stars and the sun

all I really  wanted was that look in your eyes, like you already know that I'm the love of your life

[inquixotic]

CHARLOTTE LIU. 

— INTRO — CONFESSIONALS — VISUAL — PINTEREST —

inactive.

SEBASTIEN CASSIDY.

— INTRO — CONFESSIONALS — VISUAL — PINTEREST —

inactive.

MALI WATTAPOHN.

— INTRO — CONFESSIONALS — VISUAL — PINTEREST —

active.

EVELYN MENDOZA.

— INTRO — CONFESSIONALS — VISUAL — PINTEREST —

inactive.

[inquixotic]

heatwayve​.

– “OH, THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT,” MILES LAUGHS. “ i meant sweating ‘cause you’re fit enough to turn heads. but if you’re ready to start some fights, then by all means. ” though he thinks whatever conflict exists between adela and mali is kind of silly, especially at this point. but he’s smart enough not to say so without being asked, at least. “ are you actually worried about adela ? ” that implication is confusing to him. it’s not awesome for miles’ optics that the names on mali’s list are santiago and eden, but he’s only been coupled with santiago for less than twenty-four hours. it’s all fair play, he’s not interested in any kind of dibs. “ nah, you came all the way back here, you should get to crack on. honestly, i’m just getting to know everyone now, too, probably in about the same place you are. ”

“please, they’re in love, haven’t you heard?” their tone makes it clear she’s not taking half of them seriously. they honestly think half of it is just for show, for the game. “they’ll sweat for all of five minutes, have their little arguments over me, and be over it in the same day. and then i’ll get to graft for real.” it’s typical for late in the game, especially for these particular couples. it’s all they do, by her count. “nothing that girl does concerns me, but do i think she’ll be an annoyance at least once, yeah. mark that, she’ll be incapable of letting things lie.” her behavior was predictable, at least, and mali could expect the worst and be assured that they’d get it. “yeah? who all have you got on your list?” they really are curious, wants to know who she should maybe back off of even if he says it’s not necessary. “santiago, eden, charlene?” they guess, tilting her head with an inquisitive look. “can’t imagine you cracking on with the italian, honestly.” 

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

HE’S NOT SURE WHY SHE’D COME BACK if she didn’t want to be painted a villain, seeing as that’s surely what the show was going to do to her. still, he says,   “ well if you’re a villain, i’m not scared of you, ”   with a crooked smile that he hopes shows his sincerity. he’s really not looking to be against her, despite knowing the show will try to pit them against each other regardless.   “ did she really ? ”   he didn’t actually know that, or if he did, he definitely forgot. josh doesn’t think anything mali says about adela is wrong—there’s no way she wasn’t using bash, be honest—but he also doesn’t wanna speak against one of his closest friends here. josh shakes his head.   “ it’s fine, her karma is now having to date dylan, ”   he says, with a little scoff. he’s sure mali would agree that he doesn’t see it lasting.   “ as if you should say anything about height, pipsqueak, ”   josh scoffs.

“maybe you should be.” their own smile is lopsided, leaning forward on the counter conspiratorially. an empty threat, mostly. “yes, really. she called me easy. miles was pretty much the only one who said anything in my defense, too,” not that he had done a good job of it, but he had reassured them after, so he gets a pass. josh not being aware was no surprise, though. “she gave me some bullshit apology after where she said she meant you were easy. she’s a cunt.” their eyes roll, signifying as much patience as she has for it. “please,” she snorts, shaking their head. “you know as well as i do they have the shelf life of a banana.” she’ll have a different sort of karma coming her way, they’re sure of that. “at least i have a personality. isn’t yours just being tall and hockey?” 

[inquixotic]

victoriafm​.

“great, it’s a deal.” she admires mali’s skin once more. she laughs at the comment and nods. “i’m a simple woman with simple needs. food being one of them.” this was the furthest thing from the truth really. because victoria was anything but low maintenance. but it sounded like a good reply at the time so she went with it. “i never really had to learn since someone else was always cooking for me. i guess…i guess i like being served more than i like serving.” 

“you don’t strike me as simple, darling,” she returns, leaning into the mirror with a genuine smile, having moved on to eye cream, tapping gently at their under eyes. “more power to you, though, honestly. just have to find one of those girls who really loves to cook as a love language or whathaveyou, and you’re all set.” a few of mali’s exes were like that, she knows they exist, just maybe not on the show. “nothing wrong with that. if you know what you want, you know how to get it, right?”

[inquixotic]

bluemmings​.

adela takes it as a win that mali has nothing to say, one because she doesn’t have to listen to her rat-like little voice or condescending tone, but also because she takes it that she’s right since she’s not even prepared to defend herself or say otherwise. she doesn’t care that mali’s looking at her like she’s something inhuman because if anything, mali’s the one who adela deems has something wrong with them. she really needs to get her head out of her arse. “ ‘cause as always, you’re full of fucking shit, mali. you’ve come back here with barely a couple weeks left, if that’s what you were looking for, you’d have better luck on the outside. though i guess you mustn’t’ve? aw, real shame, that.  ” though it is a real shame considering she’s back here, but adela’s only bothered about it because they seem to share similar friends. " yeah, i’m done. “ she says smiling, clapping her palms together like she’s swatting away some dirt. ” i’ll leave you to it, then. i really hope you get what you’re looking for in here. honestly, i’m rooting for you. ” her sarcastic tone is very evident that she’s not. 

mali won’t dignify most of what adela’s said with a response — it was two weeks, max, since she left the villa, and there’s no way dylan and adela have found love, nor would she have, either inside or outside of the villa, in that time frame, even if she had been trying. “and if you’d really found what you’re looking for, you wouldn’t be so desperate to stay, would you? i know the distance is hard, but i’m sure you can swing it,” she returns, their smile feline. two couples have walked already, and the prize money is a clear motivating factor for someone like adela, who absolutely can’t afford tickets to australia at nearly $2,000 a pop. that would kill their relationship before even adela’s personality could, realistically. “don’t worry about me, darling. you should work on being a little more interesting, though. not much screentime to speak of.” their voice drops to a whisper, her eyes squinting with concern. it’s a bluff, but they’re a good liar. even with adela making it through a vote, with the bottom being two islanders with drama and dante, it didn’t say much. “i’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.” 

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

“ I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH YOU BEING HERE, ”   josh tries to reframe his point. maybe it’s not entirely true, but his issues with her being here have nothing to do with mali herself and everything with the show for dragging her back when him and naomi are finally good.   “ i believe you. you’re not as dramatic as people give you credit for, ”   he points out, before adding wryly,   “ other than calling adela out at the fire pit. what was that about, anyway ? ”   because he still doesn’t totally get it.   “ uh, once or twice just one-on-one, ”   he shrugs, not sure why that matters.   “ we’re the same height, actually. ”   can’t remember if that’s true or not but that’s the story josh is sticking with regardless.

“i know. but some of them will want a villain.” they give a shrug, a sarcastic smile appearing. it’s really no concern to them what the others think. she’ll gladly be a villain if that’s what they want, so long as it doesn’t get in her way. the topic turns to adela and she makes a face, their nose wrinkling in distaste. “you mean, besides the fact that the girl practically called me a slag for sleeping with you?” they raise their eyebrows at him, almost daring him to make an excuse for her on that account. they’re almost certain no one had said anything remotely similar to josh for his behavior with jenny, or with mali herself for that matter. even with adela’s clarification after, it didn’t sit right with her. “there’s no doubt in my mind that she was using bash until dylan decided to look at her and i don’t like that,” they frown. “it’s gross and manipulative. you don’t get to play with someone’s feelings like that and get off scot-free just because the lad’s nice.” their huff after the little tirade is maybe a little much, but they’ve annoyed herself at the recollection. their expression turns thoughtful, lips pursing as she holds back an amused laugh. “really? are you sure? he seems taller. maybe you’ve just shrunk.” idk if mel was just saying things when she made him 6′5 but i think it’s funny so that’s mali’s story. 

[inquixotic]

victoriafm​.

“that’s fair. maybe you can show me what the good stuff is.” she smiles when mali mentions making her food. “oh my god, you might be my new favorite person.” one of the quickest ways to make victoria like another person is to be  spoiled, and even though being made lunch isn’t exactly spoiling her, it’s close enough in her book. “you’ll have to teach me some of those tricks too.”

“now that, i’m happy to do,” they smile to themselves, dotting essence across her face gingerly, carefully. “really, is that all it takes?” her smile twists into a smirk, shaking her head a little. “i’m a better baker than i am a cook, truthfully — exact measures are where i excel,” she explains as they rub their skincare in, nudging the bottle towards victoria as a small offering. “but i make a mean stir fry. and a decent grilled cheese, too. you never learned?” 

[inquixotic]

bluemmings​.

she wonders how quickly her hands could clutch around her hair, how fast she could rip with all her might and cause some damage before they’re inevitably split up. it’s not worth it, she finalises every time she imagines how satisfying it would be, trying to talk herself out of it. “ you’re actually so funny, acting like you didn’t want josh to fawn all over you after everything. you tried your best but he just didn’t care.” she laughs, finding her whole thing with him so pathetic but of course mali knows that too. “ yeah, cause it really worked out super easy for phoebe, huh ? or you ? ” aware that mali had her own moment where she wanted dylan even if it felt brief, a quick final attempt to crack on with someone since josh wasn’t interested. she almost goes to say if she wanted it really easy she’d have stayed with bash, but with that coming up again recently against her, she decides to keep it trapped in.  “ delusion is you coming back here, and for what ? sad your fifteen minutes were cut short ?  ”

so much of what adela says completely misses the mark — her misread of the situation genuinely making mali sit back and listen, looking at her with the same, blandly amused expression she gives when there’s a mildly annoying child recounting their day at her, amidst choruses of mhm’s and wow’s. studying her as you would an animal with a mutation, cold and almost scientific in nature, like her very existence baffles them. they could say that she didn’t say easy, she said safe — adela having the choice between two and choosing a fan favorite who had been there longer was the safe choice. but that would require giving adela the satisfaction of thinking any of this actually bothered her. “you know, it’s really telling that you think i’m here for something other than love,” she remarks, their head canting and her tongue clicking against her teeth, their tone filled with something like pity, patronizing and softened. the pot calling the kettle black is implied in her words, giving her a wide eyed, nearly bored look. “are you quite finished?” 

[inquixotic]

victoriafm​.

“puh-lease, you’re gorgeous either way.” victoria remarks because it’s true. “you’ll have to teach me your skincare routine because your skin is literally flawless.” not that victoria needs any tips, really, she’s just making nice with the new girl. or well at least, new to some. “it’s nice to meet you too. the food…with me, it hasn’t improved since the only thing i know to make is rice, pasta, and grilled cheese. i’m used to having people cook for me.”

“there’s really no secrets, you just use the good stuff.” simple enough to say when you have the money to, though. she doesn’t know much about victoria, hasn’t seen really any parts of the show with her in it. “no? you’ll have to let me make you some lunch, then.” the offer is easy, paired with a paler version of her usual simpering smile, lack of caffeine keeping her more mild. “i’m not a great cook, but i’ve got a few tricks.”  

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

“ NAH NO ISSUES, ”   he shakes his head, finishing his drink and taking a much needed sip of it.   “ not unless you’re trying to start something, at least. but i’m not anticipating that’ll happen. i’m sure you want nothing to do with me, after everything. ”   considering she hadn’t even asked him out on a date. sure, mali’s presence is a reminder to naomi that he had slept with someone in casa, but it’s not like jenny and dylan aren’t already looming reminders that the two of them haven’t only fucked each other. it’s no surprise that mali’s taken to santiago quickly—it’s not like there’s many other completely single options here—but he manages to keep his smirk small.   “ well, good for you. he seems nice. ”

they snort, shaking her head a little. men really are so stupid. “that’s quite optimistic of you, darling.” maybe not an issue for him, but naomi’s discomfort couldn’t be ignored. “i wouldn’t say nothing,” they correct. nothing had really changed from where they stood in casa, anyway. “but i already told you i’m not in the habit of stealing without permission. i meant it when i said i wouldn’t cause problems.” they give a shrug, meaning it. they didn’t come back for josh, really — getting to watch him stiffen like he had was reward enough, but it wasn’t her goal. “oh, does he? for all the many times you’ve spoken to the lad?” she teases, rolling her eyes. he couldn’t even remember his name, she doubts he’s taking santiago very seriously. “how’s it feel to be short for a change?”

[inquixotic]

heatwayve​.

– “YEAH, MAYBE,” THOUGH HE HAS TO PAUSE AFTER A BEAT. “ wait, is this not the charm ? you’re absolutely right, i’d be fuckin’ screwed, ” miles teases, features breaking out into a wide grin. “ i feel like every couple’s gonna be sweating it at least a little bit when you go back to the villa, not gonna lie, ” it’s said truthfully, but not without a bit of a gleam in his eye. joking aside, mali probably is something of a threat to where he stands in the villa, interested in all the people that he is. doesn’t really give him and santiago time to build much of anything if they hit it off. but miles isn’t really the type to be bothered, more interested in just seeing how it shakes up, even if mali isn’t really here to be on his team. “ gotta back yourself in here, y’know ? ” he offers, clinking his glass with hers.

“oh, you haven’t seen anything, sweet,” they flutter their lashes for the effect, her smile going demure for a brief moment, before she dissolves into giggles. “oh, definitely. i give adela fifteen minutes?” she wagers, tilting her head as if deep in thought on the logistics of when a fight gets picked with her. “the rest, well...i’m not too worried, honestly,” they shrug a little, nonplussed. they’ve got it in them to handle a little animosity from the others — all it means is she won’t be pulling many people for chats. they smile at his sentiment, sipping at her wine and giving a small nod of agreement. that’s all she’d be doing this time around, really, but— “i’ll consider backing off if there’s anyone you decide you like enough to ask me to, though.” 

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

“ DO YOU NOT WANT ME TO BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU ? ”   eyebrows raise slightly in challenge. as usual, josh is towing the line between speaking freely and blunt, and not wanting to start anything between them.   “ you don’t need to tell me, i know he is, ”   josh snorts. as if mali needs to explain why someone would want to date his closest friend here ;   he’s straight, but not stupid.   “ can’t say i did know that, though. but i take it the date went well, then ?   how about you and… the other one ? ”   totally forgot santiago’s name for a second there.

“oh, i’m sure you are a little,” she teases, pushing at his buttons. “but you and i both know it’s going to cause an issue for you.” though just like they told naomi over lunch, they doubt it’ll amount to anything more serious anyways. they won’t get into the specifics of why she likes miles, if he’s going to sound so dismissive of them being friends. “yeah, it was lovely to catch up with him,” she agrees, pausing to control her expression at his apparent slip in memory — is that something to do with josh being shorter than him? “you mean the extremely fit, tall one? santiago?” she corrects, her dimples appearing with a grin. “he’s a little incredible, actually. i’m definitely going to be pulling him for another chat today.” 

[inquixotic]

heatwayve​.

– MILES FROWNS AT MALI’S COMMENT, not really sure what he deserves, but either way, he doesn’t have anything to say about it. frankie’s absence is still a sore spot, and he’s worried if they talk too much it’ll be like picking at a scab and it’ll re-open a wound that he’s not ready to tend to. he does miss her – but producers have definitely provided him with no shortage of distraction ( almost feels intentional. ) “ oh, so you didn’t ask me out on this date to graft me ? ” he asks, an arch of one of his eyebrows. “ honestly, kind of disappointed, ” he adds, a jocular grin alight on his features as he reaches for his glass of wine. “ but yeah, i think i can take you, mali, ” he says, confidently, though to be honest, it’s hard to take any of this that seriously. 

“well, i’ll call it taking advantage to catch up with a friend.” she’ll let the frankie topic lie, judging by his expression, but there’s a little pang of worry for him in their chest all the same. “but darling, you say the word and i’ll turn the charm on,” she grins back. “you wouldn’t be able to resist.” they’re almost entirely joking as they pop a berry into her mouth, tilting her head to size him up. “your confidence is admirable.” they lift their wine glass to him with a grin. especially as he doesn’t have the advantage of boobs.

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

“ HEY, ”   he laughs a little, not sure if he should bother trying to argue that her presence doesn’t make him squirm. they both know the truth.   “ cut me some slack. i am happy to see you. i just wasn’t expecting it, is all. you think you found something real and fun with miles ? ”   he can’t bother to keep some mild sarcasm out of his tone, sliding a drink over towards her, before he works on his own.

“sure you are. if you keep sayin’ it, it’ll be true, right?” they hum, before dissolving into some laughter. they take the drink and a long sip of it to make sure it’s the right kind — frankly, dylan’s a better bartender than he is, but she’ll not admit as much. “please, miles is fit,” she argues, tapering their laughter to fight a grin, try for some semblance of sincerity while leaning on the countertop. “he and i get on famously, you know.” 

[inquixotic]

victoriafm​:

location : bathroom availability : closed ( for @inquixotic​ )

“ well, if it isn’t the famous mali. ” she gives mali a wave while she brushes her teeth with the other hand. she spits out her toothpaste into the sink before continuing. “ you know, i loved watching you on the show. i’m victoria, by the way. ” 

mali’s yawn betrays her lack of desire to actually be awake but she gives victoria a sleepy smile all the same. “oh, darling, you should’ve waited for me to put my face on and give you the full illusion,” she teases, dropping her bag on the sink to start her million step skincare routine. “it’s absolutely lovely to meet you. i can’t say i’ve had the same pleasure, but i’m sure it’ll be even more brilliant in person, no? be honest, has the food improved?”

[inquixotic]

bluemmings​.

so she’s seen some things, even if her memory is off — it was plain and boring, mali. keep up. adela will always think movie night was blown way out of proportion and context was lost, but having mali throw it back at her causes her to feel a different kind of irate. “ well, it’s a good thing neither of us give a fuck what you think so i reckon we’ll be just fine. ” her tone lined with more bite suddenly, not even bothered to hide it from the other. “ and maybe you should focus on men who actually like you back. that was a real challenge for you last time, wasn’t it ? ” she can’t quite stop her grin, especially as she really can’t relate. even now she reckons she has options if she really wanted them. she wants to ignore her last comment… also wants to say something snarky that would most definitely get herself into trouble as it always does just to get a win in this very moment. instead, she just scoffs, wanting to shut it down. “ okay, but, babes… why would i go for dylan if that’s all i wanted ? we both had options. it’s not like he was a safe pick. well, safer than betting on josh, i guess, but… go figure. ”  

the actual annoyance in adela is really all she wants from the conversation, smiling smugly when she receives it in the form of a snaped out remark about how she doesn’t care when she clearly cares. “if you call what i was last time as focused, i think you need your eyes checked, love.” her tone turns patronizing, unbothered. really, digs about not finding something with the men in casa aren’t exactly painful considering more than half of them are gone now. “do you really think dylan wasn’t the safe option?” she scoffs in return, her expression flashing genuinely incredulous for a second. as if dylan would be sent home without walking, at this point. if they go, mali’s certain it’s adela’s fault at any rate. “my god, you’re delusional, aren’t you.” 

[inquixotic]

graftisms​.

JOSH CHOOSES TO LET THE CONVERSATION about her lunch with naomi lie, because it’s a can of worms that isn’t worth opening. really, he’d like to talk about naomi and him and mali’s time in casa together as little as possible, if they’re going to be able to move past this. he’s grateful for something to do with his hands as he makes the drinks, nodding along to her tale of other islands.   “ i’m jealous, ”   he shakes his head, a little wistful.   “ what did they have to promise you to get you back here ? ”   his head on a platter ?   a date with miles ?

they’re really not interested in making this easy for him, even if he refuses to rise to any of her remarks, the mocking tone thinly veiled under her pleasant enough smile and simpering words. “what, like making you squirm isn’t reason enough?” their head tilts, teasing grin nearly wolfish. “i don’t know why anyone is so surprised, truly,” she adds, a little more serious, her eyes rolling. why is she on the list of people who wouldn’t be expected to come back? she’s great tv. “i told you i wanted to find something real and fun.”