#wine caddy

[mortally-beloved]

writing my second caddy fic 🫶

[yetanotherthriftblog]

Indulge your inner wine mom.

[nohoney]

touya x drug dealer! reader has been an idea that i’ve been wanting to do for a while. i had thoughts of cute flowing dresses, flutes of champagne, strawberries with brown sugar, and a powdery compact mirror with a credit card lined with white at the edge ♡

Touya hates going to the country club. He hates having to get ready to wear the stupid polo shirt and pressed pants his mother picked out for him. He hates having to take out most of his face jewelry, only leaving his eyebrow piercing as a slight rebellion to irritate his father. It’s all so annoying to him but to be fair—

They all hate going to the country club together.

It’s only an obligation for them to attend as a family. To show up so that Enji’s professional business ties can remain intact if the event is important enough. It’s the only time everyone agrees together as a family. Despite the fact that going to the country club is meant to be a luxurious get away, the Todoroki’s see it as anything but.

With the exception of Shouto who is too young to partake in anything, the rest of the family cope in their own ways to survive an agonizing event that none of them want to attend.

Enji smokes in private with the other men, Rei quietly nurses a glass of white wine as she makes polite conversation with the other wives, Fuyumi and Natsuo discreetly pass a weed pen between one another, and Touya…

Well he’s got his special friend that he knows where to find.

All throughout the club, there’s little signs that lead to a certain someone who exchanges little treats for just the right price. It could be money or it could be secrets or something else entirely, but the exchange given has to be deemed equal in value to what is handed out. There’s bouquets that are found throughout the entire club, all seemingly of the same variations except for one flower that’s meant to point you in a certain direction.

Touya walks through the club, noting the one flower that sticks out in the bouquets as a subtle sign of where to find you.

Following the secret path, it leads him this time to a room with only a single piano in the center and the white curtains drawn over the windows.

It’s a beautiful grand piece of shiny, lacquered black and is maintained regularly in its tuning. No music is being played though, all that’s heard is the tinkling laugh from one of the two people that are sitting on the piano bench. Touya walks with his hands in pockets, leisurely in his step when he approaches you. Next to you is the caddy that often accompanies your father on the golf course, amber eyes lifting to him and giving him a friendly nod.

“Touya, so nice to see you again!” you greet with a warm smile. You’re graceful in the way you stand up from the piano bench, sliding your hand along the caddy’s shoulders as you make your way to Touya. He leans down, used to the customary greeting of kissing each cheek from you. The perfume you wear is new, smelling more like citrus and freesia than the usual florals he’s used to.

Turning back to the caddy, you wave him off. “I’ll meet you later Keigo, okay?”

The feathery blonde haired caddy stands from the piano bench, pressing a kiss to your temple first before making his way out.

“So, what can I do for you today Touya? You wanna be perked up? Or you wanna relax?” You ask him immediately, leaning against the grand piano and clacking your manicured nails against the surface.

“You ever think that maybe I’m just here to see you? And nothing more?” Touya playfully nudged his shoe against your ankle, also noting the clean polish of your pedicure. Strappy white heels are your choice of shoe today to compliment your tea dress.

You’re this vision of a good girl, prim and proper, soft and sweet. All the mannerisms you exude are perfected and practiced, taught firmly from the all girls school that you attended. On the surface, you’re just simply the rich daughter to the man who owns the country club. You’re known to love lounging by the pool or reading under the shady trees by the garden. The older adults love to fawn over you, even trying to set you up with suitors but only if they’re screened through your father first.

Rolling your eyes at him, you flash him a smile that sends the message of ‘yeah right’ before you wave him over.

You lift the piano bench where your current stash resides. It’s organized meticulously of all types of different pills and already measured bags of different powders. Nude colored nails hover over the selection that you know him to always get, but you’re polite enough to ask first for confirmation before plucking the packed substances from their spot.

“The usual?”

Touya pulls money out from his pocket, the same exact amount that he’s paid every single time he’s seen you. “The usual.” he confirms.

You hold two baggies for him, one with two blue pills and the other filled halfway of white powder. Touya takes it from you and waits for you to take out the held out cash.

“Mm, this dress doesn’t have pockets. Can’t take it.” you smile as you shut the piano bench, “I’ll take a kiss though.”

Touya smiles back, pocketing his cash alongside the goodies you’ve given him. “Is that how you’re taking payments today? With kisses?”

He knows you want him, you’ve been wanting him ever since he had fucked you at your father’s birthday party just a few months back. He can still recall the champagne he tasted on your lips, the silky material of your party dress as he pushed it over your hips, the smell of peony and honey spritzed onto your skin when he had bit your shoulder. It was an amazing fuck, one that he thought about going back for, but he liked to see you dangle yourself for him. Beg him with those pretty eyes and try to seduce him with low cut dresses or leave lingering touches that you hoped pull him in.

You shrug your shoulders and play coy, stepping into his personal space to smooth your hands along his shoulders as if you were going in to hug him. “Special just for you, I’ll figure it out with the rest.”

His hand slides along the small of your back to pull you in and close the space. “You are so bad.”

“I happen to be a very good girl, my record shows that.”

“Your records were expunged by your dear daddy.”

“So therefore, I have done nothing wrong.” you giggle, “C’mon, stop teasing me like this. You never want to see me outside of this place. I only see you when you and your family come to the club for an event, and you guys always look so miserable.”

“And that’s why I’m here,” Touya’s hand drops lower, grabbing at your ass and relishing your little gasp, “because you help me get through these aggravating events.”

He teases you, has you chasing after him and keeps him entertained whenever he comes to this ridiculously posh club. You play the polite girl when you’re out among the crowd but he’s always felt your eyes on him whenever the two of you are in the same room together. If you could keep your eyes on him the entire time you would, but sadly you have to get pulled aside from so many people. From your inner circle, to polite introductions to your father’s colleagues, to the ones who want a little something to get them through the night. You carry yourself with grace and good posture, more than any girl that he had ever met.

You’re the classiest little drug dealer he knows.

And like every deal, a transaction has to be completed. So he leans down to kiss you, holding you tightly by your waist to bring you closer to him. You’re so eager for him locking your fingers behind his neck, sighing sweetly that makes him reminisce of that night you had together. The plush of your lips takes him back to that night, back when you smelled more floral and warm, when he had found you lounging alone at the pool and bored from your father’s party.

Surprisingly you pull away from the kiss. “I like you Touya, c’mon we had so much fun together at my daddy’s party. Don’t you wanna have fun again?”

“I never said that I didn’t want to do it again.” Touya points out as he takes a seat on the piano bench, “It’s crossed my mind.”

You pout at him, the gloss from earlier kissed off slightly sticky on his lips instead. Carefully you wipe away the remnants of the gloss from his lips, smudging it on the pads of your fingers. “You’re so mean, you know that? Don’t you know to not make your plug mad?”

“Ah, how can I make it up to you, princess? Please oh please,” Touya wryly plays along with you, “what can I do to get back in your good graces?”

You hold out your hand to him, “Take a walk with me.”

Walking out hand in hand with you, he is led out of the piano room and allows you to take him to wherever it is you have in mind. You pass by one person that you give a subtle signal too, Touya observing how they make their way to the piano room with a key in hand. He wonders how much you’ve paid off certain workers inside the country club to help and protect you.

He admires that about you, not being afraid to exercise your power. Maybe it just comes with being a spoiled brat who can get her record wiped clean when she calls her daddy with crocodile tears. All this wealth at your disposal and the only thing that entertains you is being the unofficial country club girl scout for xannies, oxies, and other treats.

Touya is led to different halls throughout the club, some he recognizes more than others, but not as well as you do. These are your grounds after all. The caddy from before is seen talking to a group of gentlemen, the elders clearly enjoying conversation with him if the boisterous laughter and the friendly pats on his back are anything to go by. Hell, Touya’s father is apart of the group and even he looks to be amused from whatever quip the feathery haired young man doled out.

Keigo must sense your presence nearby as he immediately looks up to see you. You blow an air kiss to him and he pretends to catch it in his fist. Touya can swears that when he looked at you, you mouthed ‘love you’ to him as they passed by.

He doesn’t know much about Keigo, only that he was brought on by you and that he happens to be very charming with many people. Looks wise, he can see why you went for him but Touya hasn’t taken any personal interest to get to know the caddy.

People pass by and give you pleasant greetings, all of which you returned kindly but never paused to have a conversation. There’s excitement running through you as Touya follows behind, wondering where exactly you’re taking him. He can tell by how eager your pace is that gives it away. It’s precious, he enjoys it too much.

You want him that badly.

━━━━✧

Touya’s not sure how he’ll explain to his mother how his pants got so wrinkled, but it’s a thought that gets pushed out of his mind as he smothers you in a kiss. He’s trying to recall his last excuse when his mother questioned how he became so unkept. The answer isn’t quite coming to him; all he can recall is just the adrenaline he had afterwards from fucking you so good. Normally he’s very smooth with his words, lying easily to anyone when it pleases him, but he had gotten pussy drunk off of you and his brain just wasn’t operating the same.

You and that cunt of yours.

He’s almost upset that he’s been denying himself this entire time. There were plenty of nights recalled the sloppy kisses from you, the elegant way you crooked your finger to bring him to you, and when you pulled on the roots of his hair when he had eaten you out. Truthfully he had wanted to chase you just as much when the deed had been done. But as he’s got you on your knees for him, Touya remembers why he decided to not give into you so easily.

“Please Touya? Please, pretty please?”

It’s so sweet when you beg.

He remembers after coming down from the high that arrogant look on your face when he had helped zip your dress back up. That because he had shagged with you then he was surely to come at your beck and call. Instead of giving in, Touya decided that he’d like to see you chase after him. To have you be the one sending text messages or letting late night calls go unanswered, declining private invitations from you to keep you frustrated.

He still has all your voicemails of you breathless and needy, begging softly for him to just want you back.

Your voice is small and pitched, whiny almost as you pathetically tug at his belt as you sink to your knees. You’re practically drooling for it, eyeing his bulge and caressing it gently through the fabric. Christ, he really made you that in love with his cock. “Oh princess, don’t tell me you’ve been pining after me.” He coos over you and tilts your head up to look at him, “All this time?”

“Yes, god yes!” You admit and jut your lower lip in a pout, “I would wait around for you, hoping you’d answer me or even come visit! I’ve always been so nice to you Touya, and you just ignore me!”

It is the spoiled brat in you that’s making you act this way. You’re such a good girl, a nice girl, a pleasant and sweet and pretty girl that there shouldn’t be any reason to give you this awful treatment. That’s how you see it. That you’re the one who blessed Touya with the rare gift of giving him personal access to you so therefore, he should be grateful and be falling at your feet.

Touya has his own pride though.

“Is that darling caddy you’re so fond of not enough for you?”

“I adore Keigo, I love him,” you admit, “but I want you too.”

You want him desperately, slowly crumbling your pride as you beg softly for him. This is what Touya wanted from you. To see you throw a bit of dignity away just for him.

“Yeah? You mean that?” he asks you, using a single finger under your chin to lift your gaze up to him.

“Yes.”

He could probably ask anything of you in this moment if it meant that he’d give himself up to you. Something that you would find worth it for him to finally cure your ache. Admittedly one of his fantasies with you is to use one of your fancy lipsticks to draw the filthiest names on your body and take pictures for evidence. He wants to write slut at your tits, whore written in fat letters on your back, maybe even cumdump on your tummy with an arrow pointing down to your cunt. Touya wonders if that would be too much though.

He wants to demean you so bad, knock you off your high horse and make you look pathetic.

Yet there’s also some desire in him to cherish you too. You are the darling of this club, adored and revered and Touya falls into that crowd too. That it wouldn’t be so bad if you were to wear a dainty necklace with his initial, have you in his car for leisurely joy rides down by the coast, and go on those stupid fancy picnics that you posted on your instagram.

“Need you Touya, need you!” you whine, catching his hand and leaning your cheek into his palm. Aw look at you, trying to look sweet for him, giving him doe eyes and batting your lashes.

There’s some laughter outside, just a small group passing by the room you’ve locked yourselves in for privacy. There’s a little sign that you hung on the door handles: the art gallery is closed. Nearby is a sculpture of a nude woman, crafted by one of the local artists here and was in the club’s newsletter not too long ago. Touya glances to it, finding it beautiful and better in person than in the photo they had taken of it. Art is usually better to see in person anyway-

“Touya!”

You’re not on your knees anymore for him, standing to your feet and smoothing down your dress. Ah, you’re upset now—actually upset at him. “If you don’t want me, then just fucking go. You’ve been playing these games with me and I’m tired!” you huff and try to pick up your heels that you discarded onto the floor when you had locked up the room, “Keep the stuff I gave you, I still won’t charge you for today.”

His hand goes to your wrist and he’s pulling you back to him, wrapping you up in a hug as he hushes you, “Don’t be so upset, it’s not a good look for you.”

“Well I wouldn’t be if you would just look at me!” you almost cry, sinking into his body and making a small noise when he hugs you tighter. “Everyone else wants me, why don’t you? Don’t you want me?”

It surprises him how genuine you’re being. You can’t be this upset, can you?

It makes Touya happy that he can make you this way.

“Never said that I didn’t, princess.” he admits finally, “I like you back, is that all you need to hear?”

He’s given a little nod, feeling your hand press at his bulge again. Your hand caresses his cock through his slacks and you sigh a little, slightly tilting your head up and nosing along his jawline. Touya bites down the smug smile that wants to sprout up on his face—this is how he wanted you, on his terms and not on yours. So now that he’s got you right where he wants you…

“Ow!” you cry out when Touya roughly grabs a handful of your hair right at the root, pulling you just enough to make you look up at him. He holds tightly and coos over your shocked expression, your wide eyes looking up at him with a small sense of betrayal. How could he switch up on you so fast like that? “T-Touya..!”

You pout up at him, your lips tempting him to kiss you.

“You’re not the good girl you make yourself out to be. Like you got everyone wrapped around your little finger, huh?” Touya speaks haughtily, his grip flexing slightly and tugging slightly on the roots of your hair, “Good girls don’t sell drugs out of a piano bench and fuck around with the piss poor caddy that’s so popular around here.”

“Maybe not other girls,” you hiss through your teeth, “but I can.”

You can do whatever you want, it’s how you lived your life. If there are any rules you’ve broken, you’ve always been very good to take care of it yourself mostly. Look at how you flout about, walking around with your pretty heels and waving the help over with darling manicured hands, discreetly handing cash and speaking with the sweetest lilt to get people to do what you please.

Touya snorts, but he does admire you all the same. If he had more drive to do anything, he’d probably be working under you too.

But he hates being inside this stupid country club, which is where you typically are when you’re not traveling or with your own gaggle of friends. This is where you like to work after all, and will be yours to run once your dear daddy passes.

“God, you’re fucking beautiful.” Touya sighs out before leaning down to kiss you. He’s unexpectedly soft considering the tight grip he still has on you, slotting his lips against yours too intimately for someone who also wants to ruin you all the same. It’s a long kiss he gives you, that it even gets the butterflies fluttering inside of his chest.

He pulls back and releases the hold he had on your hair, twirling his finger in a circle to indicate for you to turn around. You present your back to him, getting flashbacks to when Touya had first undressed you. His fingers are cold as he fiddles with the zipper at the back and pulls it down slowly. The dress loosens from your body and you shrug off the thin straps. It falls to the floor in a pool surrounding your feet, and you’re left standing in a little cotton panty that’s lined with lace. Your nipples are perked due to the chill of the room but you don’t bother to cover yourself to retain some modesty.

You’ve been wanting to be like this in front of Touya for the longest time.

You’re given another wordless command, blue eyes briefly glancing down to the hardwood floor. Kicking your dress off to the side, you kneel down in front of Touya once more and watch as he unzips his slacks and pulls his cock through the opening. Your mouth practically waters upon seeing his dick again, so thick and with the prettiest color at the tip you had seen. You’re about to go in when he stops you with a simple little tut.

Glancing up at him, you wonder what he could possibly have to say.

“Don’t get too sloppy, can’t walk out of here with fucking drool stains on my crotch.”

Touya hopes to fuck you in his bed one day, have you squirt on his sheets, and then cum all over your face. But while the two of you are here, the two of you have to be able to come out look presentable. He can’t go as wild as he wants on but he fucking swears that he’s gonna make you fucked out by him one of these days.

You nod in understanding before swallowing his cock into your throat. There’s some dreamy sigh from you as you bob up and down on his cock; you really must have been aching for this. There’s enthusiasm as you swallow all his inches, looking up at Touya and going all doe eyed for him. See how much you wanted him?

He admires your small gags, the way your body lurches when you choke deeply on his cock, but he reminds you again to try to keep your drool from getting on him. Touya wants to fuck your face, he wants to make you cry from fucking your mouth too hard, and even slap your cheek. There’s so much he wants to do but this isn’t the time or place to do any of it.

You’d be pissed off too if he even attempted.

You pull off his cock, a line of drool connecting your lips to his cock still but it gets wiped away quickly by the back of your hand.

Touya grabs your wrist to bring you to your feet, pulling you to the nearest wall to fuck you against. Your hands brace the flat surface, grunting when Touya uses one hand to jut your ass back to him and the other presses your head to the wall. With your back arched, he admires your elegant form under the soft lighting of the art gallery. The lovely still life painting of a bouquet does not compare to how fucking beautiful you are in this moment.

He can’t wait until he can ruin you to tears.

He offers his fingers to your lips, your mouth obediently dropping to lick and spit on them. It tickles a little with the way your tongue drags along his fingers but he doesn’t allow it for long. Touya only needs just enough to finger your hole, even spitting on his own fingers before he does a careful but quick prep after pulling down your panties.

“Oh god… oh fuck…” you mutter, your eyes shutting as relishing in his touch, “Fuck me please!”

“Relax.” Touya is firm in his tone, acting cool and masking the equal desperation that is surging throughout his own body. He wonders if you notice how eager his fingers are to be inside you, biting his lip to force down the wolffish smile on his face when he feels how wet you are. All that teasing before that he had done to you was worth it.

It was worth all of it to lead up to this moment.

His fingers withdraw and he sucks on them, savoring the taste of your slick along his tongue. Touya recalls how he ate you out at your father’s birthday party, driving you wild with his tongue on your clit and the sweet noises you made. It would be nice to do it again.

Your body shudders a little as the head of Touya’s cock nudges against your pussy, a sharp little breath sucked in as the first few inches sink into you. “Fuck!” you quietly curse.

Touya would like to savor this, to take his time and work you up into a sloppy, pretty little mess. To finger your clit until you cry out of frustration and then choke you if you give him an attitude. There’s so many things that he wishes he could do in this moment. But you remind him—

“Please hurry, we can’t be in here for long.”

Because you’ve got people waiting for you. People waiting to eagerly meet you, whether at your piano bench or if you’re needed somewhere else to help maintain your father’s appearance. No matter how much Touya has this vision of what he wants, he knows that he truly can not have you in his own way.

But he’s grateful to get you anyway.

He thrusts in, sinking in smoothly but with a sharp clap of his body meeting yours. Your pussy tightens up on him from the brief shock that is also coupled with a small gasp. His hands grasp your hips tightly and he pounds away at you, noticing how you help with the motion by moving back into him as well. It’s quiet inside the art gallery so all Touya can hear is you and the sound of his skin slapping against yours as he fucks hard into you.

“T-Touya!”

It’s just as sweet as the first time, observing how you occasionally look over your shoulder at him and give him sweet doe eyes again. But this time they’re glazed over, your eyelids dropping as you get lost in the pleasure, relishing in everything that you had been waiting for. Touya wonders how many nights you spent fingering yourself to him, he imagines your embarrassment when he would leave your needy voicemails or nudes in his inbox unanswered, and he dreamt more than a few times of you riding that pretty boy caddy in front of him.

I want to fuck you again.

Those words almost slip out as he reaches a hand to finger your clit. Your knees buckle but you maintain yourself, your own little sounds struggling to be kept in. Touya can feel it already, he can feel you just about ready to snap if the way your cunt is clenching around him is any indicator of anything.

“Please cum, please cum!” you desperately whisper, “Please cum in me!”

I need to fuck you again.

Touya fucks harder to get himself to cum, looking down to see that you’ve creamed all over him. He’s grateful that he pushed his pants down enough so that none of it catches onto his clothes. It’d be nice if you could clean up his cock with your mouth after he cums in you, but you’ve got to come out looking as proper as you can be.

So no hair pulling, no spitting in your mouth, no crying to ruin your makeup, and no marks are to be left.

But if you’re going to beg him to cum in you, you should be able to accommodate a reasonable request.

Touya leans over, feeling his control ready to let go as he’s about ready to burst as he mutters in your ear, “Keep my cum in you, keep me inside you.”

His words have your eyes rolling back, answering him with a jittery nod and a sweet yes hissed into the air. “Yes, fuck yes!”

I am going to fuck you again.

Touya jolts into you one last time, pressing himself so deep that you whine his name. He’s emptying himself into you, spilling cum into that delicious cunt of yours. He chances putting a hand at your throat to choke you, his fingers careful at your windpipe and peering down at you as your orgasm wipes your mind blank and has you going limp that he has to catch you.

And then there’s silence.

He’s holding your body against him, carrying your weight as your mind tries to start back up again. Touya drinks in this moment because he knows he won’t get a repeat of this. He may never get the upper hand again now that he’s given you what you’ve been aching for.

He wants to keep coming back not to just buy off you, but to keep seeing you.

“Good, Touya?” you manage to find your voice and lean back against him, patting your hand against his arms that are still holding you tightly.

“The best.” He answers

You chuckle, nodding your head and still remaining in his hold with his cock in you. He wonders why you haven’t bothered to start making yourself proper—

The door to the art gallery unlocks and it has Touya jolting. All the curse words he knows flash in succession in his mind but you pat your hand against him. “It’s okay, it’s Keigo.”

Sure enough, it is.

The pretty caddy with blond hair is approaching the two of you with two small towels in hand. Had he been waiting outside the entire time?

Touya wonders if every move you’ve made has been calculated. Did you know for sure that he would finally fuck you today after keeping you waiting for so long? And to have your favorite toy waiting on hand to clean you up as well?

He takes the offered towel from Keigo but doesn’t offer a thanks. Touya wipes off the remnants of you off his cock, throwing the towel over his shoulder as he pulls his pants back up. His belt buckle clinks as he makes himself presentable.

“Can we stay and talk for a little Keigo?” you ask leisurely as the caddy places the towel over a wooden bench for you to sit on. You’re smoothing down your hair as you sit down, Keigo kneeling down on one knee to massage your calves. Your dress and heels still lay discarded as you appear to take your time getting ready to leave.

“Just for a little, okay? Hana is looking for you—“ Keigo informs you and laughs a little as you groan at the name. It seems he has the sense to not continue the sentence.

Touya is dressed, his pants not as wrinkled as he hoped they would be. Rei will probably take notice like she did last time but this time, he has enough clarity to give an answer that he knows his mother will not believe but does not have any backbone to question.

He supposes that he should go out there.

He’s got what he wanted anyway.

“See ya princess.”

“I’ll see you out there Touya.” You call to him just as he’s out the door.

Stopping by a restroom first, he puts himself in the privacy of a stall after locking the door. He retrieves the dime bag and admires the scaling of the cocaine inside the plastic. He fishes out a key from his wallet, using the tip of it dip into the bag. He inhales a sizable bump into each nostril, wiping his nose clean before flushing the toilet for the sake of seeming as if he had used the facilities.

He joins Natsuo and Fuyumi, the weed pen offered to him as well but he declines. Just a little further down, Shouto is with two boys that he seems to have made friends with. One of them is blond and huffing his chest while the other has hair the color of an evergreen tree and seems to be the mediator of whatever fuss is going on.

Touya leans back into his seat, just a touch more awake as he tastes the drip at the back of his throat.

━━━━✧

It’s a relief when it’s finally time to leave.

Enji and Rei are side by side, she’s holding onto his arm for balance, teetering slightly to the right but is corrected by her husband as he helps her into the car. Shouto is waving his friends goodbye before going along to Fuyumi’s side. She asks him if she had fun and he answers yes. She is no longer high but Natsuo takes a small hit of the pen one last time to tolerate the car ride.

Touya is about ready to take his place inside the car when he hears his name. He looks back to see you walking towards him and he decides to walk to you so that none of his family eavesdrops.

“Thank you for seeing me today, I really enjoyed your company.” you speak with a bubbly lilt and your smile more pleasant than usual. Of course you’re happy—you and Touya finally fucked again.

“Thanks for having me.” Touya responds a little flatter than he intended to, just trying to keep his family off his tail so that they don’t ask questions.

“Text me later.”

It’s not framed as a hopeful question; you’re telling him to text you.

“I will.”

He means it.

No more ignoring or being coy, not anymore since you got what you wanted and Touya knows that he’s given up the power to you. It was nice to briefly wield it but he knows in the end that you are the one to hold all the cards and have things aligned with how you want them.

Touya avoids his father’s gaze as he gets into the car. He leans back into his seat at the very back of the car, crossing his arms over his chest and feeling the buzz of the coke starting to wind down. He chances looking back and you’ve hung around in your same spot, appearing to see him off.

The windows are tinted and he’s sure that you can’t see him through the glass but you wave anyway, as if knowing that he’s looking at you. He resists waving back.

And as the car starts, someone joins you. Wearing all black and with slightly unkempt white hair, Touya recognizes your foster brother. He’s only seen Tomura around a handful of times—unlike you that leaves a trail to be found, he’s a bit elusive.

The car starts to pull away, Touya watches from his seat as your foster brother leans down to you. One would think that he just leaned down to kiss your cheek but he swears that it was a kiss on the lips. It was hard to tell when enough distance had blurred the interaction.

Not that it matters to him anyway.

Later that night, Touya does as promised and he texts you. All the previous messages in his inbox from you were one sided but now he’ll be expected to reach out to you. Maybe you can meet him at a different place occasionally, take you for a ride in his white mustang or share a sorbet with you in the downtown area.

He knows that he will have to meet you more often at the country club though—it is where you work after all.

Touya hates the country club but he’s only ever gone to have a chance to see you.

[rhonissancee]

Anterograde Amnesia—the inability to create new memories after an event

Hyperthymesia—condition that leads people to be able to remember an abnormally large number of their life experiences in vivid detail

Where hunters learn to heel and prey learn to kill.

THE THREE SPIRES : the lifeline of the city—from bread to silver and wine to fuel.

I. MOND-IVORY. [ In the name of science and medicine.] On top of the rusted steel holds punnets of cut brain stems.

A miasma of despair and rot guised under bleach and antiseptics, where gluttony runs rampant and taints pristine white halls, and truth can be found by blindly shoving your hand into the silver maw of a beartrap. Where blood can be seen rushing through sickly gossamer skin showing off blue and purple veins.

read more about: FAUWNS DISEASE | THE R.A.E DISCOVERY

II. MAEN- LITHIA. [In the name of protection and shields] to fight using teeth as ammunition.

Where the taste of copper is the most familiar and rust is what they bleed. Where loyalty is beaten into them and dog collars are clipped onto napes. A place for 2nd chances but no mistakes. Where they live and breathe to fight and to serve. Meat matters more when it stops bullets for you.

III. GARDEN OF PHAIEL. [In the name of education and politics]

The stolen prairie of Eden synthesized to hold all those who have bitten the forbidden fruit. Where song birds with clipped wings hum a bitter melody and buckets of with crabs continue to claw at each other to reach the rim. An atelier of lies, grapevines bound too tightly on another's throat, and painted smiles for the public.

THE WANING CALENDAR : to honor our founders—the celebrations for kings and paupers.

THE DELLAECROY FAIR .ᐟ [ progress and innovation above all.] Honor your family above all. Serve the city with your hands tied behind your back. Of many loopholes that lead to death.

For those who bleed wine. A final trial to determine the relevance of a certain founding house. In which each family must bring forth a genius to represent them or risk being erased from history. The heir must be of their own flesh and blood. Each heir and the caddy assigned are tasked to work together to create something for the benefit of the city.

Called 'Manus donum'—must be in the form of inventions, creations, or researches and must exist solely for the betterment of the city and to serve its people.

The fair will showcase each of the house's gifts in front of the entire city and will be judged by the highest council. Failure to gain their approval means the eradication of the entire family line—your history, and contributions will be reduced to ash.

The only rule is that cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited. But if one resorts to murder they'll turn a blind eye.

CARPOSVERTTEN .ᐟ [to pluck rotten fruit]

For those who consume bread. In order to be granted access into the Garden of Phaiel, to rid their tainted blood and gain a higher meaning. [To be updated]

THE BEAU DE MONDE [where both blood and wine stain tongues crimson.] comprising of one family and one caddy line.

[Founding Family- great contributors to the creation of this city. An honor, always celebrated.]

[Caddy line- meant to serve under their respective family line. Whatever is needed, they will provide.]

The Dougray Family.

Caddy: The Teauvette line.

The Sinclair Family.

Caddy: The Klaile line.

The Haskelle Family.

Caddy: The Pennrose line.

More to be added → [comprehensive character list]

[chai-berries]

all my friends support palestine and know neil druckmann is a zionist

A Kiss for The Ping Pong Champ (#22)

when manny said he was planning on throwing a party that night, he didn’t tell abby that it was gonna be at their apartment. so when she comes back home, covered in mud and twigs from a dumbass mission she willingly signed up for, it’s to a party in full swing and spilling out of their front door. the mission was a basic one and abby got pretty filthy but she’d take just about anything that means exploring zombie filled treasure troves. her side of the room is steadily filling with books and pins and little trinkets. she had her current “best find yet” in the breast pocket of her jacket.

abby first hears the party from the stairwell and she practically stalks towards the front door, tired and irritated but not surprised. manny and abby have both hosted parties in their penthouse apartment plenty of times in varying amounts of success. it’s just abby forgot about it and had made plans with you and now they’re fucked.

she smiles politely at everyone she walks to her bunk. grabbing her shower caddy and some clean clothes, she sneaks back out and into the communal showers.

twenty minutes later, abby is clean and back in the packed apartment. manny greets her with a wave and she responds with a prominent middle finger and a sarcastic smile. he cackles, startling the girls beside him.

she gets herself a drink and finds some guys from the gym that she sometimes trains with. one of them, joe, was defending his poorly made joke to abby and the others when abby sees movement from the corner of her eye.

“uh excuse me please?” abby fully turns to see you scooting awkwardly past a group of people. you meet her eye and grin, shouldering past the last person and are soon within her reach.

“hi,” you breathe

“hi,” abby echos.

you look around the party. “i didn’t know there was gonna be this many people when you asked me to come over. i thought it was just gonna be us —”

abby itches to touch you. the itch wins and she gently puts a hand on your shoulder. you stop talking.

“i honestly had no idea about the party. i’m just as surprised as you. do you wanna leave?” abby looks up to see where manny is.

“no,” you say a little too quickly. “i’m cool with staying if you are.”

you share a smile.

“ok then let’s get you a drink. nothing spectacular but they are interesting.” she leads you over to a table where people are mixing up drinks. she goes past all the mixes and shitty liquor and pulls a small bottle out of a box.

“here,” she hands it to you. “it’s wine. from 1993. you said wine ages well and you’ve been wanting some since last christmas sooo” she trails off and suddenly feels like she shouldn’t know that you like wineries and napa valley history and god she’s so weird but you’re smiling at her so that has to be good sign, right?

“abby, this is amazing! thank you,” is all you say but the relief that fills abby is embarrassing. this time it’s your turn to lead you both to abby’s little corner in the front of the penthouse. everyone is mostly in the upper stairs area, besides nora and leah who wave at you both as you pass by. you sit down on abby’s bed and she follows. a silence passes between you as the party becomes ambience. abby remembers her surprise and reaches into her jacket’s breast pocket. she closes her fist around the item and scoots back so her back leans against the wall and her feet hang off the bed. you follow her movement with your eyes. she makes eye contact with you for a brief second. you note that she looks bashful.

“i, uh, found you something while i was out.”

“yeah?” you turn to sit sideways on her bed, one leg tucked under you.

“you gotta close your eyes first.” you close your eyes and hold your hand out, a big smile on your face. what you can’t see is that abby is easily caught off by your smile and almost misses dropping the mysterious item into your hand.

“okay you can open your eyes now.” you do so.

in your hand is a necklace. a long gold chain and a pendant. you untangle the necklace and hold it up. the pendent is the letter of your first name. the necklace as a whole is in pretty good condition with only a little chip on the pendent.

“oh abby,” you look up and see the girl blushing. “this is so sweet! i love it. thank you.” regardless of how uncomfortable it will be, you lean forward to hug abby tightly. “thank you again, abs” you whisper and kiss her cheek before pulling away.

you quickly undo the clasps and ask abby to put the necklace on you. after a failed attempt of putting it on while sitting, you both stand up. you turn your back to abby and she very ceremoniously places the necklace on you. once it’s clasped you turn back around to face her. you reach up to adjust the pendant so it sits in the middle, by your sternum.

when you look up, abby is already smiling at you. she opens her mouth to say something when someone calls her name.

she rolls her eyes and answers with a reluctant “yeah?”

it’s joe again. “it’s raheem’s birthday and he wants a beer pong rematch.”

“right now? i’m busy.” she glances at you.

“yes now. he heads out on that week long mission tomorrow morning.”

abby closes her eyes and lets her head fall back. it’s raining outside and she can hear the rain above her head. she exhales heavily through her mouth. she looks back at you and you have the most understanding eyes in the world and abby both hates and loves it.

“okay,” she says to joe. “one game and he gets the bad beer and im taking that nice stuff.”

joe holds his hands up. “righto, captain.”

abby rolls her eyes again. she looks back at you. “this okay? just one game and they’ll leave me alone.”

you roll your own eyes but there’s a smile on your lips.

“abs it’s fine. i promise. now go, because i think joe is coming back over here.”

and sure enough he was. abby briefly squeezed your hand before heading up the stairs. you walk over to nora and leah, who have been joined by a happy drunk whitney. they were getting up to join you to watch abby kick reheem’s ass, all of you making up abby’s cheer squad.

the cups and sacred ping pong balls are already set up. you make sure to stand where abby can see you and you can see her. and she makes sure to wink at you before shooting the first ping pong of the game right into one of raheem’s cups. the boy groans loudly and his friends cheer on abby. abby holds her hands up, shrugging off the attention. you bite your lip to stop smiling at her antics. your eyes catch movement as she pulls up the sleeves of her henley to her forearms, making her arms look even bigger. pulling the sleeves up also shows off her bracelet collection. including one that you made her months ago. she’s never taken it off so it’s worn and faded. but the sentiment is still there and it makes your heart ache with love for her.

while raheem takes his time aiming, you continue watching abby as she stretches her arms over her head and twists her upper body back and forth. you suddenly remember that abby just came back home from an overnight mission and there were currently over twenty, mostly drunk, people shoved into her apartment. she’s probably exhausted but putting on a good show for these people that look up to her. you make a mental note to ask her if she wants to come back to your place until the party’s over. your room is smaller but ten times quieter. you continue to zone out a bit, watching abby while thinking about abby as the game continues in front of you.

unfortunately (but fortunately for you) everyone knew the end score pretty quickly. abby had four out of six cups left on her side while raheem had two left on his. the crowd was engaged in the action like it was a tennis match. manny had even moved to stand beside abby as her right hand man. your eyes stay locked on her.

it was raheem’s turn and everyone watches as his ball hits the rim of the cup but bounces away. the crowd groans for him. abby steps up and without even trying, sinks the ball into the cup closest to raheem. the crowd cheers. raheem goes again and makes it. abby downs the cup and wipes away the little bit that missed her mouth with the back of her hand. she picks up a ball and closes one eye to aim it perfectly before letting it go. the ball arches in the air and lands in its target.

the people cheering for abby lose their minds. manny starts to shake abby excitedly. joe and a few of the other boys from before surround her. you hear manny say something about getting abby “a drink fit for champions”. you watch abby smile and joke with her friend until the crowd by the alcohol table blocks her from you.

beside you, nora clears her throat. you stop searching for abby and look to nora.

she’s fighting off a smile.

your brows furrow in confusion. “what?”

nora shrugs. “i don’t know. i just wanna know when did you get thirsty? where did my innocent friend go?”

“what are you talking about?”

“c’mon. you are so obvious. you were practically undressing abby during the whole game. we are in public, girl. have some class,” nora laughs.

you look down. “i’m not undressing her with my eyes,” you mumble. nora scoffs

“i don’t know why you are so in denial. you have the girl,” nora’s eyes move over your shoulder. “and speak of the devil and she shall appear. hey abs! congrats on demolishing raheem! i just know he’s going to be sulking about this in the clinic for months.”

abby shrugs. “all in a day’s work.” she turns to you. “you okay?”

you smile at her. “yeah i’m fine. nora was just bullying me.” you pout. abby’s head swivels to nora who has the common sense to be already walking away with leah and whitney shuffling behind her. “it’s fine. it wasn’t serious.”

abby looks back towards you. “okay…do you wanna get outta here? i feel like if i stay, someone is gonna wanna challenge me again or something.”

“yeah! i was just gonna ask if you wanted to come to my place? ya know, until the party clears out.”

abby blushes. “yeah i’d love to. let me just grab my bag.” she moves to go down the stairs but stops at your hand grabbing her bicep.

“wait abby?”

she stops a step below you. “yeah?”

she is taller and generally bigger than you because of her muscles but having her be a step down makes it easier for you to cup her face and very gently press your lips to hers.

the gentle kiss is met with abby’s own passionate response. she reaches for your waist. your hands go from her face to her neck and then down to her shoulders.

you pull away first. “and that’s a kiss for the ping pong champion”

abby opens her eyes and hums in response. she squeezes your waist and let’s go, walking down the stairs to grab her bag. when she comes back she simply takes your hand in hers and interlaces your fingers.

just like the way she arrived, abby smiles politely at people who say hi but doesn’t stop walking until the sounds of the room fade away and she can only hear you and the sounds of both of your feet along the hallway.

[vanillablankcanvas]

Part 4 Trolls Headcanons/ Theories/ Thoughts/ Ideas

Part1 Part2 Part3 Part5 Part6 Part7 Part8 Part9 Part10

Bruce - theorizes that his daughter LaBreezy will be the one to take over the restaurant.

Bruce - tries developing and inventing his own recipes, Brandy has to remind him that not everyone can handle as much sugar as a Troll can. He reels it back a bit.

Bruce - makes specific food for different reasons. E.g. makes bread when he's angry so he can take it out on the dough, makes lasagnas so he can use the leftovers as an excuse to visit someone, makes spicy dishes when he wants revenge.

John Dory - has been arrested before, he changes the reason everytime someone asks.

John Dory - occasionally uses 'chewing tobacco' (which honestly in the Trolls-verse would be some kinda chewing gum 😂)

John Dory - serial flirt (very bad at it, he thinks he's great at it)

John Dory - does weird stuff because of his isolation e.g. will eat what's left over on the plates when Bruce's customers leave, will ask when the baby's due but they're just overweight, will go into detail about gutting a fish in front of Trollings.

John Dory - can open a wine/champagne bottle with his machete and light a match with his teeth

Clay - occasionally tutors math to Trollings.

Clay - has a decent sized nest egg

Clay - graduated highschool early

Clay - has business cards stored in his hair

Clay - knows how to tie different knots for neckties.

Clay - can spin a pen around his fingers

Clay - is thinking of getting his own critter transportation

Floyd - was 100% sure he was going to die in the bottle. He now has a new outlook on life after being given a second chance.

Floyd - wants a long term relationship but is afraid of getting attached and being used.

Floyd - practices advanced yoga

Floyd - has developed claustrophobia

Floyd - released one solo album, one limited run, it was mentioned he is a former member Brozone on the cover to boost sales. It was a flop. This crushed Floyd.

Branch - toying with the idea of building plans for a Pop Village Castle. (Secretly a fortress)

Viva - biggest Broppy shipper. Already has their wedding planned in her head.

Viva - adrenaline junkie

Viva - no sense of personal space

Tiny Diamond - checks on Branch and Poppy's egg daily asking if his new BFFL is here yet.

Pop Trolls - King Peppy invented all these bizarre holidays when they were trapped in the Troll tree to keep hope alive and to boost morale.

Putt-Putt Trolls - all delayed having Trollings worrying for their future safety. The very few eggs that hatched are hidden and protected by the whole tribe. (Putt-Putt baby names: Birdie, Par, Ace, Caddie, Fore, Eagle, Divot, Links, Scramble) Clay and Viva were present for every one of them hatching.

Rhonda - locks JD outside when she's annoyed with him. "Who needs you, I wanted to sleep on this rock anyway!"

[static-errorcode]

God's among inanimates ii au/sequal season au cast incorrect quotes

dead relms-

Kai: If karma doesn't hit you, I fucking will.

Steve cobs: That's not funny.

Kai: I thought it was funny.

Steve cobs: You don't count. You started laughing in the middle of my funeral because you started thinking of a meme you saw on Facebook.

Nick le: Can you keep a secret?

Kai: Well, I'm good until I meet the next person.

Kai: I feel awful about killing you.

Steve cobs:

Kai: Even though technically you never even died, so I don’t know what you’re bitching about.

Zachary zoetrope: Go to sleep or you'll hate yourself in the morning!

Steve cobs: I'll hate my self in the morning regardless.

(How I think cobs and zoetrope would interact regardless of if it's a au or not)

Kai: Astrology is fun because I can pretend that all of my behaviors are just a result of being a Gemini and not symptoms of mental illness.

Grace groscer: Being a Gemini is a mental illness. That’s not hate it’s just a fact.

Cadie: Say no to drugs.

Kai: Say yes to drugs.

Mephone1: It doesn't matter if you say yes or no to drugs. If you're talking to drugs.. then you're on drugs.

(Cadie is my irl gf so I had to include her here)

my ships in the au-

Steve cobs: Since we're in a relationship now, your clothes are my clothes too. Don't ask me why I have your shirt on, this is our shirt.

Ballpoint pen : Fine, but when I come strutting in with your fuzzy socks I don't want to hear shit.

Steve cobs: I'm trash.

Zachary zoetrope : As someone who's environmentally conscious, it's my duty to pick you up. Does 7 work for you?

Steve cobs:

Steve cobs: You smooth motherfucker.

Steve cobs: And yes it does.

Caddie : Come to dinner tonight. I can’t cook, but I’ll bring plenty of free wine.

Kai: Marry me.

Kai: My hands are cold.

Caddie : Here, let me hold them.

Kai: My lips are cold too.

Caddie : *covers Kai's mouth with their hand*

Nick le, texting Floory: Hey do you like anyone?

Floory: Yeah you

Nick le: Oh, I'm sorry we're just friends

Floory: *Yeah, you?

Floory: Oh haha sorry lol

Nick le: *dies inside*

(In this au, since both floory and Nick le are God's, Nick le and floory were exes, kinda having vineria owakcx/raddy couple relationship)

Kai: Alright, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade - make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager. Make life rue the day it thought it could give kai eligh lemons. Do you know who I am? I'm the man who's gonna burn your house down! With the lemons. I'm going to to get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!

Land of living, og relm-

3gs: Floory, that’s disgusting. You’re only giving free stuff to beautiful people.

Mephone 4: Yeah, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Floory: Oh yeah? *gets really close to Mephone 4* How about a muffin on the house baby?

Mephone 4, giggling: I’m pretty.

Floory: Why are you looking at me through a fork?

3gs: I'm pretending you're in jail.

Floory: Why?

3gs: It's spiritually healing.

(3gs doesn't entirely like floory, a. since he wasn't made by mephone, b. he wants to make sure mephone is okay, and c. he doesn't know how to feel about mephone dating a god)

floory: you're insane!

Kai: sure I am what's you're point?

Toilet, talking about x (mephone X): WHAT THE FUCK I WAS ARGUING WITH THEM AND I SAID “OOH YOU WANNA KISS ME SO BAD” AND GUESS WHAT? THEY DID. THEY KISSED ME. WHAT THE FUCK WHAT DO I DO.

(When x finally had his emotion emulator activated, he instantly fell head over heals for toilet, toilet lovingly teasing x which makes him happy)

Mephone4 : *sucking on a popsicle*

3gs: Pfft, you practicing for when Floory gets here?

Mephone4 : *takes a huge ass bite out of the popsicle*

3gs: *Concern*

Should I talk more about this au?

Also prt 2?

Also here's the link that explains the au

[hamsterbellbelle]

CC list #1 for 920 Medina Studios🎦:

CC list #2 HERE

Backpack/plastic crate || Bean bag chair || Bedside lamp || Bedside table || Book (opened) - A - B || Book || Bookend || Books in cardboard box/crate with plants || Boots (muddy) || Boots || Bowls || Bucket with water dip ||

Candle || Canvas stack || Case file box/papers || Cat table || CD stack || Ceiling light (kitchen)/vase || Ceiling light/armchair || Ceiling || Chair with clothes || Chair with pillow || Chandelier/bedding || Chips bag/mails || Clothes pile || Coffee can || Coffee mug/wall art || Coffee syrup || Computer table || Computer ||

Cream bottles (décor) || Curtains (Day 7) || Cyberpunk arm implant/shard/braindance headset || Dining table/wine bottles/vinyl wall display/coat stand/neon light/socks/shoes || Divider || Door (with clutter) || Drawing board table || Dresser ||

Floor clothes || Floor pants/sweater/bag || Floor - A - B - C || Floral dresser || Folded chair || Game console || Grocery bag || Guitar case/mixing panel || Hanging broom || Hanging pot rack || Hanging robe || Headphone || Hose ||

Interphone || Ironing board/iron || Keyboard display || Laptop case || Liquor bottles || Long rug || Magazine/puzzle || Magazine || Mattress bedframe || Milk || Mirror shelf ||

Newspaper stack || Oil bottles || Painting (floor) || Paper bag || Paper rolls || Pen holder (bear) || Photo frames || Plant (mug) || Plant (statue/kitchen) || Plant (table) || Plants (animal) || Plastic stool || Plate (décor) || Post-it notes || Power strip/books/magazine/shoe bench ||

Retro computer/scattered papers || Retro TV || Rolled posters in basket || Scattered papers || Shampoo set || Shoe shelf/shoes || Shoes || Shower caddy || Soap dispenser || Sofa pillow || Sofa/speaker || Spray bottle || Stacked boxes || Statue lamp ||

Stringed lights || Suitcase (antique) || Suitcase/photos || Tablet (décor) ||

[divine-misfortune]

I'm so sorry you're having A Day, but here are a few soft, romantic thoughts I have to spare. I hope they help <3

- Mountain and Rain laying side by side in the grass by the lake on a nice spring day. Chatting now and then, hands close enough for their pinkies to touch. Rain curls them together just because he can, relaxed and sun-warm and so, so at peace. Eventually they both doze off, and Rain wakes up first. Pushes himself up to sitting, stretches his arms, and when he looks over at Mountain he's still snoring - and surrounded by familiar little blue flowers that certainly weren't there when they laid down. Rain can't keep the smile from his face as he plucks a handful of the delicate little blooms. He weaves them into Mountain's mussed hair, a crown worn in Rain's honor, and curls up against his side when he's done. Rests his head on Mountain's chest so he can drift off to the sound of his heart - his favorite place to be.

- Aether, who misses Dew terribly when he leaves for tour. Didn't expect it to ache as much as it does, waking up in an empty bed - so he starts sleeping in Dew's room. Curls up in his blankets and his pillows and soaks in the lingering scent of his mate. It fades far too quickly, though, and Aether gets a touch despondent. Doesn't say anything to Dew, of course, and makes Sunshine promise she won't either when she walks in on Aether huffing Dew's linens one evening. Then, while he's scrambling his eggs one morning, Aether decides he's in the mood for tea. Opens up the rotating caddy Mountain always keeps stocked to grab a bag of his favorite flavor (rosehip and raspberry) and smells something very specific. Familiar. Something that makes him pause, tip his head and stick his face in the caddy. It's warm, spicy, a little woody - in a delayed sort of way, he realizes it smells like Dewdrop. Not exactly, but close enough for little butterflies to flutter to life in his belly and a crease to form between his brows. Aether picks up one of the baggies that smells like cinnamon and clove and cardamom and everything else he loves so much. He brews a cup while his eggs burn, and that first sup of chai feels like home. He turns off the stove and retreats once more to Dew's bed, inhaling heady steam that leaves him more relaxed with every breath. Curled up in soft sheets, scalding mug in his hands, it's almost like he has his Dewdrop back. He'll have to give Mountain a special sort of thank you when they all get home - the internal peace that spiced scent brings is worth damn near anything.

- Swiss, who latches on to Aeon immediately for several reasons and finds himself head over heels before he knows it. Looking at the new kid all moon-eyed across the practice room, squishing up next to him on the couch or in a pew during mass. Finding any excuse to touch him, to be near him, even just to talk to him - maybe he's a little obsessed, but hey, you can't blame a ghoul in love. He shows Aeon all the best, secret spots in the abbey. Sneaks him away with a sly grin and a firm grip on Aeon's hand, tugging him anywhere he pleases. Aeon, for what it's worth, never argues. He's as smitten as Swiss, truth be told, but this way they flirt and tease and play is too much fun for him to come right out and say it. Better to let Swiss drag him around with that one glint in his eye - like a teenage boy with a crush, eager to stick his hand up someone's shirt for the first time. When they finally fall into bed together, after so many stolen make-out sessions in the cemetery and shared joints in every dark corner, Aeon expects it to be frenzied. Playful, sure, but rough. Urgent. What he gets is a bedroom lit by dozens of candles, rose petals strewn all over and a bottle of wine far too nice for the pair of them. What he gets is Swiss at his gentlest, his most tender, and it absolutely bowls him over. He tells Swiss he loves him right as he's about to blow, and doesn't even think about taking it back in the afterglow. Swiss kisses the tip of his nose, winks, and tells Aeon not to be such a sap. (He blabbered a constant stream of "I love you's" into Aeon's throat the whole time, he just can't help himself.)

I really hope your day gets better. Do something nice for yourself - you deserve it :))))

OHHHH MIASMA :((((((((((((((((( /pos

Rain is the little lizard sunbathing on a nice warm rock (Mountain).

Those pale blue flowers in his lovely auburn hair, looks nearly red in the sunlight. Honestly rain probably lays back down and is going to pass back out but stops, finds his phone in thr grass, and takes a picture of both sleeping mountain and a picture of him curled up there in his side. One of which will be his new phone wallpaper.

Probably wakes up himself to mountain tucking one behind his ear, chuckling and apologizing for waking sleeping beauty but it's getting dark. Rain doesn't wanna move, too comfy.

Squeaks when Mountain gets up and scoops him in his arms, saying the ground is no resting place for his princess, and Rain wants to roll his eyes but he can't bring himself too. Not when Mountain’s grinning like that.

I imagine Dew had a similar experience on the road...maybe not with tea, but, wether it be a candle or a cologne he stops to sniff while wandering through some shop in a state he doesn't care to remember the name of. Just. Stops to sniff it cause the container looked neat and his eyes go big. Puts a hand over his mouth because he knew he missed aether but didn't realize just how much he did. He puts it down and excuses himself to go get some air. Phantom and Aurora saw his reaction, go over and also smell whatever it might have been and both realize why he'd reacted like that.

Sweet new summons use whatever money they had left of their allowance to buy it. Leave it sitting in dews bunk before he even gets back on the bus.

Dew calls Aether later and the two of them laugh at themselves for how gross and needy they've gotta be to take comfort in things like this...but both of them keep these little things close until they can keep each other close.

Pulling Swiss and bug card, going straight for my heart......they absolutely would they'd be so disgustingly in love about it......I really do think about their first times together a lot. Maybe I'll finish that first kiss fic in the wips because it was so cute.

Swiss just. Ugh. Ugh Ugh. Would want him on his back, laid out in all these pillows, maybe got a petal or two in his hair, that soft purple flush in his cheeks. He wants to stare at that beautiful face forever. Probably gets so distracted staring at him phantom asks "are you still with me there???" And ofc Swiss is. Of course he's still with him, wouldn't wanna be anywhere else.

God hearing him say i love you nearly makes Swiss bust immediately and he will die of embarrassment about it later, even if Phantom thinks it's so adorable endearing - probably makes the stupidest joke abt Swiss' dick also loving him sooo much it just had to show him. Swiss is going to smother him with a pillow for personifying his dick while it's still inside him.

I will be thinking about this for the next 3-5 business days if anyone needs me

[thedarkestgreys]

85 from the prompt fill - tongues stained from slushies 😛🍒

🍒🎡🎟️ 🍒🎡🎟️ 🍒🎡🎟️ 🍒🎡🎟️ 🍒🎡🎟️

After last year's misfortune of a carnival, Lexi had sworn off the annual event pretty vehemently. In her opinion, nothing good ever comes out of it. Whether it’s being ditched by your best friend you might have a little bit of a crush on for the new girl she’s in love with or hearing secondhand about your sister getting so high off the Molly she took that she fucked herself on a carousel horse in front of a crowd, it seems to be a disastrous event in the making.

So no, Lexi Howard would not be attending the carnival this upcoming weekend thank you very much.

“I was thinkin’ that… Ion know, maybe we could like, go together?” Fezco asks out of seemingly nowhere three days before the festivities are set to begin.

Lexi takes another drink of her glass bottle Coke with what is undoubtedly a blank stare on her face as she contemplates the implications of Fezco asking such a thing. They’re currently sitting hip-to-hip on the roof of the Dairy, Ashtray somewhere down below as Fez takes what was supposed to be a fifteen minute break that should have ended fifteen minutes ago when Lexi showed up.

They’ve been on the verge of something for months now, toeing the line between friends and more than friends since the night he rescued her from what has since been coined as Maddy’s Garbage Fire 18th Birthday Party Calamity™ and drove her around the neighborhood until it was safe to return to her house. Their exchanges have become a little more straightforward, outright flirting and heated, prolonged eye contact, casual but intimate touches, hours and hours on the phone, but always with a bit of hesitation from Fezco to take it further.

The fact that he’s asking her to go with him to the carnival has sent her brain into reboot mode.

“Huh?” she finally asks, her grip on the English language not quite returned.

“The carnival? You wanna like, go with me?”

Lexi blinks, because of course she does but she’s very confused. “What about Pretzel Mania?”

“What about it?” Fez questions, eyebrows drawn together. “We ain’t doin’ all that this year. The moneys good but issa fuckin’ hassle. And I got other shit I’d rather be doin’, you feel me?”

“Please don’t feel like you need to do this on my behalf. It’s not a big deal if I don’t go.”

Fez snickers softly, bumping his knee with hers. “C’mon now Lex, was tryna ask you on a date forreal.”

“Serious?”

He smiles that special way that’s all for her and her heart bursts into a million pieces. “Course I’m serious. ‘Bout time right?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

-

She shouldn’t have been so surprised that when Fezco said he was asking her on a date that he was committed to going the whole ten yards with it. When Lexi suggested meeting the carnival, Fez was practically offended at the idea, insisting on doing things proper and picking her up from her house - he even said he was coming to the door instead of waiting in the Caddy like he had in the past. So when the doorbell rings on Friday night, Lexi rushes down the stairs in an attempt to beat her mom to the door.

Naturally, she’s beaten there.

“Lexi says it’s finally a real date,” she overhears her mother saying as she practically runs to the door. “You know she’s been waiting for this moment for a while now O’Neill, so don’t be breaking my baby’s heart, alright?”

“Mom, stop,” Lexi groans, pulling open the door further to see Fezco standing on the front step. He’s holding a bouquet of roses in his hands while wearing a hopeful expression. “You’re so embarrassing.”

Fezco hands her the flowers with a big smile and a wink before turning his attention back on Suze. “I been waitin’ for this too Ms. Howard, but between you an’ me, I think Lex is the real heartbreaker here.”

Lexi’s cheeks flame right up as she buries her nose into the flowers.

Suze takes a long drag of her wine before turning to Lexi. “A real charmer this one. You gotta watch out for them Lex.” With a little shooing motion her mom snatches her flowers from her hands and shoves her out the door. “I’ll take care of these. Go on and have fun. Oh and O’Neill?”

“Yes ma’am?” Fezco asks, Lexi cringing because she already knows what to expect.

“Don’t get my daughter pregnant.”

-

The drive over to the fairgrounds is awkward for all of three minutes before Fezco removes his hand from the wheel in order to slot his fingers with hers, a subtle gesture that puts Lexi at ease. Going on a date with your best friend that you’ve basically been in love with all year should be easy, or at least that’s what Lexi tells herself as they walk through the crowd hand-in-hand. And it would be, except every few steps someone she doesn’t know comes up to Fez hoping he’s here to do business.

“Nah,” Fezco tells the eighth person to question him. They just got out of line grabbing slushies, cherry for her and blue raspberry for him, and now they’re trying to decide what they should do next.“Just here to enjoy the carnival like everyone else. You can spread the word that I’m here with my girl and ain’t got nothin’ for no one, aight?”

“I’m your girl huh?” she questions after taking a long sip of her icy drink. Her anxiety makes her want to drink the cold drink all the way down, but the potential brain freeze induced paralysis forces her to slow down.

Blushing, Fezco stammers. “Yeah I mean. You been my girl, you know what I’m sayin’? But now you like, you my girl Lexi, if that’s okay witchu?”

Lexi looks up at the handsome boy in front of her and she’s all but certain there are anime cartoon hearts in her eyes right now. But it’s okay, because Fezco has the same exact dopey expression in his own crystal blue eyes. There’s no denying they’re equally smitten.

“So,” she says coyly, stepping into Fezco’s space. Instantly he wraps his free arm around her waist, pulling her in closer. “If I’m your girl, that means you can totally just kiss me whenever you feel like it, right?”

“Uh huh.”

“Do you feel like it now?”

Fezco feigns a shrug. “Ion know baby, was thinking about it before you got the worst slushie flavor. Now I ain’t so sure.”

Lexi rolls her eyes even as the word baby causes a shiver to run down her spine. “I think you should anyway.”

His only response is to tip his head down and press his lips against hers firmly, kissing her like she’s never been kissed by anyone else. Lexi gasps as Fez nips her bottom lip between his teeth, giving him the opportunity to sweep his blue raspberry stained tongue through her mouth as she nearly crushes her own slushie in her hand.

Fez pulls back, resting his forehead against her own. “Huh. Guess cherry ain’t so bad afterall.”

[lazyjellyfish300]

Hiya hiya Jelly! here to drop some questions for you and your honeysss <333 you don't have to answer these if you don't want! I was just returning the loveee back to you cuties hehe 🫶🏼💗💗

How do you lovelies spend your days off together?

Do you guys normally say "I love you" as is, or is there a more specific, intricate/special way to telling (or showing!) it to each other? Are they or you poetic with the words?

Any place in mind you would love to live out your days (settle down with them) with them? if not both, then where and for whom?

Do you have any specific songs that remind you of them? and vice verse?

What is the most thoughtful/romantic thing they have ever done for you?

AHHHH MY LOVE! 🥹🥹 so good to hear from you! Thank you soooo much for this 😭😭🥹🥹💕💕 ofc I'm always down to yap about my loves! 💕 (And there's a lotttaaa yapping ahead lolol)

1. How do we spend our days off together?

nanamelly-with Kento, it depends on the weather. It's almost always rainy where we are, so if our day off coincides with a rain shower, then our morning is filled with warm coffee and cuddles in our attic nook. He almost always wakes up before me and has coffee ready to go, so I'll return the favor by cooking a hearty breakfast of quiche or french toast by the time he comes back inside from tending to our animals, giving me kisses by the stove while his hair is a little damp and he's covered in that delicious rain smell. 🥹💕 Then if the weather permits we'll take walks arm and arm to watch the ducklings, otherwise we'll take more naps in our bed or go back to the attic and do some reading and writing. 💕

We'll cook dinner together, usually a hearty soup with vegetables from our garden or a comforting casserole. We'll get our animals tucked in for the evening, then we'll play board games like scrabble or checkers and rounds of Super Nintendo in our living room with whiskey and wine and a nude soak in our hot tub to wrap up the evening. 💕

shiuelly-with Shiu, at this time of year we're almost always at the golf course. I'm the golf cart queen and his best caddy. I love to admire how handsome he looks in his attire while he takes strokes off his golf game and in return he makes sure I have plenty of cocktails to keep me happy. (Although at some point he does lovingly take over driving the golf cart). 💕After lunch at the country club we'll head home.

Despite having days off, Shiu almost always gets work calls. I'll use that time that he's busy to feed and cuddle Stella, or go to my office to work on my interior design plans for a bit. If he takes a long time then sometimes I'll pay him a little visit in his study and bring him a sandwich and coffee. 🥰🤭

For dinner, with the pleasant weather we'll bake homemade pizza in our new fire brick oven on our patio, paired with our favorite wine. Then, we'll sway together in our living room to our favorite R&B album on vinyl. We both have two left feet but we love to just stay pressed against one another and drink in every bit of closeness we can until another work week begins. 💕

2. Do we say I love you or have a special/intricate way of expressing it? Ohh man 😩 in both my self-ships the I love yous are extremely liberal between us 😭💕

nanamelly-kento isn't one for grand gestures most of the time, and so besides saying it, he demonstrates it in all the little things he does for me. The pot of coffee that awaits me every morning without fail, the kiss he has for me every time he sets foot inside our house from when he's been outside, the soft massage of his fingers on the nape of my neck when he comes up behind me and asks how he can help me in the kitchen, the endless flowers he surprises me with.💕 The letters he writes to me on special occasions are always so eloquent. I'm always astounded that he's not a writer as well with how emotional and thoughtful he is with his writing, and he never fails to make me weep. We always say I love you, but when I'm reallyy sappy I tell him that he's the stars that line my soul. He's not just my soulmate he's the very thing my soul is made out of. 🥹 So for him, I'm his moon, pulling at the tides of his heart. Because he's the sea, of course. 💕🌊

shiuelly-ughh, with Shiu, we're extremely physical with one another. We can't get enough of one another and burn quite hot at all times. 💕Our love feels intense and all consuming because of the ultimate loss and tragedy we've both gone through. Me with losing my first husband, Kento, and him with losing his first love when he was young. It results in ultimate devotion to one another. He tells me he loves me in so many ways. He calls me beautiful like it's my name. 💕 He's an imperfect man. He considered himself doomed to damnation but he considers my love his salvation, so he's always calling me his angel. 💕 I consider him my soulmate too and I'm a fiend for romance novels so I'm always superr sappy and poetic with him but he reads them behind my back for *cough* inspiration and so he matches my energy. 🙂‍↕️ His eyes are such a beautiful dark brown that border on a deep noir, like a night without any stars. He tells me I have stars in mine. So I tell him he's my starless night, chasing my cosmos. 🥰

3. Any place in mind you'd love to live out your days/settle down?

nanamelly- with Kento, I can't imagine living anywhere else than we do right now, in our little slice of rainy eternity in our farmhouse. If we have grandchildren, we would want to try to stay as close to them as we can. But, I think when we are both much older and unable to look after the farm, we would relocate, possibly to the seaside village and live out our days there and entrust our farm property to one of our children, or to one of our dear neighbors who we would trust would look after and tend to the land. We also have a place in Kuantan, and, depending on our health, we would fulfill Kento's ultimate dream and live out the rest of our lives there, in a house on the beach. 💕

shiuelly-with Shiu, we'll most likely grow old and die together in our Victorian house surrounded by cherry blossom trees. 🌸It was his wedding present to me and we've made it our own in so many ways that we couldn't see ourselves living anywhere else. 💕

4. Do you have any specific songs that remind you of them and vice versa?

So manyyy 😩😩 Buttt

nanamelly- Come Away with Me by Norah Jones is one that always reminds me of him and the lyrics describe the life we share together in our little universe to a tee. 💕 Songbird by Fleetwood Mac is the song that reminds him of me, and also was the one we danced to at our wedding. 💕

shiuelly-Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby by Cigarettes After Sex is always gonna be the biggest one that reminds me of him and our life together. Like the lyrics are eerily on point haha. 🙈 Your Song is the one that makes him think of me, and was also our first dance song at our wedding.🥰

5. What is the most thoughtful/romantic thing they've ever done for you?

nanamelly-it's like almost virtually impossible to choose something that Kento does for me bc it's every damn day 😩 but, when we first fell for one another, him being such a man of order and reason and taking this leap with me and literally going back to Tokyo and quitting his job, rearranging his entire world just so I could be a part of it was the most romantic and thoughtful thing he could have ever done for me. 💕 He changed the trajectory of his life just so it could align with mine. He's always revered and put me above himself but I could never thank him enough for taking that leap of faith to be with me, because we both knew what we found and created here in the countryside together in just a little less than a week was something that only comes once in a lifetime, only by a fleeting brush of fate, explainable by none else than divinity that could have caused our paths to cross one another. 💕

shiuelly-the most romantic and thoughtful thing Shiu ever did was buying me a house. He took me there on our honeymoon and told me it was actually our permanent home where we'd start our lives together. 💕 The simple gesture of being in a gorgeous home all alone with him was all I could have asked for. With him being gone so much for work, simply being together made it paradise. 💕He took all my tastes and preferences into account and literally picked the perfect spot for us to live out our days. It was big enough for if we wanted kids, it had room for his study and aquarium, and mine, and a beautiful backyard for us to entertain friends and family. It was out of the city and tucked enough in the suburbs that we could have our privacy. There were only 2 other times in our relationship where I felt like I couldn't love him more than I already did, and that was when we shared our first kiss and confessed our love on our first date in a moonlit graveyard by the sea, and on our wedding night when we pledged our lives to each other in front of all the people we love. 💕

[mortally-beloved]

if my tastes like wine caddy fic gets 1000 hits I’ll make a part two

[mjonthetrack]

vice queen

CHAPTER 61 “Strip Clubs & Sugar Daddies.”

The movie kept rolling on the massive projector. Something about Bishop getting jumped in the convenience store. But neither twin was watching.

Jey was leaned back, arms folded tight across his chest, jaw tight with that familiar twinge of jealousy that only Camille could stir up—despite not being his girl, not even being his brother’s official girl. Still. She had a way.

Jimmy hadn’t said a damn thing since the bunker door clanked shut behind her.

Jey side-eyed him, then spoke up low, muttering under his breath, “She probably goin’ right back to that strip club… or to one of them old-ass sugar daddies that pay her just to sit pretty and smile at 'em.”

Jimmy didn’t flinch.

Jey kept going, like he had to say it out loud to keep from spiraling, “She single. And she don’t give a fuck. That’s what gets me. Camille don’t need nobody. She don’t answer to nobody. If it was Destiny? Man, I woulda dragged her ass out that strip joint the minute I saw her.” He shook his head, staring at nothing. “My blood pressure ain’t even built for thinkin’ about another man comin’ near my wife, let alone touchin’ her. I’d catch a charge.”

Jimmy finally blinked. His tongue ran across his back teeth, sharp and slow.

“She’s not Destiny,” he said finally. Voice low. Heavy.

“No shit,” Jey replied. “She worse.”

Jimmy stood up.

That caught Jey off guard. “Where you going?”

Jimmy didn’t answer. He just ran a hand over his face, exhaled real slow, then turned to grab his hoodie and car keys.

“Yo,” Jey called after him, “you bout to chase her down? Like—what? You gon’ pull up at the club or her house or where, bruh?”

Jimmy didn’t stop walking. “Wherever she is.”

Jey frowned, standing up too. “You ain’t even know where she went.”

Jimmy glanced over his shoulder, his face unreadable. “Don’t matter. I’mma find her.”

And with that, he was gone—out the bunker, the heavy doors slamming behind him like punctuation on a war declaration.

CHAPTER 62 “Crab Legs & Rich Widowers.”

Somewhere along the edge of the marina, where valet drivers wore earpieces and the rosé came out in ice-chilled crystal, Camille was absolutely in her element.

She sat pretty under the soft glow of an overhead heater on the patio of La Sirène de Mer—the type of bougie-ass seafood spot where you had to book a table a month in advance, and even then you needed a last name with money behind it.

Camille didn’t need a last name. She was the money.

A two-piece cream and gold Balmain set hugged her curves like it was made for her. Red bottoms? Clicked against the fancy patio tile when she shifted her legs. Her hair? Laid. Edges? Snatched. Lipgloss? Fenty, obviously. Sitting next to her chair like a quiet flex was her new blue Birkin bag—the same one she said she wanted, now a very real reminder of her power moves.

In front of her sat a full seafood boil, laid out like royalty eats. We talkin’ Alaskan king crab legs, lobster tail, scallops, jumbo shrimp, corn, potatoes, the works—all smothered in warm garlic butter and Cajun seasoning.

And across from her?

An old money type. White linen button-up, Rolex, wedding band still on outta guilt, probably seventy-something but dyed his hair jet black like it was fooling somebody. Talking her ear off.

“…and you know, Meredith always loved summering in the Hamptons. God rest her soul.” He sipped his wine. “Now it’s just me and my caddy—uh, golf caddy that is. You ever play 18 holes?”

Camille didn’t blink, barely lifted her eyes from cracking a crab leg like a pro. “Mmm,” she muttered through a mouthful of buttery crab meat. “That’s cute.”

He chuckled, mistaking boredom for charm. “You’re a good listener, you know that?”

She smiled sweetly, eyes still on her plate. “Mmhm. I know.”

Her phone vibrated once in her Birkin. She didn’t check it. Already knew it was Jimmy or somebody in their feelings. But right now? Sis was making two million just for sitting there, looking fine, and letting old boy talk about his dead wife and nine iron like this was therapy.

She took a slow sip of her strawberry lemonade and daintily wiped her glossed lips with a cloth napkin. “So… you were saying something about a yacht?”

He beamed, like she actually cared.

She didn’t.

CHAPTER 63 “Seafood & Samoan Cussing.”

Jimmy was pacing.

Not just any regular pacing either—this man was stompin’ holes in the damn bunker floor, shirtless, chain swingin’, phone in hand, brows furrowed like someone personally disrespected his entire bloodline.

Jey just sat back on the sectional watching with a bag of Hot Cheetos, eyebrows up, not even tryna jump in. “Bruh, you gotta chill. She grown.”

“I kissed her.” Jimmy stopped, pointing his phone at his twin like it meant something. “I let her sit on my damn face, Jey. On God. I’ve been logged in since that night—ain’t no logout. AND she said dinner came with dessert, and now she ghostin’ me like I’m a side quest?!”

Jey blinked. “You were a side quest.”

That almost got him swung on.

Jimmy was livid.

Her phone? Straight to voicemail. Location? Turned off. His calls? 47 deep and counting. His messages? Left on read or just flat-out ignored.

She had him in a chokehold off one kiss and a custom birkin’s worth of coochie.

Meanwhile...

—MARINA SIDE, LA SIRÈNE DE MER—

Camille leaned back in her patio chair, sipping her iced water now that her strawberry lemonade was gone. The old head—Mr. Calvin or Clifford or some old money name like that—had just finished his story about losing his wife and thanked her sincerely for her time.

“Being here with you tonight,” he said gently, “was a comfort.”

She gave him a soft smile that somehow didn’t fully reach her eyes but felt warm enough to be real. “Mmhm. Rest her soul.”

He nodded, slid a fat envelope of fresh hundreds across the table, and gently stood. “Take care of yourself, Camille.”

“I always do, baby,” she replied coolly, watching him walk off like he hadn’t just dropped two million into her account via wire transfer and left her with a travel-sized fortune in her Birkin.

Now finally alone, she sighed in relief, undid the top button of her Balmain blouse, and cracked another crab leg with practiced ease. She dipped it in the butter and smacked quietly, enjoying the sound of peace and paid silence.

Her phone buzzed again. The notification?

47 Missed Calls: Papi Gym Rat 🍫💦👅

She rolled her eyes so hard it was disrespectful and answered the FaceTime with a slow, lazy swipe.

“Yeah… what chu want?” she asked, already knowing what was coming.

The moment the camera connected, the screen jumped with chaos.

“WHERE THE FUCK YOU AT?! DON’T PLAY WITH ME CAMILLE, ON MY LIFE—”

Samoan words flying. Cussing. Heavy breathing. He was in the car, windows down, wind blowin’, chain still on like he was headed to war.

She pulled the phone away from her ear and grimaced at the sheer volume. “Boy calm down!” she groaned. “I went to collect on a sugar daddy widower, I’m tryna eat my seafood boil in peace, dang!”

Jimmy blinked hard like she slapped him through the screen.

“You turned your location off?!”

She licked some butter off her finger. “Hell yeah I turned it off. You be stalkin’ like a rabid lil pit bull. Sit down somewhere.”

Jey, now in the background, hollered laughing.

Camille looked smug, reaching for a lobster claw. “I made two million sittin’ here lookin’ cute and saying ‘awww’ while he cried over golf and a dead wife. That’s passive income, sweetie.”

Jimmy just stared. Breathing heavy.

She smiled sweetly. “You done?”

“…You comin’ home?”

She paused. Raised a brow.

“Home?”

He licked his lips and looked away like he didn’t even mean to say it like that.

She grinned slowly. “I’ll think about it. Depends on how hard you beg.”

CHAPTER 64 “Bye Bye Now 💋”

Jimmy’s eye twitched.

Not the playful kinda twitch either—the type where you know a man’s right on the edge, dangerously close to blacking out and throwing his phone across the Pacific.

Camille? Sitting pretty across from an empty seat, seafood juices glistening on her manicured fingers, the faintest smirk on her glossed lips like she wasn’t slowly ruining his entire mental stability.

She sucked the crab meat from the shell loudly, then casually turned the camera around just enough for him to see the view—sunset glimmering off the water, patio string lights twinkling overhead, a violinist softly playing in the background, like she was living in a rom-com without him.

Jimmy was shaking.

“Actually…” she snapped her fingers like she just remembered something important, “I lied, haha.”

Jimmy stopped mid-sentence. “Wha—”

“I’m bout to finish this food,” she said, dropping her voice in a mock-sweet, sarcastic purr, “and maybe see if that man tryna pay for dessert…”

Jimmy blacked out for half a second.

She giggled, leaning back in her seat and waving with the same energy a rich auntie does when she’s leaving the cookout with a new man and a to-go plate. “Bye bye now.”

SMOOCH!

She blew a kiss directly into the camera, slow and dramatic, then hung up mid-sentence before he could even speak.

Click.

His screen went black. Facetime ended.

But just before it cut out, the last frame?

That damn seafood joint’s front glass door—sparkling clean, sun glowing on it—and the sign painted in bold cursive:

La Sirène de Mer Fine Dining on the Marina – Reservation Only.

Jimmy was frozen. For a solid thirty seconds, he didn’t say a word. Just breathing heavy, face unreadable, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel so tight his veins were poppin’.

Jey sat in the passenger seat, real quiet now. Slowly leaned over. “You good?”

Jimmy didn't answer. Just threw his phone into the backseat and put the car in drive like he was about to personally fight Poseidon.

“Nah.”

He muttered low, the rage simmering deep now.

“She wanna play games?”

He peeled off from the parking lot.

“Aight. Bet.”

CHAPTER 65 “Butter, Bands, and Blocked Calls”

Camille was in her element.

Not just her bag—nah, sis was deep in the center of her damn zone. Wrapped up in a two-piece red-and-gold Balmain number that sat on her like sin, red bottoms crossed at the ankle, a fresh acrylic set shimmering with tiny rhinestones every time she reached for another crab leg.

And baby, she had rhythm to her bites.

CRACK—leg popped clean. DIP—garlic butter dripping, thick and sinful. CHOMP—she did that little happy wiggle in her seat, the kind that said her soul had briefly left her body from the flavor.

Then came the sausage—stab, swirl, devour. A little moan left her lips, muffled by the food. She wasn’t even eating. She was experiencing.

She reached for her frozen mango margarita slushy, took a long ass sip through the oversized straw and let out a satisfied sigh, eyes fluttering like she just got a back rub from God himself.

Camille wiped her fingers with a hot towel from the side tray and opened her phone—her screen lighting up with 53 missed calls.

All Jimmy. A few texts. All caps. A lot of swearing. One voicemail that just said, “You got one more time.” She smirked. Turned the volume down and resumed scrolling.

She was unbothered. Paid and pampered. Already two mil richer, tips in cash folded in her Birken. She had another date offer sitting in her DMs from some French oil guy who said he’d fly her out to Nice if she just “smiled at him real sweet-like.” Might take him up on it just to post the view.

Her lashes fluttered as she reached for another leg, humming under her breath.

“Damn,” she muttered happily to herself, “this seafood hittin’ like I got a man I’m dodgin’.”

Crack.

Dip.

Savor.

The server slid by to check on her. Camille gave him a lazy smile and slid a $100 bill across the table without looking up from her plate. “I’m good, baby. Just keep the butter comin’.”

Meanwhile across the marina? A certain man’s blood pressure was punching through the roof.

But Camille? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.

She was booked, blessed, and busy…

…and still thinking about ordering dessert.

CHAPTER 66 “You Can’t Run From the Smoke in Red Bottoms”

Camille was mid-bite.

Not just any bite—the bite. You know the one. That combo of juicy crab meat, a potato dripping in seasoned butter, and a piece of smoked sausage stacked on her fork like it was handcrafted by Zeus himself.

Her mouth opened and she took it in like the fork owed her money.

Eyes fluttered. Hips did the happy swerve in her seat again. The kind of sway that could hypnotize a man if he stared too long.

She went to sip her slushy with the lazy satisfaction of a woman who had zero stress in her bones… until something flickered in her peripheral.

She blinked. Tilted her head.

And nearly jumped out her damn skin.

Standing outside the damn restaurant window like two Samoan statues with murder in their eyes were the Uso twins—Jey looking like he wanted to cuss a hole through the glass, and Jimmy?

Jimmy wasn’t blinking.

Camille deadass froze for like 2.5 seconds—fork mid-air, slushy straw still halfway to her glossed lips—before she calmly did the most disrespectful thing imaginable.

She smiled sweetly.

Waved.

And went right back to eating her damn food.

She dipped another potato in the garlic pool of sin and popped it in her mouth like their presence was a minor inconvenience.

Jimmy was fuming.

His jaw ticked. His hands curled into fists at his sides. Jey muttered something in Samoan under his breath that sounded like an ancient curse.

And Camille? Completely unfazed.

The cleavage was cleaving, her top hugging her just right, those thighs on display from the fitted Balmain mini. Red bottoms sparkling under the low light like she walked in on demon time. Her legs were crossed at the ankle, one heel bouncing lazily as she chewed like this was her personal episode of Mukbang Mafia: Rich Bitch Edition.

Jimmy couldn’t look away. His eye twitched. His lip curled.

Jey? Jey was biting back a laugh.

“She eatin’ sausages, bruh,” he muttered. “Sausages, my guy. In that dress. You down bad.”

Jimmy’s nose flared.

“That’s my fuckin’ dress,” he snapped under his breath. “I picked that one out for her when I took her shoppin’ after the bunker move. That’s my fuckin’ outfit.”

“And you let her outside with it, huh?” Jey teased, leaning on the glass. “Rookie mistake.”

Inside, Camille licked butter off her thumb and finally opened her phone, smirking at the live view outside the window.

She pulled up her camera, took a selfie with them behind her, captioned it:

“Caught two groupies stalking while I eat 😌💅🏽✨”

Sent it to the group chat and went back to her shrimp like nothing happened.

Jimmy's phone vibrated. He opened it. His eye twitched again. “Oh she think this a game.”

“She already played it, won, and got the high score,” Jey chuckled. “You better go collect your prize before she catches dessert feelings for that old dude from earlier.”

Jimmy didn’t answer.

He was already on his way to the front entrance.

CHAPTER 67 “Veins, Butter, & Unbothered Bitches”

The door to the bougie-ass marina seafood spot flung open like it was FBI: Crustacean Unit.

Heads turned. Waiters flinched. Somebody at table seven dropped a whole-ass oyster shooter.

Jimmy Uso stepped in like God’s own wrath in a tight black tee, chain swinging, fitted low, and the vein in his temple throbbing like it had its own heartbeat. His shoulders were squared, his gold grill glinting every time his teeth clenched like he was chewing nails for fun.

Jey ain’t even come in with him.

That man stayed parked on the window, sipping an iced tea one of the servers slid him through the glass.

Camille, unbothered queen of casual chaos, did not so much as blink when Jimmy zeroed in on her like she was the last bullet in a warzone.

He marched over, jaw tight, breath shallow, fury radiating off him like a whole heater unit. “What the—”

Before the cuss could even roll off his tongue—pop.

Camille casually reached across the table, grabbed the thickest, most disrespectfully meaty crab cluster from her tray, dipped that baby in a pool of garlic butter like it was holy water… and shoved the whole thing right into Jimmy’s mouth mid-yell.

“Ah ah.” She batted her lashes. “You need to calm down, you dampenin’ my crab boil vibes, poppa.”

Jimmy froze.

Deadass paused like his CPU crashed.

Crab. In his mouth. Butter running down his chin.

Camille leaned back in her chair like a Bond villain in a bikini. “Now chew, baby. It’s fresh. Chef said that one came in from Maine this morning.”

Jimmy blinked. His eye twitched. He did chew though. Slowly. Like his body was confused but his tastebuds refused to fumble.

Camille took another sip of her margarita, loud as hell through her straw.

“Aht! Don’t talk yet,” she said, holding up a freshly manicured hand. “I just seasoned that moment with peace. Don’t come in here yelling like I didn’t spend the last three weeks keeping ya lil cartel ops from gettin’ torched.”

Jimmy finished chewing, breathing through his nose like he was fighting God Himself not to go off.

“You blockin’ my calls, ignore my texts, leavin’ me stressin’—and you out here feedin’ old men shrimp and flexin’ ya thighs like that ain’t my shit?” he hissed low, trying to keep his voice from shaking the glasses on the table.

Camille blinked. Tilted her head. Then smiled slow.

“And yet,” she purred, picking up another crab leg, “here you are. In my face. With ya blood pressure higher than my heels. All that just ‘cause I wanted to eat my lil seafood boil in peace? You think I’m supposed to check in with you like you my parole officer?”

Jimmy opened his mouth.

Pop. Another crab chunk. Right in there.

“Mmm-mm. I’m still chewin’. Be patient, poppa.”

Jey, from the window: “Yo this shit better than Netflix. They got calamari in here?”

Camille rolled her eyes, leaned forward just enough to let Jimmy get a whiff of her perfume—vanilla, sin, and Dior—and whispered like a seductress at a confessional, “You want me, big dawg? Act like it. Pull up a chair and eat… or go cry in the car.”

And with that?

She snapped her napkin back in her lap, dipped another crab in butter, and murdered it with zero shame.

Jimmy didn’t say a word.

But you bet he pulled that chair out, slid in next to her, and grabbed a potato from her plate like he paid the rent on it.

Camille just smirked.

“Good boy.”

CHAPTER 68 “Lap Dinners & Leashes”

Ain’t nobody said a damn word.

Just the crack of crab legs, the slurp of butter-drenched seafood, and the occasional “mmmph, goddamn this shit hittin’” muttered from one of the twins with full mouths.

Jey had one AirPod in, still watching from outside the window like he was a VIP to the mess. He was laid back in the car now, FaceTime open, Destiny on the other end of the line rubbing lotion into her belly and rolling her eyes as her man provided live commentary of Camille and Jimmy’s tension-fueled seafood therapy.

Jimmy? Still mad. Still chewing. Still simmering in sin and Old Bay seasoning.

Camille?

She was unfazed. Sat pretty with one leg crossed over the other, wiping her gloss-slick lips with a linen napkin like a pampered villainess after a kill.

Once she finished the last bite of buttery lobster tail and sipped the last of her margarita slushy, she stood—smooth and slow—and slid right across Jimmy’s lap like a damn ride at Six Flags.

He flinched.

The chair creaked.

She stood, brushing off her red Balmain mini skirt and slinging her new blue Birken over one shoulder like a trophy.

“Y’all don’t worry about the check,” she said sweetly, dabbing her chin with her napkin. “Sugar Daddy Number Seven handled that like a gentleman. Left me a couple stacks for dessert too—”

She went to step off and bounce the hell out—

But Jimmy’s hand?

Snatched.

Tatted fingers wrapped tight around her wrist, and before she could finish her strut, he dragged her ass right back down onto his lap with the swiftness of a wolf marking territory.

“Sit the fuck down, Vice.” His voice came out gravel-slick, low and territorial.

Camille blinked.

Jaw tightened.

Nostrils flared.

But Jimmy’s arm was locked around her hips like a seatbelt from hell. She couldn’t move without straddling his thigh, and her purse was now dangling off the table by one strap, like it knew this wasn't over.

“I said we not done.”

She glared over her shoulder, jaw sharp, voice sharpER. “Let. Me. Go.”

Jimmy didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. He just grabbed another sausage off the plate and popped it in his mouth like he wasn’t actively wrestling a lioness on his lap.

Camille squirmed—“You got one more second before I break your damn nose—”

“Y’all argue like married people.” Jey’s voice came through FaceTime from outside. “Baby, they got this man’s whole lap occupied and the check handled. She a menace.”

Destiny sighed in the background, “He knew what it was when he signed up.”

Jimmy finally leaned in, lips brushing the shell of Camille’s ear, voice just for her, “I ain’t lettin’ you ghost me no more. Sugar daddies or not—you mine.”

Her heart skipped. Lips parted. But she masked it quick.

“Possessive much, Poppa?” she said, dripping with venom and flirtation.

“Damn right.” He leaned back. “You set the rules, now play the game.”

She looked like she wanted to slap him, kiss him, and bite him all at once. But she didn’t move. She just stayed there on his lap—tight jaw, flushed cheeks, thighs clenched.

Jimmy smirked around a shrimp.

Jey on FaceTime? Laughing his ass off.

Camille?

Silent. Fuming. But still sitting.

Checkmate, baby.

[fashionablyenigmatic]

Breaking a Beautiful Boundary: Cad and Percy.

Cadmus lay in Percy’s lap, looking up at him, his mind swirling with thoughts he didn’t know how to put into words. Slowly, he reached up and gently took Percy’s chin in his hand. Percy glanced down, raising an eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" Percy asked, a bemused smile tugging at his lips.

"Holding space for that jawline," Cadmus replied, smirking.

Percy blushed and let out a soft chuckle, momentarily distracted from his work. He’d been knee-deep in scheduling duties for Irma’s fashion shows, a task that felt like herding cats. Models were dropping out, citing other commitments, and one even refused outright because it clashed with their D&D night. The frustration had been written all over Percy’s face, but Cadmus’s playful antics gave him a brief reprieve.

"Thanks, Caddy," Percy murmured, letting Cadmus stroke his cheek.

"Anytime, handsome," Cadmus replied warmly, but his tone carried a hint of hesitation.

For weeks, he’d been grappling with how to tell Percy the truth about himself. Percy knew he was a witch but seemed to treat it as a quirky belief, not something real. And Cadmus hadn’t yet dared to correct him. Now, as Percy smiled down at him, Cadmus decided it was time to bridge the gap.

"Babe, can I show you something?" Cadmus asked, sitting up.

Percy stretched, looking curious. "Sure, I need a break. What’s up?"

Cadmus picked up a mug from the coffee table and held it out. "You know this mug? I can turn it into a wine glass."

He flicked his wrist, and the ceramic mug shimmered, transforming into a crystal glass.

"Yo! That’s a neat trick!" Percy exclaimed, grinning. "How’d you do that?"

Cadmus hesitated, holding the crystal glass tightly. "Magic," he said quietly, meeting Percy’s eyes. "But not like magic tricks. Real magic. I need you to hear me on this."

Percy laughed lightly, brushing it off. "Babe, come on. You don’t need to go the extra mile. I’m already impressed with you."

"But, Percy," Cadmus pressed, his voice trembling slightly, "you’ve been in Inner City for a while now, and it’s kind of wild that you haven’t noticed how weird this place is."

Percy frowned, confused. "Weird how?"

"Doesn’t it strike you as odd that you can just… drive to London or New York from here? Like they’re only a few hours away?"

A flicker of cognitive dissonance crossed Percy’s face. "I… w-wait, that’s not… right…"

"Or how it’s almost always twilight, dusk, or night," Cadmus continued. "And mornings? They’re always cloudy. Always."

Percy stared at him, the smile fading from his face as doubt crept into his expression. "I… hadn’t thought about that before," he murmured.

Cadmus leaned closer, his voice soft but intense. "This city is weird, Percy. Really weird. And all the strange things you see here? Somehow, your mind just… simplifies them, makes them seem normal. I don’t know how or why—it just happens. But I need you to wake up. To realize how strange this place really is. Because I want to tell you what I am. And I need you to believe me. Fully."

Percy’s expression softened, but there was still a hint of skepticism. "Caddy, what are you trying to say?"

Cadmus hesitated, his hands tightening on the crystal glass. "I’m afraid that when I tell you what I am, you’ll break my heart," he admitted, his voice cracking. "It’s happened before—so many times—for the same reason. But you… you’re the first person who’s made me feel loved, who’s made me worry, and ache, and feel like I need someone. I need you."

The words spilled out, raw and vulnerable, as fear clawed at his chest. He didn’t know what would happen if Percy accepted the truth. Would it shatter the strange barrier between them—the reason Cadmus couldn’t read Percy’s mind or influence him. A Boundary that Cadmus loved because it allowed him to be with someone without immediately knowing them intimately. It gave him a chance to explore Percy.

And if it did break if Percy couldn’t handle the truth and chose to leave him, could Cadmus stop himself from keeping him anyway? The thought chilled him to his core, but he couldn’t push it away. All he could do now was hope Percy would listen—and stay.

@passimtemere

[littleladymab]

Still Waiting Duology (a wip intro for @moon-and-seraph's WORDS INTO POTIONS March event)

Genre: Fantasy (low fantasy, magic and second world, but only humans) Summary: After graduating from the country's most prestigious magical academy with no real interest in signing up for a tour of "border patrol", Cateryn drags her best friend and duel partner Jigar to tour the country with her -- hoping that maybe her restlessness will finally settle. She has no home to return to, and no idea of what a future is supposed to look like. When one year threatens to become two, they finally stumble upon three people whose struggles resonate with Cateryn's: Raif, who lost their father, their wife, and their future to one torrential storm and decided to leave home to save their mother the trouble of an heir who couldn't uphold the family name; Kira, a seer whose powers resulted in xir becoming a political prisoner when xir home was invaded; and Arris, Kira's husband who was helpless to save his employer and suffered at the hands of the occupying force before he could get himself and his spouse to freedom.

For the first time in a long time, Cateryn finds herself wanting to stay in one place and to open up to the people around her, even though Jigar thinks they should keep moving on. Because the two of them are destined for great things, he likes to say, but she knows what is best, and he's content to stay with her. Except for the past has a way of catching up with everyone, and they all find themselves dragged into political responsibilities as the neighboring country is getting agitated with an increasing number of border disputes, and rumors of something more than the usual bandits roaming the south.

And when Cateryn's past involvements with her father's spirit magic come back to haunt her, she has to decide if she wants to accept that part of her, or reject it and everything that comes with it before its too late. Etc: writing tag || pin board

My goal this month is to finish the outline for at least book 1 if not both books, and to GIVE IT A PROPER TITLE. And, between this and SD, hopefully write 4 chapters/about 10k.

Main Cast

Cateryn Caddis-Dowell (she/her); between 24/28; skilled at offensive/battle magic || playlist

Raif Van to Yuen-ha (they/he); between 28/32; dishonored heir to the Yuen-ha family; mediocre alchemist || playlist

Jigar Soru (he/him); between 26/30; skilled at defensive magic; "self-taught" spirit mage || playlist

Kira Dittmar (xe/xir); between 23/27; diviner/seer who would like to be retired || playlist

Arris Dittmar (he/him); between 29/33; sword for hire, just happy to be here! (he doesn't have a playlist yet I'm sorry)

Snippet

Raif didn’t even bother trying not to look miserable. If their mother wanted to make a spectacle out of their humiliation, then she’d have to do it with a sulking heir.

“Which part of this is the worst?” Cateryn asks, startling them out of their reverie.

“Pardon?” they ask in return, straightening their posture just a bit now that they’re the center of someone’s attention.

She gestures to the ballroom. “It’s the taffeta, personally. I am sweating like it isn’t the dead of winter in the north, and everyone can hear me from a mile away.” She says it low, conspiratorially, and they can’t help but laugh. “Ah, there it is.”

“The key to the taffeta’s undoing?” they whisper back, reaching out to ruffle her skirt. It whish whish whishes loudly beneath their touch.

“No, your smile.”

They snort into their wine glass. “Please, Cateryn, you don’t need to skulk about with me because you feel sorry for me.” It’s hard to keep the bitterness from their voice as they mirror her gesture towards the room. “My mother isn’t trying to humiliate you.”

They don’t mention how they noticed the way Aiden had been doting on her all evening despite this being a party for him.

“Is it wrong of me to want to keep you company?” she asks innocently. “You know, better yet, want to get out of here?”

Raif pauses with the wine glass against their lips. Leave the party early? Without saying hello, yes, I’m well thank you, yes I miss Linna and my father terribly but I’m sure Aiden will do a splendid job where I’ve failed as a child, but at least I don’t have to be my mother’s son anymore — Aiden can do that, to every one of Uyen’s friends?

The thought sends a frisson of rebellious delight through them, and they pass their half-finished glass to a nearby server. “More than anything,” they say, and Cateryn answers with a grin.

She takes their hand — in front of their mother, the family gods, and everyone — and tugs them towards the exit on the far side of the ballroom.

Uyen doesn’t call after them, but Raif can feel her disdain follow them into the hall.

[serenity-songbird]

Falling Apart

(I feel like these chapters get longer and longer everytime...Welp enjoy the ride. First post in a while BABY!!!)

How does one describe love?

   It is fragile, yet tough.

   It can be pure ecstacy and utter heartbreak.

   It is bittersweet.

   It can be as hard to break as a diamond, yet at the same time, it can be shattered in a million pieces.

    It is both ignorant and blind while being as clear as day.

   It can be all these things and more.

   But no matter how hard you put it to thought, there isn't a simple word or sentence that can really describe what love is.

   Why are people so desperate to fall in love when it brings us such sorrow and despair?

   The Frenchman sat at the balcony pondering all this. He held a cup of wine in his hands and swirled it before taking another sip.

   He watched as the sunset over the horizon. The sky covered in beautiful hues of red, purple, and orange. He closed his eyes as a cool breeze flew through his golden locks.

   Thoughts of you flooded his mind and regret drowned his heart.

   To him, you were a beautiful mystery.

   He remembers when he used to fear you, but now...his couldn't deny that he felt a different feeling for you.

   He had tried to deny it for so long that he couldn't see it. Now, reality just bitchslapped him across the face before he realized he had fallen in love with you.

   He remembered when he was one of Jessica's suitors and would woo her to no end. He couldn't remember when, but recently he realized that he did not see her in the same light.

   Was he still protective over her?

   Yes, as everyone in this household was.

   But now, it was more of a platonic protective similar to how a sibling (you) would feel.

   How could he have been so stupid?

   The man furrowed his eyebrows and tsked in aggravation.

   Was it too late for a fool, such as himself, to take it all back?

   Yes.

Ah. What was he to do?

He closed his eyes and memories of that fateful day played like a movie in his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Francis put his hands on his hips and breathed in the fresh air.

"Ah! It is a beautiful day, isn't it mon amie?"

The Canadian lagged behind trying to adjust the straps on the bag carrying the 14 golf clubs. It's not that he was struggling with its weight. The Canadian was quite strong. No the straps just refused to cooperate with him. He may be a bit tangled up...

"Yup. It is a great day." He grimaced as the strap rubbed against his neck hard...That was going to leave a mark...

"Oui!!! It is ze perfect day to enjoy ze weather and golf!" He glowed in the sunlight as he raised his arms high in anticipation. The Frenchman still hadn't noticed Matthew's struggle with the bag...

"Ah! We have finally made it to ze first hole! Matthew, please give me my wood club!"

"Ummm...Which one was the again?"

Francis sighed. How was he to participate in the golfing tournament this year with a caddie who didn't know anything about golf?

Well, since his old caddie quit, he doesn't have much of a choice...At least Matthew offered to help.

Well, Francis is going to have to teach him how to be a caddie.

He sweat-dropped to see Matthew tangled up in the straps.

*"Cela pourrait prendre un certain temps..."*

*(This may take some time...)*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mathew was quite the quick learner.

After some explanations and pointing things out, he got most of the game down and was able to properly be a caddie.

Francis was currently on hole 10 and was killing it.

He was confident that he could win the tournament.

"Fore!!!" He shouted before hitting the ball.

It's going.

Its going.

Oh no wait!!!

Not that way!!!

Noooo!!!

The ball plopped right into the lake.

A water hazard...

Francis sighed and went to put another ball on the tee pin.

"Bwahahaha!!! Wow! You are terrible at golf!"

"Sacré bleu!!!" Francis nearly had a heartattack.

He turned sharply to see...Elizaveta and...you holding your stomach in laughter.

He didn't know you two knew each other.

"You shouldn't be laughing, (Y/N)...You are vay vorse than he is...." Elizaveta sighed.

"That's because golf is a stupid sport!!!" You countered in frustration as you puffed out your cheeks.

"A-ah, Elizaveta...and (Y/N). W-What brings you here?" Francis was now walking on eggshells. He did not want to set off your anger.

You grabbed the railing of the golf cart you were on and stepped out. You wore a white collared shirt with gold buttons and a knee length (F/C) skirt. You ajusted (F/C) visor and walked over with your black and white golf shoes.

Francis had to admit. You were a beautiful woman. You had curves that were perfect to grab and pull you into a passionate dipped kiss.

But he would never do that to you. You'd surely beat him to death and bury him 8 ft underground. And yes he knows that they normally bury people 6 ft, but this women would beat him down two more feet...

"Have you forgotten, Francie? I too, am competing in the golf tournament zhis year. My best friend, (Y/N) offered to be my caddie."

"I wouldn't say offered...More as in forced..."

"Vhat was zat?" Elizaveta swirled her head to you, eyes glowing red.

"Eek!!! N-Nothing!" You cowered behind the closest thing to you. Which so happened to be poor Mattie.

You had grabbed onto him so roughly that you accidentally pulled him down, taking both you and the 2 tour bags belonging to Elizaveta and Francis down with.

"Ahhh!!!" "Eek!!!" You and Matthew screeched at the same time as you fell and the supplies In the bags scattered around.

Elizaveta pinched her nose and Francis sweatdropped.

"Oops...Sorry..." You apologized trying to push Matthew off you. Instead you made the tangle worse. Matthew just sighed in defeat. He was just done and was too annoyed to feel fear.

Elizaveta and Francis had to detangle you from each other.

Some time had passed afterwards. Elizaveta and Francis were waaay absorbed into their little competition they were having. They were tied something to something...Honestly, you weren't keeping track.

Golf was hard to understand.

Matthew was nice enough to try and explain it to you, buuut...it wasn't going so well.

Honestly, Matthew was suprised you were even being nice to him and not ignoring him.

(Little did he know, that you were being nice because Elizaveta was there and you didn't want her to kill you. With the small conversations he started to ease the tension, he wasn't so bad. So you were a little more friendly to him. Which made him grateful).

"Sooo. I know you tried to explain it all, buuut I'm not catching on at all. Why are there so many rules and such a difficult scoring system? All you got to do is hit the ball and get it in the hole." You sighed. "What a drag..."

"Yeah...I'll have to agree with you on that one." Matthew was now more relaxed. You were actually a nice person when you weren't yelling or throwing your fists around. Using his peripheral vision, he glanced at you. Something in him wanted to ask this question, but he wasn't sure where it came from. "Ms. (Y/N)? May I ask you a personal question?"

"First, don't call me Ms. (Y/N). Just (Y/N) is fine and depending on the question, sure."

"Why are you so against your sister falling in love with us?"

You clenched your fists around the club you were leaning on. You're face scrunched up with an emotion he couldn't decipher.

"..."

"I-I'm sorry. Was that too-"

"You seem like a decent person, Mattie. So I'll tell you." You locked eyes with him and his heart dropped. Your eyes were cold and dull. "Love is a scam. I've learned time and time again that nothing good comes out of it. You think you're on top of the world only to discover it was all a lie and you were at rock bottom. You only get used and abused." A stray tear dripped down your right eye. "It's not worth it...I'm just trying to protect my sister from the same fate..."

Your voice was distant and forlorn in a manner he never witnessed. From just those words and tone, he felt like he suddenly understood you. He may not know the details of what you went through, but he understood enough.

He wanted to help you.

"You're crying..."

"I'm not crying. There's just dirt in my eye."

"...Of course." He decided to drop it, knowing how stubborn you are. He passed you a tissue. "Here. To wipe the dirt away."

"...Thanks." You wiped your face and put on some sunglasses...To block the sun of course. You and Matt stood in silence for a few minutes before Elizaveta started cursing near the lake. You both walked over to see the problem.

"A Fenébe! [Damn it] It blew my golf ball into ze lake!"

"Hon hon hon. Seems you are not as good as you thought, Oui?"

"You shouldn't be talking. Your ball went in the lake too." You deadpanned.

"Igen! You are not one to talk! Aw, it's too bad. I really loved zhat golf ball. It waz pink."

"Oh, I'll get it for you. I'm a really good swimmer." With no hesitation you jumped into the lake.

"Aaahhh!!! Te őrült lány !! (You crazy woman) Vhat are you doing?!?!?!" Elizaveta screeched.

"Wait, am I supposed to get your ball too Francis! I know you said I have to carry your stuff and pick it up..." Matthew scratched his head in confusion.

"Non!!! Once ze ball gets in the lake, it's supposed to stay zhere!"

"I got it!!!" You surfaced from the water holding the ball high and proud.

"Get out of ze vater now!!!" Elizaveta grabbed a beach towel that you brought along so you could sit on the grass.

You got out the water and your white shirt had become see through. Everyone could see your bra. Matthew looked away, Respectfully. Francis on the other hand stared...Respectively.

"It really is a shame zhat she is so scary..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well...this day wasn't what Francis had planned at all...

Elizaveta practically dragged you into the women's locker room spewing curses and lectures on ladylike behaviors.

Francis was annoyed at the fact that instead of improving his skills, he ended up losing to Elizaveta...AGAIN. Not only t hat, but now he has to buy more golf balls since 2 are now lost forever in that damned lake. He signed his initials on them.

You could have at least gotten his balls too while you were at it. So unfair.

It doesn't help that he came here in the first place to ease his frustrations in the morning.

Arthur decided he wanted to try a new recipe...Somehow he managed to...well...he somehow set the water he was boiling on FIRE...

How?!?!?!

He tried to put out the fire by throwing the fish onto the fire...

Obviously that made it worse.

So then, the kitchen was on fire and not had a horrible smell of burning fish and...whatever it was that Arthur seasoned it with.

Ludwig put out the fire.

Arthur is no longer allowed in the kitchen.

As if that wasn't irritating enough, and here's the topper on the cake, his car broke down!!!

Are you kidding me?!?!?!

A squirrel somehow got into the hood of the car. When the car started up, the critter completely freaked out and damaged the battery.

Mr. Squirrel at least got away with no major injuries, but the car battery...not so lucky.

So now here he was sitting next to YOU of all people in the back of the car. Matthew was on the passenger side of the car. (Francis called shotgun, but Elizaveta didn't want to have to grab here frying pan to hit him while driving. And she was mad at you still for jumping into the lake and embarrassing her).

Worst part is...it was an hour drive to the Mechanics. You lot were following the tow truck there.

Elizaveta may get annoyed and angry with Francis from time to time, but she still offered to take him to the Mechanics due to her kind nature and (Despite your protesting, pouting, and grumbling in disagreement)

The car ride was silent and awkward at first. Matthew turned on the radio to cancel out the silence. While, it eased a bit of tension, the atmosphere was still awkward.

Elizaveta wasn't as angry anymore, but still a little frustrated. Matthew was nervous. Francis was annoyed. You were feeling guilty.

In order to ignore the tension around you, you pulled out your tablet and started designing.

You were an architect/interior designer. You worked on not only building houses, but designing them as well. You recently received a major project for a rich and famous man.

Richard Vicente (He is not real. He is an OC) is a famous Broadway Star. He's featured in musicals, plays, talk shows; you name it.

Not only that but, boy oh boy, is he handsome. Chestnut colored, wavy locks adored his head. His sunny smile would send hearts racing. Toned, 6ft, and all sexy.

The ladies would go crazy over him. You arel not like all the other girls who loved him because of his looks and charms. You were a fan of his talents.

That's. It.

You refused to fawn over some famous, most likely a, playboy. You refused to scream, jump around, and say something provocative or flirty to get him into bed.

You would never act like one of those foolish fangirls.

Perhaps that's why Vicky, your boss, asked you to do the project.

When they announced the project, literally everyone climbed over each other just to be the one who takes it.

You, on the other hand, stayed in your seat. Why would you want to cater to some playboy? He probably breaks hearts on a daily basis and uses women for his own sick needs and wants.

Gross.

And yet your boss practically slammed the papers on your desk and ordered you to be the lead. Plus, she said that if you did a good job, there was a possibility of promotion.

That word made you perk up. So of course you took the job. And only complained a little.

That's what you were working on right now. I'm going to tell you that this re-modeling...is the hardest fucking project you've ever taken!!!

What even is this?!?!?!

A waterslide leading from the bedroom into the living room pool??? Sure that sounds cool and all, but wouldn't it be better to have a normal slide inside the house and a waterslide outside or in a designated indoor pool room???

You can get water all over the furniture and walls. Possible Mold if not probably maintained.

Ugh...

You're getting a headache.

When you meet this man, you are going to kill him...At least in your mind...You really like your job and don't want to get fired...

Francis glanced over to you as you sighed in frustration. He examined the 3D Model you had designed. It wasn't finished, but the rooms you completed and the shape of the house was a sight to behold.

"Oh la vache! [Oh damn] (Y/N) zhat looks amazing!" Francis couldn't help but admire your skills. The modern look mixed with a techno theme somehow worked beautifully together.

You jumped when he exclaimed, and got confused when he suddenly moved to sit closer to you and flip around the 3D house in...is that admiration?

"U-um thanks...I get to lead a very important project. I'm creating the design based on what Mr. Vicente wrote down... though I'm having trouble designing the more...difficult structures."

Now that you snapped out of the initial shock of his unexpected reaction, you noticed how close he was now and suddenly got a familiar chill. It was not a good sign...You won't do this again.

"Also, back off! You're way too close to me right now!"

"But Cherie! I couldn't help but admire your talented model...Aussie [Also] I couldn't help, but notice your face," he gently grabbed your chin seductively, "Turned wine red when you saw 'ow close I was. Could it be, you've fallen for me?"

"Fallen for-??? Absolutely not!!!" You smacked his hand away. Turned your face and crossed your arms. "Humph!"

"She hit me!!! Did you see zhat?! Si méchant! [How mean]"

"That's vhat you get!!! Keep your filthy French hands off of her before I turn zhis car around!" Elizaveta swiftly became overprotective.

Matthew sighed. He just wanted to go back home.

Francis pouted in the corner dramatically for a bit.

A few minutes passed by before Francis muttered a suggestion out of the blue.

"By zhe way...If 'e really wants a swirly slide why don't you build zhe slide to become a tube and 'ave it lead outside? It would solve zhe problem of limited room indoors. You can also put a glass shield around zhe indoor pool to prevent water damage on zhe furniture. And a spot with towels so 'e can dry off and not get water all over zhe place when 'e gets out. Although...I zhink zhe idea of a waterslide is ridiculous. A regular slide, sure, but a waterslide? Oh là là... I would personally try and change 'is mind"

You paused.

"Those...weren't terrible ideas...Maybe you're onto something...But how should I make it look?"

As quickly as a snap of the fingers, you got into work mood and Francis got looped into helping with creating blueprints.

You loved your job. You were passionate about it and got excited whenever talking about it.

Francis, had never seen you so...passionate. There was a sparkle in your eyes and you smiled in excitement. Whenever he proposed an idea or recommendation based on Mr. Vicente's wants, you'd get so excited.

You'd exclaim, "Wow! That's a great idea!" And eagerly write it down or build it into the 3D model.

The both of you worked together to create an almost complete blueprint. When Elizaveta pulled into the Mechanic parking lot, the two of you didn't notice.

Both Matthew and her were surprised by the change in atmosphere. But it helped brighten the mood.

Elizaveta had known you for a while. She knows why you are so stubborn and mean. So seeing you happily talking about your passion with another man...she was relieved...Although, she wished it was with someone else and not that French Bastard.

It was a strange feeling...You were in such a deep conversation and were... disappointed when you got to your destination.

Francis signed papers, got a retail car, and paid for their service.

The rental car pulled up and the 4 of you helped Francis move stuff from his car to the rental.

"Okay! Zhat is all of it. Merci. [Thank you] I will see you back at 'ome!"

Something inside you felt displeased at that thought. Francis helped you so much on your project...It was a pleasant conversation...That's all.

"Wait! Can I drive with you?!" You ran towards him clutching your tablet and books to your chest. You looked up at him with doe eyes. "I-I, I~ need help with this project. You see, it's due in 6 days and you can help me get it done earlier. I could totally impress my boss and get that promotion. Pleeease, help meee."

In your mind, 'It is strictly business! You just want that promotion (Y/N). You're just asking for his help and you do not have any interest in him! No matter how fairytale handsome he is. No! Don't think like that! He is still a playboy and you are not going to fall for a man like that!'

Elsewhere in Francis's mind. He was a little upset. Now you want to be all sweet and nice to him because you need something! The nerve of you! You will not use him just for your own benefit!

...Yet

Regardless of the way you treated him in the past, (Which by the way was literally earlier today and nearly everyday in the past before than), he couldn't say no to your doe eyes...and it was nice talking to you and seeing your cute expressions when talking about your passion.

He wanted to see more.

Not that he has feelings for you! It's due to his French nature! A man must never leave a damsel in distress when she is asking for help.

"...Oui. You may. I do 'ave an amazing sense of style and taste when it comes to making zhings beautiful! Afterall, I myself, am beautiful."

You rolled your eyes at the last statement.

"HUH!?!?!? Vait a minute why do you suddenly vant to go vith zhis Perverz! [Pervert] Plus, I don't vant to drive an hour all alone!" Elizaveta huffed.

"I-It's strictly for business! He...has good ideas. Aaand If you're worried about driving alone...Matthew can go with you!" You pointed at him.

"Who?" She turned around. "A francba! I forgot you were there!"

"I figured...At least (Y/N) remembered me..."

"Are you okay with that Matthew?" You asked politely.

"Yeah. I don't mind." He decided to do you this favor since you didn't forget him.

So it was settled. You split into two groups and drove home.

A lot changed during the drive between both groups.

Elizaveta felt bad about forgetting about Matthew so she got to know him.

Matthew is now under the protection of Elizabeta and if anyone dares forget him or make fun of him, they will die.

Elsewhere, you and Francis worked on the project. Then, the conversation drifted abroad...and something just clicked between you too.

You started talking about your likes, dislikes, why you chose the career you did, etc. You two realized you had a lot in common and got to know each other better.

The drive only felt like it was a few minutes. You...had a good time with him.

You could even say you became friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the next 5 days, you and Francis worked on the Project to make it flawless.

You learned even more about each other and soon he realized why you acted the way you did. Men had hurt you so badly that you built up your guard.

He wanted to protect you. He didn't want to see you hurt anymore.

He even told you some of his troubles.

Yes, within 5 days he gained your trust.

5 days might not seem like a lot, but love doesn't have a timeline.

It comes whenever it want to.

And cupid really struck your hearts at that perfect moment.

You were drawing up some ideas and you had the perfect one. You, super animated, scurried over to Francis before you slipped on a piece of paper on the floor and braces yourself.

Instead of hitting the ground, you felt a pair of strong arms around your waist. You opened your eyes and locked on to Francis. He held you in a dip pose and your faces were close together.

How could you deny it any longer? Within 5 days, you'd fallen in love with someone who loves your sister.

Oy vey...This...is not good.

You see there's a major problem with falling in love with that French man.

Not only is he a flirt and a playboy, but he is the type of man you tried to avoid to fall for.

Do you have any idea the pain that stabs your chest whenever you see someone you love flirt with someone else?

And it wasn't just your sister! It was other girls! Every girl except you!!!

You dug yourself into your work to try and ignore this feeling. But it grew more and more as you got to know each other.

Then, you gave the plans to Mr. Vicente. He was so impressed by your teamwork that he also hired Francis.

Of course you would put Francis's name as co-creater. You worked together on it and you would never be selfish.

Aaand because of your generosity, you were now stuck with him at work as well...

He'd flirt with your female coworkers.

He didn't flirt with you...Why?!

Is it because of how you treated him before? You had already apologized!

...Who are you kidding. Of course it's for that reason. Things like that can't just be forgotten!

Stupid!!!

And then there was Francis...For a French man who claims he knows everything about love, he's oblivious when It comes to him.

He's a man of love and beauty. Of course he is going to compliment beautiful girls. That's who he is. He knows that other women swoon over him daily, but he is also a faithful man.

Since Jessica moved in he hasn't had any type of courtship with anyone. He may make love to other when single, but he believes in true love. He's never cheat. And he knows that people think that of him. But he will not let it bring him down. He knows who he is.

Besides, he is in love with (Y/ -J-Jessica. He's in love with Jessica...right?

Of course he is! He's only gotten close to (Y/N) a month ago. He is just protective of her because of her past...Yes. That is what it is.

That's why he gets so angry when Mr. Vicente or Richard flirts with you. It's so obvious. He works very closely with you whenever he can.

...Getting close to you, barely touching shoulders or hands.

Doing everything he can to make you laugh...To hear that enchanting laughter.

Complimenting you just to make you blush and smile. Which is so cute.

...He doesn't trust that man.

And he had reason to hate him even more when he asked you out on a date.

"Ooh lala!~ Where are you going dressed up all nice?" Your sister whistled when you walked down the stairs.

You were stunning. (F/C) dress, (gold/silver) jewelry to compliment it, and your hair styled in a way that made his heart burst.

Even the other men couldn't help but admire the beauty she was. His stomach knotted up.

"I'm going on a date." Francis's heart dropped into his stomach.

"That poor~a fool."

"I will kill you!!! Shut up Lovino!!!' She chucked the cat figurine that was on the shelf at him.

"Ow!!! Now~a listen her-" Just as he stood up, Jessica pulled him down.

"Now. Now let's now fight. (Y/N). It is very rude to throw things at people. And Lovino that was a very hurtful comment. Both of you apologize right. Now."

"I'm sorry..."

"Mi dispiace..."

Francis sat there clutching his pants and getting his teeth.

'What is zhis...zhis awful feeling?'

It was all he could think about. He didn't like it.

He was so lost in his mind that when he snapped back into reality, you were already out the door.

"S'il vous plaît excusez-moi. (Please excuse me)" He had stood up so quickly that even England was concerned.

"Frankie? What's wrong?" Jessica paused the movie.

He didn't respond because the next thing he knew, his hand was on your shoulder. You jumped from fright.

"F-Francis! What do you think you're- why do you look so angry?!"

"So zhis is the real reason why you needed my 'elp, hmm?"

You blinked in confusion. "Huh? W-What are you talking about?"

"You just used me to impress zhe rich man so 'e'd fall in love with you! Why y-y-you're nozhing but a selfish, inconsiderate, Gold-digger!"

He was suprised and even stepped back when you slapped him across the face.

"Ex-fucking-scuse me!!! First of all, you knew from the beginning that I wanted the promotion! I never said anything about Richard because It wasn't the reason! I did it for my job! Second of all, don't you ever insult me, yell at me, and grab me like that ever again. Who the fuck do you think you are!"

She's right of course. He knew it, yet he couldn't control his anger. He had never been this angry before. Even with Arthur!

Why does his heart hurt so much?

Why was he yelling these things?

What is he even saying?

"Furthermore, I know you are not talking. You! Who claims to he in love with my sister. Yet! You flirts with every woman you see. You! Who has probably been with more women than I can count on all my fingers and toes! Don't you dare shame me for accepting a date from a nice guy who actually makes me feel good about myself! Not like you who makes me feel so insecure! Why is it that you flirt with every woman except me! And you claim you're so in love with my sister. Ugh! I can't believe I fell in love with you! You are just a walking red flag!"

"L-love?" Francis suddenly felt sick.

"You know what. I am sooo glad you showed me your true colors. It only proved that I was right about you from the beginning. A perverted fuckboy who doesn't care that he's constantly breaking hearts for his own satisfaction."

Ouch. That hurt.

"Now move. I'm going to be late for my date." You pushed him out if the way, got in your car and drove off fighting back tears.

Francis just stood there in shock. "She...loves moi?"

"What is the matter with you! Aren't you going to go after her?!?!?!" Jessica stormed up him. "Well? Say something!" She and the others had listened to the entire fight and Jesssica was furious.

He didn't respond even when Matthew came to check up on him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And this brings us to where we are now as he drowns his sorrows with wine.

The sun had already set with how long he sat there.

What a fool he was to not see it.

He placed his face in his hands in aggravation.

What was he going to do now?