On the way, you spotted three youths huddled in a non-descript spot by some shed. They were only visible from the parking lot. You knew what they were up to.

"Hey, kids," You sidled up to them, prompting the tallest of them to fumble with the joint he was trying to light. He had acne all over and residues of black eyeliner on his eyes. He had a strip of hair dyed stripey like a racoon tail. It was pretty cool, to be honest.

"H- hey," He stuttered, voice cracking as he swiped some hair from his eyes. Oh, to be young.

"You got weed?" You decided to be blunt. (Ha, blunt.) The two others were shaking like leaves in their tuxedos.

"No. I don't, like, even know what that is," The ring-leader crossed his arms defensively and leaned casually against the wall of the shed. Or, well, he was going for casual but looked extremely spooked.

"Well, that's a damn shame 'cause I was just looking to buy some." You said and reached into your breast pocket to pull out your wallet. You opened it and pulled out a couple of fifties. "I got all this cash to burn. But, hey, if you don't got any..."

"You'd pay that much for weed?" The boy eyed the bills hungrily.

"I'll be straight with you, kid-"

"I'm not a kid. I'm seventeen." He grumped. "Flint. Or Finnigan, I guess."

"Alright, Flint, I'm gonna put this bluntly. Your family sorta sucks." You looked at the other two. They were probably all cousins. Wouldn't tattle if Flint, the Cool One, told them not to. They didn't seem that much younger. As a responsible adult, you should've probably said something along the lines of 'don't smoke it's bad for you' but you were just glad they weren't shooting up or anything.

"Understatement of the century," He scoffed.

"Which side are you from, by the way?"

"The groom's." They all said in unison. That explained why you'd never seen most of these folk.

"I don't know much about him to be fair, but if he's shacking up with Gretchen I'm pretty sure they're equally sucky. Anyway, I'm trying to get everybody as fucked up as possible." You clarified, skirting around exactly what you were trying to do which was to ruin the wedding. Maybe these kids had better morals than you. "The bride sorta caused a rift between my girlfriend and I years back, outed me to the whole school, it was a scandal, we broke up and I spiralled. It was bad and I want revenge."

"She outed you? Like..." Flint looked around, looking scared someone was gonna hear. Nobody else was around. "Like you're gay?"

"I'm here with my girlfriend today." You said, smiling dopeyly. Your cheeks hurt. "I think we're back together. It's complicated. So, you wanna sell?"

"Hell yeah," He grinned, teeth crooked to the ninth degree. "Can we get in on it? Michael totally sucks, he orders us around like we're his minions or something."

The other two nodded along empathetically. They all had the same boxy, swoopy haircut that kept falling into their eyes. What luck that ran into the angsty teens of the clan.

"I don't know how much you'll be able to do without getting in trouble with your parents. Gotta be at least a little subtle."

Flint dug into his backpack and pulled out a plastic tupperware. There were some decent-looking nugs in there from what you could see through the frosted plastic. You handed over the cash.

"Pleasure doing business with you." You contemplated for a moment. "Any chance you could pull the fire alarm for the cake-cutting?"

The three matching evil grins were enough of an answer for you. Their little emo faces made your chest feel warm. You wanted to take them under your wing, or something.

"By the way, weed is fine. It's not great, I don't recommend it, but if you're gonna do drugs then this is best case scenario." You shook the plastic case in your hand. "Never do hard drugs. It's gonna make your hair fall out and teeth hurt like a bitch."

You left the three teenagers to smoke their blunt, knowing that your little shpiel probably went through one ear and out the other. You hoped they pulled through but if they didn't, you were planning on doing enough wicked shit that the sprinklers triggering would just be a cherry on top.

You found Janis smoking a cigarette at the same spot you'd been at earlier.

"You got a grinder?"

You opened the lid of the box, blasting the air with the potent smell of cannabis.

"Where the fuck did you get all that?" She asked as she reached into her purse.

"Not important. What is, though, is how we'll get the guests high."

Janis, the bright mind that she was, immediately got to work. You didn't even bother asking what she was up to when she crouched on the floor and began grinding away. She had fast hands, you observed, with how quick and clean she was rolling several blunts. Now that you saw clearly into the tupperware, lord almighty Flint had a lot of kush.

"What's the plan?" You asked after a moment, holding the box in one hand and blunts in the other. You stubbornly ignored the compulsion to stick one between your lips and light up. That was over for you.

"Find a Helen, a Beatrice, and or a Leigh-Anne, and convince them this is a miracle herb harvested from the government-protected, top-secret alpine springs of Florida, known for reversing wrinkles, repairing hymens, and with long-term use reducing hair growth neck down. It might even accelerate or delay menopause, depending on whose asking."

"Florida is the flattest state in the continental USA." You pointed out.

"Exactly." Janis didn't spare you a glance, just kept on rolling.

"So we're spinning a multilevel-marketing scheme on these people."

"Not really." Janis paused and turned to you. "We're just scamming them. Not even with money, with the devil's lettuce."

"That's arguably worse. I think this might be a felony."

"Oh, it definitely is."

Notes: The ball is rolling! At last! It only took five chapters good golly god.

Taglist posted seperately! If you want on it, comment so on that post!

[changingplumbob]

Day ten - Chloe group part 1/2

@belsasim, @igglemouse, @invisiblequeen, @paracosmic-sims, @perolesims, @simscici

Another day begins in the villa. Whether contestants began the day with a thoughtful shower, brisk shower, or flirty shower was randomised. As was whether or not they would brush their teeth (getting the corresponding confident moodlet). Room order was also randomised as the distance from the dining room would affect how long contestants had to talk to each other and Deanna before the challenge. Autonomy was set to full meaning after breakfast it was up to contestants to socialise or not (room doors were locked to prevent excessive computer usage).

Callie was not the first to the kitchen but she was the first contestant to demand a hug before chatting with Deanna. Like normal Deanna gave everyone a compliment, with the consequence of her own breakfast dragging on. It was alright though as most contestants chose to stay at the breakfast table chatting until it was time to leave for the challenge.

Devin: Welcome Chloe group. Today's challenge has been chosen by Deanna. My little sister loves bowling, though her friends don't always enjoy going with her. You're being split in to teams of three. The winner of each lane will join Deanna this afternoon on a duo date

After contestants give their starting comments to camera they are sorted in to groups. Groups were randomly assigned with the first person in each team inviting the others to bowl.

Team 1: Apolline, Callie, Elise

Team 2: Billie, Hana, Lara

Apolline: *Clearly winces* This… Is definitely out of my expertise. Throwing heavy balls around? My poor arms…

No Apolline did not dab at the ball, that is part of a wobble. She may have looked disappointed at her first few bowls but Deanna was happy to cheer her on. In the end Apolline did manage to get a strike!

Billie (voiceover): I'll probably stick my fingers in the ball holes and their be dirty enough that I could finger paint! But it's fine, that's a silver lining, I guess!

So about that ball... Billie picked it up, went to bowl and somehow... the ball got tossed up in the air and vanished. You can see here how she ducks out of the way, unfortunately that ball is still unaccounted for... Despite her fumbles Billie also managed to get a strike.

Callie (voiceover): Oh umm, I'm not even sure I can pick up a bowling ball!

Callie could indeed pick up a bowling ball! Sadly she could also slip with a bowling ball, but at least she held on to it during the tumble? Across the frames Callie remained upbeat and positive, even if her highest score was six.

Hana (voiceover): I was happy when I heard what the challenge was. The bowling alley in Mt Komorebi may or may not be where the queer youth gather *laughs* 🤭

Hana's confidence in herself was not misplaced. She knew what she was doing, and did her best to give the rest of the ladies pointers- probably a reason Callie remained in her good mood. Whether bowling gently or intently, Hana was at the top of her game, getting multiple strikes.

Elise (voiceover): Ooooo this is gonna be ultra fun! Let me grab my bowling shoes, and let's hit the alleys!

Almost as chipper as Callie for the day was Elise. She walked up to the lane with a determination to have a good time. The fun approach seemed to work for her, and she managed to get some high scores between cracking jokes and bowling under her leg.

Lara (voiceover): I was excited to hear the first challenge was bowling! I think it's something that everyone is at a similar level in you know? It's nice to learn more about what Deanna is interested in

Lara seemed excited to begin bowling, testing out her skills against her teammates. Despite the excitement she had a few bad bowls... Lara may have stayed upright but so did the pins. With Hana's encouragement though Lara did manage to get herself a strike before the game was done.

Deanna: Bowling today was interesting. Despite a lot of the girls having some bad bowls they mostly remained upbeat. No one took the challenge as life and death which was nice

Bowl after bowl was rolled until there was hardly a pin left standing. The points were tallied by the game and the winning sims were:

Elise & Hana

Reactions and duo date tomorrow.

[cheezeybread]

Yuu's Overblot, Part Three!

The final chapter, the end to this triage of angst and stuff! Yippeeeeee!

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

"Hey, YN!" Chirped one of the students in your Alchemy class, leaning across the table to give you an award-winning smile. He had short hair, nearing a buzzcut, allowing his ears to twitch and move freely- what was he, a jackal beastman?- and wore a Savanaclaw uniform. "You wanna be partners for this assignment?"

You forced down a groan, knowing this guy's habit of partnering up with you for projects and leaving you high-and-dry to do all the work yourself. Before you could reply, you felt a hand gently rest itself on your shoulder.

"Actually, they said before class that we could partner up." You glanced up to see Jade, giving a tight-lipped smile at the Savanaclaw boy.

"How's about you and me partner up, Sunfish?" Floyd asked with a wide grin, appearing out of nowhere and squatting down to be eye-to-eye with the boy. Without waiting for a response, he wrapped an arm around the students and began to drag him away, the Savanaclaw boy whining fearfully as his tail tucked between his legs.

You leaned back in your chair to look up at Jade, eyebrow raising "Sunfish?"

"They're useless creatures who are rather ugly..." Jade chuckled, putting a hand over his mouth "My dear brother enjoys putting the nomer on creatures he finds unsavory."

"You guys are nuts," You chuckled. They weren't even in this class with you, since they weren't Freshmen. But lately, they had a tendency to show up whenever you needed it most. Especially when it came to classmates wanting to use you to do their work for them. But sometimes they weren't there....which gave you a perfect opportunity to practice on saying no to any students.

But you'd be lying if you said you didn't find it entertaining to watch the tweels use their powers of being terrifying for your benefit.

---

Everything was getting better.

All of your friends- even the Housewardens you weren't on the best speaking terms with- began working harder to make your life easier. Riddle made sure you understood all of your assignments, and helped you learn new studying techniques. Trey baked you goodies. Cater helped you learn more about the world through social media. Ace and Deuce were more supportive and protective of you. Leona, Ruggie, and Jack all made sure that you had a room available in Savanaclaw if anything happened again- or if Ramshackle were to collapse on itself. Azul made sure his VIP door was almost always open to you if you needed financial advice, and he made good on his promise to get you an easy job. The Twins, well....they did their thing. Kalim invited you to every party he threw (not that he didn't do that before) and gave you gifts from his homelands, providing you with furniture and decorations for Ramshackle. Jamil made sure you ate well, cooking whenever he felt you were having a bad day. Vil helped you with skincare and Alchemy work, even lending you some potions to use in "emergency" situations if you ever came across unsavory folks. Rook was- well, he was Rook. Epel offered a helping hand in the way of a beating if anybody messed with you. Idia and Ortho made certain that you had more than enough tech to keep you on a level playing field with magic-users. Malleus lent a shoulder to cry on and a venting buddy. Lilia and Sebek taught you self-defense. Silver was also a venting buddy, but he offered less than reasonable solutions to your problems (most of which were purely for chuckle purposes). And Grim tried to get into less trouble. Tried.

And all of the Housewardens kept their promise about researching a way to get you home. You'd receive updates on their progress once a week. Sometimes they'd have a bit of info found in an old library book that might have been about your world, or maybe a passage found on dimensional travel. Sometimes they wouldn't have any updates, but they'd still be sure to tell you.

And as for Crowley himself. Well....Malleus wasn't lying when he said that he had him tied up in Diasomnia's basement. It gave you an opportunity to have a nice little "chat" with the Headmage without him interrupting with his incessant babbling. It almost pained you to take the gag off of him. But the two of you came to an agreement that you wouldn't be doing his work for him anymore. You would be living in Ramshackle for free, not only because you and Grim were a student together, but because it was the Mirror's fault you were trapped here. You owed Crowley nothing for merely existing in the wrong place.

And you started to feel better about life, bit by bit. With almost all of the pressure taken off of you, it made life feel more easy, more relaxing. You started to enjoy your time in Twisted Wonderland, even! Maybe if there really was no way for you to go home, then you could make a happy life for yourself here.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

But it was nice to have the option. And it was nice to feel okay since this all started.

You were better.

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

[topzsun]

THIS IS A HAPPY HOUSE

── ♡ RUGGIE BUCCHI

loving you is fighting.

“Well, aren’t you lookin’ gorgeous?” The compliment is paired with a kiss to your cheek, and you swat Ruggie’s arm lightly while laughing, jesting him that all he’ll be getting on his mouth is sunscreen from the amount you lathered onto your skin. His arms snake around your waist, pulling you against him as he takes a moment to fully admire you in front of the full-length mirror. For now, it all felt peaceful and you truly believed you were going to enjoy this rare holiday with him.

You both have breakfast in the hotel, and the inevitable downslide happens and you were right to believe in the stone lodged in your throat.

You fiddle with your fork nervously as Ruggie carefully reaches for the tupperwares tucked away in his gym duffle bag. You don’t begin to point out how it goes against the strict rules of the hotel. He knows. He doesn’t care. Your eyes shift nervously across the room, a habitual instinct of searching to make sure no employees are making rounds across the hall. A few passing guests, carrying plates with greens and freshly cut fruit, give judgemental glances as they pass your table but do not intervene outside of that. You can feel your face burn.

“Ruggie, you can’t take any of this home,” You whisper to him, trying to keep your tone level so he doesn’t pick up on the frustration that is coursing through your being. “Why are you packing so much?”

He lifts his head from where he had been dumping a plate full of noodles into one of the plastic containers and only raises a brow as if the answer were obvious.

“It’s for us,” He says and elaborates when you don’t respond, “It’d be a waste if we paid this much just for breakfast. We’ll take ‘em back to our room and heat it in the microwave we got there. It’ll last us a couple of days easily.”

He gives you a grin that had once been so charming to you, back when you were a bright-eyed and overeager kid who was irrationally attracted to the excitement and trouble he brought along. Now, it’s only irritating you and his expression drops when he picks up on the slight twitch of your eye. Despite you not having said anything to chide him, his mood drops instantly along with his smile. His lips press into a thin line and his eyes narrow, a clear look of contained annoyance and disappointment that you have become familiar with over the past few months.

“What’s bothering you?” He asks, but you know it’s not out of any real concern. It’s an invitation to argue, because you know whatever answer you’ll give him, he’ll defend himself with his life. You huff, lowering your gaze back to your plate rather than looking at the glacial hue his eyes have become.

“Nothing. Do what you want,” Is all you mumble and neither of you look at each other even when you both arrive back to the room and you make a half-hearted excuse about wanting a nap. He leaves for the gym with nothing more than a grunt of acknowledgement and you bury your face into the plush pillow of the bed and cry yourself to sleep.

The sun has set by the time he’s back. You blearily lift your head, the corner of your eyes caked with sleep crust, and you make out his silhouette from the dark of the room. You drop your head back into the sheets. He passes by your bed and there is silence in place of his footsteps. You feel his lips press against your temple, a silent peace offering you have become accustomed to. Despite the almost-routine nature of it, your heart still flutters in your chest.

You still love Ruggie Bucchi, even when you both eat out of tupperwares for dinner.

You admire the gold interior of the lounge with wide eyes, forgoing your initial intentions of not seeming like an overexcitable tourist. The high-rise ceilings, the luxury carpet underneath your feet and the enchanting chandelier muddle your senses together, a pleasant blur, and for these sparing minutes, you imagine a life where this type of luxury is familiar to you.

You scold yourself immediately.

There is a call of your name from a hauntingly familiar voice that did not belong to Ruggie and you whip around in surprise. Riddle Rosehearts, now older from his teenhood but easily recognisable, stands in the middle of the foyer with wide eyes. You can’t stop the grin that spreads across your lips at the sight of the redhead. While you both haven't seen each other since graduation, you did become good friends as a result of your near-constant presence in Heartslabyul thanks to Ace and Deuce. There is no better bonding than constant exposure, and that held true for you and Riddle.

You bound over to him and he makes the short walk to meet you halfway, a polite but genuine smile gracing his features.

“It’s great to see you,” He greets you and you mimic him with more enthusiasm. “I never expected to run into you like this. How are you?”

You fill him in on the events that happened since you’ve last seen each other, leaving out certain details. You tell him how you have moved into a new apartment (it’s a one-bedroom with a leaky faucet and peeling floorboards), how your relationship with Ruggie is going strong (you both argued just this morning), and that you have been doing great at work (you lost your chance at a promotion after months of overtime).

“I’m glad to see you are doing well for yourself,” He tells you and you can feel his sincerity from just how pleased he looks. Riddle had always wanted others to be at their best, including you, and your heart swelled at the approval in his eyes. You try to ignore the ball and chain on your ankles in the form of your bold-faced lies.

“Are you vacationing as well?” You ask him and he nods.

“Yes, with my wife. We were planning on having lunch at a bistro nearby,” He explains and you gasp excitedly, almost startling him.

“You’re married?” You ask him excitedly, wide-eyed and beaming and his face turns a flustered shade of pink.

“Yes,” He says and his tone is laced with unbridled affection as he speaks. “It’s going to be our anniversary soon and she had always wanted to travel around the Shaftlands.”

You can hear the simpering timbre in his voice and your chest squeezes, eyes intuitively falling on the gold band decorating his ring finger. Riddle is no longer the short-fused boy who used to tutor your trio of friends or save you a seat during tea parties. He is a married man in love, wearing expensive clothes and a happy wife he is travelling around the country with. Your ring finger remains bare and he is tactful enough not to comment on it. His phone buzzes suddenly, breaking you out of your stupor and he looks at the screen, a twinkle in his eyes.

“I should get going, she’s waiting outside,” He bids you goodbye hurriedly and you urge him to go as quickly as he can, watching his back disappearing behind the glass revolving doors. You don’t know when and if you’ll see him again, and for some reason it makes your heart sink.

“What the hell,” There is a grumble beside you and you jolt, whirling around to find Ruggie, phone in hand as he runs a hand through his hair. He looks at you suspiciously when your surprise seeps into your expression.

“What’s up with you? You look like you’ve seen a gh—are you crying?” For the first time in what seemed like months, you can hear the fret in Ruggie’s voice as he looks over you carefully and your head swims at the realisation that it’s been so long since you felt like he’s paying attention towards you. Not about the rent, not about food expenses, not about the bills. There is only you now.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” You blink away whatever tears threatened the corner of your eyes, plastering on a weak smile. He doesn’t look convinced but doesn’t push the subject anymore, fixing his gaze back to his phone.

“Okay… well, taxi fares cost an arm and a leg here. It’s better if we walk to the aquarium,” You stare at him incredulously, your brief moment of nostalgia and yearning to dissipate under a familiar spike of anger.

“Walk there? For over an hour? In this heat?” You stress between every pause and his face sours, a scowl on his lips and eyebrows pursing together.

“What do you want me to do? I’m not blowing all my money away on a single fare,” He scoffs. Your bottom lip trembles, something unkind sitting on the tip of your tongue that takes all your might to swallow away. You turn away from him.

“Fine, whatever.”

By the time you reach the aquarium, your clothes stick to your skin and your legs threaten to give out under you. The colourful fishes no longer held any appeal to you, because all you can think about while walking with your disgruntled boyfriend is how Riddle and his wife would be at a fancy bistro right now, enjoying lunch together with matching smiles, their rings glittering under the sun.

“Are you ever going to marry me?” You ask on the sullen walk back to the hotel, your gaze fixed on the twinkling stars. From the corner of your eyes, you can see Ruggie eyeing you as if you had just told him the sky is green.

“Huh?” He stammers out, and maybe his nervousness at the subject would have been cute if the both of you were still teenagers. Now, in your late twenties, all it does is make you sick to your stomach. “Why are you bringing it up now?”

“No reason,” You mumble, so quiet it could have disappeared with the passing breeze. There is a brief silence that goes uninterrupted by the chirping of the cicadas and the crunching of gravel under your shoes. Then, you feel a tug on your arm. You turn to look at Ruggie.

“I know you wanna get married. Trust me, I wanna put a ring on your finger as well,” He speaks softly, and you falter at the affection in his eyes as he gazes at you. However, his voice then takes a firm turn. “But it’s expensive and we just don’t have that kinda money right now. We don’t need to be married to belong to each other.”

“Will we ever have the money?” You snap, unable to stop the words before they leave your lips. You regret it when a look of hurt crosses over his expression, his ears flattening all the while. He turns away first as if he couldn’t stand to look at you, and you wish there was a river nearby that you could toss yourself into.

He sleeps on the couch that night.

The next day passes by in a blur. Your itinerary packed with activities goes down the drain in lieu of the argument, and Ruggie disappears before you wake up with a single text letting you know he’ll be back before midnight. You eat from the tupperware tucked away in the fridge, despite how even looking at it incites the kind of anger that makes you want to break anything within your line of sight.

You decide to treat yourself to a cup of coffee from the cafe downstairs, in hopes that it may help soothe the misery, regret and rage bubbling in the pits of your stomach.

Despite your initial assumption that you would likely not be seeing Riddle again, it’s a stroke of luck when you run into each other on the way to pick up your order. This time, however, he’s not alone.

In contrast to him, his wife is more friendly and outgoing but with an unmistakable air of elegance to her that came naturally to someone of a higher class. All he had to do was introduce you as an old schoolmate, and suddenly she had invited you to sit at their table and request you to recite stories of her husband as a teenager.

“He’s so tight-lipped sometimes,” She teases and he calls her name in warning but he doesn’t sound annoyed in the least, proving another change from his youth. You entertain her with whatever memory you can recall, such as your first-ever impression of him when he had collared Ace for eating a tart in the fridge, or how he put oyster sauce in his apology dessert. By the time you are finished, she is giggling while Riddle has resorted to giving you a flat stare, but the bell of his wife’s laughter dissipates any negative feelings.

Not for the first time, your stomach coils and suddenly all you can see is Ruggie’s toothy grin before the scene melts away to hardened, narrowed glares and the tight pull of his lips. Did his mild vexations use to fade away at the sound of your laughter, instead of starting up another round of arguments?

No, it’s unfair to an eighteen-year-old Ruggie for you to even ponder this question. There was a time when you would misspeak or clumsily drop something and break it. Instead of meeting you with ire, he would lazily toss the weight of his body behind you, his arms wrapping securely around you as he swayed you around. Back then, you felt like you had everything without needing anything material.

You missed it when Ruggie’s slouch and tired eyes were replaced with his easygoing disposition and cunning charm. Back then, being with Ruggie was exciting. You should be disgusted, ashamed even, for thinking this way of your boyfriend of almost ten years.

Yet, you feel nothing. Your own apathy scares you.

“Are you alright?” Riddle’s wife is the first to notice your disconnect, her soothing voice interrupting your depressive train of thought. Her manicured hand rests on your shoulder, concern apparent in her eyes and you feel bile rise to your throat, which you weakly swallow down.

“I’m fine,” A practised lie, almost a catchphrase to you at this point, and the couple believe you without any hesitance. You come up with an impromptu excuse that you need to meet with Ruggie, and excuse yourself from the table with polite farewells. You dare not to glance back.

“Where were you?” Ruggie asks, scaring you when you unlock the door to the room. You shift uncomfortably on your feet, faltering at your reply despite the fact you know he’s only being conversational, nothing confronting in the way he has his feet kicked up as he scrolls through channels. Yet, another lie escapes your lips.

“I went for a walk to stretch my legs,” You drop your bag onto the table, tactfully keeping your back towards him. You hear him hum at your response.

“That’s nice—” He breaks into a yawn, and flops to his side. He pats the spot next to him on the bed, and you only stare at him. “Man, I’m beat. C’mere, lay next to me.”

When his invite is met with silence, he repeats your name curiously.

“Um, sure…” You make your way over to him, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. It’s enough for him to reach over, snaking an arm around your waist and pulling you down to rest beside him, inciting a yelp from you. “What’s the occasion?”

“I need a reason to take a nap with the love of my life now?” He questions teasingly and your heart drops. He notices your frozen expression, his hand letting go of your waist so he props himself above you with an arm. He looks down at you, downturned eyes scrutinising and concerned.

“Hey, what’s up? You’ve been acting… different lately,” He speaks gently, carefully cupping your cheek. His hand is warm, and yet it’s not enough. You are still cold. You are still cold. It’s enough to finally spring tears in your eyes, and suddenly all you can feel is Ruggie. Calloused fingers brush against your skin, wiping at the tears rolling down the apples of your cheeks. He mutters hushed reassurances, that you’re going to be okay and that he’ll love you no matter what.

Yet, you cannot echo those words back at him, even when you have calmed down and he has dozed off with you in his arms. He was yours, unequivocally and whole. You were not his.