୨ৎ ─ fade into you

[forwcrds]

 ୨ৎ   ─   forwcrds:   independent   &   selective  (   dash   only   )   indie   rp. penned   by   m,   25+,   gmt.

  muses. guidelines. wanted plots. wanted opposites. open starters. pinterest.

[aftrbdy]

⋮  ⌗  ┆  amara  was  beyond  over  it.  every  time  she  tried  to  have  a  good  time  with  devins,  it  was  always  something!  she  couldn't  keep  being  walked  all  over  the  way  she  was.  she  couldn't  stand  the  bullshit  anymore.  amara  didn't  respond  to  anything  she  heard  come  out  of  devins  mouth  for  the  sole  reason  that  she  wasn't  going  to  be  the  stereotypical  black  couple  in  public.  the  last  thing  she'd  do  is  cuss  his  ass  out  in  a  damn  restaurant…  no  matter  how  badly  she  wanted  to.  amara  took  a  very  deep  breath,  turning  her  head  to  face  him.  ❛❛  you  are  saying  sorry  because  i'm  pissed  off  now.  you  were  supposed  to  be  sorry  the  first  fucking  time  i  said  something,  devins.  i'm  so  fucking  sick  of  this  shit!  ❜❜  she  whisper-yelled,  trying  to  keep  her  shit  together.

[forwcrds]

“  apparently  fucking  not  !  ”  he  mutters,  fighting  the  frustration  clawing  back  up.  “  i  can't  win  with  you,  can  i  ?  ”   it's  not  lost  on  him  that  this  is  a  tamer  version  of  what  they  would've  been  like  if  they  were  having  this  argument  back  home,  where  there  wouldn't  be  concerning  eyes  following  them.  he  takes  another  deep  breath,  tearing  his  gaze  away  as  he  recollects  himself.  “  i'm  saying  sorry  now,  can  you  at  least  try  and  acknowledge  that  i'm  putting  in  effort  ?  ”  he  wants  to  salvage  the  night  but  he  has  no  idea  where  to  start.  every  attempt  feels  clumsy  and  maybe  being  passive  aggressive  isn't  the  way  to  go  about  it.  yet,  he  can't  help  himself.  in  his  own  selfish  and  twisted  head,  seeing  amara  riled  up  over  him  means  she  still  cares  enough  to  feel  something.  “  what  do  you  want  me  to  do  ?  i'm  here.  i'm  still  fucking  trying.  ”

[niziui]

kaia  swears  she's  seen  a  ghost,  which  would  be  funny  because  she  doesn't  believe  in  then.  it  isn't  too  far  fetched,  because  though  she's  never  visited  aiden's  grave,  he's  been  dead  to  her  for  a  long  time.  what  he  had  done  left  her  in  complete  heartbreak,  not  to  mention  the  embarrassment  —  everyone  knew  she  was  the  ghoster,  not  the  other  way  around.  it  was  the  sickest  form  of  karma  when  her  own  tricks  were  played  on  her.  she  thinks  she's  seen  a  ghost,  except  a  few  minutes  later  he  appears  in  front  of  her,  and  he  talks  —  something  ghosts  would  never  do.  she  stares  at  her  friend,  then  at  him,  then  at  her  friend,  then  at  the  hand  sticking  out.  back  to  him.  her  own  refuses  to  lift  up,  furrowing  her  brows  and  crossing  her  arms  instead.  "that's  okay  —  germs  and  all.  you  never  know  what  secrets  some  people  are  hiding."  the  friend  awkwardly  laughs,  introduces  kaia  on  her  behalf,  yet  her  eyes  never  falter  from  aiden,  cold  and  calculating  and  practically  burning  a  hole  in  him.  "aiden.  come  get  a  drink  with  me?"  

[forwcrds]

he  lets  his  hand  hover  in  the  air  for  longer  than  what  feels  necessary,  enough  to  feed  into  the  awkwardness  –  enough  to  show  he  isn't  rattled  by  her  cold  stare. “  right…  smart.  ”  he  plays  it  off  with  a  soft  laugh,  hand  finally  dropping  to  his  side  at  her  refusal.  “  can  never  be  too  careful  these  days.  ”  his  gaze  remains  fixated  on  her,  despite  feeling  the  panic  radiating  off  their  friend  who  can  definitely  see  the  tension  between  them.  if  looks  could  kill,  aiden  would  be  a  rotting  corpse  by  now.  his  mask  slips  for  a  split  second  when  the  friend  introduces  kaia,  remembering  how  her  name  once  used  to  be  his  entire  world.  her  invitation  surprises  him  and  instantly,  he  pushes  the  vulnerability  down.   “  i  would  love  to,  kaia.  ”  his  smirk  returns  as  he  gestures  toward  the  bar.  “  lead  the  way.  ”

[loveisliquor]

she meets his eyes, and falls through time. she is back in their brownstone, staring at the space where his things had been-- she blinks herself back to reality, and ignores the wave of nausea in her gut. she stares at his hand, offered-- as if he were a stranger, as if he could ever be. she smirks, insulted by the gesture, by his continued existence really-- and dumps the contents of her glass over his head. champagne, ice cold-- a decent vintage. "nice to meet you aiden." she places the glass his hand for good measure. the party's buzz is muted, everyone is observing-- but she's still furious, still heartbroken and she can't bring herself to care. before pressing two kisses to their hosts cheeks. "sorry to cause a scene love, but whats a party without a little drama." she plays it off, laughs to punctuate the sentence, and excuses herself to the empty balcony.

[forwcrds]

the ice cold champagne hits before aiden can register what's happening. her smile had been so sweet, so seemingly unbothered, that this did not even cross his mind. some part of him had hoped she wouldn't still be as angry as he remembers her being – but then again, he knows he deserves every bit of it for what he'd done. his lips part in shock as the liquid drips down his hair, soaking into the fabric of his shirt. around them, the room falls into a quiet hum and aiden knows everyone's eyes have turned to watch them. he doesn't notice the glass shoved into his hand, doesn't care to listen to the whispers around them and only watches her as she stalks off toward the balcony. the corners of his lips tug upward despite himself. he turns to the host and hands them the empty flute with a casual shrug. “ must've looked like her ex… ” it's enough to break the tension, the room resuming as though nothing happened. anyone else would've let her be. clearly, she has no desire to even share the same air as him and yet, aiden finds himself walking over to the balcony anyway. “ i mean, i wasn't expecting a warm welcome but that was a waste of really good champagne. ” he steps beside her, gaze settling on her face. “ if you push me off the balcony, just know there are witnesses out there. ”

[parisgoodbyes]

i do love the idea of friends with benefits that leads to them having an “assignment” where they have to start sleeping with other people when they realize they’ve only been sleeping with each other and that backfires when muse a can’t go through with it, but muse b already had. bonus points if it’s someone muse a dislikes.

[gostupids]

〝   what   .   .   〞sad   gasp   leaves   her   lips   as   homme   interrupts   her,   although   his   words   were   soft   and   hardly   rude,   ayla   was   still   taken   aback   –––   because   jess   had   never   shut   her   down   before,   always   welcomed   the   rants   regarding   her   boyfriend   with   open   arms.   even   if   it   were   naive   of   her.   〝   what   are   you   talking   about?   normally   you're   laughing   too   and   slating   andre   whenever   i   come   over.   〞

[forwcrds]

“   well,   i   don't   know,   ayla…   ”   he   lets   out   a   defeated   sigh,   attempting   to   reign   in   all   the   emotions   surging   through   him   all   at   once   –   trying   not   to   let   it   spill   out   where   she   can   see   it   clearly.   “   maybe   it's   time   you   talk   to   andre   about   it.   deal   with   him,   fix   your   shit.   don't   bring   him   up   to   me   expecting   me   to   fix   it   for   you   or   make   you   feel   better   about   it.   ”   if   only   she   knew   how   badly   fixing   it   with   andre   is   actually   the   last   thing   he   wants   –   which   is   the   problem.

[gostupids]

he   couldn't   exactly   be   mad   at   fem,   after   all   he   was   the   one   to   join   his   father   on   a   five   month   work   trip   in   europe.   and   not   only   did   he   leave   for   so   long,   theo   also   left   before   admitting   to   maddie   how   he   truly   felt,   it   was   only   common   sense   that   she   continue   on   with   her   own   life.   〝   you,   you   did?   congrats,   i   guess.   〞he   mumbles,   attempting   to   hide   the   disappointment   in   his   timbre   as   he   steps   back   from   the   girl.   〝   i'm   sorry,   i   shouldn't   have   assumed   that   we   were   still   .   .   y'know.   i   hope   they're   good   to   you.   〞

[forwcrds]

eyebrows   knit   together   in   confusion   the   second   she   hears   disappointment   in   his   voice,   like   she'd   been   bracing   herself   for   something   else   entirely.   something   that   would've   reaffirmed   every   excuse   she   spent   the   past   five   months   holding   onto.   that   meeting   someone   new   was   good   –   that   whatever   existed   between   them   had   never   been   real   enough   anyway.   “   yeah,   uh,   thanks.   ”   she   mumbles   back,   aching   to   close   the   distance   between   them   just   as   soon   as   he   steps   back.   “   no,   it's   fine.   honest   mistake.   ”   she   nods,   unease   clawing   at   her   skin.   “   yeah,   he's   great…   amazing.   i   don't   have   to   worry   about   him   disappearing   on   me   for   months.   ”

[lovetique]

"not like you would beat them up even if i did." sounded wrong... like she was annoyed he wouldn't care enough so elena quickly rebounded even if it's what she had on her mind, "be capable of it, i mean. these are only good for being pillows." small hand grabbed his bicep, giving a wiggle, trying to. "and anyway?" pulls away abruptly-- like he stung her, because touching him sent too many sparks flying in her chest. "just like you'd accidentally go for a stalker yourself, i'm sure." sassing back. hand presses to wall, red fingernails tapping against it, eyes concentrating on her ruby fingertips in attempt to mask her irritation that's trying to burn at her with the thought of any new people entering his life. "is that supposed to be a dirty joke, jude?" the brunette taunts now, cracking a smile and laughing a little to herself before hand lifts to cover her mouth, forcing her expressions to go still. least it washes away that previous anger. "of course it makes sense, have you been in the bed with you? your arms and legs are all over the place being all smothery." and somehow... she even misses that. "arguing to win and clearly i'm leading the race, hm?" innocent smile didn't tell the real tale: arguing to steal his attention.

[forwcrds]

she has no idea. his minds wanders back to nights when he'd had to shut the door to his room, nearly forcing himself to lock it, just so he wouldn't storm over to her room and put his fist through some asshole's face. nights spent staring at the ceiling, jaw clenched so hard that he would feel remnants of the ache the following day. stalker or not, the urge crawled up his spine where elena was involved. he couldn't remember being this jealous when they were together and now, sometimes the only thing stopping him from acting on his impulses is knowing he no longer has the right to feel this way. “ let's get one thing straight, anyone who walks out of this apartment unharmed only does so because i allow it. because i respect boundaries. otherwise ? they would be on the floor begging for air before they've even made it inside. ” he almost chuckles at her attempt to wiggle his bicep but the grin on his face fades as soon as she steps back like he burned her. he clears his throat, tearing his eyes away until they rest on her red nails tapping on the wall. always distracting. “ you'd scare them off before i even had a chance, i'm sure. ” he shakes his head, taking a step closer because how unbelievable. “ i don't know, elena, why are we bringing up my bed habits ? ” it's his turn to taunt her, an eyebrow raised in question as his eyes find her's again. “ yeah, my bad for taking you wrapping yourself around me like a seatbelt for something other than smothery. ” he shoves the memory away, like he hasn't thought about it every night since. “ now, are you still winning ? ”

[pinkliqht-a]

closed starter : costa moro & @forwcrds.

" say it. say you never loved me so i can finally stop hoping. "

[forwcrds]

“  no.  ”  she  replies  flatly,  jaw  tightening  because  she  knows  where  he's  taking  this  and  she  hates  it.  “  we're  not  doing  this.  you  don't  get  to  ask  me  for  a  neat  little  lie  to  make  this  easier  for  you.  ” @pinkliqht

[silkchvffon]

IT WILL BE FUN, they said, but arlo's stone cold sober in a room of sweaty, burly men and he's never been closer to jumping off of a roof. he would be itching to go home if there was anything to go home to and not only the expansive, blank white walls mocking him every time he enters. the broker had insisted that nothing guaranteed success like a penthouse apartment, but now that he has it all he feels is lonely. leave it to arlo to isolate himself then find enormous pockets of time to wallow in it. he wonders if that feeling ever goes away: the inherent discomfort lodged in his chest. never belonging anywhere. he's already spiraling by the time he bumps into another figure, hand automatically reaching out to steady the other — though said hand is retracted immediately upon recognizing the man. not because he wouldn't want to touch him, but because he's not sure he's even allowed to anymore. « ah, they double - booked us, » arlo attempts humorlessly, clearing his throat awkwardly as his gaze sets on a point past jess. he is much too sober to have this conversation — any conversation — with him right now. it only hurts. « i fear i've done a really miserable job though. i think nick might've left. »

[forwcrds]

“  of  course…  nick  and  his  perfect  timing.  ”  jess  scoffs  and  he  doesn't  mean  for  it  to  come  out  as  bitter  as  it  does  but  he's  still  learning  how  to  grapple  with  the  ache  of  the  life  he's  never  going  to  have.  he  watches  arlo  retreat  and  it  stings  for  reasons  he  doesn't  want  to  stop  and  name.  not  when  it  brings  on  a  suffocating  feeling  of  shame.  but  then,  he  deserves  it,  though,  doesn't  he  ?  he  had  built  this  wall  between  them,  brick  by  brick,  and  made  it  so  that  arlo's  instinct  is  to  brace  for  impact  whenever  he's  around.  he  can  admit  that  he  does  deserve  it  in  the  ugly  corners  of  his  mind,  but  it  doesn't  make  it  hurt  any  less.  now,  standing  here,  he's  too  aware  of  his  body  –  large,  clumsy,  entirely  useless.  he  wishes  for  a  script,  some  kind  of  manual  to  navigate  his  conversations  with  arlo  and  it's  maddening  how  it  used  to  come  to  him  so  instinctively.  “  yeah,  why  would  he  tell  me  when  he  just  begged  me  to  come  pick  his  sorry  ass  up  ?  ”  he  mutters,  mostly  to  himself.  “  are  you,  uh,  staying ?  ”

[kvllerdreams]

after their initial meeting ruby had thought she'd figured out the type of person leo was, it was only when their encounters became frequent that something entirely unfamiliar to her had happened — she'd gotten it wrong. every time she untangled herself from his body she was left with more questions than answers, him plaguing her mind like a test she had to study for. it's a relief now to have finally pinpointed the person he was, someone who wanted her. it was almost as strange as being wrong, becoming desired. " oh don't get too smug ", femme chides with a laugh, warmth creeping across her skin. " i thought it was just a stupid crush though, i mean ... i doubt i'm the type of girl you normally go for? " and oddly enough ruby wasn't offended by it, so what if she kept her nose buried inside a book instead of inside a tiny baggie of coke? it seemingly hadn't mattered to him. his admission makes her smile, giddy like a child at knowing that her attraction to him had been reciprocated even back then. " i get it, it's kind of scary to just ... admit it, you know? i've never really been someone's anything honestly. " and she had never felt the urge to be, not until now. fingers trace idle designs across his chest, rolling her eyes at his words, " really? so that vein on the side of your neck doesn't bulge out when you're pissed but instead when you're horny? " it had been so much easier to mask her attraction behind hatred, to pick apart their differences and create reasons for this not to work. " shut up! i'm not that invested in my grades ... okay maybe i am, was. but i think it's time i start doing things that make me happy and a paper on the history of classical music does not do that. " god, how did he know the right things to say that made her heart swell? " leo ", femme groans against his mouth, foot skimming down the side of his leg, " if you keep being so nice i'm going to have to suck you off right now, what the fuck happened to the guy who barely said two words to me when we first met? " his offer touched parts of her ruby didn't even know existed, the casual care for her wellbeing and limited dismissal of her assignments. she really wasn't lying when she said she might just have to suck the damn soul out of his body in gratitude.

[forwcrds]

“  no,  you're  not.  ”  he  murmurs,  his  smugness  melting  away  at  the  admission.  “  not  at  all,  you  were  a…  surprise,  actually.  ”  he  smiles  at  the  memory  of  seeing  her  the  first  time,  feeling  this  inexplicable  pull  toward  her  that  he  had  no  idea  what  to  do  with.  “  i  couldn't  stop  thinking  about  having  you  and  at  first,  i  thought  that  maybe  i  just  needed  to  get  you  out  of  my  system.  ”  like  this  pull  he  felt  was  because  he  couldn't  have  her.  because  she'd  put  up  a  distance  between  them,  looked  at  him  like  she  had  him  figured  out  and  didn't  like  it.  she  was  far  from  his  usual  type,  only  because  he  was  certain  if  anyone  was  going  to  cut  through  the  noise  and  make  him  feel  something,  it  was  going  to  be  rher.  “  but  honestly  ?  it  just  made  it  worse.  ”  he  catches  her  wrist,  not  to  stop  her  but  only  to  press  a  soft  kiss  against  the  pulse  point  there  before  letting  her  hand  settle  back  over  his  heart.  “  it's  scary  but  it  feels  so  fucking  right.  ”  leo  had  spent  most  of  his  life  existing  in  the  margins  –  in  the  spaces  between  people.  close  enough  to  be  wanted,  never  close  enough  to  be  known.  he'd  made  peace  with  belonging  nowhere  and  to  no  one.  it  was  easier  to  drift,  easier  to  make  everything  temporary.  until  ruby.  a  chuckle  vibrates  in  his  chest  at  her  words  as  he  presses  his  forehead  to  her  own.  “  both.  you,  of  all  people,  know  it  bulges  out  when  i'm  both  because  you  know  how  to  trigger  both.  ”  it  wouldn't  be  entirely  false  to  assume  she  managed  to  do  both  simulatenously  sometimes.  “  what  makes  you  happy  ?  ”  eyebrows  knit  together  like  he's  trying  to  figure  it  out  and  for  once,  he  considers  it.  he's  never  once  thought  of  what  it  is  that  makes  him  happy  but  being  here…  their  bodies  so  entertwined  that  he  no  longer  knows  where  he  begins  and  she  ends…  this  might  be  it.  “  ruby.  ”  he  warns,  hand  gripping  her  thigh  firmly.  “ i  did  not  need  that  mental  image  right  now.  ”  suddenly  he  can't  even  remember  why  he  ever  suggested  they  leave  this  bed.

[kvllerdreams]

dante's snorted coke that didn't give him the high that nia did right now, those warm eyes darkened by lust and pupils blown so wide she might be accused of using alongside him and her body ... jesus he couldn't stop devouring her with his gaze as she sat next to him. " i would say you're a good girl but i don't want you thinking that doing the bare minimum of listening to me now is worth praise. " watches those lips encircle her juice laden fingers, tasting what now belongs to him. her boldness makes his cock stiffen as her digits roll across his lips, the remnants of her arousal sinking into his flesh. " i do but i don't want sloppy seconds from your hand, nia. i want it directly from the source ... when you deserve to feel my tongue fucking that tight hole. " all in good time though and they had plenty of time, numerous future moments where they could sneak away or craft believable lies to secure time together. in the end he'd fuck her so thoroughly that only his cock and touch would be able to make her orgasm. it was both amusing and arousing to watch her lift her hips, all but thrusting her needy cunt into the air for him. " you should know by now i always deliver on my promises, baby. if you want me to touch your slutty pussy so badly then you'll get it. " leaning over his hand grasps her knee, tugging her leg further toward him so he can get an almost perfect view of that creamy hole. once again he was struck by how surreal this was, how the reality of his fantasy was so much better than he ever could have imagined. leaving the warmth of her leg dante's palm comes down swiftly against the puffed pinkness of her core, that wet slap almost yanking a groan from his chest as he slips to the floor, nestling between those long legs. " you really think you own this cunt? this body? that you can just ignore what i tell you to do? " this time his left hand rubs at her folds, spreading them to reveal the hardened bud of her clit. his slap comes sharper now, aiming right for that sensitive mound as his tongue drags over his bottom lip. " when we're alone and i tell you to do something nia, you fucking do it. "

[forwcrds]

it's  too  late.  she's  ruined  for  everyone  else,  can't  imagine  there's  anyone  who  can  touch  her  the  way  dante  does  or  get  her  to  unravel  completely  like  this.  not  even  a  chance.  she  knows  that  anyone  who  tries  after  him  will  merely  act  as  a  placeholder  until  he  comes  along  –  that  is,  if  she  can  even  stomach  letting  anyone  else  touch  her.  she's  damn  near  shaking,  desperate  for  him  to  deliver  on  his  words,  to  feel  his  tongue  slide  across  her  wet  folds  and  make  her  lose  all  control  again.  she's  done  her  part  to  deserve  the  teasing  and  the  taunting,  knows  he'll  make  her  work  for  it  before  he  gives  into  her  and  the  thought  has  her  biting  her  bottom  lip  in  anticipation.   “  hm…”  she  hums  at  his  refusal,  tearing  her  slick  fingers  away  from  his  lips  and  bringing  them  to  her  own.  “  more  for  me.  ” she  teases,  wrapping  her  tongue  around  her  fingers  and  licking  them  entirely  clean.  he  pulls  her  leg  toward  him,  breath  hitching  at  the  sudden  switch  in  dynamics.  the  playful  smirk  she  wore  earlier  dissolves  on  her  lips  as  his  dark  gaze  pins  her  in  place.  she  doesn't  have  time  to  brace  herself  for  what's  coming.  she  gasps,  the  sharp  sting  of  his  palm  against  her  swollen  lips  sending  a  violent  shudder  straight  up  her  spine.  she  grinds  her  hips  instinctively  against  the  sudden  ache,  toes  curling  tight.  more.  she  wants  more  –  no,  needs  it.  “  dante…  please.  ”  his  palm  connects  again  and  nia  moans,  vision  blurring  around  the  edges  as  she arches her back, head falling against the headrest.  her  chest  is  heaving,  nipples  hard  and  aching  as  her  nails  dig  into  the  seat  to  keep  her  body  from  trembling.  “  you  own  every  inch  of  me.  ”  she  bites  her  lip  hard,  rocking  subtly  toward  his  mouth,  silently  begging  to  feel  his  tongue  where  she  aches to feel it  the  most.  “  i'll  listen,  baby,  i  swear.  ” 

[pleasvres]

saying it made it seem as stupid as she felt . a one night stand that ghosts you the next day ? pathetic choice . to be honest , she hadn't been with anyone serious since him . no one ever felt . . . right . not that she'd ever give him the benefit of knowing that . she snaps out of her head at his words , a soft small smile coming to lips . ❝ i don't think they do , but thanks for that . ❞ the femme really didn't believe that they talked about her . hell , even missed her when all they did was joke about her being attached to him when they were together . ❝ go on , really . have fun for me . i'm not really feeling too well anyway . ❞ lie . valery felt perfectly fine . she just couldn't see herself hanging with his old friends when the wound was still fresh . ❝ wish him happy birthday from me , yeah ? ❞ the brunette gives him a half smile in response .

[forwcrds]

“ you sure ? ” he questions, lingering by the door. he's hesitant to leave now… leave her like this. he shouldn't care, it's what he tells himself over and over in his head. he isn't her boyfriend and he can't even honestly call them friends. mostly because ‘ friend ’ is a word he'd never be able to use for her, no matter how far past this they manage to get. everything else feels like a throwaway title for two people who used to be each other's everything. “ you're okay, right ? ” there's soft worry written across his face and usually, he would do his best to hide it. like, he wasn't even allowed to feel that much toward her either. this time, he doesn't. he doesn't even tear his gaze away as he asks the question. he nods softly and her words are a cue for him to leave and yet, he remains frozen in place. it feels as though he's glued to the floor and turning around, shutting the door on this, would be another thing he's letting go of. “ if you change your mind… you know… ” 

[deathrcll]

➙ for @forwcrds continued from x.

" there's cautious, and there's refusing to even meet them. " the continued brushing off of their partner was disappointing, yes, but there was something else there. they'd thought they'd felt guilty over it, at first, due to the history between them. never expecting to find someone they could see themselves with in any significant way and it taking months before pim had even brought them up to carmen — not until she'd realized that looking forward to those calls and texts, feeling safe and like this was something they could pursue, but now ... it felt like betraying their friendship. she'd gotten used to sharing good news with carmen first, getting her opinion, and acting on it. if carmen didn't like their new partner, pim didn't know that they'd be able to continue with it. the push for them to meet and get used to each other was for a reason, but maybe it was a sign that they'd gone into everything too fast and something was wrong. " i'd rather you just say you don't want to meet them and why so that i don't keep asking and feeling stupid for it. "

[forwcrds]

there's cautious, there's refusing to even meet them and then there's carmen – undefined, for now. because why does the thought of sitting down with pim and their significant other make her stomach turn so violently ? she tells herself it's probably just fear. the fear of losing her best friend to someone new, like accepting this new relationship is simultaneously accepting sanding down their own into something much smaller, almost insignificant. the worst part of it all is that she knows if she were to say she didn't like them, pim would write them off too. “ i just feel like they need to earn it first, you know ? ” gaze refuses to meet their's, knows deep down that all it'd take for her to cave is one more pleading look. “ you deserve nothing short of amazing and they need to know that's going to be the expectation. always. and right now i just… ” she pauses, thinks her words over for a beat before continuing. “ it's too soon to tell if they're geninue. ” it's so SELFISH and maybe she hasn't been able to look pim in the eye all night because then all they'd see is guilt written across her face. “ i mean… do you even really trust them ? ”

[forwcrds]

open  to:   all.  plot:  in  source  !

“  why  are  you  telling  me  this  ?  ”  words  slip  past  his  lips  like  they've  been  clawing  at  his  insides  and  begging  to  come  out.  he  doesn't  mean  to  be  an  asshole,  not  when  they  need  him  the  most,  but  he  can't  hide  his  frustration.  not  tonight.  “  i  can't  be  the  person  you  keep  running  to  when  shit  hits  the  fan,  right  ?  ”

[forwcrds]

open  to:   all.  plot:  a  ‘  getting  drunk  was  an  excuse  to  kiss  you  ’  and  we  haven't  really  gotten  around  to  defining  what  this  is  but  you  disappeared  for  months  and  just  came  back,  trying  to  fall  back  into  the  same  habits.

“  i…  i  can't.  we  can't.  ”  she  blurts  out,  as  though  in  a  race  to  get  the  words  out  before  she  falters  yet  again.  their  mouths  are  only  inches  apart,  the  proximity  hitting  her  like  ice  cold  water  –  a  sudden  reminder  of  everything  this  can  no  longer  be.  “  i,  uh,  i  met  someone.  ”

[forwcrds]

open  to:   all.  plot:  aiden  and  your  muse  were  in  a  serious  relationship,  maybe  even  got  engaged,  but  aiden  out  of  nowhere  just…  left.  without  a  word.  fast  forward  a  year  later,  they're  at  a  mutuals  party  and  they're  getting  introduced...  by  their  friend…

aiden  turns,  a  hint  of  surprise  flickering  across  his  features  at  the  familiar  face.  it's  gone  just  as  quickly  as  it  appeared,  smoothed  over  by  the  same  charm  that's  managed  to  keep  him  lovable  despite  his  reputation.  he  pauses  for  a  second,  looks  them  over  for  the  first  time  in  a  year  and  then  he  resorts  to  what  he  does  best  –  pretending.  “  hi…  i'm  aiden.  ”  he  grins,  extending  a  hand  out  though  he's  not  entirely  confident  if  the  same  warmth  will  be  reciprocated.