#ignore like half of it and a bunch of the end was placeholder. it's currently really messy because it's only like a 1/5 of the work i would

[cescalr]

so close to just trimming out all the shit i never got around to editing for that one stiles amv and posting what remains as is 

audio link mentioned in tags: wrong

[feminaexlux]

A Needed Miracle - Chapter 18: But never complete

I'd been working on this one for months... because I did like 70% in 1-2 sittings and then fell off the face of the planet and I'm now just getting back into the groove.

Hope this is at least interesting to some people >_>

Read on AO3

⁂

(Nine years ago)

As soon as he said the wish Adrien knew he'd fucked up big time. He'd been dissolved, turning into the space in-between his component atoms, the trillions of tiny subatomic particles and… concepts that had initially, through sheer luck, linked up into some kind of personhood and made a pattern of Adrien Agreste.

He'd seen the Null forms of Tikki and Plagg. He knew the presence of the Invader. It was the best name they had at the time. And from there he saw how much he had cost this particular universe in terms of the energy and time it'd take to sink into his wish.

He'd asked for a "redo". A complete and total rewrite of reality because some 15 year old rich white boy with superpowers couldn't handle that his family and his friends had been murdered all around him. Well, in the grand scheme of things maybe it was a little short-sighted. Hawkmoth had been defeated at the cost of a bunch of teenagers playing superhero while there had been this thing looming in the outskirts.

Then he saw that Tikki and Plagg had cheated.

⁂

When he came to, he realized he'd been back in his bed. He blinked a couple of times and scanned his room, making sure that it was actually his room and… he wasn't dead? He wasn't dead. He was… still Adrien by the looks of it, his room being his room and all. He looked down at his hands, suddenly panicking that he'd lost Plagg. He didn't have the ring, holy crap! He turned over and went onto his knees, throwing the sheets and pillows off of his bed in a desperate search for his kwami. "Plagg!?" He yelled out. "Plagg, please let me know you're here!" Adrien cried, half sobbing.

If Plagg wasn't here… maybe Marinette had him?

Adrien ran out of his room and burst out into the main hallway. Apparently it was around the twilight hours, no one had been up and Nathalie (… and his father what the fuck they were both such huge assholes) wasn't around. He managed to throw open the front doors and ran out into the courtyard. Not even the gate could stop him as he vaulted through one of the holes in the giant decorative ironwork head first.

Marinette was only a block and a half away. His Lady had always been so close and he'd been an idiot for not even seeing her right in front of his stupid face. But he could fix it! He could fix it now, thank God. No… Thanks to Tikki and Plagg and--

A silver car screeched to a stop in front of him before he could run across the street to Marinette's house. A car door flew open and his Mother emerged, looking panicked in her white silk sleeping robe. "Adrien! What are you doing?!"

"Mom?!"

She ran to him and wrapped him up tight in her arms. "Adrien how could you leave like that? What were you doing?! You foolish, foolish child! Do you know what time it is?!"

Adrien had been a little… more than a little shocked and overwhelmed with a mix of joy and confusion at seeing his mother in person again. His wish made her come back! But… "Mom, I need to find--"

"You're coming home right now," Emilie said, dragging Adrien back into the car despite his protestations. "Simon, please take us home." Adrien heard a familiar grunt and the car was put into reverse, taking Adrien further away from his… Destiny? No. He'd changed all that. Emilie turned and forced Adrien to look at her by gripping his shoulders and turning him. "What the hell were you doing Adrien?! You know your father will be furious!"

Rage boiled over in Adrien. "I HATE HIM!" Adrien screamed. It all spilled out in the relative privacy of the car, how Adrien had found a Miraculous and became Chat Noir, how he had been fighting Hawkmoth with Ladybug, how Hawkmoth was Gabriel and Nathalie had become Mayura and they had become some disgusting couple thing but that Adrien had supported their relationship unknowingly because Emilie had been dead for a year and--

"That is quite the nightmare, Adrien," his father's cold voice interrupted, coming from over the car intercom. "Come inside. You've caused enough trouble for tonight."

Adrien had arrived at home. They didn't believe him. Of course they wouldn't. There was one way he could prove all that he was saying… that book was still in the safe, wasn't it? He ran out of the car to his father's office and slid away the Klimt-"inspired" painting of his mother. He punched in a few codes but they were all rejected.

"Adrien!" His father's voice boomed at him. Adrien ignored him for the time being, trying in vain to remember anything that might have been important to Gabriel. Adrien remembered how Gabriel had… died loving no one but himself, and punched in a sequence. The safe popped open and revealed…

Nothing? Where did that fucker hide everything? Adrien ran at his father and pulled off that stupid candy-striped cravat, shocking everyone in view. No Miraculous?

Wait… his wish really did reset everything. He stood still in place, staring back at his father. Oh shit, Adrien thought.

⁂

(Now)

It took at most 10 minutes of Adrien and Plagg waiting in Tatsue until Marinette and Luka came down from the apartment and walked toward the car, hand in hand. Longg had already come back sulking, apparently prematurely dismissed by both Marinette and Luka. Adrien got out of the car and opened the passenger door for the pair, but Luka stopped before entering. "Where are we going?" He asked.

Adrien smiled. "A safehouse."

Luka narrowed his eyes at Adrien. "Why?"

"Chances are you've been targeted on purpose, I'll explain more in the car," Adrien said, patting the roof of Tatsue.

"Wait… My sister and--" Luka paled. "I can't--"

"Oh don't worry, Kagami already took them to the safehouse earlier. We tried to take you both as well but Plagg and Tikki said it'd be alright if they watched over you until you both woke up. Can't really argue with them if they already made their minds up," Adrien shrugged.

"Why do you want to help us?" Marinette asked, squeezing Luka's hand tighter.

Adrien put his elbow against the car and rested his chin on his braced hand. "You're looking at the man who forced Universe number 2 into existence," he sighed. "I remember everything from the first one and I need to tell you why we're all here. I can't give you a bigger hook than that, can I?"

That'd been essentially what Longg (and Tikki) had explained to them, but Marinette still reeled back in shock. "This is… this is so crazy," she said shakily, feeling her hand squeezed back by Luka. "I still… I'm still having issues processing all this."

Adrien nodded. "Yeah. Crazy doesn't begin to describe it. Look, even if you still don't trust me you have Tikki and Plagg back and can absolutely obliterate and smear me into a thin paste if you wanted. I have nothing to hide and nothing to hold back. I just need you two to give me some time to explain what I can and show you what I know."

Luka sighed to himself, saying "I don't know where--" when Plagg phased out from Tatsue. "Nevermind."

Tikki flew next to Plagg, both kwami looking back at their holders. "Adrien's right. We need to be somewhere safer," Tikki said gently. "We trust Adrien to tell you the truth."

⁂

The ride to the safehouse was relatively short but plenty awkward and quiet. Marinette had looked back and forth between Luka and Adrien, but one was staring blankly out the window in a dark, pensive mood, still gently squeezing her hand as reassurance of his presence, while the other was staring at them, thoughtful and smiling whenever Marinette looked back at him but adding no additional comment.

Adrien, Tikki, and Plagg had initially given them a quick rundown of what they had experienced in the previous universe. That while Marinette had been Ladybug before as she was now, Adrien had been Plagg's original bearer. Both Marinette and Adrien had been much younger, starting their superhero lives at 13 years old and had years of practice using their Miraculous before the reset. The original Hawkmoth was Gabriel Agreste, but that had all been undone by Adrien's wish because they failed to defeat Gabriel in the end with Marinette dying.

Adrien had no clue who this Hawkmoth was.

Marinette understood most of it, but she'd noticed that Luka just… wasn't here with her mentally. If Marinette could guess what was going through Luka's head, she guessed it must have been worry over Juleka. She was half right.

Luka had been feeling an odd sense of… detachment since Adrien called. Yes, he was currently the Black Cat Miraculous chosen, but… he'd been a placeholder. He wasn't… the original. He wasn't even truly intended to be the one wearing this ring in Universe 2 and Plagg didn't seem to care much for Luka.

But if he hadn't had the ring and he hadn't been partners with Marinette, would they have ever gotten together? Would she have even noticed him?

It did feel like the past decade and change had been him swimming through mud trying to find his place in the world outside of his family. Didn't have a father, lost his mother, had to sell their houseboat, had his sister block any contact from him for the better part of a year, his love life and attempts at rock-stardom were disasters. He finally had things starting to go his way when Marinette literally fell into his life.

And then they each got a Miraculous. It was the first time Luka had felt alive and somewhat in control.

Hearing now that he was just some random asshole swept up in this whole thing was a little bit of a blow to that perspective. Maybe he needed to hand this ring over to Adrien, who supposedly knew how to handle it.

Maybe then Marinette would have a partner that wouldn't be such a fucking liability.

⁂

They ended up being driven to some fancy Japanese dojo and as Luka had been staring out the window most of the ride he saw a formidable looking man with a huge nose ring look over the car. There'd been a split second where that man had locked eyes with Luka, staring him down with a vague but palpable threat of violence in the air.

But whatever that man saw, he deemed Luka (and Marinette, probably?) safe enough and the car drove itself further in, going down a few levels in an underground lot. The car was parked and the doors automatically opened. Adrien moved out first, beckoning Marinette and Luka to follow him.

Having been lead into one trap today, Marinette had been hesitant in falling into another one, but… at least she and Luka had Tikki and Plagg. So she'd use that. She transformed in a pink flash after she noticed no one else was around and there hadn't been any cameras.

"That's… smart of you, actually," Adrien mused out loud, chuckling. "I get it." Both Adrien and Ladybug looked at Luka expectantly, but he… he just sighed.

"We wouldn't be here if I hadn't gotten caught, right?" Luka said. "I'm putting myself, my sister, Rose and Marinette in danger by being this… by being Panthera. This Miraculous shit isn't working out for me, is it?"

"Luka?" Ladybug asked quietly. "What…"

"Kid, don't--" Plagg was cut off when Luka took off his ring.

Ladybug panicked. "Luka!"

Luka opened his palm with the Black Cat Miraculous ring to Adrien. "This was always yours, wasn't it?"

Adrien looked down at the ring. A few moments passed, each one stretching out longer than the previous. There was a real sense of longing in Adrien's eyes and he reached out his hand toward Luka's… and took the ring. It shrank down a little bit and morphed into a signet ring with a flat silver face, blockier than the simple wide silver band it had been for Luka. "You just handed me one half of a universe ending machine, you know that?" Adrien said disbelievingly. "I'm not sure if you're serious. I didn't think either of you would want that back in my hands."

Luka shook his head. "It's always been yours."

"It's a nice thought. You're a better man than I am," Adrien chuckled. "But it's not mine." Adrien tossed the ring back at Luka, who nearly fumbled in catching it. "Not this time."

"You… won't take it?" Luka seemed confused.

"Like I said, it's a nice thought. But I can't use it."

"Can't?" Ladybug asked.

"Can't," Adrien confirmed. "One of those little stipulations in the fine print of resetting the universe. I can't ever use a Miraculous ever again."

[yakumtsaki]

Welcome, dear readers, to the much anticipated Union Season 1 finale, featuring the diverse cast of well-developed characters we’ve all come to love, such as cheating whore #1, cheating whore #2, and my personal favorite, cheating whore #3. Also starring purple Hannibal Lecter, Melody Tinker’s sunglasses, and Leon Trotsky. Last update saw the erotic tension between resident porn-king Gunther and his brother’s intended, Regina George Brittany Upsnott finally boil over, leading to this harrowing image:

GOOD TIMES. Let’s pick up right where we left off..

.. namely precious Gunther immediately jumping into bed with Melody not two minutes after his close encounter of the Brit kind. Guns has been suspiciously loyal and un-gross ever since we moved out of the dorms, but apparently his goal for senior year is to out-worst everyone else in the house. What a comeback!

Meanwhile Brit is depressingly bowling her frustrations away under the unforgiving desert sky. Whaddup Brit, you must be dealing with some pretty complicated emotions right now.

-What?? No way, I’m totally, totally fine!

I mean sure, why wouldn’t you be, it’s not like you’ve fucked literally everything up. After spending half of college dealing with fucking HaremGate all I wanted was an uneventful senior year I could speed through, but that would be too easy now, WOULDN’T IT.

-The pins are you well-laid out plans for the future!

UGH Brit seriously, this isn’t happening. As in we’re gonna pretend it literally never happened, you’re gonna marry Daniel, Gunther is gonna marry Mel, everyone will live happily ever after and that’s the last I’m gonna hear of this bullshit.

BRIT THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY

-I’m just heartfarting, GAWD

Yea you’re also about to fucking serenade him in front of Mel, have you legit lost your mind??? Is this how the rest of this year will go, me chasing you around cancelling your dumbass actions?

-Probably! lolol!

-Aww Brit, if there was an award for best couple, we would definitely win it <3

-Oh please, Gunther and I have you totally beat!

-Yea right Mel, bet you §10 me and Brit are gonna move in together before you and Gunther do!

-…So how you liking that pizza, Gunther?

-…Oh it’s good, Brit, thanks for asking.

Meanwhile it looks like my restless Jojo/Wyatt reconciliation efforts have finally borne fruit! Good job, Wyatt!

-It’s no job, I’m just following mon coeur!

Nice, follow it all the way to redemption!

YASSSS. I can’t stress enough how many times Wyatt had to apologize to get us to this point, I’m talking half their awake time for 3 days. God. The whole thing has been an extremely repetitive nightmare but finally we can put it to rest. Much like we put Frances! BURN IN HELL

Finally, the universe has responded to my desperate pleas. I will even forgive the creepy ass llama because for once the cheering is completely appropriate. Reunited and it feels so good! Especially for me because if I had to press the apologize button one more time istg.

Well.. The universe giveth and the universe taketh away. Literally can’t leave these dicks unsupervised for more than a minute before they start slutting it up. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO

-Oh oh oh oh oh OH, caught in a bad romance <3

STOP SINGING INTO EACH OTHER’S MOUTHS. It’s time for drastic measures. Gunther is obviously unfamiliar with the concept of decency but maybe there’s still hope for Brittany..

..especially after Daniel gives her a high-class romantic evening! Looking great, Dan. Please stop picking your teeth.

-I’m so uncomfortable, my hair hasn’t seen the light of day since I was a toddler! I’m putting my cap back on.

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. Also suppress your gag reflex + every instinct in your body because it’s time-

-to hit Londoste! OOH LA LA

-Brit, I feel like we’re.. ridiculously overdressed.

-No such thing, darling!

-I’ll be having the filet mignon and a glass of the Veronaville ‘64, thank you.

-And I’ll be having chicken nuggets and a detailed report of the working conditions in this bourgie hellhole.

-DANIEL YOU PROMISED

-Let’s raise a glass to us and our magical evening together-

-Yes, and this delicious food, stained with the tears of the working farmhand-

-Daniel, please.

-My beloved ice queen, even though the diamond engagement ring “tradition” is another completely made up, SHAMELESS CAPITALIST SCAM, I just couldn’t bear the thought of wounding your gigantic, aggressively materialistic ego.. Marry me, my darling, be my Nadezhda!

-OH baby of course I’ll marry you! Everything before this moment doesn’t count, right?

-I mean.. sure?

-Great!

Yes, what a wonderful, subtle night.

-Oh Brit, you make me the happiest worker alive, which of course is a completely paradoxical state under capitalism!

AWW MEANT TO BE <3 Finally we can put that gross, freckled chapter behind us.

THAT’S RIGHT YOU BETTER RUN

-WOOO congrats for not cheating for an entire day, Gunther!

Our greek house is currently at a pathetic level 3 and it’s not hard to see why. As if the graves of Jojo’s former flames weren’t enough to put people off, imagine walking by and seeing this.

This shit is still going on and has reached the hate-boner point where these two have permanent wants to see each other’s ghost. So much for nice points!

Also going on: this bizzare, inexplicable feud that appeared literally out of nowhere.

-SHUT UP WYATT MAGIC ISN’T REAL

-IT SO IS MAGIQUE IS ALL AROUND US

Finals are upon us! Only one semester of this fuckery left. There are of course two kinds of people, the kind pictured above..

..and my peeps.

Gunther, who hasn’t done anything college related since we were back in the dorms and Blue Meatballs et al were writing his papers, somehow still has a 4.0 gpa. Wow Gunther, what’s your secret??

-It’s no secret, I banged the half-alien professor.

Oh right lmao. You’re looking pretty down boo, what’s wrong?

-Man idk, I’m struggling with what might be like.. legit feelings for Brit.

WHAT. WELL PUT THEM BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM GUNTHER AND DRINK YOUR SORROWS AWAY LIKE AN ADULT. GOD

YOU TOO BRITTANY. ISTFG YOU ASSHOLES ARE NOT FUCKING THIS UP ANY FURTHER.

CAUSE HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST PERSON WHO WENT OFF SCRIPT. Looking good, Fran!

…………………………poor Brittany obviously suffered a stroke at some unspecified point in time. As if she didn’t have enough problems.

SO. CLOSE. We just have to get through this one semester without the entire charade imploding, is that too much to ask????

APPARENTLY YES. GODDAMMIT GUNTHER

-The heart wants what it wants.

What DOES it want tho, Selena, cause last time I checked you were in love with Mel you GIANT ASS

-Yea, hell if I know! Huhu!

IF I HEAR YOU PEOPLE HUHU ONE MORE TIME

In equally distressing news Mickey Dosser was passing by and I invited him in just to see if he would go straight for the bubbles, which he of course did..

..a move so irresistible that Wyatt had to stop and swoon over him literally in the middle of his millionth Jojo apology. I’ve honestly never had a sim court death as persistently as Wyatt, dude straight up WANTS TO DIE.

-HOW DARE YOU WALTZ IN HERE AND TRY TO SEDUCE MY BOYFRIEND RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES YOU VILE DISGUSTING SLOB

-Wut

-GET. OUT. BEFORE I STUFF YOU AND PUT YOU ON MY PORCH FOR HALLOWEEN

-Wyatt.. I sensed it was you.

-Of course, Jojό <3 I got your message, why did you send a raven, I’m just upstairs-

-SILENCE. I invited you here, to my favorite place on this entire wretched planet, the center around which revolves my very existence..

-..to ask you a very important question that I want you to CAREFULLY consider, taking into account that you’re standing next to the graves of the last people to betray me..

-Wyatt Monif, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance, I have come to feel for you a passionate admiration and regard, which despite all my struggles and your whoring around, has overcome every rational objection, and I beg you most fervently to relieve my suffering and consent to be my husband. Also to please ignore my brother woohooing in the hot tub behind us and ruining the moment.

-MON DIEU JOJÓ, OUI, OUI A THOUSAND TIMES OUI!! <3

-Wyatt.

-Oui? <3

-Please don’t make me murder you, ok? Promise?

-Never, Jojό!

AW, what a beautiful engagement you guys, I’m tearing up.

AND FINALLY, IT’S OVER. Gunther seriously graduated summa cum laude, how in the fucking world I legit dk but whatever!

The last supper.. The Union bros have all graduated and I’m gonna speed-play the rest through their last year. Also Daniel and Melody are bffs now, I didn’t even know they were talking but nice.

Time to go back where we came from! Ah, all grown up. It seems like yesterday they were toddlers surviving on cat food.

Brit is the youngest of the bunch and has the whole house to herself after Mel and Wyatt graduate, a situation she takes advantage of by ALMOST CHEATING WITH THE FUCKING LLAMA. BRIT ISTG

Finally, it’s time for Brit to leave our gross, incestuous cocoon. We’re gonna need a placeholder for the next generation tho, so as much as it pains me to say..

..it’s Frances time. Bitch literally scares Brit as she’s trying to resurrect him, way to make me doubt my merciful decision Fran!

Ugh great. Welcome back, Frances. I really did prefer you dead.

Yea, can’t make any promises there. I don’t know what kind of wave of kindness overcame me, but I felt bad for Fran being all alone so…

-I’M BACK BITCHES

Can’t believe we wasted 20k on these assholes but whatever. Time to grow up, Brit!

Oh yea, looking good! Taking the ‘on Wednesdays we wear pink’ rule to extreme lengths.

And we’re out of here, leaving the place in the capable hands of Fran and Ti-Ning, who immediately reconnect for a hot tub celebration of life.

So normally you’d think that would be the end of it and we’d get to the heir vote, right? RIGHT?

WRONG. Please bear with me through this incredible bullshit. So I’m taking the heir vote portraits, specifically Jojo’s, and everyone else is hanging around on the edges of this empty photoshoot lot, when suddenly the fight cloud appears. At first I think it’s Wyatt/Daniel aka business as usual but then I make the horrifying discovery that it’s.. DANIEL/BRIT.

As expected, the MINUTE I looked away, Gunther/Brit went for it in plain sight, leading to the eruption of a massive shitshow. I’m like ok w/e we’re basically in pre-heir vote limbo so it doesn’t count, I’ll just quit without saving. But THEN I take a look at Daniel’s panel.. AND SEE THIS:

I’ve literally no idea WTF HAPPENED, HOW IT HAPPENED, WHY, WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE but the fact is that right after catching Gunther/Brit cheating, Melody and Daniel somehow got together even though they have never given any indication of being into each other and have one sole pathetic bolt. My best guess is 4-nice-points Melody went for it as a revenge but seriously WHAT THE FUCK

GOOD TIMES. At this point I’m obviously even more like ‘I’M GONNA QUIT WITHOUT SAVING’ so I’m just taking these pics for shits and giggles, but THEN I look at Gunther’s panel… and see probably the most disturbing want I’ve ever come across:

OK THEN. Reminder that Gunther’s secondary is PLEASURE so there’s literally no explanation for this shit except for legit. true love. As much planning as I did for these couples I’m like who am I to refuse A ROMANCE SIM’S engagement want???? I mean I also planned for Jojo to marry Frances and we all saw how that went. So I decide to save the game, even though it’s kinda unorthodox since it didn’t happen during actual gameplay but w/e, you just can’t ignore shit like that!!

So I revisit the lot the next day and am faced with a shitshow of cosmic proportions. The whole thing is like a bizzaro parallel universe, I mean you have Brit and Dan legit looking like they crossed over from the set of NLL..

..Gunther and Mel heartfarting over each other while also wanting to beat each other up..

..this torrid affair out in the open..

..AND WHATEVER THE FUCK THIS IS. I changed their turn-ons and now they have 3 bolts cause it felt like they really got the short end of the stick but I still can’t get over this bullshit happening in the first place. At least Jojo and Wyatt are having a good time! I guess at this point there’s only one thing left to do..

..simultaneous break ups! The couple that dumps their fiances together stays together.

Moving on to simultaneous crying/sighs of relief. If it seems like I’m halfassing this by not writing any dialogue it’s because I am, but I legit can’t, the whole situation is just too absurd to dramatize.

And now to complete the wife-swap..

Incredible. Now, hold on to your seats, everyone.. because the red ring memory..

IS NOT GUNTHER’S. WHAT IN THE NAME OF HELL. BRIT GOT A RED RING FROM HER ROMANCE SECONDARY BUT SOMEHOW GUNTHER DIDN’T??? Honestly I’m hardly a romantic but. TRUE LOVE. Or a glitch. Let’s go with true love.

And there you have it. The end of generation 1, which will live in the annals of history as the one where literally no one ended up with the person I had in mind for them and I might as well haven’t been there for all the control I had over these assholes.

NOW. TIME TO VOTE.

WHO WILL IT BE????

Head over to my lj for a handy guide to voting + the link to the poll. Thank you all for reading! <3

[angstymarshmallow]

We’re All Different. - #LoveHacks Fanfic

#ChoicesCreates Carnival Round 3

Title: We’re All Different.

Prompt: Different doesn’t mean wrong.

Choices Book: #LoveHacks

Rating: T

Pairing: None

[ A little note: I really wanted to write a #LoveHacks fanfic this week. So I kept thinking about the #choicescreates prompt and a way to incorporate my favorite easy-going gang of friends without it being about particular love interests. This isn’t so much of a fanfiction in the traditional way. It’s more of something that highlights who they are and somehow their friendship still works. I’m also in love with this song and I thought they fit pretty well with it. I hope it’s an enjoyable read 🙂and I always appreciate feedback]

[Summary: It’s MC’s night to plan a fun Friday for the gang. Just what exactly awaits this merry band of misfits?] 

Dani wakes up precisely at 6:00 am and not a moment sooner. Her familiar alarm blares promptly beside her, seconds before her hand flies to it and hits the snooze button. She always hits the snooze button in the mornings, deluding herself into several minutes of extra sleep. But on Fridays, she doesn’t. Specifically; it’s her Friday to plan their night out. She waits a few seconds before tossing to the other side of her bed. She knows she can’t stay long and her body is already missing the comfort of her blankets as she stands. Her mind has already drifted to her plans for the rest of the day. She can’t wait to see everyone tonight, especially after a long week of work. She’s still waiting for inspiration to get through her Clickit article. It’s in its final stages but it isn’t ready. She thinks about all the editing it needs. She thinks about all the men she’s dated in her twenties. None of them sticks out to her except him. She pictures his hipster glasses and adorable smile before heading to the shower.

Brooke’s making protein shakes in the kitchen at 6:15 am. It’s the only thing that helps her function in the morning. She doesn’t believe in wasting daylight hours. She rolls her eyes because she knows her roommates are probably still asleep. Her hands move in a flurry and blends the familiar ingredients together; frozen mangoes and strawberries, pieces of kale, ginger  - and other assortments as her eyes absently glances at the television screen. The shopping channel is her guilty pleasure and she often fights the urge to impulse buy. Currently the new blender that’s staring obnoxiously at her makes her itch to grab her credit card. She looks away as she finishes her shake. She thinks about the new workout plan she’s invested in instead. It’s for her newest client. She takes her personal fitness guru position very seriously. Empowering people has always been important to her. Whether through rigorous routines or healthy and balanced diets - she can think of no better way to make someone feel confident in themselves. She thinks about how excited she is to meet her new clients, knowing she can make a positive impact in their lives. As she takes a huge gulp of her refreshing shake, she wonders absently if Sereena will be up in time. 

Sereena almost hits the floor after nearly rolling off her bed at 6:30 am. Slamming the snooze button for the fifth time isn’t stopping her from remembering she has to go in today. The word work still appalls her, especially when it means catering to a bunch of juiceheads. Apart of her always fights the urge to quit. But no matter how much she wants to, she knows she needs the money. It’s still the last thing she wants to do even though it’ll go along way in helping her pay for for her graduate studies as she waits for it to start. She grumbles under her breath at the prospect of going in, knowing that only a bunch of overbearing alpha males await her. They’re all so boring and stupid. She doesn’t expect any meaningful or insightful conversations to take place and she’s yet to find anyone that’s proven her assumptions wrong. She doesn’t hear the door open, but she notices Brooke’s familiar blonde hair from the corner of her eyes. She looks up and frowns at Brooke’s cheerful expression and the protein shake in her hand. It’s the last thing she wants to see in the morning. “I know, I know.” She mutters before Brooke can say anything. She’s going to make them late. It’s not her fault, she just hates working there.

Mark impatiently bobs his leg up and down beneath his office desk at 12:15 pm from Zamble. It’s nearly lunch time and all he can think about is getting away from these lines of code. The bug fixes he’s been trying to implement all morning needs to be tested but he can’t seem to find his focus. It’s Dani’s night to pick a venue. He hasn’t heard from the rest of his friends except for the strange texts he receives from Dani and Brooke’s cheerful check-ups on him. He can’t help but think that maybe tonight’s the night. Maybe, tonight he can finally tell Dani how he feels. He wrestles with it until the idea creates panic. He rubs his temples and shakes his head to try and clear it. As much as he wants to tell her - he doesn’t think it’s worth the risk. He growls under his breath in frustration as he glances back to his desktop screen. Neither his personal life nor his professional life is working out the way he wants them to right now. He feels miserable and takes a moment to spin in his office chair. He props up one elbow and leans towards his windows, staring at the people below. He watches them with mild interest. He’s about to leave for an early lunch and give up his plight entirely, when his manager IMs him. Emergency meeting at 12:30 pm. It looks like his lunch is going to have to wait a little bit longer. He sighs and fixes his tie as he thinks about what other work they’ll pile on top of him today.

Cole’s latest mobile app PlaceHolder manages to bring him solid profits by 4:30 pm. It’s the end of the week and he’s doing the math inside his head of how much he’s made. It’s a big number and so far his greatest success. He isn’t done yet. He thinks of how much he can make next week with the rate he’s going. It amuses him how much people pay for other people to get shit done for them. At the rate his newest idea is growing, he can easily imagine selling shares to greedy investors and business junkies. It’s something he deliberates often and with every innovative idea. He likes the fast-paced environment that the mobile apps presents. He’s already thinking ahead; give the people what they want and profit from it. His next big business idea has to be better. He’s already checking the next place on his list before his mind travels elsewhere. He wonders absently what Amir’s doing. It isn’t the first time he’s thought about him since the night they spent together; but he refuses to give it much thought. Despite his efforts, he can’t quite hide the smile he feels, or the strange flutter inside his chest. He knows better than to get mixed up with Amir. He knows better than to mix business with pleasure especially when it’s his biggest adversary. But apart of him is already anticipating the next time he’ll see him.

Horatio wipes the counters of his bar and hums quietly to himself at 7:05 pm. The typical Friday crowd has began trailing in since nearly an half an hour ago at Double Tap. He recognizes a lot of familiar faces as they smile and nod at him; settling down with their well-known favorites before finding their frequently visited tables. Friday nights are busy, and he likes the routine. He likes seeing the heterogeneity, the the variety in the crowd. It’s one of the reasons why he likes working here so much; finding a kind of uniqueness with customers that he’s never had anywhere else. He keeps humming to himself as he greets patrons and effortlessly line shots on the edge of the bar while frat brothers wastes no time in knocking them back. He knows all the right things to say; charming them without being overbearing. He ignores the lewd comments when he hears them and keeps an easy-going smile as they ask for another round. He plays his role very well, the bartender with practiced patience - almost nothing gets him mad. He wonders idly if Tara will stop by before he has to leave. Almost as quickly, he shakes the thought away. She’s probably still working her shift and he sighs in defeat at the realization that he won’t see her until he makes another request. Or until he finds the nerve to call her. The latter seems less likely. Nevertheless, she’s in his head. He thinks about her pretty smile and the sound of her laugh until he hears his phone vibrating inside his pocket. He checks it. It’s just another one of Dani’s texts; a cryptic message with the directions of where everyone’s supposed to meet. She reminds him to bring the cooler and his stock of beers and hard liquor.

- 

They all arrive around the same time. Miraculously, they had no qualms or trouble following the vague details and directions they received via text. They park their vehicles near the edge of San Fransisco. The midnight air is cool in its close proximity of the beach. They watch the water’s reflections uneasily as the air picks up. They shudder before bundling all their equipment and race towards the sand. Dropping shoes and jackets near the shore, they begin setting up thoroughly. 

Horatio’s cooler is tucked under his arm and his guitar case is strapped across his back. Horatio deposits the cooler and retrieves his guitar before strumming a few warm-up chords. Brooke and Sereena hands everyone snacks accompanied by bottled-water, as Dani helps Mark build a bonfire. Mark makes a face as he blows the tiny kindle of a flame, hoping it’ll spark the rest of the logs. Dani chuckles at his attempt. Brooke argues about the benefit of water with Sereena when Sereena refuses to take a bottle. Cole queues his music to his wireless beats by dre speakers and plays Paris by the Chainsmokers and Horatio groans at his mainstream choice.

If we go down then we go down together They’ll say you could do anything They’ll say that I was clever

Dani laughs at something Sereena says. She usually finds Sereena unintentionally hilarious. Sereena complains about something a guy told her at Solstice, insisting it was sexist. Brooke explains to Dani that the random stranger was simply complimenting Sereena .

If we go down then we go down together We’ll get away with everything Let’s show them we are better

Cole excitedly shares a new idea he’s been working out the chinks of with Horatio and Mark.  Mark nods absently at Cole’s energetic speech but out of the corner of his eyes he’s watching Dani.  Mark’s reminded of how much he likes her smile. When Dani looks up and catches his stare Mark averts his eyes so he doesn’t see Dani’s hesitant smile back.

We breathe in the air of this small town On our own cuttin’ class for the thrill of it Getting drunk on the past we were livin’ in

“To Fridays!” The six of them yell. They knock their glasses together, cheering unanimously before gulping down shots in unison. Immediately, Brooke dissolves into a fitful of giggles and Sereena frowns when Horatio begins pouring them another round. As the night turns into dusk, Dani steals Mark’s lighter before running down the shoreline. Mark doesn’t waste any time in chasing after her. He catches her in a few quick strides and holds her by the waist. Dani tries to wiggle out of Mark's arms before they feel the ocean's shore lapping at their feet. Mark doesn't relinquish as his hands scrape along her sides until Dani has trouble catching her breath. When Mark finally lets go and Dani’s on her feet again, she gives him his lighter. They stare at each other for a moment, unable to look away until Cole tackles Mark off his feet. The rest of them join in until it becomes a tickle war. Mark quickly gets Brooke and Dani out with his quick reflexes before Sereena tackles him. Horatio and Sereena dance around each other, dodging deftly until their feet get tired. Eventually, Cole’s the winner and claims victory by shouting his full name and puffing his chest.

Let’s show them we are Show them we are Let’s show them we are Show them we are Let’s show them we are better

The bonfire’s embers flickers in and out when they finally return to it. Mark tends to it quickly as the rest of them settle around it in a semi-circle. Horatio begins strumming his guitar and Brooke drops her head to Sereena’s shoulder. Dani helps Mark in kindling more wood and their hands innocently brush. When it’s warm again they settle beside Brooke and Sereena. Mark’s arm carelessly rests around Dani’s shoulders. They’re close as they can be, huddled together for warmth without being too close to the bonfire’s ardent flames. The lights flicker and dances to the beat of the gentle breeze as they nurse their beers. Horatio hums quietly until Brooke goads him to sing louder. Horatio acquiesces with a small smile, breaking out into song. Cole grins as Horatio sings in hushed tones the song that Cole’s had on repeat.

Let’s show them we are better Let’s show them we are better If we go down Let’s show them we are better If we go down Let’s show them we are better 

They all join in and their voices fill the empty space. The silence disappears as the noiseless night becomes alive. They laugh and sing their hearts out. They shove their hands in the air and dance. They pass beers between themselves and spill them on each other clumsily when their movements began to become slower. They playfully tease and bump each others shoulders as their voices carry and seem to almost reverberate within the corners of their hearts. Horatio’s patient fingers continue to play expertly on his guitar, keeping in tune with their voices.

If we go down then we go down together We'll get away with everything Let's show them we are better

They’re all different but it’s their differences that makes their friendship special, makes them unique. Although they’re all distinct in their own ways, coming from different walks of life - it’s their difference that helps them to understand each other. To somehow fit inside this big universe. It’s their difference that helps to tell their story.

X.