better than anything ever

angel reid. twenty-five.

[dobits]

ANGEL REID (cis male, he/him, booboo stewart) is TWENTY-FIVE and a VINTAGE CAR COLLECTOR from PASADENA, CA. they are known as THE HELPING HAND because they are THOUGHTFUL, but if things kick off, they can be a bit CAUTIOUS. they’re BISEXUAL and describe their type as LOYAL, BUT SPONTANEOUS. from their time in the villa, they’re hoping to find LOVE. ( the smell of petrol and palo santo, the thrumming of a nervous heartbeat, bear hugs and homemade cheeseburgers )

NAME: angel hale reid.   NICKNAMES: taking suggestions.     AGE:  twenty five. GENDER & PRONOUNS: cis male, he/him.   OCCUPATION: vintage car collector/restorer, a hobby-turned-career passed down by his father, who bought him his first classic camaro. ZODIAC: pisces sun, scorpio moon, leo rising.   TATTOOS: NOT booboo’s joker tattoo, that’s for sure. japanese characters on his side, ‘still waters run deep’ around his right wrist, some important dates and letters on his left wrist, vintage chevy on the back of his arm. PIERCINGS: both ears.

always on the verge of smiling for no good reason. would be a mover and a shaker if he had any sense of self-promotion (his sister runs his work ig - his finsta is for Homies Only). restores and sells classic cars to celebs/influencers and rents them to movie sets. big ol’ puppy and a jack of all trades. can fix your heater, hotwire a car, and play a mean game of chess. a romantic, stuck between whimsy and skepticism. been laser-focused on work, so he’s put love on the backburner. genuinely thinks he could find it in love island. his circle is small and he’s very family oriented. a sweetie pie at heart, but he knows himself, knows what he wants and will do what’s needed to get it. honest and obsessive. loves a good prank, he’s a good natured mischief maker. a doer, not much for stringing words together. well-intentioned, zero subtlety, generally apologetic. 

[dobits]

graftisms​:

SHE’S LAUGHING AS SOON AS HIS HEAD STARTS SHAKING, amusement still flickering in her features as he draws her closer. callie can’t even pretend to be surprised ;   she knew this was coming since the hideaway, or maybe even before that, when she brought him back from casa without the intention of getting to know anyone else. but the giddiness in this moment is all new, even if being huddled under the covers like this, and his intentional touches, isn’t. this is actually the first time anyone’s ever asked her to be their girlfriend, she realizes, because callie has absolutely no idea how to respond without huffing out a laugh. it’s so juvenile and ridiculous, and she can’t get enough of it.   “ yes, ”   she finally whispers, trying to hold back another giggle.   “ i’ll be your girlfriend. ”

it’s one of the rare times of having a secret in the villa and it feeling good. there’s no crescendo of whoops from the islanders, no multiple angles and studio lighting followed by a dance montage. if angel and callie were ever gonna get a stolen moment here, this is it and, though her response may seem obvious, he can’t help but still be relieved that it’s to the tune of her giggle, to her playful, teasing acceptance. “yeah?” there’s a breathless kiss as he giggles along with her, his hands sweeping back the curtain of her hair. “you gonna say it like that every time?” angel’s turn to be teasing, a hand squeezing the side of her ribs in hopes of illiciting a tickle. “my girlfriend.”

[dobits]

CALLIE & ANGEL -- NIGHT FORTY

location: evening / the boat cruise

featuring: @graftisms

ANGEL

“how much are you loving this?” judging by angel’s grin, he can tell the answer is a lot. still, seems like he’s enjoying watching her enjoy it more. sat at one of the bar’s tables they can overlook the ocean and watch the water lap warm and forceless against the side of the vessel. “how’s it compare to your old man’s boat?”

CALLIE

"oh, i'm buzzin'," she laughs, not having enough tact to even pretend otherwise. her eyes are on the ocean as if there's a pod of dolphins out there, when in reality she's just missed actually seeing the water. "comparing his boat to this is like comparing... that guy," she points to the average looking bartender, "to chris hemsworth." no offense, mate.

ANGEL

“well, this is kinda a bit much anyway,” angel defends mr. michaels with a shrug of his hand. “like, you can’t even feel the spray on a joint like this.” the yacht seems designed to negate the whole point of being on the water, all the messy, salty, fun bits he imagines you get on a good ol’ fashioned fishing boat. “— chris hemsworth?” he arched a teasing brow at her. “see, i knew you had a thing for the josh types.”

CALLIE 

"yachts are too much for you?" she teases, brushing her knee against his under the table. "no, you're not wrong. this thing is massive. i went to find the loo earlier and got lost." on a boat! ridiculous. the mention of naomi's boyfriend immediately makes callie's nose wrinkle. "josh wishes he looks like chris hemsworth," she shakes her head, "but nah, that was just the first, like, conventionally hot guy i could think. i'm more of a chris pine girl myself."

ANGEL

“only when i don’t have my cigar,” in that posh, upper crust tone. a hand curls the back of callie’s knee, pulling her leg between his as he leans forward to court a kiss. “maybe we should go find the loo and get lost,” he suggests, grinning. “you look beautiful, y’know.” a snort has his head nodding, isn’t entirely surprised by any of that. “i’m kinda more chris evans vibe. but, like, not another teen movie era.”

CALLIE

she leans forward to meet his kiss easily, hand resting on the top of his knee, giving it a squeeze. "i'm willing to bet jenny and jude have thought of that already," she jokes, but it's not exactly a no, eyes shining. "chris evans? what teen movie was he in?"

ANGEL

“please, as if they’d do us all the favor of finding somewhere private,” angel quips. knowing those two, they’d start exploring each other’s bodies right there on the dance floor if it suited them. a cheshire grin stretches over his mouth, too pleased she’s opened herself up to the joke name of the movie. “not another teen movie,” he repeats, hardly restraining laughter. “c’mon, i know they have parody movies in australia.”

CALLIE

callie laughs through making a face, eyes sweeping around to see if she can find them. safe to assume what they're doing since she doesn't see them. "good for them," lips press together to hold back a smile, shaking her head. "naur, sorry. the only movies we have in australia are nature documentaries, and stuff with nicole kidman," eyes widen in faux disappointment. "no, i've just never heard of that. sounds stupid."

ANGEL

the corners of his eyes crinkle as he laughs, his head shaking. “you’re out on the water for an hour and already you’re ODing on aussie-isms.” not unlike the way she gets when her and dylan talk together, or jude and adela. he scoffs dramatically. “it’s not stupid, it’s fucking hilarious and you’re gonna love it when i make you watch it.” angel squeezes the back of her knee again before he leans back in his chair, smiling at the prospect of still learning things about her. “what kinda movies aren’t stupid then?”

CALLIE

"me? have you heard eden, she always sounds way more aussie," she argues, as if it's a bad thing. it's not, but callie likes to think that her few years in america makes her a little more cultured than that. "you should be keeping a list at this point." it's not the first time he's told her they're gonna watch something, nor will it be the last. there's a pause as she considers the questions thoughtfully, before shrugging. "i don't know, i'm not much of a movie person," she admits. "but parody movies are made to be stupid, aren't they?"

ANGEL

“nah, you been really hittin’ those naurs lately, it’s cute as fuck.” between her and jude, he’s definitely going back to LA with a few extra slang terms. angel brings a finger up to tap his temple. “already keepin’ a list, babe. we’re gonna start off with fast and furious. every single one.” he’s laughing because he fully could’ve called that, callie doesn’t exactly seem like the kinda person to sit home and geek out over a screen. “no, you’re probably more like why watch a movie when we can just live it?” which, kinda fair. “oh, totally stupid. the chris evans one is a banger though. god, i haven’t seen that in forever.” if only they could pull up netflix or, better yet, just do anything besides drinking and talking about other people’s relationships. “y’know, mr. not-chris-hemsworth behind the bar over there is, like, the only fresh blood we’ve seen in weeks. maybe he’s got, like, exciting news from the outside world.” he’s joking, until suddenly he’s not, leaning forward into callie conspiratorially. “maybe he’s got weed.”

CALLIE

"naur, i have not," she defends, before pausing. "--okay, that time i heard it." eyes roll lightly in jest at herself. "every one? how many are there again?" those movies really don't sound like her cup of tea, but she is curious to see why he likes them so damn much. "wow, you make me sound like a douche," she laughs, shaking her head. "nah, i just don't have the attention span for them. i'm never just chilling alone and think, hm, i should put on a movie." though now she misses them, since they can't watch any here. "victoria and santiago erasure," she laughs, though turns to give the bartender a second glance. the mention of weed has her head snapping back to angel, eyes narrowing playfully. "there's no way," she says, but she's not confident in that, leaning forward too. "should i ask? shake him down? that is the only thing that'd make this night better."

ANGEL

“they’re doing a tenth one,” he tells her, totally indulged. “in one of the other ones vin diesel stomps on the ground and makes an earthquake, man. so sick.” angel’s definitely part of the joke that the movies suck, but he also definitely still likes them anyway. “nah, yeah, i feel that. honestly, i think it’ll probably be, like… a long minute before we’re gonna be able to do the normal chill stuff together, huh?” presumably after this they’ll travel, do press and marketing for their various business deals, do appearances. seems like there will hardly be any time to bop around a random grocery store together. “they’re, like, cast. i’m talkin’ bonafide normal person.” the line is pretty fine. he chuckles lowly at callie’s immediate interest, thrives under that attention. “way. c’mon, boat bartender?” angel points out under his breath. surely this guy has a joint. never mind the fact production can definitely hear them and will squash the bit when they feel like it’s gone on too long. he nods eagerly. “mhm, go toss your hair at him. oh, do that little slanty smile thing you do, that’ll bring it home.”

CALLIE

"you must be joking," her head falls back as she laughs, just at that mental image alone. "i don't think that's actually possible. what are those movies about, anyway? besides cars." or is that what it's only about? callie hadn't actually thought about the next time they can sit down and watch a movie, but angel saying that does make her consider it. "damn, when you say it like that, it's kind of depressing," she admits, with a little chuckle. it's weird to think about when they get out of the show, they won't just be going back to their normal lives; there's the added layer of everything that comes with this. "there's no way they'd let us get some..." but her voice trails off, considering it. what does she have to lose? "alright," she takes a deep breath, smacking a kiss on his lips before rising to her feet. "i'm going in."

ANGEL

“so it starts with them doing street races with their homemade rides and then by the end of the series they’re committing, like… international espionage.” a shrug, like it’s a natural progression. super sick. for someone who’s spent the majority of their adult life working, staying low key and in his lane, there’s a semblance of excitement to living the antithesis. it’ll be like playing a role for a little bit, playing pretend, before he goes back to the shop, back to reality. callie breaking it down to the dubious bare bones though has him nodding slowly with realization. “huh. yeah, i guess, kinda,” he concedes. then he jerks his chin toward her. “at least we’re gonna be doing it together, right?” that’s the silver lining to anything, he figures. it brings a spark of excitement to watch callie talk herself into playing the game with him, especially since she’s about to do all the heavy lifting. “hell yeah,” he hypes, can’t find the restraint to not lean forward and smack her ass when she starts toward the bar. “you got this.”

CALLIE

"oh, naturally," she deadpans with a nod, as if that's the most normal thing in the world. "what's happening in the tenth one, are they going to the moon?" i guess, he says, and it's clear that he doesn't totally agree with her, which makes callie smile to herself. now that she thinks about it, maybe it's for the best that they don't get a movie night in the near future; those movies sound terrible. "nah, it'll be fun," she assures him, because while the idea of celebrity life feels increasingly overwhelming the longer they're here, part of her recognizes she's probably overthink it. it's not like they're becoming the next kardashians. but she feels a bit like one of them while on this yacht, channeling their energy as she struts over to the bartender, arms resting on the bar between them in an effort to come off as cute and approachable as possible. the conversation's quick, only a minute or two, before she's coming back over to angel with a restrained smile, immediately laughing as she sits down. taking his hand, she passes him the only thing the bartender gave her: a cigarette. "okay, that man did not speak english," she tells him, keeping her voice down despite some residual laughter. "i tried to mime a blunt, but... he was so happy to give me this. i didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise." a pause. "or the spanish."

ANGEL

“what you mean? weed is a universal language,” he argues playfully, also trying to restrain his low laughter as he inspects the cigarette. angel heaves a sigh, begrudgingly grabbing a stray lighter abandoned on the table before lighting it up, his hand cupped around the end. “do you think your grandparents are gonna like me?” he wonders randomly, the smile lining the edges of his mouth aware of his glibness. “or, like, oh my god, your friends? are they gonna, like, ice me out if i don’t have a vagina?” it’s a joke, can infer as much but his light chuckles, but it is a vague curiosity.

CALLIE

"then you go ask him for some," she nods in the direction of the bar, but it's half-hearted. callie shakes her head when it becomes apparent he's going to use her own cigarette. "what?" the question is so out of left field for a second all she can do is laugh. "oh yeah, sorry. did i not mention? all my friends are man-hating lesbians," her eyes roll at that. "of course they're gonna like you. hate to break it to you, but we wouldn't be doing this if i thought they wouldn't. besides, you gotta be, like, parent catnip, right?" callie finds it hard to believe anyone just wouldn't like him.

ANGEL

“yeah, flip my hair at him?” angel jokes, a boyish smile settling on his face. it only broadens at callie’s tease. “shut up, it could happen.” he’s sure he’s seen it in a movie once, surely written by a man. the plume of smoke is ripped away by the water’s gentle breeze, he ashes into one of the trays. “nuh uh,” angel defends his nonexistent bad boy image, his smile slanted and bashful and no help. “i mean, i’d try to be. but i’m, like, the guy with no degree, barely a job, mostly a bunch of debt. or i dunno, maybe they’d want you with an aussie or somethin’.” somebody to keep her close, he could understand that considering his immediate plans to steal her away to LA. “tell me about your bestie. not dylan.” ‘cause he just figures.

CALLIE

"is that how you flirt?" she teases, already knowing the answer to that. her hand outstretches, silently asking for the cigarette. may as well, since they can't get actual weed here. "barely a job? don't you run your own shop?" she laughs incredulously. "you do remember i'm, like, actually unemployed, right? my nan's gonna just like that you have ambitions." it's not really something she's thought about, but if anyone should be worried about family not approving, it's probably callie. not just the fact that all she has to her name is a golden retriever and a surf board, but also for having to watch her drama unfold with frankie. now she really does need this cigarette. "um, i have a few of them," she admits, taking a drag from the smoke. "there's hannah and bri, who i grew up with. hannah's still in sydney, which made moving back home not completely dull. bri's over in brisbane now, getting her phd. she's crazy smart." definitely the friend that's the least like herself. "there's also amanda, who was my roommate back in san diego. i'm still really close with her. she's constantly trying to get me to move back, but she's living with her girlfriend now, so it's not like she needs the roomie." she takes another puff before handing it back. "what about yours? are they gonna like me, even though i don't know shit about cars?"

ANGEL

“don’t act like you don’t love it when i flip my hair,” he warns, brows lifting and falling like he’s said something salacious. the ciggy’s slotted between her fingers as he sniffs, cants his head in a shrug and plays with her free hand. “yeah, but it’s, like… not jiffy lube or anything,” angel laughs, modest. “it’s hard to say if i can make it into a thing, y’know?” by all accounts a confession, an admission of his real world fears which feels too large and looming backlit by the silly villa qualms of who’s grafting who. “that’s different. you can do anything you wanna do, plus… like, i’m the one who’s supposed to be taking care of you.” a sentiment laced with a false sarcasm, like the heteronormativity and the gender roles are just a joke. angel does believe it though, if even just a little bit. for all his progressive new agey vibes, he admittedly would wanna make sure he was bringing home the bacon. “i love that you have friends in california,” angel buzzes, his smile thinly veiled. “you know hannah and bri from, like, school? that’s kinda sick, i dunno if i’m still homies with anybody from high school anymore.” he takes the cigarette and ashes it, head shaking playfully. “yeah, you’re gonna be walking a thin line. they’re gonna trivia you for sure.” breaking into a laugh, angel cheeses. “nah, my closest buddies aren’t even gearheads. you’re gonna be fine.”

CALLIE

"what, when you flip it in my face while i'm trying to sleep? it's very cute, yeah." it's not like she hasn't admitted time and time again how much she likes his hair, okay. "what do you mean, make it into a thing?" eyebrows arch, not sure if he's being modest or if she just doesn't have the whole picture. "it's a business that you run and you make money from it, don't you? that sounds like a thing to me. like honestly, angel, that's... really bloody impressive." really intimidating too, because it's so wildly different to the life she's returning to, one where she actually has to figure out what she wants to do. in reality, callie will probably just end up living off influencer money for as long as she can, because optimistic notions aside, she can't really do anything she wants when callie has no desire to work at all. though him making the comment about taking care of her throws her off enough to make her cough up her cigarette puff, reaching for the drink in front of her before giving him a dirty look. "what are all your friends from, then?" she asks, once she can breath again. if he didn't meet them as kids or from work, where else do you meet people? "who am i gonna get to meet?"

ANGEL

“mm-mm, i can’t help flipping it in your face ‘cause you’re always, like, all over me when we’re sleeping,” he exaggerates, enjoying the bickering way too much. an inhale is held for a beat of thought, eyes passing over the waves before slinking back to callie. “i mean, make money…,” mouth twists into a shrug, “like, i break even. i dunno, maybe i just been away too long, y’know? getting in my feelings about it. i’m always kinda wiggin’ that it’s gonna fall flat as, like, a passion project kinda vibe, but, nah, i know i can build it up. hire the right guys, maybe open another location one day.” his fire stokes a bit at the thought of her being impressed, an electric jolt with the steep awareness that there’s a whole lot left they’ll be able to see of each other’s lives outside of the villa. callie’s reaction makes him belly laugh, though he opts not to double down for fear of having her hack up a lung. another drag gives him a little time to recount the origins of his besties. “mmm, so i met jimmy through juno, actually. he’s her ex from college. they didn’t date, like, super long, but me and him became homies, like, that’s basically my brother now. then i met my other buddy, mick, through him. he’s, like, this musician, his family’s all in it and shit, but he stays mostly in new york. uh, aside from them, i really just chill with, like, my cousins, y’know? but they’re all gonna love you.”

CALLIE

"oh, yeah, i'm always all over you?" she laughs, swatting him lightly in the arm. "i'll remember that." an empty threat, and surely he knows that by now. "how long have you had the shop for?" she asks, knowing it takes a while for a new business to make profit. how much time, she doesn't know—she was only a psych major in uni. "having your own business sounds so stressful," callie exhales, a little jokey but also fully meaning it. "but no, it sounds like it's been doing pretty well already, and once we get back? i'm sure there's gonna be plenty of new clients coming in, hoping to see some of that heart rate challenge action," she teases. but it's hard to ignore that this place does come with a platform, one that has the ability to really change their lives. "how does she feel with you being besties with her ex?" callie's trying to imagine how dylan would feel if they were in their shoes, but genuinely can't. she had almost forgotten that he said he had all this extended family, more people that she's going to have to be introduced to. california's going to be overwhelming; callie's been so focused on how easy he's going to fit into her life, she hasn't really thought about whether she'll even fit into his. "how many cousins are we talking about?" she laughs a little, trying to will the nerves away.

ANGEL

between the sweetness and the sarcasm, angel feels like a conduit of cringey pda and yet he can’t manage to feel even a scrap of shame for it. “no worries, if you forget i’ll remind you.” because the lack of personal space in their bed is as much his doing as it is her’s. “like, the physical shop i’ve had for… man, almost two years now? before that i was kinda just working on my own rides and, like, renting ‘em out for photo shoots or whatever. so the shop is more like a new venture.” which doesn’t make it easier to be away for even a couple weeks, though callie’s reassurance has him nodding, believing. “hey, that’s same for you, y’know? every fuckin’ surf brand is gonna be paying hand over fist to get you in their stuff. and you already know i’m hiring you as pit crew as long as you’re wearing that fit.” he sighs dreamily with the memory, teasing as much as he is nostalgic for it. his shoulders shift in a shrug, stealing a last hit of the cig before crushing it into the ashtray. “she’s chill now, it’s been, like, a few years, they both dated a bunch of people since then.” he wonders briefly if those two have backslid before since him and jimmy have become friends, decides immediately to abandon that consideration and remain ignorant. “well, i got, like, seven aunts and uncles and they all got at least two kids each… probably ten or so that i’m actually tight with.” angel watches callie’s face a moment before breaking out into a grin. “you feelin’ overwhelmed?” a concept that tickles him, usually only ever sees her utterly in control, her agency absolutely measured. “don’t worry, i’m not gonna throw you into anything you aren’t ready for.”

CALLIE

"a new venture," she parrots back, because it sounds so fantasy when he says it like that. like he's a real business person—which he is, really. it's surreal to think of her angel as someone's boss, paying checks and working and 9 to 5. does the shop even have those hours? there's something to be said about how callie can probably list which fast and furious movies angel likes in order, but the day-to-day operations of his work is a complete mystery to her. "did you make a decent chunk of money doing that, the renting?" she asks, genuinely. "but yeah, i know. part of me is stoked for it, too. i could use a new wetsuit," callie admits, lips curved. "but i don't know. we'll see. i'm not ready to go back to real life just yet." some parts very much so, but others—like working—can definitely wait. "yeah? can i get a job at the shop?" she squeezes his knee from beneath the table, grinning. "that's good. my brother dated hannah for a bit in high school, but it ended totally shit. i was pissed at him for weeks after." so awkward when your friends date your brother. callie makes a face when he calls her out for looking overwhelmed, though he seems so happy about it she can't help but laugh. "a little bit," she says, not afraid to admit it, "but in a good way. i'm excited for it. my family's gonna feel so small compared to yours, though."

[dobits]

graftisms​:

IT’S NOT REALLY LONG DISTANCE SHE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, but rather if the idea of moving across the world for someone she’s only known a few weeks is completely mad or not. it’s not like moving to california isn’t something she’s never done before, los angeles having as much surf as san diego or sydney. but is throwing it out there too presumptuous ?   so the way he casually mentions her coming out to LA before skirting the topic altogether makes her smile a little, though it’s pale in comparison to the surprised grin that blooms on her face after what he says next. it’s not the girlfriend thing that surprises her, but rather him asking it right now—especially when jenny and jude just had their perfectly lit declaration of exclusivity for the producers. eyes dart away from him for a moment to see if anyone’s listening, but it feels like everyone’s either fast asleep or in their own little universe. honestly, this is way better than some stupid production stunt that they could’ve set him up to do. without a camera shoved in their face, it feels like just theirs.   “ is this you asking ? ”   she says slyly, because it wouldn’t be callie without being a little bit of a nuisance about it. her body shifts so she’s kneeling on top of him, grabbing the covers and tenting it over them, giving them as much privacy as two people sleeping in a room full of grown adults can have.   “ go on, ”   she adds, playfully,   “ ask me, then. ”

eyes roll up, heavy lidded with amusement that reflects just as fondly in the big grin on angel’s face. he shakes his head a little as if to say noooo i’m not, though they both know that would be a lie. it probably wouldn’t even really surprise callie to know that it’s been days of wrestling with the notion, of weighing the con of time - or lack thereof - against the pro of just knowing this is what he wanted. the small universe she creates for them in the shroud of the blanket gives the illusion - and maybe even reality - of true privacy, of a moment for just them, hidden even from the night-vision eyes tucked in the corners of the ceiling. fingers splay over the curve of her jaw as angel guides her closer, nose to nose, so he can whisper the question against her mouth. “will you?” he asks. “will you be my girlfriend?”

[dobits]

graftisms​:

“ YEAH, I KNOW, ”   she laughs, because it sounds so silly when it’s pointed out how much time they truly spend together.   “ i’m surprised we’re not sick of each other, frankly. ”   callie’s always been a little on the clingy side when in a relationship, not out of jealousy or anything negative, but she genuinely just enjoys spending time with the people she cares about. but being in the villa eclipses any kind of relationship she’s had before ;   like he implies, they’re basically living together, even if it’s short-term.   “ it’s definitely gonna be weird, ”   she agrees, teeth nipping at her bottom lip thoughtfully.   “ i mean, there’s the whole distance part of it, too. i know in the beginning i’m gonna wanna visit your home, and you visit mine, but… ”   but it is something to think about—or talk about, rather. it’s been something callie’s been thinking about for a while now, but it’s felt too soon to bring it up. 

“...but long distance is hard,” he fills in the expletive, inferring as much. it’s especially hard when their brand of long distance redefines the term long. their homes literally couldn’t be further apart - at least angel thinks so, he’s unsure about geography. “i could work with that,” he finally admits. “like, facetimes, texting, flights. i would do it.” it’s a bucket of cold water spilled over their cozy, tropical dreams of vacationing together post-show. that would have to end sometime, and then what? “i mean, we don’t gotta chisel that kinda stuff in stone,” he chuckles quietly, trying to maintain a certain amount of levity and knowing callie well enough to know she appreciates some level-headed logic with her whimsy. “but i’d probably try and get you out to LA, to be honest. and in the meantime...” there’s something he’s been gearing up to say, the trip down memory lane obviously leading to a specific destination, and this topic of concern seems like the best segue into it. no matter the precarious logistics of stuff post-show, angel wants her to be reassured that some things can be certain, like the way he feels about her. “i want you to be my girlfriend,” he whispers, thumb sliding over the contour of her cheek. production will kill him for not making more of a show of the question, but it doesn’t occur to him to care.

[dobits]

graftisms​:

“ WERE YOU REALLY ? ”   she laughs breathlessly, warmth spreading through her whole body as they recount their casa experience. there’s no denying the irony of callie not even wanting to be there day one, and by day four she hadn’t wanted the others to come back. so much of that time had been spent having mild anxiety over seeing frankie again, it’s nice to look back at the moments that still brings that butterflies-in-her-stomach feeling.   “ i remember that too. ”   it’s hard not to feel a little smug about that.   “ i was honestly shocked i did it—like, as soon as i did it, too. but you offering to sleep outside next to romi and i… i don’t know, it really meant a lot, ”   she admits.   “ especially during a time when i felt like… an inconvenience, i guess. or like i was doing casa and even the whole show wrong. it just felt like someone actually cared. ”   it sounds depressing when she says it aloud, callie realizes, laughing slightly despite it all.   “ it’s kinda crazy how it wasn’t that long ago, right ? ”

“really really,” angel affirms, grinning with the memory of how much she shook him that night, how everything seemed to turn on a dime. “y’know, ‘cause i didn’t know where your head was at and i -- like, i was trying not to move too fast? or do anything you weren’t into, but i knew i wanted to be next to you.” when angel came into the villa as a bombshell, he worried that might be to his detriment. his reluctance to step on toes, his over-sensitivity to someone else’s feelings. it was his undeniable luck that callie chose to make those moves for them. “no, for real. probably just ‘cause... i mean, we’re together all day,” he breathes a laugh, shoulder lifting. “we’ve done a lot together.” and mostly just the mundane things: brushing their teeth, doing laps in the pool, grocery shopping. but he knows that reflecting on any of those memories will always be tender. even this, now. the night they stayed up a little too late recounting their brief too weeks together with big, goofy grins on their faces. “y’know, i never lived with somebody i dated. i mean, i think we’re all gonna love to have, like, two seconds of truly not being around anybody else once this is over, but i think it’s really gonna suck not be within, like, fifteen feet from you at any given time.” that would be an inconvenience.

[dobits]

graftisms​:

HIS COMMENT ABOUT IT ALWAYS JUST BEING THEN makes the smile on her lips grow in the dark, head bobbing a little as she tries to not without ruining how comfortable she is in this position.   “ yeah, for sure. ”   she hadn’t been lying when she said earlier today that he was her whole love island experience ;   when she looks back on it in five or ten years, callie’s confident that it’s going to be nights like this she remembers, rather than her messy drama with frankie. either way, he’s all the good parts.   “ the two of them in the living room, after all jude set up in there ?   i doubt they’re doing much talking. ”   probably one of the smartest things he’s done since getting here—separating jenny from the rest of the villa for the night. the fire pit had been brutal. there’s a surprised hitch in her breath when he pulls her closer, lips dipping down to press a quick kiss to his chest.   “ yeah, i think i remember that, ”   she laughs lightly, pushing some hair out of her eyes. despite her attempts to sound coy, the smile on her face doesn’t get the memo.   “ i think that game had been the first time i actually had fun in casa. ”

“man, i really hope so. hanging up all those sheets was complicated as fuck,” angel heaves a playful sigh. “really damn cute though.” and if that doesn’t chill jenny out, he’s not sure what will. his chest hitches as he muffles a laugh, one hand pulling off her waist to sweep a curl off her cheek. “yeah, that’s when it started for me. do you have any idea how shocked i was?” he affectionately squeezes the apple of her cheek between thumb and knuckle of his index finger. it might be the rose-colored lenses surgically implanted into his eyes, but he’s pretty sure it’s just the design of her face to be so glowy and bright in the dusk. “i knew i had to steal you, like, the minute that game ended. i had to beat the girls to it. but, i dunno, it always felt like you were the one starting things.” that charmed smile teases his lips again as he presses his thumb against the plush of her mouth. “you kissed me first the second time, too.”

[dobits]

bluemmings​:

“ exactly, super healthy. ”  she nods. she can’t help her eye roll, the amused little scoff leaving her lips as his dramatics come out. “ i don’t even know what that is. i don’t know if i want to. ” though of course she does, eyes glistening in wonder, only the teensiest amount of fear he might make her one and it’s disgusting. “ oh my god, you’re actually so good at this. ” she laughs, wondering how the fuck no one has ever called her del-icious before, and that along with squipply orange just promoted angel to chief drink-namer in her opinion. “ that just rolls right off the tongue, huh ? one pine-go del-icious, please sir. ” her index finger points up, her laugh still there. 

“it’s actually, like, not that bad. just butterscotch liqueur and irish cream i think. which --,” he gestures a hand to her, brows raised with teasing realization, “you guys are, like, basically cousins to the irish, right? you’d love it.” he’s still not sure how the united kingdom works. “whatever. it’s better than a cherry bomb shot.” cherry vodka and red bull? scrunching his nose at the thought. angel snorts, secondhand amusement to adela’s laughter. “you love that? okay, ‘ere you go, ma’am,” the slightest of accents as he deposits the drink into her hand. he’ll clink his glass against the side of her’s before taking a long pull. “y’know... lowkey for real delicious. the fruit definitely covers the ton of alcohol. i mean, mostly.”

[dobits]

graftisms​:

“ YEAH, THAT WAS ROUGH, ”   she sighs. callie would be lying if she didn’t feel residual guilt for frankie going home, although realistically she’s not sure how much of it was actually her fault or not. she wouldn’t be surprised if the public didn’t love the way movie night went down for them.   “ i kinda get it, though. she hadn’t made it easy for him from the get-go… though i guess you could say the same thing, ”   she admits, rolling over to rest her folded arms on his chest, giving her prime view of his face. he’s not saying anything she hadn’t already assumed from their other conversations, but it still brings a smile to her face anyway, warmth spreading through her chest. as much as she had come here hoping for a relationship in the end, callie didn’t actually expect she’d get it.   “ yeah, i just want to enjoy the rest of it, ”   she whispers back, chin resting on the top of her hands.   “ you think jenny and jude are enjoying themselves right now ? ”   in their make-shift hideaway.

“i guess i just thought they were on the same level as us. like, solid.” milkie presumably started at about the same time, their trajectories similar in all of his and miles’ run-downs. some people aren’t meant to be together, he supposes. smile stretches over his face as he lowers his chin to look at her. “we had some... adjustments. but i never really felt like it wasn’t you and me.” just some bumps to smooth out. “mm, probably fighting right now,” angel predicts, eyes thoughtfully rolled toward the ceiling. “or, no, it’s jude talking jenny off a ledge tonight, huh?” those crazy kids. a wide hand sweeps down the curve of her shoulder, slides down the arm she’s got folded on his chest as he considers his thoughts. then he brings both arms to meet around her waist, scooting her further up his chest ‘til he can talk under his breath and feel like it’s not being caught by any non-mechanical ears. “you remember when you kissed me for the first time?” he recalls with that same cheesing smile. “during the game, in casa?”

[dobits]

heatwayve​:

– “YEAH, I ALWAYS NOTICED THEY WERE BOTH KINDA TOUCHY,” naomi admits, a brief lift of her shoulders. “ just kind of makes you wonder. and it’s a shit roll for evie. jeez, remember when i was with charlene ? ” she snorts, because it feels like a lifetime ago now. she’s not sure whether all of this, charlene’s apparent desperation just to be wanted by anyone in angel’s assessment, makes her feel better or worse. maybe, in some other life, without some incorrigible canadian hockey player invading her thoughts, that would’ve been her. she’d be lying if she said she never pictured it – she’d just never gotten attached to it. “ do you think she would ? ” naomi asks, “ well, maybe she would, but … i don’t know, dante strikes me as kind of resilient. less than a week ago, he was professing his forever love for romi. ” naomi gives out her feelings so selectively that she can barely wrap her head around dante’s openness or ease about that kind of thing. to her, it’s hard to believe it’s actually genuine. there’s a soft smile at the way angel describes it, managing to hide the slightest flash of concern. “ yeah, i get that. but all you can do is take it at face value if she said she was drunk and it was nothing, you know ? not worth getting stuck on. at least you didn’t headbutt her, ” she adds wryly. nothing like a bloody nose to really bookend things. “ did you mention it to callie ? ” she asks. not because she thinks he definitely should, sounds a bit like a nonissue, but because she doesn’t wanna say the wrong shit to the wrong person. she ignores his jab about marcus, except to roll her eyes.

“ what ? why not ? i just told you how to do it ! ” she protests with a little cackle, throwing her head back at his reaction. honestly, the thing would’ve been best used to her during casa amor, when she was at her most tense and in the midst of a week-long dry spell. but alas. “ yeah, i just started kicking stuff around the dressing room earlier to see if anyone’s shit would start buzzing, ” she admits, teeth biting into the curve of her smile, as if she can hold back how fucking funny she actually finds this. definitely not around angel, who she can’t help but be in stitches with every couple of seconds. he could probably get her to laugh off anything anyway. “ so, what do you suggest ? divide and conquer ? maybe i should just text the group chat, see if anyone seems sus. ”

lips tighten to restrain a burst of laughter at the reminder that, once upon a time, naomi had chosen charlene. “yeaaah,” angel humorously reminisces, eyes playfully bugged, “you were wild for that.” he remembers how thoroughly betrayed and heartbroken char had been when it ended... not unlike how she’d looked post-callie rejection. now that seems like a lifetime ago. arm bends flat against the daybed so he can rest his cheek on the inside of his forearm, his shoulder shrugging. “true. ‘cause i was gonna say -- like, he just got his feelings all stepped on and shit with the romi thing, but... yeah, no, guess he’s back and at ‘em.” angel can excuse that total craziness by telling himself people feel different things at different speeds, and love isn’t a stranger word in the villa -- him and jude easily trade it back and forth -- but even angel can imagine how thoroughly shocked he’d be if callie said that to him. it’s nothing to be taken lightly, as far as he’s concerned. “oh, no, for sure,” angel agrees, nodding and brow furrowed. “like, it was definitely nothing, just totally random, y’know? i knew her head was just all drunk and scrambled. it -- yeah, god,” he laughs, eyes crinkling, “poor baby marcus. miss that boy.” lips purse in a shrug, head shaking. “nah, i didn’t actually. should i? movie night we just had so much other shit goin’ on, it seems like... not wicked important.”

though he’d love to demonstrate how much he’s so not gonna illegally smuggle illicit objects out of the hideaway for her, naomi’s goofy laughter smacks a grin on his face despite himself, and despite the way he’s shaking his head. “you’re asking me to steal some shit? me? y’know, i tried to steal some gum from the store one time when i was a li’l kid and they fuckin’ clocked me before i even had it in my hands... and that was gum.” all nervous frenetic energy and a too-telling face, angel is no mastermind thief. “what, like somebody’s gonna immediately be like, oh yeah, i have it?” humored doubt fills his tone as he watches naomi tap her phone, leans forward just in time to see jenny’s immediate confession pop up on the screen. “ain’t no way,” angel barks a laugh, grabbing his own phone to watch the group chat blink alive. laughter continues as he rolls on his back, phone held up against the sunlight. “oh my god, like someone left it for her as a gift. this chick crazy.” brow furrows, a scoff emitting from his open mouth as he cranes to look at naomi. “what, like you haven’t taken a glug from my drink when your’s is empty? -- you afraid you’ll get cooties?” he shakes the phone with acknowledgment, “this is cooties.” jenny so readily admitting it is almost as funny and weird as her using a random vibrator. when callie’s message pops up he briefly picks his head up to see if he can spot her anywhere. then santiago’s message dings, he’d almost forgotten about the guy. “ew.” then another message. “-- ew.” he types in his own parting message and drops the phone on the daybed again. “nah, yeah, i saw someone slip in there right now. the really short lady.” production swooping in to regain their utterly critical control. angel heaves a playfully dramatic sigh. “well, rip to -- did you name it? do girls do that? like, the joshua 5000?”

[dobits]

heatwayve​:

– “AW, STOP,” NAOMI FROWNS, “THAT MAKES ME SAD, ACTUALLY. i did think they were cute, like, the handful of times i got to chat with evie, she seemed really excited about her. i wonder if they would’ve worked it out, or … who charlene would’ve worked it out with if she had more time. ” but that’s always what it comes down to in the villa, time. and you never have enough of it to know what the alternative outcome would’ve been. “ wait, she what ? ” naomi’s eyes widen, “ that’s … i mean, wow. though you can probably chalk that up to how much everyone was drinking that night, i assume, like. have you ever had vibes before ? ” naomi asks. “ marcus and i had a weird thing like that, before you came in. he’d been drinking a lot and was pissed at romi, and he kind of just went for it out of nowhere. in the morning he was like, just kidding, no big deal, ” she shrugs her shoulders. the situation feels somewhat parallel. “ though i wonder if her acting like that had less to do with you, and maybe more to do with the fact that she clearly wasn’t totally sold on evie, ” naomi points out. still, she’s glad that someone’s still providing the entertainment, something to keep the recouplings a bit interesting. she doesn’t want the season she’s on to be remembered as boring. “ well, i guess that depends on their reasons for stealing it. but now you know why i’ve been so chilled lately, ” she jokes with a wicked smirk. “ i would like to know where it went, though, even if it doesn’t matter and i don’t want it back, like … i don’t like an unsolved mystery, ” she remarks, pursing her lips. “ well, maybe you’ll get to go back. but then you’ll owe me. ” though now that they’ve talked about it on camera, she figures producers will be watching inventory more closely. 

angel shrugs both of his hands, brows lifted up in the universal sign for tell me about it. “char and dante are pretty cutesy though, like, i see that,” he decides, playing pretend like his opinion means anything. the two of them the talking heads on the board of Stuff and Things, the sideline announcers from dodgeball: a true underdog story, except they’re both pepper brooks, altogether void of qualifications. “i just hope she doesn’t break his little heart though which is kinda mad weird to think she’s even capable of.” but evidently she is. head shrugs, his mouth bowing in a thoughtful frown. “i mean, kinda? nothin’ major, we just always got along and it’s, like --,” angel gestures as naomi aligns her own anecdote, nodding readily. “right, like that. like you’re super tight and the vibes just fly naturally, but it’s also pretty platonic. like, sometimes you just love your friends so much it’s like... what if?” at least for him and charlene it always danced that line, mostly at the beginning. another life, maybe. after a beat of reflection he does snort a bit of a laugh. “you and marcus though,” angel pokes a little fun, finds the match up precious if not a bit unexpected. 

the laughter extends at naomi’s goofy smirk, turns his head to bury his own grin into his propped up hand. “man, i just assumed josh was handling things. i honestly shoulda figured you were just miss independent livin’ it up in the twenty-first century... naomi, are you --,” he scoffs openly now, lowering his voice as if his mic isn’t going to pick everything up. “i couldn’t smuggle you out a --,” then, way quieter, “vibrator.” mostly ‘cause last time he went into the hideaway with callie, he came out in glossy daze, only knowing his name by the blue embroidery on his pillow. “but maybe we can figure out where your’s went. shouldn’t be too hard, it’s not like anybody’s really any good at keeping secrets here, huh?”

[dobits]

graftisms​:​

“ WILL YOU STOP ? ”   she huffs at him, eyes rolling despite a short laugh managing to escape her. callie wraps his arm tighter around her waist, like a security blanket.   “ i mean… ”   her voice trails off suggestively, a smile tugging at her lips.   “ no, but actually… i’ve been thinking. ”   it’s easier to say this when she’s looking up at the ceiling rather than him, although she closes her eyes anyway, as if she’s going to fall asleep.   “ what happened with frankie leaving was really shitty, ”   she says, voice lowering to make sure they’re not being listened to.   “ her clearly wanting miles to go with her, i mean. i just want you to know that if that had been you that had to leave, i would’ve gone with you. there’s not really anything else keeping me here. ”

chuckle reverberates deep in his chest, giddy and sufficiently indulged by the reaction. his thumb sweeps over the knot where her neck meets spine, the other arm curtained lazily around her middle as he focuses on her hushed words. “yeah?” angel murmurs back, the corners of his mouth curling up in a smile he imagines is dumb enough to earn a night-cam zoom in. as relieved as he is callie can’t see it, he all of a sudden desperately wants to get an eyeful of her face. “i still feel kinda icked out that he stayed, to be real with you. the way frankie looked -- like, the idea of you standing in that spot and... yeah, nah, ain’t no way i’d be able to stay. you aren’t leaving here without me, no question.” it seems obvious now, long since presumed. “takes some pressure off,” angel admits quietly into her ear. “i know i got what i came here for. like, way beyond. we can just enjoy it.” and hopefully remain unaffected by the soap operatic villa goings-on, though he can’t help but grimly acknowledge the wishful thinking of not being roped into anything. 

[dobits]

bluemmings​:

“ okay, perfect. ” dylan would’ve probably helped if she found no one else, though she could’ve definitely tried to forced josh to drink it too. “ yeah, basically. though i put some mango and pineapple in too as damage control. ” her nose scrunches, hopefully the mix of it all will be better at hiding the alcohol. “ nooo, though that’s fantastic, ” she laughs, shaking her head. “ we just call it a vodka orange. nothin’ fancy. i feel like you guys’re the ones with the weird ass drink names. ” 

“li’l fruit concoction,” angel appraises as he sniffs at the jug, hums approvingly. “whaaat? whatchu mean?” he scoffs with dramatized offense, reaching up to snag a couple cocktail glasses from the top shelf. “buttery nipple is a totally normal drink name.” he’s not sure why jenny swears this girl is the anti-christ, is a thought that randomly comes to him. del always seems cool to him. “well, you should probably name this one,” he urges, pouring their glasses one by one. “like... i dunno, the pine-go del-icious.”

[dobits]

night forty-one: bedrooms.

the smell of sunscreen and chlorine has been washed from their skin, mouths freshly rinsed and bed turned down. the lights have dimmed and angel can hear murmurs around them, the occasional giggle or hum, as the other couples recount the night, plan tomorrow. angel’s got a hand threaded in the hair at the nape of callie’s neck, fingers dragging up and down her scalp. stretched out on his back, he’s drawn her against his chest, though she can probably hear in his voice the smile that’s been lingering on his face since the recoupling. “so i’m your whole love island experience?” it’s not the first time since she’s said it that he’s repeated it. not taunting, but revered. she’d had a whole journey before he got here, the meaning of her sentiment isn’t something to be downplayed. “should we just bounce?” jokes. like, mostly. / @graftisms​

[dobits]

cruelsxmmcr​:

“Yeah?” He grins, looking over at Angel at the news. From where Dylan stands, Callie and Angel scream exclusive, even if they haven’t yet defined it. However, it’s nice to see that Angel wants to take that step after the string of events that happened. “After meeting our grandparents when we’re out of here or like, after family day?” Because he’s watched a previous season to know this is coming up and Callie and Angel have great odds of lasting till then. “My blessing, huh,” he jokes playfully. Makes him feel like he’s a parent or something, but he gets what Angel means. “You should go for it, mate, especially if you feel like it’s time.”

“oh, shit, family day,” angel laughs, having totally forgotten. that brings some sardonic nervousness to his tone. “oh my god, that’s gonna be fuckin’ crazy.” and insanely exciting, a thrumming warmth at the idea of seeing his fam. “yeah, maybe then, i dunno. it’s hard to wait,” he admits with an airy scoff. “i’m, like, crazy about her, but i’m also not sure if it’s... i dunno, way too soon for her.” all of callie’s professions of liking him seem to come with the fine print qualification that it’s only been two weeks. angel grins, unabashed to be leaning into gender stereotypes. “means a lot, dyl, right on.” then, with a more sly sidelong glance, “you planning out any grand gestures of your own? you and del?”

[bluemmings]

@dobits​

“ do you want some ? ”  adela offers the first person to join her in the kitchen, gesturing to her jug filled with orange juice, and far too much alcohol. ” i made it way too strong so i’m trying to compensate with more juice but… like, there’s just so much now. ” 

[dobits]

“mmmyes,” angel accepts without bothering to look what she’s talking about. food or drink, odds are he wants some. once his bag of chips is opened, he brings his attention to her carafe. “del,” he laughs once he sees the sheer amount. could quench a whole village’s thirst -- or exactly two love islanders. he leans down to sniff the bev. “is it a screwdriver? or -- what weird shit do you guys call vodka oj? like, a squipply orange or something?” the english are bizarre that way.

[dobits]

heatwayve​:

– NAOMI’S EYES GO ROUNDER, a sort of softness to them as she nods. to be honest, though she’s not yet told anyone and has no plans to, she’s going to miss frankie. she actually feels a bit thrown off, that the results of the vote had caught her so off-guard, feeling like she wouldn’t have been able to guess it. that bothers her. she feels like she’s seen pretty much every other elimination coming. “ yeah, someone’s looking out for you, i guess, ” she says thoughtfully. “ i feel like there must’ve been some stuff going on we weren’t seeing with evie. like, the way she left with that dramatic speech … ? charlene sleeping outside with dante … kind of sketchy, but also felt needlessly dramatic, ” she laughs, as if that’s not the point of the show. but of course it’s needlessly dramatic to naomi when she’s not part of the dramatics. a little smirk lifts her lips as he rolls over with all the hammed up energy of a football injury. though anything that’s cool about her immediately breaks when angel starts grinning, and she’s laughing, shoulders shaking as she ducks her head – can’t help herself. “ i honestly don’t know, i guess no one was watching the footage too close ? just popped it under my robe on the way out, like … ” she shrugs. felt like she’d had nothing to lose and a certain amount of stress relief to gain. “ ah ! not adela and dylan ! ” there’s a little panicked shriek, wide-eyed, though it’s impossible to hide that shine of morbid amusement. “ though when you say unhygienic … you don’t think … frankie would’ve nabbed it, like, on her way out ? ” naomi wouldn’t put it past her just to spite her, at the very least. 

“no, ‘cause didn’t that come out of fucking nowhere? like, i felt like that just totally cemented the fact that charlene and evie were perfect for each other.” both equally full of dramatics. angel laughs along with her, shrugs his head with some hesitance. “i mean, i think char is kinda, like, a li’l puppy dog. she’ll vibe with whoever’s in front of her giving her attention. y’know, on movie night i got the vibe she was about to kiss me...,” tentatively confessed, he gauges naomi’s expression in effort to steal any kneejerk thoughts that might read there. “obviously we didn’t. but the next day i was like, so that was weird, what was that? and she was basically like, literally nothing, bro, just chillin’.” angel snorts with the implication that it’s not a major plot point, but that there’s definitely more context when it comes to charlene. for one, he doesn’t expect dante to be the end of her love island line. in any case, angel’s happy to sit here alongside naomi, both comfy in their couples, and indulge in a little goofy, unfounded shit talk about everybody else’s situation. or, better than that, go full benoit blanc on the case of the maltese vibrator. he cackles at the look on her face. “i actually wouldn’t put it past, like, any fucking one of these guys to steal it. but we would’ve, like... i mean, we’d hear it, no?” which brings the question of how exactly naomi (and presumably josh) got away with using it and he scoffs another laugh, head shaking as he shows his palm. “forget that. y’know, i think no matter where it got to, you probably don’t want it back now. man, i’m pissed, i shoulda stolen something...”