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“are you always so sweet with your challengers, my lord?” flint, meet steel. she hasn’t had the honour to cross paths with the eternally young lord in many, many years now, but the pull between immortals is undeniable. “show me, then,” caelia says. “show me how much a monster you can be. i’ll even make it worth your while if you win.” faerie blood, after all, is the sweetest of them all.

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘷𝘦𝘹 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭. )#mademonstrous #the wayyy ... that instantly had me SAT !!#also hey .. on this episode of ' fawn brings forth one of her feral freaks ' .. him FLKSDJ #come on caelia beat his ass humble him !!!

the space between them hums with old magic , ancient recognition , the kind that exists only between creatures who've outlived kingdoms and watched stars die . “ so eager . you've barely stepped foot toward me and already you're offering yourself as the prize ” his voice is velvet over a drawn blade . takes a slow step forward , his expression thoughtful rather than predatory , as though weighing a fine vintage . " i've sampled kings , saints , dragons , things the world has long forgotten had names " a faint smile ghosts across his mouth . " but a faerie ? it's been . . . centuries , admitedly so " his eyes lift to hers and something playful settles there - light catching faintly on the exact moment dark turns to red within keen irises . “ the blood would last a single evening ” sharp , nearing merciless now . " but breaking you " voice lowers into something intimate . “ discovering exactly how much force it takes before that composure fractures ” he tilts his head . " i suspect i'd remember that for much longer . "

he stiffens, but this time it has nothing to do with what the woods may or may not have in store for them. the feel of santino’s thumb brushing against the back of his hand has andrés pausing, jerking his head back up to study the curves of santino's face. it's the grin that relaxes his grip around his companion's hand, letting santino find and offer comfort in their joined hands. "yeah," he parrots back all the same. "you're the stupid one. i'm just here for support, remember? because you're too scared to go out in the dark, but also too stupid to leave the woods alone. if we die here, it's your fault." never mind that andrés would've run into these woods head first if he found out that santino disappeared into the line of trees all by himself. he squeezes santino's hand again. and then, unbidden: "don't let go." tough act aside, that's what this boils down to. "i'm not joking, santino. promise i won't ditch your ass if you promise you won't let go. stay with me no matter what, yeah?"

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪. )#mademonstrous #oooo love it YES !! .. those two counselors within the group that are way closer than everyone else #do we ... go the route that they also only see each other at summer camp like contact outside of it #like what if we make this even more intense by saying they've also been kids at the very same camp #and then became counselors like in honorary thought SO THEY KINDA SAW EACH OTHER GROW UP ... hold me

just four words but they land harder than they should . for once , he doesn't have a joke locked and loaded . looks over at andrés , the moonlight catching the edges of his face and something about the way he's looking back - earnest , stripped of all the usual bravado , makes santino's chest tighten . " jesus , dude " quietly , nearing a whisper . " you really know how to kill the vibe " still , fingers slide further into the embrace they hold onto the other's . " besides , if some machete wielding psycho jumps out , there's like . . . a fifty fifty chance i can use you as decoy " a beat . “ okay , forty sixty . you've still got those freakish fast legs . did i already tell you how impressive that was to the kids , by the way ? “ its distraction at it's finest , they should both be aware of it , as they wander further into the darkness . a twig cracks somewhere within the thicket . ” they couldn't stop talking about that race last week , they thought you were so cool “ huffs a laugh , almost fond in nature. ” pretty sure i caught one of the girls writing your name in her diary , as well . "

“again.” the demand comes as davina drops into his fighting stance once more, broadsword held at the ready in front of him. it's not as if they have much of anything to do other than lay in wait right now, until the carriage the innkeeper spoke of pulls into town in a few days' time. the grounds near the inn's stables prove to be a suitable enough place to play the waiting game, all the while they keep their blades sharp. "best of three?" she says, eyes glinting. "i almost had you last time."

starter for . . . @litheelixir / from davina adhimas.

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘯. )#mademonstrous

a quiet chuckle escapes him . it is a warm sound , absent of mockery , as valeon rises from where he'd been leaning against the stable fence . dust clings to the knees of his trousers and he brushes it away with the same meticulous care one might give a fine velvet doublet . old merchant's habits , he supposes . sword comes free with a soft whisper of steel . “ again “ he agrees , slipping into a practiced stance with almost lazy elegance . for a heartbeat he simply watches her , not the blade - them . the eager glint in their eye , the confidence tucked behind the corners of her smile . valeon had long ago learned that people revealed themselves before they ever spoke. it had made him a competent trader , a fortunate diplomat . . . and , as it happened , a surprisingly difficult man to defeat . ” you did almost have me “ admission comes easily , free of wounded pride . there is little profit in pretending otherwise and less still between companions . “ your feint was cleaner this time , you hesitated half a breath less than before “ a gloved hand settles more firmly around the hilt . his blade rises between them , tip angled toward the sky in invitation rather than threat . ” but by all means ” there is mischief behind the impeccable manners now . ” convince me the third bout belongs to you ” words have scarcely left his lips before he moves . opening strike is deliberately conservative , testing rather than pressing , leaving just enough of an opening to see whether davina would seize it .

hellrisings

" don't be dramatic. eventually she'll have to learn that in some cases, like this, order matters! you were mine first, she can't have you, " declares resolutely, hugging her frame around the arm hooked around hers. rests her cheek against the other's shoulder, warm and fond and settling comfortably against her like she's always belonged there, but she doesn't shy away from jabbing index finger into her side. " shouldn't the position for your favourite person be, oh, i don't know, the bride? are you trying to tell me something? that iris has somehow become your favourite when i wasn't looking? " the sigh she releases is loud and theatric. " right under my nose, too. this is anarchy. "

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯. )#hellrisings #in what ep do these two admit their love to each other and actually marry and be so happy andandand

the jab to her side earns an exaggerated little gasp paired with a squeal that sounds close to a giggle . " hey ! violence isn't going to help your case " grins anyway , entirely too amused to sound convincing . " and if we're talking technicalities " she hums thoughtfully , eyes dancing with mischief . " the bride gets wedding privileges . you get permanent pest privileges " a beat . " which , if you ask me , is a much better deal " fingers curl around the hand hooked through her arm , absentmindedly tracing her thumb over the back of it . " you're stuck with me , you know . iris doesn't get to steal your spot . because she isn't sitting in it " her smile grows impossibly gentler . " there's room for both of you . i promise , cross my heart and hope to die and all that jazz ."

gcholdtrops

silence feels heavy after the confession , like seconds turning into minutes just to have noah's palms get sweaty from nerves —- questioning if it was too direct , too soon , to admit that zander had lingered on his mind . plumb brims part , about to say something and that's when familiar , low , warm voice rings and breaks the quiet air between the two of them . instead , a shakier and audibly breath passes through the gap of lips , in relief , in gratitude . . . in happiness , that the sentiment was shared amongst the two of them . it's evidently shown in his posture , how it's resting back into his seat , comfortably and at ease , thumb mindlessly tracing the pattern carved into ceramic mug . “ it's worth a lot , let me just tell you that... ” trailing off before bringing the cup up to rest edge at his lips , gaze wandered back across the table . it's dangerous , looking at the male this close , an unspoken tension thickening the air so naturally with them ; always have . “ so, are you not , uh ... ” eyebrows shrink inward , finding it difficult to have words form properly on his tongue , blaming it on the anxiety of it being true . “ seeing anyone ? ” needing the curiosity killed , to know if him confessing things like missing zander , his very ex , was crossing the boundaries of a potential plus-one he weren't aware about . clearly , already done it so , damage would've already been done . cup is settled down , frame leaning onto the little table with noah's digits fidgeting —- awful habit of his , unable to sit still for too long without busying his fingers somehow . “ just thinking , a good looking guy like yourself and all . . . ” a smile traces his lips then , more cheeky than ever , as he's throwing in a shameless compliment with ease . though , it had never been a secret that noah found the latter highly captivating , falling perfectly into assets male enjoyed the most . then came the fact , that male hadn't quite been able to date anyone else . sure , he was out and working for the passion he enjoyed the most . but his heart ? that was parked right here , on a chair in zanders' family's cafe .

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘻𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦. )#gcholdtrops

thumb drifted along the worn rim of his mug , tracing slow , thoughtless circles through the glaze as though another pass might buy him another heartbeat - maybe two . “ good looking , huh ? “ echoes , a crooked smile ghosting across his mouth . “ you always did have questionable taste ” the joke settled gently between them , softened by years of familiarity . it wasn't enough to erase the ache beneath his ribs but it loosened it , if only by a fraction . he looks then , noah already there waiting for him . his gaze caught , lingered - long enough to become a choice , longer still before he remembered the danger in this . ” no ” the word slipping out quieter than he'd intended . “ i am not seeing anyone ” the confession part was easy , what would undoubtedly follow next was what gripped him tightly by the throat . “ i tried to convince myself i should , you know ” shoulders rose and fell in a helpless little shrug . “ friends set me up a couple of times , i even got the apps . went on a date or two ” a breathless mimick of a laugh escapes him . “ didn't really stick ” how could it ? every conversation became an echo , every laugh arrived half a beat too late because another had reached him first , years ago , and refused to leave ever since . because , at the end of the day , it always came down to comparison - to some kind of silent grief of it not being him . and asking someone to compete with a memory was never love , it was cruelty . zander swallowed the thought before it ever reached his tongue . “ so . . . what made you ask ? “ realistically , he knew - god , he knew . but knowing was one thing . hearing it , hearing either of them gather all that hesitation into something he couldn't take back , that would make it real . ” i , uh . . . i mean , are you ? seeing anyone , that is ? "

you must know me, then. andra almost laughs. how simple it seems, when cypress puts it that way. perhaps the truest things are. “is that not a known requirement for any creature?” he returns all the same. "to know their maker?" once upon a time he knew cypress in a different way. a man knowing his fellow man, two kindred souls who reached an understanding in each other's arms. but that was then. now, his smile grows. "of course i know you, cypress."

what choice have you given me? goes unsaid. he takes a step closer. if he reaches out, he could press his fingers against the crook of cypress' elbow. maybe he should draw him closer in that way. it'd make a good parody of comfort, of the tendency humans have to seek for skin against skin. but there would be no warmth in it with this one, so andra stays his hand. he watches cypress draw his own arms back, standing ramrod and polite and distant just a mere hair's breadth away. what does it mean to know someone like him? andra hums, "it brings me pleasure to know that you know me, too, still. after all this time." they see each other so rarely, and yet familiarity still is an old lover. he reaches out at last, fingers grazing against cypress' jaw. defenseless against his own human urges. "tell me," he says—pulls his hand back again. it's a light touch not meant to linger. "what would you have me do to satisfy my hunger, maker?"

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘤𝘺𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴. )#mademonstrous

the question that lingered beneath it all was finally given breath between them , a thing as ancient as cypress himself . for the briefest of moments , his gaze faltered , drawn instead to the hand that had reached for him - a gesture that would have been a death sentence for almost anyone else . his spawns , they had been fashioned by his hand for little more than the cultivation of his legend , each one condemned to a different shade of suffering . some bore the marks of cypress's cruelty , others became hopelessly ensnared by indulgences of their own making . once freed from the elder vampire's watchful gaze , they always seemed to mistake freedom for excess , chasing their hungers long past the limits of endurance . “ what is this , andra ? ” the words slipped from him scarcely louder than a breath , quiet enough that they might have existed only within the other's mind . no one else was meant to hear them . this belonged to them alone - for this moment and no further . a step forward , carrying himself with the same effortless reverence he had worn from the beginning . " are you asking for permission ? " it would have been the wisest course . andra , above all the others , had always possessed the sense to understand what it meant to stand in the presence of death itself . the thought coaxed the faintest amusement from him . head inclined by the slightest measure , just enough for wandering eyes to trace the length of him with unhurried appraisal . hunger shrieked beneath his skin , raking claws through every imitation of breath his dead body could muster . it begged , relentless and insatiable . “ do it properly , then ” chin lifted . in an instant , his posture settled once more into something unmistakably befitting a creature of his station - every line of him composed of cool arrogance , effortless authority and quiet expectancy .

❝ wow, you do know exactly what to say. ❞ expression lights up, thoroughly pleased with the answer he gives. it's all a comical exaggeration, except it isn't— tonight needs to be perfect. ❝ stick to that plan and you'll have all the treats a good pup could dream of. ❞ she teases, hand patting the line of his jaw as if scratching under his chin, if only to keep the joke alive. tension rolls off her shoulders, ❝ i'm sorry. i'm really nervous. ❞

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘬. )#enbloom

lets out the most dramatic , overacted gasp imaginable , shoulders straightening like he'd just signed the endorsement deal of a lifetime . “ ah , so that's my compensation package . i was wondering when we'd get to negotiations ” leans just enough into the scratch beneath his chin to sell the bit before catching himself with an exaggerated little cough , clearing his throat like a spokesperson realizing the cameras are still rolling . “ for the record , i categorically deny being bribed . if anyone asks , i'm here because i'm a consummate professional . . . who just so happens to respond extremely well to positive reinforcement ” grin tugs at the corner of his mouth but it softens when her voice does . “ hey , you don't have to apologize for being nervous . this is actually one of those situations where if you weren't nervous , i'd call the authorities . we'll stick to the plan . if something goes sideways , we'll improvise and pretend it was part of the plan all along . that's confidence , or fraud . i'm still workshopping the distinction " a beat . " either way , you've got me . so tonight ? you're not doing this alone . "

“don’t be stupid,” andrés says. his hand still wounds around santino’s, fingers finding the empty spaces to slot themselves into. if anyone asks later, this is about sticking together. better to hold hands than to get separated. “you don’t really think there’s anything in these woods, do you? someone made that up to scare us.” and if he squeezes santino’s hand in the dark, no one else has to know.

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪. )#mademonstrous #WAIT .. they are cute !!!!

“ yeah ? i'm the stupid one ? “ raising a brow alongside to their palms , still clasped together . “ then why're you holding onto me like we're in a shitty c tier horror movie ? ” thumb brushes absentmindedly across the back of andrés' hand before he catches himself , forcing a crooked grin instead . ” which is real fucking hilarious on its own , to be honest . because you've always been so much faster than me , it'd be light work for you to trip and ditch my ass ” dark hues find the other's frame fleetingly . “ which , uh . . . don't get any ideas , i'll find you and bite your ankles . both of them ” it comes with an absent cough , mostly to cover clearing the throat . . . distantly to shake the nerves gripping his stomach in a tight twist . gives their joined fingers a tug . “ c'mon then , my brave companion . ”

hellrisings

" you shouldn't flirt with me like that, tristan. you'll give me the wrong idea, " muses with a prominently wolfish smile, perilous with every inch of curved mouth. truthfully, he didn't know what he enjoyed more: seeing the other twist and coil because of him, or being in such close proximity to him. maybe the latter. and perhaps the fact that that's a bad idea, a monumentally, atrociously terrible idea, that made it all the more tempting. " oh? " somehow, someway, fletcher's frame has drifted closer toward him. fingers delicately take hold of the other's chin, taking his time studying the features before him. pretty. " well, i suppose if you're dissatisfied with my service ... " closer and closer and closer he's leaning forward, until warm mouth presses a soft kiss onto the corner of tristan's mouth. when he speaks again, he doesn't pull back; he stays put, allowing words to draw against his skin. " you should tell me what you'd like. "

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘻𝘻𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪. )#hellrisings #and tristan is a weak man against that i fear </3

huffs out a quiet laugh , tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as his gaze drifts , almost involuntarily , to the pair of lips that had previously connected to him . the warmth is long gone by now but memory has an irritating habit of lingering long after sensation has the decency to leave . doesn't retreat , doesn't indulge him by closing the distance , either . he simply stays where he is , close enough that the air between them feels borrowed , their voices needing no more than a murmur . “ you got a hell of an ego , you know that ? “ against his better judgment , a dozen snapshots flicker through his mind . shared glances that lasted a beat too long that ended with shared breath beneath tristan's covers . conversations that somehow always ended with them standing far closer than strangers , or even friends , had any business standing - enough moments to make a man cocky , enough to make this make sense . it wasn't arrogance born from fantasy . it was cultivated , piece by piece , like feeding a stray until it stopped asking permission to come to the door . fletcher had every reason to think he'd be welcomed . and tristan hated it . so much so that he leans in . before something better at unfolding the consequences of this situation could chime in . ” i'd like someone to tell you ‘ no ’ once in a while ” eyes flicker to the other's mouth . knowing that , tonight , it wouldn't be him . “ i have a feeling it'd do wonders for your personality ” then , with all the certainty of someone pretending this means nothing at all , tristan leans the last inch forward .

open to : f / nb / m camp alder ridge sat miles from the nearest town , tucked between an old lake and acres of untouched forest . phones barely worked , the radio crackled more than it spoke and the only road in or out had a habit of flooding whenever it rained .

" if i don't make it out of these woods by sunday , tell everyone i was hot , hilarious and absolutely right about something being off around here "

#indie rp #open starter #was thinkingg ... the quarry esque summer camp turns horror shitshow vibes !!!#muse : santino moretti twenty6 he/him camp counselor #this could totally be set at the beginning of things or right in the middle of it .. go with ur heart #( and hold santino's hand while ur at it pls <3 he's sensitive )

familiarity has brewed in it's own way through paperthin walls. he can't bring himself to put on his headphones this time. argument next door had gotten loud, and his ability to mind his business dissipates with every sniffle he hears in an otherwise quiet apartment. knuckles meet their door before he thinks better of it. and because he knows the walls are so thin, he speaks right into the closed apartment. ❝ everything okay in there? ❞

꒰ penned exclusively for @litheelixir ꒱

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘢𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳. )#enbloom #obsessed with this plot tbh so tysm for this <3 #this is zay .. he is a webcam model #hope he's alright :3

beyond the walls , the building holds its breath . privacy is a luxury no one here can afford , after all . so when the argument dies , the absence of it echoes just as loudly . “ you know ” zay's voice finally drifts through the door , softened by splintered wood and stubborn pride . the words worn raw around the edges . “ it's super fucking strange hearing your voice when you're not telling me to shut my mouth “ dry , humorless as it washes into a laugh that felt empty just alike . some part of him wishes that he'd do just that and move on with his day - let isaiah off the hook , spare him the embarrassment of having to face the other . he'd rather have trent frustrated , hell . . . even angry at him , than this up close and personal crap . and it feels like the most natural thing to slip back into familiar waters as he pulls the door open . “ came all the way here to play friendly neighbor then , mh ? ”

hellrisings

it's only then that reed surmises that, perhaps, he needs to take more frequent acting lessons. his translucent veneer of indifference is about as believable as his affection for margaret. which is to say not at all, if anyone looked close enough. " no, you don't. " like verbal manifestations could make tad not see right through him at any given moment, looking at him like some kind of caged mammal in a zoo; meant purely for spectacle and performance. it's pathetic and unseemly to totally fall apart for the one person that saw him beyond the spectacle by virtue of that person just being within close proximity, but it happens every fucking time. his heart is knocking around in its cavity so violently it aches, and even though warm skin grazing sensitive nape initially makes him jolt ( and nearly drop porcelain plate in the process ), only a second passes before he's leaning into the touch like it's the one thing he dragged himself to this stodgy party for. maybe it was. " that's the best you can do? " doesn't even notice that his eyelids had fluttered closed until they open, head turning to stare at the bane of his existence with an unsmiling air to his features. " i can have you on your knees any day of the week. try again. " whatever possessed him for the drawn out minutes they spent by the serving dishes and ostentatiously garnished offerings lasts just until then, just for the brief time they're allotted before they need to return to pretentious conversations and hollow compliments around the rest of the room. he doesn't think he can stomach going back to their table yet, though. doesn't trust himself to maintain an easy smile as margaret goes on and on again about cape cod and flower arrangements next to tad and his godforsaken date. he hopes that once she notices that he's stalling returning, that he's talking to production assistants, writers, other colleagues, instead of coming back, she'll get the hint that he wants to go home. of course she doesn't. she has her own point to prove. shame, really: he's being doing so well not even sparing a glance in that direction, hoping that the longer he doesn't look, the higher the chances that that entire couple of square feet would be swallowed whole by a black hole. of course it doesn't. she's marching toward him with a conviction that honestly scares him, excusing him from a truly fascinating conversation about camera lenses, and parks him right next to tad's date like he belongs there. the reprieve has only served to irritate him. " we were talking about that cute little cottage you have at new seabury! remember, honey? we went there for two weeks last summer? " she's chirping, sitting inordinately close to the date who shan't be named like they're childhood friends. reed hopes he doesn't sigh out loud, that he's saved his annoyance for just inside his head. " we should invite these two there this summer! how fun would that be? they could give us their opinions on wedding venues, we could tour them together! " reed wonders if margaret secretly hates him. that's the only explanation. " sure. whatever you want, " answers idly, avoiding his peripheral at all costs. the peripheral that margaret seems obsessed in acknowledging, turning to tad with a smile that was either friendly or threatening. both? " what do you say? it's so nice there, tons of trees and nature and the best seafood on the eastern seaboard. we'd love to have you there! "

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦. )#hellrisings #he is invading his space everyone be stay calm !!!!#u wanna talk about tad having his head on straight again cause ... HUH #spin off thread ... margaret and sylvia ( tad's date mhmm ) ditch these two losers and live happily ever after !!!!!

there is something almost admirable about margaret's persistence . tad finds himself watching her with the detached fascination one reserves for particularly determined wildlife , her enthusiasm entirely impervious to the palpable misery radiating off the man beside her . reed could scarcely look more like he'd rather fling himself into the atlantic than spend another minute discussing , well , all of this . yet she soldiers on with unwavering optimism , blissfully convinced a change of scenery might somehow solve whatever she cannot quite put a finger on . how sweet . . . how catastrophically oblivious . for a fleeting second , tad almost feels sorry for her , almost . the smile that settles over his features is effortless - warm enough to be convincing , restrained enough to appear sincere . it is the smile people trusted , the smile that had carried him through interviews , charity galas , awkward premieres and far too many conversations he'd had no desire to be part of . a smile that had very little to do with what he was actually thinking . “ wow , that is incredibly generous of you ” attention lands where etiquette most probably dictates it should - margaret first . never reed , not yet , at least . tilts his head ever so slightly , dimples still carved into both of his cheeks . let one hand rest lightly along the back of the chair before him , his other hand dropping just enough for his date’s fingers to brush idly against his wrist . folds his fingers over hers with practiced affection - not because he feels anything particularly profound but because he knows reed is looking . “ yeah , honey . . . what do you say ? “ term of endearment pointedly aimed right in between reed's eyes - suddenly all too aware of the man settled besides his own date - the one currently nudging tad's arm with an indulgent smile , already prepared to contradict him . it's a harmless rhythm of casual dinner conversation . except for . . . nimble fingers shift . from the back of her chair to the one his co worker is occupying . they brush against the back of his neck , not entirely on accident . though , tad is good at pretending it was . “ if reed here is offering to play host , perhaps all four of us survive after all ” hand cups around firm flesh , squeezing . “ i've heard he is remarkably good at making people feel ” thumb presses into one particular knot at the nape connecting down to his shoulder . “ welcome . so long as he doesn't decide halfway through the trip that he'd rather throw one of us into the ocean “ which earns a ripple of laughter . everyone hears teasing . though , reed , tad supposes , should know to look deeper than that . ” i've always found him very persuasive . "

❝ you'll be on your best behavior, right? if you make me look like an idiot after tonight, i swear to god— ❞

emory jacobs, open to f/m/nb ! [ thirty, she&her, bisexual ]

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘬. )#enbloom #hope this is alright :3 #muse : kona eatak thirty2 he/they actor / public sweetheart

dips his head just enough that the world falls away - close enough that only she gets to keep the next words . “ sure ” a faint edge of amusement threading through it . “ i’ll hit my marks , answer the dull questions , laugh at the jokes that don’t deserve it . . . and make sure every photo they take somehow ends up with you looking like the reason it was worth taking . that’s the game , right ? ” another thought flashes past dark hues and they have to voice it before it dims away . “ and , who knows , maybe afterwards , i'll even get a pat on the head and a tasty little treat ” jest only further increased by the softest chuckle following .

amourien

* 。 𑁯 ֺ 𝒅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 ... @litheelixir

ʚ ᘏ ֺ smile freezes over, placid and plastic. they have to commend sasi on how seamlessly words flow together, cruelty shoelaced with sociability, like kindness can't come with a stiletto slipped between the ribs. it's a well-worn shawl, that consistency clinging to her shoulders with the same fervor of her perfume. something that sticks to her like syrup, thick and heady: no good moment comes without something tacking to their fingers. their gaze slides down to the glass, smile unmoving ⸺ only softening at the edges, ironic. shames themself for almost believing they were getting along for a moment. silly of them for thinking the sweetness of the syrup ever negates the mess that it makes. when eyes lift, the motion is preceded by the glass being slid back to sasi's side of the counter. '' i hope that satisfies you, '' they say, voice gentle. sincere. they never bother to raise their voice on a lost cause. '' the idea that i'm just incompetent enough to come whenever you call. '' they let the unsaid remain such: the sticking point that it takes someone truly pathetic and spineless to show up for sasi. that her house would remain bare, lifeless, without the company she fashions into a punching bag. it doesn't need to be said; they don't care enough. '' but i'm not going to fight you for your company, sasi. '' it was an ideal instilled in them around the same time names were secretly engraved on their adoption papers. yohan's soft lilt: god loves you. why would you battle for anyone else to offer less ? their ideologies never matched up; their faiths have never been the same, but the sentiment stuck. it lingers, even now. they'll never demand that someone loves them. not when they have minho and yohan and whatever god sits between the two of them. love genuine enough, enduring enough, that they haven't wanted for anything since they moved here. awaiting sasi's kindness feels comical in comparison. they pat the counter, just once. '' don't drink too much. '' and step away from the counter, heading to the door to take their coat off of the hook.

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘦. )#boybyes #gaaaahh i missed them !!!

the glass returns to her with a soft scrape across stone . sasi's fingers meet it before it can settle completely , drawing idle circles through the thin ring of condensation left beneath it . watches the droplets gather against her fingertips for a moment before looking up again . there it is . that careful little smile . the sort people wear when they've convinced themselves they're above bleeding . how admirable , though dreadfully boring . a quiet laugh escapes her before she can stop it . not because anything is particularly funny . simply because suri always seems so determined to hand her tragedies folded neatly into little moral lessons . “ sweetheart , let's not complicate this . if i wanted satisfaction , i'd have set my standards much higher than this , let's be generous and call it , lifestyle ” the smile arrives easily after that , all dimples and dangerous intent . " you do have this appalling habit of deciding what i'm thinking before i get the chance to surprise you " more to herself than anything besides , really . keen gaze follows them toward the door . she doesn't move at first . lets the distance bloom between them . lets them reach for their coat with all the confidence of someone convinced the conversation is over . then she sighs , so put upon . with the glass still balanced loosely between slender fingers , she pushes herself upright from the counter . slow enough that it scarcely registers as pursuit . the hem of her dress settles against her legs as she rounds the corner . one measured step . stops only once she's close enough that leaving means choosing to step around her . “ look at you ” the words settle between them like perfume . " we both know you're so much more adapt than this , so don't take either of us for a fool . if you were really done with me , suri . . . you'd have walked out before i stood up . "

❝ i have no doubt about that. ❞ dark eyes scan the other, commiting every detail to memory. decorated with stunning features that seem contradictory to the weapon decorating her hip. saniye swallows around the lump in her throat. ❝ i'm here, alive. i would prefer if i could stay invisible, but i'm not the one signing your checks. ❞ laptop shuts with a soft click, locking her current research behind a measily code. ❝ i can think of an entire roster who would desire the opposite, so that's a relief to hear. will you be keeping me company? ❞

#ෆ - 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 ( 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘹. )#enbloom

the corner of carla's mouth curved , slight enough to be mistaken for a trick of the light . there was something almost indulgent in the way she looked at saniye - as though committing a constellation to memory , one star at a time . both brows rose with theatrical surprise afterwards , a hand coming to rest against her chest as though she'd been dealt the gravest of propositions . “ stay with you ? ” all velvet and mischief . also loud enough for the entire state to hear . “ how scandalous ” the smile that followed was slow , a crescent moon cutting through the dark . “ i shouldn't ” she said it while dragging out the chair besides the other , the legs scraping softly against the floor before she folded herself into the seat with effortless confidence . “ i really , truly shouldn't ” by the time the words had finished leaving her mouth , she'd already flagged down a server with two lazy fingers . the drink placed in front of her only a fraction later . attention drifted back to her newly won company , chin resting lightly against her knuckles . " there , now i've compromised my professionalism . you'd better be interesting enough to justify the paperwork . "

amourien

ʚ ᘏ ֺ his scoff is a good-natured one, like the kind born out of shared histories and meals that grew cold over dinner tables warmed by laughter. expectant, by some definition. '' it's kind of inspiring how you have a daily bread quote for everything i say to you. '' inspiring and nice. dependable. he's a garden of his own, well-maintained fruits growing in the form of gentle quotes and lofty teachings that can be whittled down into basic morals if you have common sense. gyeongjun has always liked gardens; he's always liked the product of his own work, his intelligence, his ability to learn and keep alive. caleb's soil breeds different fruits, but he likes them, too. he shrugs as he works, the muscles in his wrist tensing when he applies pressure to the knife, but it's ... manageable. negligible, at worst, because there's ibuprofen and a non-brand name wrist brace sitting amongst his belongings in the back. his fingers twitch minutely, nearly scraping the blade ⸺ negligible. nothing new. '' mm, maybe. i don't consider any day a bad day; just series of series of happenings that only hurt as much as you let them. people come in here with all kinds of baggage and they take it out on whoever's closest. i won't be bothered by something that has nothing to do with me in the first place. '' it doesn't address the lighter shades of what caleb says: the love that spills out of each named visitor, like they're all as foundational to his existence as the bricks that form this restaurant. he can let caleb describe the intricacies of love; it sounds better on his tongue anyway. '' what about you, father ? in all of those parishioners exchanging their sins for your absolution, did you ever get a second to step outside ? sun was awfully beautiful today. ''