Half Agony, Half Hope @juliet-briggs - Tumblr Blog

❤️ from Rory

"Don't Lose Ur Head"- Six

"And soon my daddy said, "You should try and get ahead." She chuckled, swirling the straw in her milkshake, serving only to stir in the whipped cream. Never would she freely tell this story to anyone aside from Rory. He was the best thing that had happened to her. He was the example of what happened when breaking away from a legacy yet somehow still maintaining a semi-decent relationship. His happiness in the life he chose was simply infectious. She wanted to be like him, but she knew she couldn't be. As her father told her, she needed to get ahead. She needed to keep working towards her goals.

@leapoffaithx

leapoffaithx

God, Rory loved milkshakes. They were just one of the best things in the world and he enjoyed them even more when he was hanging out with Jules. The two of them were pretty similar, honestly, family wise at least. The big difference between them, however, was that she was still trying to impress hers. Rory had given up on that. He wanted to live his life. He wanted to see what the crazy state of Calamity had to offer him since he had never experienced it before. He hoped that Juliet would do that when she was ready. It was quite fun...

"Get ahead of what?!" Rory asked, grabbing his glass and tilting his back, along with his head, and gulping down a big lump of milkshake before he placed the glass back down and wiping his mouth, "The only thing you should be trying to get ahead of, right now, is that milkshake because it's gonna melt and be real sad, real quick." He grinned. However, moments later, his right eye began to twitch and he held his head, "Ohhh...brain freeze." Rory whined out, "Ignore what I said. Let it melt."

juliet-briggs

Juliet turned the same color as her strawberry milkshake, unable to meet Rory's eyes. "You know. Ahead.." She made the crude gesture with her hand as to what her father had meant. Sure it might have put the competition at ease around her and allowed Juliet access to some insider secrets, but even she drew a line somewhere. The woman still batted her lashes around some of the more unsuspecting victims, but Juliet preferred to remain professional when allowed.

She looked up, trying to locate the waitress to get Rory something warm to drink. "I heard something about putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Maybe try that?" Her own glass sat forgotten as she attempted to think of another way to help with the brain freeze. It always amazed her how something so common place could hurt so much.

#c: rory

❤️ from Rory

"Don't Lose Ur Head"- Six

@leapoffaithx

#rory #/sorry this is so short

What are your hobbies and interests?

I do not have much free time, but I do enjoy music. I still play the piano on occasion.

#answered

hxlfcrxzy:-

Fuck why did he let his hatred get in the way of a genuinely enjoyable time? Just the mere mention of the Sloth had derailed what had been a decent conversation, and no specific sloth had even been mentioned, it was just Lan jumping to one in particular. I am not jealous of Dodger…of all the demons to be jealous of…not him. Luckily, she kept some form of conversation going, and he felt himself relax a little more, slow breathing ensued. “Wrathbearers think Wrath is the worst sin. They see blind anger as the be all and end all of everything. A sure fire way of getting what they want. Who’s going to argue with someone that powerful and angry?” Azagi surely was a force to be reckoned with, but Lan knew the best ways around that. Angry, yes, too trusting of him, also yes. “No,” he shook his head, wet strands of hair slapping gently at his forehead, and he pushed them back with an equally wet hand, “I don’t believe they do. But by nature, they don’t care about anything. Which is another reason why they’re the worst. If you don’t care about anything, nothing is important. How can you live a life where nothing is important?” If nothing was important, then there was no need for action, and so the cycle continued. He shook his head once more, needing to physically shake Dodger from his mind. “All the time. Distractions tend to stop my sin from rearing it’s head too much. Do you know what it’s like to be envious of everyone and everything? All the damn time?”

“That is their opinion. They are entitled to it.” Juliet rarely worried about wrathbearers. They might be powerful, but just as those taken in by pride, it would be the demons’ downfall. Everything in moderation was the key to success. Those who allowed their feelings to rule them ended up doing something foolish. Their anger made them predictable. Pick up the pattern of emotion, and a wraithbearer was no threat at all. The fae floated just a bit closer to Lan. All he would need to do is reach out to touch her. Why she allowed herself so close was equal parts to gain his confidence as well as something within herself she dare not name. “Is that supposed to be a riddle? If it is, it is a rather bleak one. When nothing matters, there is nothing to lose. You either live on the edge or exists in the middle.” She tilted her head, puzzling over that sort of existence. It did make them all the more dangerous. She turned at his question, choosing that movement to dive under the water. She hoped that he would see it as playful rather than an avoidant tendency. Fae couldn’t lie. She could not answer honestly either. While she might not know what it was like to be envious of everyone at every moment, she knew of envy all too well. Juliet was grateful for all the advantages of her birth. Still below that picture perfect exterior, she envied those who lived on their own terms without having to worry of constantly attempting to please everyone.

#c: lan

leapoffaithx:

Holding Juliet’s hand, he swung it has they walked, practically skipping down the street. He was so excited to hang out with her, it had been so long. Rory loved to hang out with her, it was always so much fun. Plus, she deserved to have some time to just relax. She stated she enjoyed to work, which he didn’t deny, but she should still take some time to hang out and have some fun. Which was honestly Rory’s specialty so he was happy to help provide that.

“I love it there!” Rory added in, “It’s just so much fun. Every time I go there, I have a blast. I am not great at gambling, I’m gonna be honest, Jules, but still, I love it.” The Fae laughed, “I’m pretty gullible, you know?” And that was okay. He didn’t mind it. He knew that his parents hated that about him but it wasn’t like he could just change it overnight. That took a lot of work and he was already so old, he doubted that it would be changing. But that was okay. It was his life.

Turning the corner, down the way, the glowing lights of the casino could be seen down the street and he immediately grinned, wanting just to run there. Rory had so much energy. He had to get it out somehow. But, he didn’t. Just continued to walk with Juliet, “Are you good at gambling? I bet you are. I bet you can win the whole casino. Right? Am I right?”

Juliet giggled, adoring how life felt with Rory. Everything weighed on the fae, yet she couldn’t help but succumb to Rory’s joi de vie. It was as if the two had no worries, walking hand in hand to the casino where they would simply have a good time. She needed him in her life. When everyone pressured her to give more of herself and do more for their kind, Rory simply accepted her as she was. He reminded her that she needed to take time to herself every once and a while- even giving her a reason to do so when she herself could not justify the break.

Juliet knew that gambling favored the house. She could do the math in her head what the chances of winning were, but there was still fun to be had in the illusion of chance. “I’m sure that we could take a few risks.” She didn’t mind paying a bit for the pleasure of seeing her friend smile. If they happened to choose the tables where the odds might be in their favor, all the better. “I know you are, but that is just you. It’s part of the reason I love you.” She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. She hoped that Rory never lost that light. He’d had to fight his family to keep it, but the way that saw the world was almost magical compared to the cynical views of their elders.

She lagged behind slightly in her attempt to hasten her pace. The excitement already engulfing Rory the moment that the bright lights shone upon them. She allowed him to pull her towards the entrance. “If I win tonight, it is because I have my lucky charm beside me.”

#c: rory

pcisonwine:

she could always feel him; whenever he was near. call it a fae thing, or a father/daughter bond, or a fucking mystery for all he cared. they couldn’t deny their connection; but he could certainly regret it. she was far better off without him; he would never say otherwise. and soon - once older, she would figure that out too. she would come to realize he would always fuck it up; he could never be anything more than a fuck up in her eyes. but she was just a child now - there was nothing he could do to make her hate him; she still saw glimpses of light, moments where he would tuck her in at night, transform a bad dream into a fairytale and she would forgive him all.

forgive all of him. for being simply him. because amos didn’t know how to be anything else.

“and here i thought i was one of a fucking kind, juju.” he shook his head; a signature spark of mischief evident within his hues; one he wore too well.

he had his feet up on one of the stools; a lazy arm drapped around the edge of the sofa they were sat at; head laid back.. “fucker got away; one of them. the other’s dead - obviously. i had to send a message.” he carried on, “fucking brave stealing from me, and living another day to tell the damn story.” he wasn’t too mad. he knew sooner or later he’d finish them all. nobody could get away from him.

As much as he protested, Juliet saw Amos through his daughter’s eyes. She say the way that the young fae adored her father simply for being there for her. He might think that it took work to be a good father, and while it absolutely did, simply loving the girl unconditionally allowed her to bring out the good in a man who claimed to have lost the light so long ago. He needed the sweetness of her in his life just as Jasmine needed him. One day, Juliet hoped that Amos would realize what he had and stop worrying about what he was missing.

“Language!” Her eyes grew wide, automatically checking to see if Jasmine heard them. Even if she was merely a babysitter, Juliet tried to instill some good habits. It was a shame that Amos came along to ruin that. At least he had the decency to make certain that Jas was sleeping. Having to explain why there were words that only adults could use was utterly unfair to the youth.

She nodded her head in understanding. It was thanks to men like Amos that Juliet could keep her hands clean. He did what he deemed necessary. Juliet wasn’t about to judge him for that. “At least you got one of them. The other will warn those who have wronged you.” For good or ill, the word would spread.

#c: amos

hxlfcrxzy:

Why was it that even now, in the middle of a river far away from the streets the demon knew, there were seemingly constant reminders of that cretin everywhere he went. How someone that did as little as the sloth had such an effect on people Lan would never understand. It’s not just everyone, it’s you too. He shook his head, composure still slipped but he was pulling it back. “I said his trou-” he paused, “their…sloth, not him, I didn’t mean to say him.” He shook his head again, bringing a hand up form the water to wipe at his face, cooling off the anger and the frustration that that bearded face was causing him. “Sloth demons form of trouble causes problems. Imagine them sending everyone to sleep, or worse, making people feel the need to do nothing. People who think Wrath is the best sin to send into battle are wrong. It’s Sloth. Entire infrastructures collapse when people decide to do nothing. Wars lost if one side just…stops.” He let out a small sigh, eyes darting up from the water to the fae who, for whatever reason, was still by his side. “Me and my kin, the Invidias, we’re pretty readable, our intentions are always clear. Same with the Incubus. Same with the Wrathbearers. But the Lethargers? Most of the time I don’t even think they realise the chaos their presence causes. I hate them. I have nothing to be jealous of with them…I just really do hate them.” Lan let out an uncomfortable chuckle, tried hard to follow it up with a genuine smile at Juliet. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to ramble. It happens if I can’t keep myself distracted.”

Of everything that Juliet prepared for, her own idiocy came last on the list. She’d been too forthcoming- too open. This is exactly what the elders warned her against. She’d ruined their good time by trusting a bit too freely and confessing her sins. So many cautioned Juliet against sloth; now she knew why. Even a demon agreed to it being the worst sin of all. To indulge meant the beginning of her downfall. “Of course not.” Her smile strained at the corners, voice turning robotic. How foolish she’d been to be taken in by his charms? Juliet had standards that needed to be maintained at all times. “No one thinks that wrath is the worst of all sins.” Wrath, pride, and gluttony were the most minor of the sins. Lust hurt no one but those who could not control their more animalistic urges. Envy was a dangerous game to play, but it was sloth that posed the most of a threat. Without action, nothing got done. It was inaction that hurt the most. She knew what would happen if the employees stopped working. She knew how poorly the world would be to a fae who did not plot. They needed their tricks and plans. Even this was pushing the boundary considering that she should be back in the boardroom working on the latest launch. How she thought going into the forest to indulge with a pretty face was the best course of action, she could not recall. “Do they care for the chaos that they cause?” It was out of genuine curiosity that she asked. She’d been debating leaving Lan, admitting what a mistake that had been when the voices of those wiser told her to remain. If he had a grudge against the Letharges, maybe he would wish to see their downfall as well. “Do you often indulge in distraction?”

#c: lan

fuck, marry, kill: celeste, amos, rory

Kill Celeste

Fuck Amos. He is a wonderful man, but I doubt very much that we are all that compatible. It is best not to entangle ourselves in any unnecessary complications. He is a friend of mine whom I value greatly.

Marry Rory- only if he would like to of course. I simply could not see bringing him to my bedroom. Having him around as a constant companion would bring cheer into anyone's life. He is such an utter sweetheart. Perhaps we might make one of those pacts. Should we not end up in an arranged marriage by our families to other people, perhaps we can wed each other.

@disastramus @pcisonwine @leapoffaithx

#answered

hxlfcrxzy:

His lips stretched further into a smile and his tongue snaked out to lick at the front of his teeth. All of this felt so…different. It was rare for someone to try and answer back, or even try this kind of back and forth challenge, even though he had invited it. Just like he had invited her into the water and she had obliged with that too. Easy to influence, a trait he so enjoyed in others. “Probably not,” he spoke, letting his body float in slow circles around her, like a shark with the eyes to match the movements, “but then again, it depends where you’re swimming, and if you’re allowed to be swimming there. Or if you’re allowed to be swimming at all. Some may think going for a swim while you’re supposed to be working is a form of trouble.” And if she was already in trouble, then what was the harm in going a little deeper. And then the mood shifted, and Lan’s shoulders rose out of the water. “No!” He let out an instinctual growl, the inky black of his eyes seeming to leak out into the skin around his sockets, voice twisting and distorting as he pointed an accusatory finger at Juliet. “Not sloth. Any sin but sloth.” Just the mere mention of Sloth had Lan thinking of Dodger and how he seemed to have his sweaty little fingers all over Azagi, and how she was constantly crawling to him without the other even asking. Disgusting. “Sloth unintentionally causes trouble, causes problems,” a slight backtrack, trying to make it seem less obvious that this outburst was most definitely personal, a sore spot that the Invidias refused to admit that he had, brushing off that there were deeper sides to him than just a demon out to cause chaos. “We want to actively cause trouble. Real trouble. That’s what you wanted right? So that’s what you get. We get to start fires. Get to start fights. Get to kiss people we’re not supposed to. Anything aside from being…fucking lazy about it…okay.”

Her eyes darted to his lips, feeling heated despite the cool water lapping at her skin. She was better than this. Juliet thought all things through, yet emotions proved far more difficult to control. As long as the fae could hide behind her words, she never needed to fear being vulnerable. Yet Lan managed to have her questioning everything with his games. He tempted her to indulge in the forbidden while still respecting her boundaries. She was in deep trouble without an exit plan. Running certainly was out of the question when her desires begged her to follow wherever he and this night lead her. “You say that as if every definition is finite.” A spectrum of what could be defined as work or forbidden was where they both supposedly dwelled. He was a demon; she a fae. Both were known to not be trustworthy, yet it was the most honest that Juliet had been in ages. The sudden change in mood caused Juliet to gasp, taking a step back and almost slipping on the wet rock. How deep must a sin be for a demon to decry it as something to be avoided. Her parents and mentors were right. Sloth was the worst of all. To be lazy was an irredeemable wrong. She gazed fearfully into those dark eyes. It was not him that she was afraid of but what he might tell others. A fae could not lie. The repercussions of a moment of indulgence would haunt her for years to follow. Juliet may be young, but her missteps rarely were forgiven. “Of course.” She swallowed, throat dry and voice tight. “Did you not just say that trouble causes problems?” Problems now were something that Juliet was uncertain she needed in her life.

#c: lan

leapoffaithx:

“Oh, Jules.” Rory said, pouting at her, “You know you’ve earned a vacation. You work harder than anyone I know.” He said with the utmost sincerity. Granted, Rory only knew the Fae but there was no doubt she was the hardest worker among them. Everyone else always went out and had some fun. She was always working. It was kind of sad. It was one of the reasons why Rory would always go and bug Juliet. Not that he thought he was all that fun, but talking and shooting the shit with him was probably more exciting that just working, right?

He was sure that she was going to shoot down his idea of hanging but when she mentioned the casino, Rory’s eyes immediately lit up and he clapped his hands, pointing towards him, “Done.” The fae grinned wide and literally jumped back into action. He quickly swept up the store, like he had been and rushed into the backroom to dispose of the dust and debris he had gathered. Rory then washed his hands and wandered back out front. He opened up the register, grabbed the drawer and bopped off to the back again to put the drawer into the safe. Once he sure it was secure, he literally ran back out the front, jangling his keys dramatically as he grabbed his coat from behind the counter, “Let’s go!”

Grabbing her hand, he pulled them both out of the store, locked it behind him and started to walk down the street, “Myre Casino, right?” He asked, “It’s one of my favorite places. So many shiny things there.” Rory laughed.

From the moment she awoke to the second that her body forced her to rest, Juliet thought of nothing but work. Her parents instilled an ethic that demanded constant productivity. Others thought she spent her life living to work, making her family proud of all that she achieved, when the reality was they always demanded more. She achieved a single expectation of her for another to be thrust her way. Always more could be done. “It’s because I like what I do.” She smiled at Rory. He was the one that could use a break. He deserved to see what more lay just beyond the confines of the state.

Juliet chuckled at the way he hastily finished closing the store. She would have been happy to assist, yet before she’d been able to offer, he finished the last few tasks. His energy was utterly infectious. She wondered if getting him that coffee had been a good idea after all, but then he had barely drank any of it. Her friend was merely naturally spirited.

“That’s the one.” The place often lured both those with funds to spare as well as those easily enticed by the idea of getting rich quickly. It was a haven for the fae looking for a target or a bit of fun. “I’m so glad that you enjoy going there.” She’d have been utterly devastated if she were to drag him to somewhere that he’d be bored.

#c: rory #/he is adorable and i love him

deathbeckons

AT MYRE GROVE’S HALLOWEEN EVENT; IN FRONT OF THE THREE DOORS. @calamitousstarters

he wasn’t sure that things were okay with him and najelon yet, he hadn’t really heard from the demon and it was making him anxious… but he loved halloween, and he was going to go out and have a good time regardless. adonis dressed up as a bunny and he looked hot, he always looked hot but he looked hot, hot tonight. “what door you thinking? naturally, i’m more inclined towards the pretty flowers of door number three. you gonna join me? i think you should join me.”

juliet-briggs

“I would think you know better than to indulge in whatever it is that Jasper is planning.” Not that Juliet was all that clear on the details. Given what she knew about Jasper, the third door was the one that others should be wary of. She looked over his costume, raising her brow. “Forgive me, but what exactly are you dressed as?” More undressed, but stating the obvious would be rather unkind even if it was rather amusing to see others walk into doors as their attention was captured by him.

#c: adonis #event: halloween

Juliet’s Halloween Costume

Queen Mab

#closet #halloween

hxlfcrxzy:

Touché, once again the verbal tennis the two were engaging in keeping Lan firmly on the tips of his toes. “No,” he said slowly, “no I don’t. Does anyone really?” Stupid people did, and at least Lan wasn’t stupid. He knew what he was doing, to an extent, even here there was a game of sorts in mind, mostly just a learning opportunity once he got the fine fae to finally open up to him. A fae on side could always be useful. “Trouble counts as whatever you make it. If it involves swimming, so be it. Only you know what you’re willing to get into.” He waited until he heard the sloshing of the water, giving an extra few second before he spun around, the grin already stretching across the entirety of his face. “See, it’s fine when you’re in here.” He slowly floated a little closer, not enough to encroach on her space, just…closer. “So what next? What trouble is lurking in that pretty little brain of yours?”

Juliet truly was enjoying their time together. Lan proved a challenge with no gain other than their mutual pleasure. Of course the demon may yet have secret motives, but the woods offered him no advantages over her. “Not anyone that has anything worthy to say.” She wadded into the water at first, giving herself a moment to adjust to the temperature. Despite the stars that dotted the sky through the canopy of trees, the water offered protection from seeing all that much. The inky depths hiding her body just as well as Lan’s when Juliet swam closer, feet brushing the bottom once she stood next to him. “Thankfully, I doubt that too many people look poorly upon swimming.” Certainly not the trouble that he’d promised her. Easing her into the ideas certainly had her more willing to experiment rather that sliding down the slippery slope into debauchery. “I think simply relaxing as we are might be an act of rebellion. Indulging in the sin of sloth.”

#c: lan

leapoffaithx:

Rory couldn’t help but grin at her comment about him being off key and he shook his head a bit, “Jeez, you know how to make a guy feel good, huh?” He asked, rhetorically, clearly joking. Rory knew that he couldn’t sing very well. But he loved to do it. It was fun. He also loved to dance so really, bopping around the store, doing both was one of his favorite things. Sure, it was kind of embarrassing when someone came in and he had no idea, but that was okay. Worst things had happened to him.

He couldn’t help but flush a bit at her compliment and he waved his hand, “Oh, puh-lease, Jules.” Rory laughed and shook his head, “I’m not even that exciting.” Rory was trying to be more exciting. Ever since his parents retired and he could actually adventure outside of the grove, Rory was really trying to find him own footing and come into his own. He felt so old and way delayed about figuring it out now, but his parents had always been so strict. Probably because he was their only son and they wanted to make sure he was okay… But it was frustrating, “You need to take a vacation, you know?” He smiled, “Where’s one of your favorite places to go around here?” Rory asked, his eyes widening, “Do you wanna go? I’m, clearly, closing up! We could have a blast!”

“It’s constructive criticism.” Rory’s song delighted simply from the happiness that radiated from the man when he sang. The joy was something that everyone could use a bit more of in their lives. She adored hearing him sing far more than any concert that she’d been compelled to attend. If only there was a place where they could all freely be themselves without fear of judgement.

She smiled, shrugging of his comment. “Far more exciting than me.” Her life tended towards routine. The way that Rory managed his parents’ expectations left her hopeful. If he was able to make his life into his own without displeasing the former guards, then perhaps one day Juliet might be able to do the same. “Vacations are something that a person earns. I have far more work to do before I get one.” Juliet shook her head. Even when she did manage to go away, she remained glued to her phone, managing the company from afar. The forest was somewhere that Juliet liked to go. There was peace to be found deep in the woods, but that wasn’t something that she wanted to bore Rory with. “There is a lovely lounge at the casino. We can go to there if you’d like.”

#c: rory

Anything on your mind as of late?

Lan The current state of affairs in Calamity combined with the growing tensions of the different factions.

@hxlfcrxzy

#answered #lan

oftragxdy:

“My mother… My fucking mother. And how would you know what the fuck she thinks? Huh? Are you her best friend? Her confidant? Her lover? Puh-LEASE!” Jasper rolled his eyes. Anyone that knew his family, and claimed to know more than what they did, pissed him off. He felt like they were always assuming, always guessing his next moves.

“Inviting trouble.” He scoffed. “I AM trouble. It might as well be my middle fucking name!” A loud laugh escaped his lips. “I’m not telling you shit. So go ahead and guess what you think I’m up to.” A wide smile formed on his lips. “Go on. Since you know my family so fucking well… Tell me.”

If she didn’t know his actual age, Juliet could confuse Jasper for a petulant teenager. One might not be able to pick their family, but there were ways to deal with them. She’d been luckier than most to be born into privilege. Jasper should realize that he was similarly blessed by simply being fae. “Are you quite finished with your tantrum?” She rolled her eyes at him, reminding herself that even that was unseemly, yet Jasper always drove her to that point.

One, two, three: perhaps she should try the mental count in a few other languages. Numbers didn’t go high enough to calm her when Jasper scolded her, drawing far more attention than she’d like. “Would you keep your voice down?” She slumped back in the chair, studying the man across from her. “You are up to something to spite them. I swear you run on mischief and spite.”

#c: jasper

hxlfcrxzy:

“You really don’t give anything away, do you?” That only intrigued the demon more, this quiet desperation to know things now clawing at him from the inside. He never considered it part of his jealousy, it just a desire to not feel like he was missing out, wanting to be just as privy with other peoples information as they were. It couldn’t hurt to be in the know, and now, at least, he knew she had a plan for Soulbarterers. Not one she was willing to divulge, sure, but one hidden away in that pretty head of hers. That in itself was useful. “You’re clever. I like that.” His words danced on the end of his tongue, sugar coated and sealed off with that continuous charming smile. Clever, but not quite dipping into the troublesome side he was promised. “Happier,” he laughed, watching how she removed her shoes and rolled her clothing up at the bottom, away from the water, “but what happened to trouble. Trouble doesn’t sit on the side lines, trouble jumps into the water too.” He paused, letting his body bob up and down in the water for a few seconds before swimming closer to the edge, looking up at Juliet. “I’m not going to hurt you if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m not going to tell anyone if there’s a reputation you’re worried about. Whatever happens in the woods, stays here. Just let go…enjoy yourself…do something you’ve never done before or always wanted to do…for ten minutes. Then you can walk me home and you never have to see me again.”

“Do you?” She shot back with smirk. Fae enjoyed their verbal sparing and word games, but demons were far more dangerous. Lan confessed that he was the good kind of trouble, but there was far more to him than he would ever willingly made. Now far from the city, the only jealousy that Juliet felt was for the man beside her who was such a free spirit. Even with only one other around, the nagging of her parents played on repeat regarding the image that she must keep. Freedom a mere illusion when guilt always watched every action. “Thank you.” Her steps paused, brow furrowed. Compliments tended to be nothing more than an attempt to loosen her tongue or offer a morsel of praise so that she’d push herself further. Lan had nothing to gain. He already realized how little she’d give, yet he still called her clever. Surely he must be after something. She simply failed to see what. Even if she indulged in his little swim, there was no crime being committed. The forest remained open to all who dared to wander inside, and the pool welcomes those who wished for a bit of refreshment. “I don’t see how trouble would count as swimming.” If anything trouble pulled others down into the depths. Peeling off her blazer, she folded it neatly, placing it on a rock where no dirt would touch it. She had been the one to ask him for a bit of trouble. Lan merely was giving her what she desired. “Turn around.” She did the same, peeling her clothing off until she was down to the bare minimum. Once she assumed he had done what she asked, she quickly slid into the pool, hoping he hadn’t seen anything.

#c: lan

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