#this is both funny and very upsetting to me

[jarofstyles]

Picture blurb time! Saw this shirt on Pinterest and had a cute lil idea.

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Warnings- mentions of jealousy and alcohol

“Harry…” Y/N blinked at the shirt he’d tossed on. “Where did you… even get that?”

“Had it made.” He shrugged, nonchalant as he collapsed onto the sofa beside her. “Had to let the world know.”

When he’d seen the shirt booth on the boardwalk, he’d known it was exactly the souvenir he’d be getting himself. With Y/N busy at the shop that sold fudge and candy to satiate her sweet tooth, he had spent time watching them press the shirt for him. It was both funny simply for this exact reaction, but it was true.

“Do you not like it?”

“I mean, I love it.” She let out a laugh of disbelief. “It’s nowhere near your normal thing to wear considering you’re a bit of a snob when it comes to your outfits, but I like it. I just didn’t expect for you to wear it out to the pub crawl, is all.”

“Dunno, may be getting into a phase.” His brows wrinkled as he looked down at the shirt. “But even more than that, considering last time we went out with everyone, I figured I’d save us both a headache by making it clear we’re a thing. Dating. Fully committed. No wiggle room. So committed that I’ve got a shirt to prove it- Y’know it’s real when someone has a shirt.”

Last time there had been an incident where a tipsy Y/N got very upset with a bartender for trying to flirt with Harry. She couldn’t blame her for being interested, all things considered, but Y/N under the influence had been a bit of a brat. She was a jealous girl and Harry knew it. It was funny at times but truthfully, he didn’t want her to be upset- especially when he was the one who carried her up their front steps.

It was easier when she wasn’t squirming and telling him she wanted to go make everyone know he was taken.

The shirt could do that itself.

“Okay, I’m not the only jealous one.” Y/N huffed, crossing her arms- but secretly she was very pleased with his initiative.

“Oh, I know.” The man agreed easily. “Terribly jealous. So the shirt works for the both of us, hm?” Reaching out, he playfully pinched her chin and laughed when her hand slapped his away.

“Unfortunately, it does and it makes me a little horny.” Y/N sighed, standing up as she caught sight of the time. “So if you want me to prove how hot your girlfriend is to the world, we better get a move on- or we aren’t leaving at all.”

[salemrph]

The taste of apple and pomegranate

Ch. 8: Melted Ice Cream

Nav: Ch. 1 / Ch. 2 / Ch. 3 / Ch. 4 / Ch. 5 / Ch. 6 / Ch. 7 / Ch. 8 / Ch. 9 (coming soon) // AO3

Summary: You just wanted to survive university, not fall for either of them—let alone both. Two handsome idiots who somehow made your apartment their second home. You, Sylus, and Caleb were supposed to be just friends. So why does everything feel like their is more going on?

Character: Sylus x f!reader x Caleb // Tara, Rafayel // AU - College, Student

Genre: romantic, fluff, intimacy, sexual content, humor, friends to lovers, poliamore, slow burn

Word count: 4.6k | Reading Time: 18 min | AO3

A/N: This one’s more of a short, episode-style story. I just wanted to have some fun throwing these two into everyday situations and seeing what kind of chaos unfolds. Hope you enjoy the mess!

Tag list: @thechaoticarchivist @peacedreamer14 @blessdunrest @strwberriiblnde @plzdonutpercieveme @sylusqt @sakuraneko-sakupanda-chan @peacedreamer14 @escapeis @plzdonutpercieveme

Ch. 8: Melted Ice Cream

You tried to reach out to Rafayel that very day, hoping to learn more about the incident with the wine. The only thing you got was: “Sorry, the number you dialed is not in the mood for phone calls.”

You sighed. What a mess. The tickets to the park sat on your desk. Sylus and Caleb hadn’t told you anything either. You could try to squeeze the truth out of them, but… what exactly was behind their strange behavior toward each other? Rafayel had mentioned something about an aphrodisiac in the wine. Could something have happened between them while they were drugged? They were close—great friends. An Aphrodisiac… you do quick search:

Can increase sexual desire and sexual pleasure.

They primarily work by increasing blood flow, relaxing smooth muscles.

The goal: intensify sensation, drive, and the ability to achieve an erection.

Sure, the wine might have caused painful erections… But to the point of— You open your mouth in utter disbelief at the thought. No, no. No way. You laughed it off, heat rushing to your cheeks. As if Sylus and Caleb could be sexually interested in each other. That would be ridiculous, plus, they seemed to be more upset about something else... They were both interested in the same girl. 

You remembered what Rafayel had said, teasing and serious all at once:

“Are you sure it’s not you?”

“You really don’t see it, do you?”

You definitely weren't that girl—and even if you were, choosing between them would be impossible. What a fucking, goddamn mess! It was getting harder and harder to pretend you only saw them as friends, especially after those intense solo sessions you’d been having. Oh yeah, sessions with your fingers and a few well-chosen toys, imagining their mouths, their hands, their bodies pressing in from both sides. The things you’d fantasized about... borderline sinful. Shameless, if not downright naughty to a point that you deleted your search history. 

But no. This couldn’t keep happening. Your lust-fueled daydreams were dangerous territory. Your sexual desires were secondary if you wanted to at least maintain a friendship. You had to be better. Therefore, you set a firm goal in your head: you would see them only as friends, and Sylus and Caleb would, somehow, talk things out. So everything could go back to the same old routine.

Group Chat: Apple, Pomegranate & Me

You: Do you want to hang out next weekend? 🎫🎢

══════════════════

Whatever it was, maybe a day at the amusement park would help them get back to their funny dynamic.

The day began like any other. The sky was bright, the air warm, and for a moment, it felt like maybe this day would be normal. Despite your protests, Tara and Rafayel had insisted on helping you pick out an outfit. Rafayel had whispered, “It could be a date,” with that sly glint in his eyes. Tara had scoffed but added, “A double date with those two hot idiots…” You’d laughed it off, brushing away the flutter in your chest. 

When you finally stepped out in your chosen outfit: casual, cute, maybe just a little more flattering than necessary, Tara and Rafayel went momentarily silent. Tara’s lips curled up. Rafayel’s eyes lit up. They high-fived satisfied with their job. You don’t know when they became such close friends. 

When you arrive at the meeting point, just in time, you see Caleb and Sylus, dressed down but sharp, like they hadn't coordinated but somehow still matched. You’d joked about it but neither had laughed. They stood on either side of you like repelling magnets. Still both acknowledge your outfit with their usual casual tone. 

“Okay,” you said, hands clapping once. “Let’s have some fun.”

Each one found a place to your side. One to your left, one to your right. They spoke to you normally, but there was nothing in between them, only strained courtesy to avoid completely ruining the atmosphere. At first, it felt kind of nice. Inside the park, music and laughter rang through the air. Kids ran past, sticky with cotton candy, teenagers screamed on roller coasters, bubbles floated in the sun. You wanted to feel that joy and happiness of this place. You really did. But as the day wore on, it became... exhausting.

The vibrant energy around you only seemed to highlight how hard they were both trying. Caleb insisted on winning you something at every booth. Sylus offered to carry your bag and refused to let you stand in line alone. They spoke over each other, interrupted your sentences, subtly glared when you laughed too hard at the other’s jokes. It was too much.

You tried to at least calm things down whenever the hatred escalated. It started on the merry-go-round. You rode a horse. Caleb stood beside it, hands ready to steady you. Next, a shooting game. Sylus effortlessly nailed every target. He then turned, a triumphant grin on his face, and handed you his prize. From the shadows of the arcade, Caleb's gaze could have incinerated Sylus.

But no matter how hard you tried, it kept feeling like some ridiculous tug-of-war for your attention. Every smile you gave, every comment you made—both Sylus and Caleb latched onto it like it was a prize. It was exhausting. This was supposed to be fun. A carefree day. Instead, your head throbbed, and your patience thinned with each passing hour.

Somewhere on the park edge, nestled behind a churro stand and a line for face painting, Rafayel adjusted his sunglasses and took a sip of his iced drink. 

“God, I love this,” he whispered. Beside him, Tara peered through a pair of chunky binoculars she’d absolutely brought just for the drama.

“Do you think they’ll kill each other?”

“Hard to say,” Rafayel murmured. “But the tension.. . ”

They weren’t being subtle in the slightest, drawing surprised looks from several passersby who noticed their rather suspicious behaviour. One small child asked if they were secret agents.

“You two know that you’re drawing a lot of attention.” Gideon’s voice cut through the moment. He strolled up behind them, casually munching on a churro. “Also—why the hell am I here?”

Tara didn’t even lower her binoculars. “Because you said you had nothing better to do.”

“Babe, I said that, not knowing this would turn into some twisted surveillance mission.”

“We prefer the term emotional intervention,” Rafayel said, waving a hand. “You’re the muscle. In case one of them tries to throw the other off the Ferris wheel.”

Gideon just took another bite of churro and muttered, “I’m too sober for this.”

“Hush. They’re approaching the park mascot” Rafayel ordered. 

══════════════════

On your way to the next attraction, your eyes caught on the park mascot—a giant, fluffy creature that looked like a cross between a cat and a marshmallow. Your steps slowed, lips parting in surprise before curling into a grin.

“I want a picture with it!” you announced, voice bubbling with sudden excitement as you made a beeline toward the oversized mascot. Sylus instinctively pulled out his phone, ready to hand it to Caleb.

“No, no!” you stopped him quickly, cheeks warm with anticipation. “I want a picture with both of you,” you insisted without giving them a chance to object, you flagged down a passing visitor. Then you wrapped one hand around Sylus’s arm and the other around Caleb’s, pulling them close on either side of you. Caleb blinked and his eyes softened, he let out a low breath. While Sylus glanced down to your hand curled around his forearm, he could feel the heat of your touch through the fabric.

For a fleeting moment, the weight of tension lifted. Their shoulders eased, forgetting whatever passive-aggressive nonsense they’d been locked in. Melted under the bright curve of your smile. 

“Let’s take more!” you said breathlessly, scrolling through the picture with a spark in your eye. “This one’s so cute.”  

You didn’t even notice how they were staring at you, too distracted by cuddling the big mascot. Your laugh made the air feel different. You lit up the space around Caleb and Sylus. They didn’t know how someone could just… glow like that.

Sylus watched you, arms crossed but loose now, he was admiring the way your nose crinkled when you smiled. That softness in your face, it hit him deep down. Caleb saw it too. Felt his chest clench at the sound of your laugh. It was stupid how beautiful you looked in that light. 

Sylus flicked his gaze to Caleb. Caleb met it with a sidelong glance of his own. And in that instant, they both knew—they’d been caught watching the same thing, wanting the same thing. Caleb cleared his throat and looked away, pretending to stretch his arms. Sylus rolled his neck, annoyed, as if to shake it off.

What the hell are we doing?

Whatever this was… it couldn’t last like this. Not when you looked that happy. And not when they realized how much they wanted to be the reason behind it.

The rest of the afternoon became a blur of spinning colours and chaotic joy. Running from one ride to another—from the log flume to the craziest roller coasters, to the lazy river that drifted to cheesy animation and bubble-blowing speakers. There were cotton candy clouds, hot dogs you regret halfway through eating, and a park-famous crepe so good that Sylus actually licked powdered sugar off his thumb. Even though the communication between the boys didn’t improve much, they managed to stop actively ignoring each other.

As the sun dipped lower and lights around the park started to glow, you tugged them both toward a neon photo booth. 

“Pipsqueak, haven’t you taken enough pictures?” Caleb asked, raising a brow.

“Nope. I want more,” you said firmly, folding your arms.

“We can’t say no to your wishes,” Sylus muttered, already pulling back the curtain.

You grinned and climbed in first. They followed, bumping into each other, elbows jabbing awkwardly as you all squeezed into the tiny space. Inside the cramped photo booth, the world felt smaller. Just the three of you, pressed shoulder to shoulder, the glow of the screen painting your faces in warm, shifting colours lights.

Somewhere between the shutter clicks and the shared, too-close space, Sylus and Caleb felt it—that subtle pull in their chests, like someone had plucked a string deep inside them. A tender melody strumming against their ribs. Could it be…?

Sylus watched, captivated, as your eyes crinkled with laughter, as your fingers danced over the glass screen choosing filters. His mind, without permission, flickered back to that night: the dream, the heat, the confusion. Wine or not, it didn't matter right. The only thing that should have his attention... was you.

He leaned in, just slightly, close enough to catch your scent, and you glanced at him, smiling so effortlessly. Sylus knew that whatever was stirring between him and Caleb was just a shadow. You were the sun. And right now, he didn’t want to look away.

Caleb, on the other side, chewed the inside of his cheek, gaze flickering between your profile and Sylus’s calm face. He couldn’t quite untangle why he’d acted so strange lately. Why Sylus’s presence irritated him in ways it never had before. Why everything felt so volatile between them. The tension, the heat and the dream. No, he pushed that away.

Eventually, he would talk to Sylus. He had to but not now. Today, you had asked them to come. You’d looked at both of them with so much hope, so excited for something simple and joyful. And how had he repaid you? With silence and selfishness. Had let his confusion spill into silence, let his pride get in the way. A knot of guilt twisted in his chest. You deserved more than their mess. 

Both leaned in slightly as the next picture snapped, eyes half on the screen, half on you. Maybe, just maybe, it was time they stopped running from what this was becoming. And started showing up like they meant it.

As the countdown ticked down—

3… 

You were mid-laugh, eyes crinkled, your head tilted back just slightly, the sound like sunlight caught in motion.

2… 

Then, as if tugged by the same invisible string, they shifted. Sylus leaned closer, his breath catching at the edge of your shoulder. Caleb mirrored the movement, drawn by something neither of them could name.

1… 

Their lips brushed your cheeks at the exact same time.

Click.

The flash went off. Your eyes went wide open, caught between shock and something that fluttered low in your stomach. Your mouth parted slightly in surprise, heat blooming across your skin as their lips still brushed against your skin. They were tender in a way that caught you completely off guard. 

As reality came crashing back, they both jolted slightly, pulling away at once. Their gazes locked across you, tension flaring in the space between them as a lightning strike.

You blinked, cheeks flushed, heartbeat stuttering. “Guys…?” But they were already sliding out of the booth, one after the other, in complete silence. You sighed, shoulders sagging as the machine spit out the photo strip with a jingle. In the tiny, glossy image, your wide-eyed surprise was perfectly framed by two pairs of lips pressing against your cheeks. 

You exhaled, slowly. Something had definitely shifted and no matter how sweet the photo looked…

“Are you sure it’s not you?”

You stepped out of the booth with a weak laugh, waving the photo strip in your hand like it was no big deal even though your heart still hadn’t found its rhythm. The theory of Rafayel must be wrong.

“Well, that was… something,” you said, forcing a smirk. “Should I be flattered or worried about the synchronised kissing act?”

Neither of them answered. Caleb was looking anywhere but at you. Sylus had his hands in his pockets. Okay, cool. Very normal and not awkward at all. 

You cleared your throat and tucked the photo away in your bag. “Alright, weirdos. Time for our penultimate ride—House of Terror. And no, I’m not letting either of you chicken out.”

That at least earned a noise from Caleb, something like a scoff, and Sylus gave a short nod. 

When you reached the haunted attraction, the line was already forming. You turned to the boys, motioning to the side. “Give me a few minutes. I just need to go to the bathroom.” You braced yourself for the usual teasing: a sarcastic comment, a smug joke about you stalling because you were scared. But there was nothing. They fell silent again. What a fucking pain in the ass... Caleb and Sylus were already in line, standing stiffly apart, not even looking at you. You frowned, but didn’t push it. “Okay... be right back,” you said out loud.

The cool tiles of the bathroom provided a momentary escape. You splashed cold water on your face, staring at your reflection in the mirror, but all you could see was the image of the photo booth. The flash, the close proximity, and then… their lips on your cheek. Both of them.

A bewildered little flutter started in your chest, blossoming into a full-blown pounding. They'd always been affectionate, especially when you were vulnerable—soft kisses pressed to your hair when you were sick, comforting pats on your shoulder when you fail a test. But those had never carried this weight, never given so much space for interpretation. This felt different.

Caleb was usually more touchy in a familiar, almost brotherly way. He was always more openly affectionate than Sylus, quick to pull you into a hug, to press his forehead against yours to check for a fever. So a casual kiss, while surprising, wasn't entirely out of character. And Sylus…? He was usually so reserved, more of a hand-kisser, a chivalrous, almost old-world gesture. For him to lean in, to actually connect his lips to your skin in that confined space…

Did they do that on purpose? The thought sent a fresh heat through you, your heart hammering a frantic rhythm against your ribs. The mirror showed the full extent of your blush. What should I do with this now? The answer remained elusive, caught in the rapid beat of your own pulse.

When you returned, the line had moved forward and so had they. Or… not? You checked the queue, scanned the crowd. Nothing. You stood on tiptoe, peeking around the winding barriers. Panic fluttered in your chest as you pulled out your phone. A quick text:

Group Chat: Apple, Pomegranate & Me

You: “Where the hell are you?”

You tried calling. Voicemail. First Caleb. Then Sylus. Your stomach tightened. Had they gone in without you? You stood there a little longer, your hand curling around your phone like it might suddenly ring. You took a slow breath in through your nose and tried to ignore the sting in your eyes. This was supposed to be fun. 

Fine. Fuck them! 

You turned on your heel and headed for the food stand nearby, your mouth tight. If they wanted to act like moody children, they could do it without you.

You bought yourself a towering soft-serve cone that you hadn't really wanted. You found an empty bench near the main plaza, the ice cream already weeping sticky trails down your fingers. You watched, numb, as couples laughed and children squealed, wrapped in a happiness that felt miles away. You remained there, a quiet observer, as your ice cream melted and the insecurity and confusion inside you grew louder with each passing minute.

Definitely, what a mess…

══════════════════

The haunted house was darker than either of them expected, less flashing lights and cheap jump scares, more creeping shadows and eerie silence. Their footsteps echoed against the wooden floorboards as they moved through narrow hallways twisted with cobwebs and artificial fog.

Caleb kept his hands shoved in his hoodie pockets, eyes flicking left and right. Sylus walked slightly behind, the darkness itself had set his nerves on edge. They turned a corner into a pitch-black corridor, only faint red lighting flickering from overhead. A skeleton dropped from the ceiling with a mechanical whirr.

Caleb flinched. “Fuck—”

Sylus didn’t even blink. But then, he stopped walking and turned around slowly.

“Where is she?”

Caleb blinked at him. “Huh? I thought she was behind you .”

Then Sylus clicked his tongue, his jaw tightening. “Are you kidding me? You didn’t check?”

“I thought she was just being quiet, like usual in these things!” Caleb snapped, his voice rising. “I thought—" Caleb ran a hand through his hair, panic seeping into his voice.

Sylus muttered something for himself, pushing past a curtain that led to the next section. The winding, labyrinthine layout of the haunted house stretched behind them, filled with flickering lights and the occasional jump-scare actor popping out with mechanical screams. But nothing could spook them more than the realization that you were missing and they hadn’t even noticed.

“Caleb,” Sylus snapped, voice low, rough with a sharp edge. "We need to talk about what happened."

Caleb didn’t answer right away, eyes scanning the narrow hall as if hoping to find you and dodge the conversation at once. “Tsk…” he exhaled through his nose. “There’s nothing to talk about. We were high. You were trying to help. That’s it.”

Sylus grabbed his sleeve and yanked him back, slamming him hard against the fake stone wall. A plastic skeleton jolted on its hook beside them, creaking ominously. The overhead light flickered again, casting jagged shadows over Sylus’s face. 

Caleb’s hands clenched at his sides but he didn’t shove him back. “I’m not doing this here.”

“Is a bit too late for that” His voice dropped low, irritated. Caleb tensed, eyes flicking away, but Sylus leaned in, not letting him escape. “If it were nothing, we wouldn’t be so fucking weird,” Sylus said. “We didn’t even notice she was gone. We’re acting like idiots. So…” he tilted his head, eyes narrowing, “Appleboy, tell me it was nothing.”

“Then what do you want me to say?” he barked.

Sylus leaned in, their faces barely inches apart. “Go ahead. Lie to my face.” The flickering light caught the briefest flash of hesitation in Caleb’s eyes. Outside, laughter echoed from another group. Inside, it was dead silent. Caleb didn’t answer. His throat bobbed, and his fingers curled at his sides. 

Caleb looked him straight in the eyes. “We need to find her.” Sylus sighed, stepping back with a shake of his head. 

Sylus’s expression didn’t soften. “We’re not done.” 

══════════════════

The golden hour had already passed. The warm glow that bathed the amusement park earlier had faded into cooler hues, shadows stretching long between attractions. The crowd was thinning. Somewhere in that shift, it had become painfully obvious:

You were gone.

Sylus stormed past a row of empty carnival booths, his phone pressed to his ear for the tenth time. Nothing, straight to voicemail.

“Where the hell is she?” he muttered.

Behind him, Caleb jogged up, slightly out of breath, scanning the area. “Pipsqueak!” he shouted, hands cupped around his mouth. 

They looked at each other, both flushed, both too stubborn to admit out loud what they were both thinking. They’d fucked up.

Far across the plaza, Rafayel’s voice cut through the growing dark. “Still nothing?”

Sylus shook his head.

“Nothing here either,” Tara said, slipping her phone back into her jacket pocket. “She’s not answering me or Gideon.”

Gideon, who had joined reluctantly but now looked fully invested, let out a low whistle. “You sure she’s still in the park?”

Rafayel sighed and pulled a folded map of the park from his coat. “Then let’s split up.”

An hour ago

Caleb had sunk onto a bench, elbows on his knees, fingers tangled in his hair. He looked like a kicked puppy. Sylus stood stiffly nearby, arms crossed, eyes locked on the path trying to find you in the crowd.

From across the plaza, hidden half-heartedly behind a cotton candy stall, Tara lowered her sunglasses. Rafayel had stopped mid-sketch, his pencil dangling from his fingers. Gideon looked between the two of them, blinking slowly, eating the last bite of candid almond to his mouth.

“Something’s off,” Rafayel muttered. He was already moving before the others could reply.

“Wow,” Tara said, stepping in front of them with a tilt of her head. “You two really know how to ruin a date.” The trio approached the still-frozen boys.

“Wasn’t a date,” Sylus mumbled, still staring ahead.

“Could’ve fooled literally everyone,” Rafayel said. “Including yourselves.”

Gideon placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “What the hell are you doing, man?”

“Leave me alone,” Caleb said hoarsely. He didn’t lift his head. “I could ask you the same.”

“Clearly spying,” Sylus muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose like it might somehow make the migraine go away. “Let me guess—this was the idea of that lousy artist.”

“I was trying to help,” Rafayel replied coolly, arms crossed. “You’re welcome.”

Then Tara cut in, voice sharp and cold. “So? Where’s Y/N?”

Silence.

Sylus finally turned his head slightly. “We… don’t know.”

They split off in different directions, hearts pounding, scanning every cluster of people, every corner of the park. They ran through the winding paths and fading golden light, desperate to spot you in the crowd.

Footsteps hit the pavement, sharp and urgent, echoing through the thinning evening air.

“Pipsqueak!” Caleb's voice, ragged with exertion.

“Kitten!” Sylus's call, sharp with worry, followed close behind.

A head snapped up from the bench near the towering Ferris wheel. There you were, sitting on a bench. The soft glow of neon lights painted your skin in pastel tones, the sharp edges of frustration still clinging to your expression. Relief hit them like a wave. Caleb slowed, breath catching, while Sylus came to a sudden halt. You blinked up at them.

“Hey!”

Caleb practically skidded to a halt, his eyes falling to your propped-up foot. A small blue ice pack clung to your ankle, secured with a bit of napkin and stubbornness. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, already crouching down beside you, eyes searching your face like he might’ve missed something worse.

You let out a half-scoff, half-sigh. “This?” You gestured at your ankle. “You big assholes disappeared so I went off to enjoy the park by myself. Then I tripped on a stupid stone on the way to the restroom.”

Sylus dropped to one knee on your other side, his brows furrowed as he gently lifted your hand holding the phone. The screen was dark. “Did your phone break, kitten? You didn't answer any calls.”

“Oh, yeah, it's empty.” The black screen was waved dismissively. “I didn’t realize how low it was. Figured I’d sit a while and then limp home.”

Then Caleb’s voice, softer than you'd expected. “We’re sorry. For everything. For not waiting. For the way we’ve been acting.”

You raised an eyebrow, lips tight. “You better be sorry.” You glanced between the two of them. “Because this was supposed to be fun. Instead, I’ve got a bruised ankle and babysitted two grown ass men.”

Sylus didn’t flinch at your tone. If anything, his gaze softened. “We really screwed up.”

“You think?” you muttered. You looked away, biting the inside of your cheek. “You two need to figure out whatever the hell is going on between you before dragging me along again.”

They both nodded.

You let out a breath. “Now help me up, I’m tired and I want to go home.” Sylus offered his hand. Caleb steadied your other side.  As they helped you to your feet, you leaned on both of them.

“You know what?” you said, eyeing them both. “You don’t just get my forgiveness for free.”

Caleb glanced at you, wary. “Are you going to punish us?”

“Hell yes! You’re taking me to the arcade next weekend. No excuses.”

Sylus raised a brow. “That’s it?”

“Oh, I’m not done.” You poked Caleb in the ribs and turned to Sylus. “You’re carrying me home tonight, on your back.”

He opened his mouth, probably to protest, but you cut him off with a sweet smile.

“And for the next two weeks, snacks and beer. From both of you. I don’t care who buys what, but if I’m craving chips at midnight, I expect someone at my door. Oh, and I want to see that romantic summer movie.”

“The one with the tourist and the beach girl?” Sylus clarified.

“Yeah, that one. And I want caramel popcorn.”

“You shouldn’t eat so much junk, Pips,” Caleb interjected.

“Hush! I choose how you compensate me for today.”

Caleb groaned softly. Sylus muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “bossy,” but neither of them objected.

As the three of you hobbled toward the park exit, your arms slung loosely around Sylus’s neck. “You’re heavier than I expected, kitten,” Sylus sighed, carrying you on his back.

“Say that again and I’ll accidentally drop a beer on your precious boots,” you warned, a mischievous glint in your eye.

“She’s threatening you already…” Caleb sighed dramatically, walking beside you and holding your bag.

“You deserve worse,” you replied, poking his side. You wiggled a bit on Sylus’s back, enjoying the subtle shift in his muscles.

Caleb continued, eyeing Sylus with an exaggerated sigh, “If I’d carried her, we’d be home by now. I have more upper body strength.”

Sylus scoffed. “You have more ego, you mean.”

“I bench press more.”

“Congrats. Want a sticker?” Sylus’s voice was deadpanned, dripping with sarcasm.

You groaned. “You two are exhausting.”

Despite everything, you laughed, a soft, real sound that warmed the air around you. You leaned your cheek against Sylus’s shoulder, eyes fluttering closed for just a second as the neon park lights flickered in the distance. Caleb glanced over and softened, watching you with something warm and quiet in his gaze, the remnants of their bickering fading into the gentle hum of the night.

Release every 1-2 week

A/N The chapter feels a bit week, but still we have this three moving forward somehow. I hope I don't lose track of the story, cause I'm a bit tired, not of writing. I pressed "Salt on my Skin" in the middle of this, and my energy in Ch. 8 was low. Hoping to pick up the pace for the upcoming events. We are more or less half way from the ending.

Small Easter egg to "Salt on your skin" Did you catch it?

Nav: Ch. 1 / Ch. 2 / Ch. 3 / Ch. 4 / Ch. 5 / Ch. 6 / Ch. 7 / Ch. 8 / Ch. 9 (coming soon) // AO3

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[little-one-eyed-monsters]

So, I'm breaking my silence.

Hello friends from the BL side of Tumblr!

To my followers and mutuals, this blog has actually been on hiatus for a few weeks now. Aside from the occasional reblog, I haven't been posting as frequently as I used to.

I didn't mean to go on hiatus, but the primary reason I went on a much-needed break is because for the past couple of weeks, my asks and inbox have been plagued by some members of a particular solo fandom hell-bent on accusing me of spreading hate towards their artist in favor of another. These star-adjacent sasaengs apparently saw one of my "Hot Takes" here shared on X, and got it in their heads that I was hating on their "blonde baby" and siding with the "grandpa" (words THEY USED in the ACTUAL message! It would be so funny if it wasn't so convoluted).

Now, I don't know how a 24 year-old fully grown-adult became so helpless and infantilized in their eyes that they started calling him "my baby", and how a 34 year-old in the peak of his physique and career got labelled as a grandpa, but hey, what makes sense to these people right? I also don't understand how my Hot Takes, which stated verbatim that it's their agencies at fault, and labelled BOTH artists of the ship as victims (with me outlining how bad the backlash will get for each of them), could be seen as me "hating" on either actor. Just because I said that one artist, who is TEN YEARS YOUNGER than his former ship partner, doesn't have an actual criminal record, and has not been blacklisted on Thai media yet, will... recover his career? That I'm forecasting that he will... be okay in the long run? What do y'all want me to say, that your bias is SUFFERING MORE than his partner? That he needs our pity and protection?

Well yeah, he probably is suffering. But you lot isn't helping him any, with the way you're pitting them against each other. It seems you all have gone meta yourselves, too.

Anyway, I'm not new to the hate and drama that comes with delulu solo stans--this really isn't my first fandom rodeo, and with me working in media the way I do, I know hate is par for the course. But what really upset me most was that they came after me here on Tumblr-- the one social community I've been trying to keep as positive and as fun for myself and for my peers.

I love the discussions being done here, as they range from the random to the unhinged to the very introspective.

I love that I get to learn so much from other people who are self-professed (and actually professed) experts of this genre that's so new, unique, and highly unpredictable. I love that, even if I'm not a member of a fandom or actively voice my misconceptions about certain artists, some people take the time to correct my information and respectfully engage in communication. I love that I can say my honest opinions on here and be met with open and healthy discussion instead of hostility.

To have this safe little haven be taken away, just because some fans wanted to live out an RPF fantasy is unimaginably heartbreaking to say the least.

But what really took a toll on me was the doxxing. I posted here that I finished my PhD a few weeks ago, and attached a carefully cropped photo of my Master's thesis and Dissertation side by side. I wanted to keep my anonimity here on Tumblr (the same way these haters couldn't even turn off anon just to flood my inbox), so I removed my identity and the name of the universities I went to, but I also wanted to share this huge career milestone that I was genuinely proud of, so I posted that photo thinking I would be safe. One of the little shits reverse-searched the image and found my personal X and Facebook accounts, and started spamming me on there, INCLUDING COMMENTING ON MY PROFESSIONAL POSTS. My fault for keeping my security features lax I guess, but seriously, just because I said your fave should leave his company? You want to destroy me for documenting the very public downfall of a three week-old fandom?

Anyway, after I cleared all that mess up, reported who needed to be reported and almost filed lawsuits of my own (but just reverted to tightening my security and taking advantage of socmed's block features), I spent a few weeks unplugged to take time for myself. Spend time with friends and family, eat some good food, get some sleep. Watch my shows without the audience, enjoy media again the way it's supposed to be consumed.

And I'm back because as the dust settled, I realized I shouldn't let others' negative behaviors impact the way I engage with the media that gives me both joy and emotion in equal measure. I can't let them take that away from me and from others who also view these small communities as a safe space. At the end of the day, we're supposed to consume media not through merch and trends, but through discussions and shared experience.

And if keeping my blog the way it is--introspective and HONEST-- is the best way to combat toxic fandom culture, then so be it.

I refuse to refute my Hot Takes or opinions. These are mine and you're free to make yours, but you don't get to come after me just because you don't agree with what I say. I'm not even going to mention you all or give you the exposure you so clearly desire, and since you follow me I'm sure you'll see this post either way. Keep your negativity while I keep my positivity on my little corner of the internet.

Anyway, that's my piece posted and settled. It's also my official return to Tumblr blogging (but maybe in small increments, this whole thing really took a toll on me). I'm accepting asks once again and will work through the proper ones already sent my way. All my love and thanks to wonderful friends @silverquillsideas, Kat and Dori over at @dramalove247, Key of @thebroccolination, and the people over at the KristSingto and BossNoeul discord servers for being such bringers of joy, even though I wasn't exactly opening up about what I was going through. You guys are rockstars and thank you for being such good people.

That's all and stay kooky folks (but not too kooky 😅)!

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Learning to celebrate the little wins!

[ultravioletbrit]

“hold” - Jegulus microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 488 words

this, but make it jegulus (i tried to get it as close to the original as possible)

Remus is sitting in an armchair doubled over with laughter. Sirius has fallen out of his chair and is cackling on the floor with tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. Regulus is sitting on the couch trying his best to stay composed. And James in standing in the middle of the room with more passion and fire in his eyes than Regulus has ever seen.

“Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!” James is shouting.

“James—” Regulus tries to calmly interrupt.

“HOLD ON!” James looks pointedly at Regulus and his eyes look like they’re going to literally pop out of his head. “Her sister was a witch, right?” Regulus is trying so hard to hold back his laughter. “And what was her sister? A princess! The Wicked Witch of the East, Reg.” James is yelling, not unkindly just very passionately, looking directly at Regulus and nodding his head aggressively to emphasize every point.

James starts pacing in genuine distress. Sirius is rolling on the floor holding his stomach and laughing so hard his entire body is shaking. Remus has his hands over his mouth, which is doing absolutely nothing to contain his laughter.

Regulus stands up to meet James in the middle of the room. “I’m gonna stab him.” He mumbles under his breath, which makes Sirius laugh even harder—if that’s even possible.

James whips around to face Regulus. “You’re gonna looks at me and you’re gonna tell me that I’m wrong? Am I wrong?” James asks emphatically.

And the thing is—James is, in fact, very wrong. “It’s my favorite—” Regulus tries to interject but can’t even get a word in.

“She wore a crown, and she came down in a bubble, Reg!” And that proves absolutely nothing.

Regulus knows he’ll never get James to listen to him. “I’m not fighting with you.” He shakes his head, chuckling fondly.

James makes his way out of the living room. “Grow up!” He says over his shoulder.

“I’m not fighting with you.” Regulus says again.

“Grow up.” James seems to be losing steam as he leaves the room.

“Get educated!” Regulus yells then flops down on the couch and finally lets his laughter out.

Eventually Regulus, Sirius and Remus’ laugher fades into soft chuckles as they calm down and take several deep breaths to compose themselves.  

It’s a few minutes later when James appears in the doorway with a sheepish look on his face—that Regulus thinks is adorable. He slowly makes his way over to the couch and sits down beside Regulus. He’s quiet for a few moments then turns slightly to look at Regulus.   

“I’m not really mad.” James says in a small voice. “And you know I love you, right?”

Regulus chuckles fondly and takes James’ face in his hands. “Yes, I know you love me, Jamie.” He leans in to kiss James softly then pulls back the tiniest bit. “But you’re still wrong.” Regulus whispers against James lips.    

[cementcornfield]

Zac: gives Joe a game ball to reward him for ANOTHER 5-TD game

Joe: I don't want this 😐

[quirinah]

I hope they explode

[royalich]

Lace, possessed and speaking directly to Rook: You took everything from us, and you thought you won. But we're still here. We will endure. In spite of you.

Lucanis: 😌🙂‍��️😌🙂‍↕️

Spite, from behind Lucanis' eye: 😂😈👹

Rook: 😐🫥😶‍🌫️

Solas, from behind Rooks eye: ✌️🙂😔

[atopvisenyashill]

IF YOU LIKE THIS ASOIAF CHARACTER, I THINK YOU’LL LIKE THIS FARSCAPE CHARACTER

i did a “all gays” thing for my birthday last year but i was too lazy this year. instead here is my opinion of farscape & asoiaf characters, comparing characters i think are similar.

if you like theon greyjoy…i think you’ll like john crichton (he’s the main character).

Conga Line Of Trauma

Very loose grip on reality

Struggles with choosing between the family he’s been kidnapped into and the family he was born into

Top Two best story arcs about male victims of sexual trauma imo

Copes by imagining himself as a character in a story rather than face his reality

Pathetic wet cat of a man

if you like jaime lannister…i think you’ll like aeryn sun

theyre hot shit and everyone knows it even though they hate it - the ☀️ radiant aeryn sun☀️ and “was there ever a man as beautiful and terrible”

Well known for being good at their job (which is killing people)

Idealist that got that idealism beaten out of them

constantly repressing emotions

an arc that is very romance centered but atypical as a traditional romance

if you like brienne and/or sandor…i think you’ll like ka d’argo.

Young, experienced but not too experienced military type

Struggles with idealism and what being a soldier/knight should mean

Not forthcoming about backstory

Struggles with temper

Cool And Important Weapon And Mount

Considered mindlessly violent by many

Very weird about romance and sex

if you like catelyn stark…i think you’ll like pa’u zotah zhaan

religious and maternal

pacifist tendencies but also will cut a bitch if pressed

Infamous for being unpleasant

Traumatic death scenes

Questionable relationship with the concept of dying and staying dead

MILFs

if you like sansa and arya stark…i think you’ll like chiana

Their Series’ Hottest It Girls

Idolizes rebellion leading older brother (who ultimately abandons her in favor of his rebellion)

Desperate for family

Holds emotions close, but highly emotional

Taste for finer things in life

Baby of the group

Struggles with grief and anger

Spunky go getter

Questionable taste in romantic relationships

if you like tyrion lannister….i think you’ll like scorpius

mother died birthing him and he struggles with this immensely

tormented by a crazy ruthless woman in power

feels betrayed by a lover of a lower social status just trying to get by and gets real violent over it

The Anti Villain - has very good reasons to be insane but holy shit is he insane

Always survives despite all odds against him

If you like Joffrey Baratheon…I think you’ll like Dominar Rygel XVI (hear me out!)

Absolute ruler who faces civil war

Wildly misogynistic weirdo

Weak grasp on morality

Turned into a violent, selfish asshole as a trauma response

Hates women yet his deepest, most profound and intimate relationships are with a woman he’s not even fucking

Remains selfish and violent throughout the story but also, if you talk shit about him i will throw hands

if you like samwell tarly…i think you’ll like Pilot.

Couple of sweet fools

Underrated for being a bad ass

Intimate relationship with a Very Cool Lady From A Bad Situation (gilly/moya. moya is a living ship btw).

Just wants to be a nerd and hang with his gf (again, gilly and moya)

Doesn’t believe in himself the way he should

if you like stannis baratheon…i think you’ll like bailar crais.

Is he a hero? is he a villain? is he an anti villain? is he an anti hero? you decide!

loses his everloving mind after his brother dies

sad traumatic childhood backstory

an arc focused on what service and leadership means

[SPOILER REDACTED]

HE thinks he’s the straight man in a circle of freaks and he thinks this while being objectively the biggest freak there

and last but not least let’s go to my babies!!!!

if you like bran stark…i think you’ll like stark.

Overwhelming magical abilities

Connects magically in intimate, voyeuristic ways

Potentially unkillable

Considered a sweetie by Local MILF (his mom/zhaan)

Struggles processing a personal loss

A narrative focus on the importance of bodily autonomy

Doesn’t have as much screentime/page time as he deserves

[lala-blahblah]

I will never make this because it would be for an audience of one (me) but ever since reading "If we Were Villains" (story about serious drama kids in college who perform shakespeare and deal with a murder) I have been entertaining the thought of a crack fic crossover with High School Musical The Musical The Series where the staff decides they will no longer put on shakespeare after the tragic accident that happened at Thanksgiving, because Shakespeare plays would only increase the tension and drama. So they hire Ms. Jen who decides their spring play will actually be High School Musical (which exists in the 90s in this universe) and it ruins the vibe so much that everyone gives up on being dark and mysterious because they're universally pissed at Ms Jen for making them learn choreoraphed basketball dancing.

[the-acid-pear]

Y'know this little throwaway gag is so bizarre to me and I know this game is a bit very different to 2 and 3 but look at Matt's reaction when Jack raids the place in 3:

You'd argue he's simply stopping Jack bc he hates this guy and he also hates this job which Could Be True but i highly doubt bc overall despite his virginity and overall cursed vibe, Matt seems to be a good employee, by all means (I mean, Peter literally gave him a vacation instead of firing him in 2, so that says a lot).

Plus, Dave hates this guy as much as he hates him! He literally always calls him creepy and, AND!

This is the only footage you get of the prize corner in 2. Which is also the first game to show Matt and Dave's disdain for one another, Dave being likely more scared of Matt than Matt will ever be of him.

Which is all very curious. 2 does set a drastic change for Matt too with him going from being just strange to outright creepy, so was the old pizza place closing something that actually affected him or was he consistently that creepy all along? And if the later, did he just start hating Dave after that or did they always have beef and they simply had some sort of arrangement (or even higher word from Steven who tended to let Dave do whatever he wanted in general) that let him do so?

[moe-broey]

I don't think this is Moe's first offense (saying something brazen/flippant) but I do think it's the first time it's called the King a bitch. And it won't be the last! The funniest part of Anna being the one to take charge and chew Moe out is that it gives Moe the opportunity to do The Exact Same Thing to Alfonse one-on-one (you know... to test the waters... to see how he feels about it....). Which it is. Also promptly chastised for.

FAVE PANELS...

[pynkhues]

https://www.tumblr.com/pynkhues/766748848331898880/growing-up-in-a-cattle-station-family-in-rural?source=share

This is kind of blowing my mind--I'm American and we are obviously a very big country, but I'm trying to imagine anyone having so much land (or just so much land being available anywhere) that they would have to drive four hours even to reach the edge of their own property

Yeah, I mean!! Australia's a big country, and - globally speaking - no one lives here, lol. I can't articulate to you how small some towns in rural/remote Australia are, despite the country's size, but mm, okay, I'll try, haha:

When I did that particular tour of rural Queensland [I live in Melbourne, Victoria, but 'm from Brisbane originally, which is the capital city of Queensland], it was a part of a creative project funded by the state archive to build a food memory of Q, and a part of that was taking celebrity chefs to remote parts of the state to help people write about passed-down family recipes. It was genuinely one of the most fun jobs I ever had, and I met so many interesting people, and I think about it all the time, haha.

In that, we flew into Mount Isa, which is a mining town, and then just - - drove! For hours! And the landscape just alternates between this:

And this:

(Both of these are literally just Mount Isa too)

It honestly is such a unique landscape, and when you're out in it truly, you don't feel like there's anyone else in the world. Like, God, half of Australia's entire population lives between Sydney and Melbourne! That's always crazy to me, especially given the breadth of the country. Jodie Foster filmed a movie here years ago and just said she couldn't believe how much of Australia was untouched, which is a lovely thing to say, but only partially true, of course.

But yeah, like, I also did a year-long freelance writing contract for the Q Department of Education about five years ago, and there are schools there which have literally six students per year level MAX. One school we were preparing child safety documents for was a prep-10 school (a lot of remote schools don't offer year 11 and 12) had eight students total in the entire school.

(Slightly off topic, but a lot of the resources I was writing there were just begging children to stop daring each other to eat kangaroo poo, because they kept getting Q Fever, so there's a little bit of trivia for you, haha).

It's why a lot of kids are still sent out to board in city schools - particularly if they intend to graduate - hence Sam going to school in Sydney doesn't surprise me at all. Again, I don't know if he was a boarder, but Cranbrook offers it and I know anecdotally farm kids tend to board (again, my mum did, and I know a lot of other people who did too), and I know Cranbrook caters to rich rural farming families.

Also just anecdotally, outside of schooling, my sister has been living regionally so when I say she's in family court, she's in a regional one, and one of the things that I hate to say surprised me given what I talk about above was that in the Readiness & Compliance Hearing where a group of us are all getting to hear each other's business, the average time to get to the closest court from remote Australia was 7 hours. So yeah.

Big country, and a very, very dispersed population.

[licorishh]

OK SPOILERS I GUESS FOR BLACK OPS COLD WAR UNDER THE CUT BECAUSE I JUST DID THE HAVANA MISSION AND "BREAK ON THROUGH" AND I'M LITERALLY SO PRESSED RN??

I AM SO UPSET THEY MADE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN HELEN AND LAZAR WHAT EVEN WAS THAT WHY'D IT HAVE TO BE THOSE TWO THEY'RE LITERALLY MY FAVORITES OF THE NEWER CHARACTERS WHY

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THEY HAD CRAZY GOOD CHEMISTRY AND I WAS LITERALLY SITTING THERE THE WHOLE TIME DURING THAT MISSION THINKING "Dang y'all make a good couple y'all got it goin' on" BUT NO OF COURSE NOT THIS IS CALL OF DUTY WHERE NO ONE IS HAPPY AND GOOD ENDINGS DON'T EXIST AND LOVE IS A LIE

I struggled for like fifteen minutes just sitting there on the pause menu trying to pick UGHHH but I ended up going with Helen in the end simply because I think she can bring slightly more value to the team (NOT TO SAY LAZAR IS USELESS HE'S EXTREMELY HANDY AND VERY COOL AND I LOVE HIM) just because of her connection with MI6 and her ability to gather intel and all that good stuff and I'm just ever so slightly more attached to her as a character and I also got the impression Lazar really liked her a lot so I would've felt worse saving him and knowing he missed her like a crap ton so in the end I think I made the better decision

HOWEVER COMMA THEN WE HAVE "BREAK ON THROUGH" AND I'M LITERALLY SO MAD BC WDYM ADLER WAS LYING AND I LITERALLY DON'T EVEN KNOW THE GUY AND I HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIFE AND I WAS THE GUY ARASH KADIVAR SHOT IN THE BEGINNING IN THE MISSION WITH WOODS AND MASON AND ADLER LIKE WHAT?? WDYM THOSE MEMORIES IN VIETNAM WEREN'T REAL?? WDYM I'VE ACTUALLY KNOWN ADLER FOR LIKE TWO DAYS AND NOT TWENTY YEARS?? Wdym HUDSON was actually RIGHT to be worried about me going into the Lubyanka building?????? HUDSON?? RIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING?? NUH-UH

And wdym PARK KNEW THE WHOLE TIME LIKE GIRL I THOUGHT WE WERE BESTIES WHAT IS THIS!! YOU HAD ME RISK MY NECK FOR YOU INSTEAD OF MR. LOVER BOY AND NOW I FIND OUT YOU WERE FRICKIN LYING TO ME THE WHOLE TIME TOO LIKE?? I'm aware it was for the greater good and that technically it was good for Bell too bc now she's a good guy and isn't a bad guy (I play with female Bell to be clear because that's awesome and I love that that's an option) BUT Y'ALL STILL LIED TO ME?? I'm gonna keep an eye on those two for REAL now like watch as Adler frickin tries to offer me up as some sacrificial lamb at some point I just KNOW he will UGH

Idk I'm still holding out hope Lazar is alive somehow because technically I didn't actually see him die he was just lying there and I felt so AWFUL UGHHH

Anyway I'm going to carry on pretending he's fine and he got out and everything is hunky dory and great and he and Helen went on that date and they're together and everything is fine and wonderful

[justaballoffluff]

my brain has been almost entirely consumed by knitting and crochet the past few weeks and I don't really know what to do about it. plus I've been working on my term paper for Ancient Egypt, which has taken up a lot of my brain space as of late

went to the Museum of Natural History today and I got a mammoth plush!

her name's Lana since it means "down, soft fleece, wool". plus it follows Tullia the Leopard Shark that I got last year for my birthday

[apocalypticdemon]

had. a really weird reaction to posting my fic. just like. internally. i'm gonna keep truckin' along, and work through the ideas i have, see where that leads me. though i can't help but think that i should try to stay with things that are more conventional.

which is why it is extremely funny to me that i had my first clear idea of prose for a fic that i *know* is more niche than the last one I posted. i am starting to see plot trajectories for it. this is fine