Muse Legion

Indie RP account. / currently under construction Multimuse/Multiverse/Multiship Selective / mun is 30+

[blckmcgicxx]

open to: males muse: gabriella rodriguez - melissa collazo fc, wedding planner

he was her brothers best friend. the one person she knew was off limits. just as she was off limits to him. but yet here they were, alone outside while the party went on inside. having just got back from an over seas trip, just being around so many people was too much for her. it was why she had come outside. and then he came out as well. she had liked him for years. yet never found the words to say it to him. "we probably shouldn't be alone outside." she spoke as she leaned against the railing.

[muse-legion]

Elijah never missed out on a good party, a QB's duty if you will; albeit he never had more than two, three beers at most all evening, the night before a game. While he did take his responsibilities very serious, he wasn't particularly feeding into the expectations of the reputations preceding him. In fact, he could count the few people who truly knew him on one hand. One of them was his best friend, who Eli considered a brother of his own. Though, naturally, the moment his gaze fell upon Gabriella's familiar features, he'd felt a surge of protectiveness taking over him. Not because he thought she wouldn't be able to take care of herself, but because that was simply who he was - always protective of the ones he cared about. And she was practically family. He'd followed her outside without thinking about it twice. Casually leaning against the railing at the porch, his lips displayed a faint grin upon locking his eyes with her for the first time in what felt like ages. "Your brother mentioned you're back. How was your trip?" Her words took him by surprise; as far as he was concerned they weren't crossing any lines here (yet). Not that he'd even dare to consider it. Or would he? "And why's that?"

[muse-legion]

[muse-legion]

Closed starter for: @thatwritingjuju (Bruno & Ximena)

Bruno strolled up the the sun-kissed terrace of the luxurious Mexican villa, his piercing blue eyes scanning the familiar area. He had always been a man divided—torn between his life as a secret heir, back in Italy and the shadows he had now returned to confront, in form of the second in command of an allied cartel. Standing tall with rugged features and a rather neutral expression, his deep azures remained hidden behind a pair of expensive designer sunglasses- upon his best friend‘s request. Although the Italian found it to be childish and ridiculous; ever since the other man had taken over his fathers position, Bruno had sworn to himself he’d show him the same kind of respect he did to the old man. And he was a man of his word. After three years in Italy, he now found himself summoned back to Mexico. While the two men had always kept in touch, he hadn't been able to attend the wedding a few months ago. In a world like theirs, there was no room for sentimentality and as much as he admired his friend, it was no secret he wasn’t exactly one to value traditions and marriage in the first place so he wasn’t exactly sure what to think about the news. But who was Bruno to question him?

Although he was in the possession of a key, he rang the bell regardless, never forgetting about his manners, much to most people’s surprise. While he was expecting his friend to open it, his phone chimed with a message. ‘Welcome back, bro. Got sth to take care of. Make yourself home.’ But before he could even react, the door opened regardless and there she was. The woman he assumed to be the wife. “Buenos días, Señora. Soy Bruno, el amigo de Juancho. Mucho gusto.” Over the years, he had perfected his accent, being the perfectionist he was. The Italian offered his hand politely, causing the white sleeve of his tailored shirt to roll up and reveal a sneak peek of the ink on his arm. Flashing his charming smile without wanting to, he squeezed her hand briefly.

[etxrnaleclipse]

"Christopher is a damn smart kid. He's not wrong, he's always been like that." Maddie smiled as they mentioned Eddie's son, bringing her glass to her lips as she spoke. The boy was very clever, saw a lot, and she wondered what he might think of the dynamic that existed between his father and Buck. She observed Eddie as he seemingly processed the words that she had said, placing the drink down on the tabletop. "Oh, I don't know if I'd say that... I think he hated how you made him feel. Insecure? Intimidated?" Confused. She hadn't known back then, of course, not about her brother's identity, but it made a lot of sense looking back. "He had a very high opinion of you. Talks about you a lot..."

[muse-legion]

His former fond grin grew into a full, bright smile at her sweet words about his son. "He really is. Wonder where he's got it from." Eddie chuckled slightly at his next thoughts but he felt comfortable enough to share them anyway. "Thinking about it, it was probably Buck's influence. The constant wikipedia research on all kinds of weird things." It was only half a tease; the soft tone of his voice decided to betray him once again. Maddie's comment about her brother however, for some unexplainable reason, had him a little confused. His brows furrowed a little. What did she even mean, how he made Buck feel? Then..., after a few seconds of pure chaos in his head, it finally dawned on him. "Oh. Right, my level of comfort. He told me about that. It wasn't my intention, I don't know why he felt... threatened." Eddie shrugged his shoulders: "It's just... for some reason I felt like I belonged, right away. I don't know how to explain." Maybe he wasn't the best with words, especially when it was about emotional stuff but he didn't want Maddie to think he gave her brother any reason to feel intimidated by any means. His gaze subconsciously travelled back towards the couch while he spoke again. "I'm just glad it didn't take him long to realize we're on the same team. And now look at us." He laughed at the memories of their first shift and Bobby's expressions whilst forcing his eyes to focus on Maddie again. "He... uh... - Pretty sure I have Chris to thank for that. He really knows how to wrap people around his finger. Buck especially." And there it was again, that traitorous heat he felt creeping up on his cheeks, coloring them a certain shade of pink he whished he could control but alas... it always gave him away, no matter how hard he tried.

[0paliite]

open starter: nancy drew her bio is in the source!

nancy thought she was discreet when she told them where she was going for this next case. "okay, hold on: why are you here? this is my case and i've gotten pretty far on it." she was starting to gain trust, find things that the police weren't able to find. "how did you even get here? it's basically impossible to find this place!"

[muse-legion]

Flashing her a sly smile, Kareem lifted his hands in a kind of apologetic gesture while he approached her. "I'm not here to steal your case. You can take all the credit. I'm just here in case you need a backup." Maybe it wasn't the whole truth, granted. But it was all she needed to know, really. " By car." He cracked out a joke, trying to ease the tension just a little. "Wasn't easy to find but let's just say, I have my ways."

"Good job, by the way."

[muse-legion]

closed starter for @etxrnaleclipse (Rio & Jud)

one would think, three years in a cold, bleak cell in prison would have provided more than enough time to connect the dots on the imaginary map of his life he'd created in his mind; and thus figure out, where it all went downhill to begin with. It wasn't like Rio was essentially born bad. Nor was it ever his intention to go down the dark path, but as life may have it, opportunity rudely presented itself - a curse disguised as a blessing and the infamous domino effect inevitably turned his entire life upside down - more than once, in more ways than one and while yes, there was always a choice, Rio quite obviously was especially great at picking the worst possible one, each and every time. However, his strange talent eventually led him to this place, against his better judgement; against all odds against literally anything and everything he could think of.

His feet dragged him forward, one step at a time, his pace slow, yet determined somehow, until he was standing at the massive, wooden door of the old building. It felt like a particularly quiet night, a little bit unsettling, even. The only sound he could hear was the whisper of the wind, rustling through the leaves of the oak trees surrounding the graveyard. Rio paused for a second, before he eventually opened the heavy door. The squeaky noise rattled across the otherwise silent space, scaring off the black crows that had been sitting on the railing of the staircases next to him. Now, the birds were flying away abruptly; a feather tumbling and landing right in front of his feet. A sign, maybe. He shouldn't be here, in the house of god. And yet... - moments later, he found himself sitting in the confessional booth of all places. Little did he know this realization would by far not be the biggest surprise that night had in store for him.

Rio took a deep breath, his hands folded carefully on his lap while he debated on his next words. Was there even a point? Pretty sure, traumatizing a priest with the whole list of gruesome things he'd done would count as yet another sin, wouldn't it? That surely would be considered corrupting an innocent soul or something. This was a bad idea. He should just leave while he still could. His heart was beating in his chest, so hard and fast, it may as well jump out of him completely. Which was weird, considering it barely felt alive since -; well... - a long time ago.

"I'm not here to ask for forgiveness. I'm just... - I don't even know what I'm doing here."

[muse-legion]

@thatwritingjuju continued from: x

Bruno's gaze remained steadfast on Samara, his expression unreadable as he took her hand firmly into his own, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man of his reputed nature. He nodded subtly in acknowledgment of her greeting, the smirk playing at the corners of his mouth hinting at the amusement he found in her rebellious spirit. Her choice of attire and tone did not go unnoticed. He couldn't help but appreciate the defiant streak, which seemed to simmer beneath her polished exterior—and very much mirrored his own although he would never openly admit to such thing. With a curt nod to her father, he allowed a smoldering smile to play on his lips as he turned to accompany her to the table. “After you, Samara.” The Italian suggested politely, whilst motioning towards their table. His stride was easy and confident as they moved away from the suffocating embrace of familial expectations and towards the table, where the scent of fine wine and expensive food filled the air. The soft murmur of conversations faded into mere background noise to their entrance. Of course he was aware of the impressions but as per usual, didn't pay any mind to it.

The table had been set with the finest of everything—crystal glasses gleaming, silverware shimmering, and a bouquet of blood-red roses at the center, symbolizing the future union of their powerful families. Bruno always had an eye for details, even more so since they often decided over life or death in their world. Displaying a perfect gentleman’s behavior, he pulled out a chair for her, adjusting it with precision before he took his own seat across from her. He leaned back just a little, his arms casually resting on the armrests, his intense azures focused on her during the process. Despite his impeccable manners, he decided to cut the crap and skip the dreading small talk; a smug one-sided smirk upon his lips, as he studied the woman he was to marry soon. “So, black it is. Just to show your rebellious side or as a sign of mourning the freedom you think you’re about to lose?” It was a question meant to reveal a lot about the kind of person she truly was, and he knew exactly what he was trying to achieve by asking it — always the observant and calculating to the core, Bruno never did or said anything without a reason.

Though, he had to admit he’d expected far worse than the femme sitting across from him. He’d done his research thoroughly but she was far more interesting in person than he’d anticipated. Color him intrigued: something that rarely ever happened. He had to give her that. Though it was clear neither of the two was particularly thrilled about the arrangement, yet they both knew the stakes at hand.

[blckmcgicxx]

it had been so long since she had been home. after graduating from college, she had opted to stay in the city. to her, it made sense with the fact that she was a fashion designer now. though coming home, especially since her siblings would be there was something she wanted to do. seeing cyrus again, it made her happy, the two had practically been inseparable when they were younger. but then college came. and julieta had left for that.

pushing herself off of the window seat, she walked over to him. arms wrapping around his neck, she hugged him for a moment before pulling away. "i missed you." she had done her best to keep in contact. and even more so, offering to buy him a plane ticket to come visit her. "i've been good. how have you been?"

[muse-legion]

Cyrus couldn't help but smile as he felt Julieta's arms wrap around his neck, hugging him tightly and causing a familiar warmth spread throughout his body. It had been a long time since they’d seen each other in person and while he did enjoy their calls and texting, it wasn’t quite the same. Holding her close for a bit longer than necessary, he inhaled her scent, just relishing in the embrace. „I’ve missed you too, July.“

Eventually, he let go of her, taking a small step back to give her some space. Old habits died hard and he had to remind himself they weren’t kids anymore. Time had passed and they’d grown up. Or at least partially in his case. „You look great! How’s the fashion world treating you? I want to know everything you’ve been up to.“ Cyrus mused, his eyes locked on her own during the whole time and it almost felt like she’d never left; as if she’d been right here all this time. „Oh and don’t go all fashion police on me, please. You know it’s never been my strong suit,“ he joked with a playful wink, although it was true, considering he was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans; not very fashionable or creative but practical. Truth was, Cyrus didn’t really care much about his style, as long as he was comfortable. And if there was one person who knew that, it was Julieta. Hell, she practically had to force him into a suit for prom back then - and bribed him with tickets for a football game of his favorite team.

[ayusosarchive]

linked in the source you will find 230 gifs of maite perroni in her role as alma quintana in episodes 1-5 of oscuro deseo ( season two ). these gifs are sized 268x170 and were made from scratch by me, so please like/reblog if you save, use, or found this helpful, & do not repost (including in gif hunts). you may make these into gif icons as long as proper credit is given. thanks! (content warnings are listed on page).

[luciddream5]

@indiestarter Muse: Rowan Bauer, age options: 32-43 Open to: Males Notes: They shouldn't cross that line but they want to, very much. Could be that he's younger or he works at her bar or best friend of one of her brothers - open to ideas. 32-38 she co-owns the bar, 38+ full owner

Rowan was at the bar, which wasn't unusual. Strange as it might seem, she truly did love the place. Cian, who owned it, had hired her at a point in her life where she felt lost and adrift. Lynx, the bar, became a refuge of sorts and Cian became like family. She was there now far more often than him which was the case tonight. They'd been short a bartender due to illness so Rowan filled in for the night, letting the other female head out while she opted to finish closing up. Y/M was there and Rowan was well aware he wouldn't leave her by herself at that hour. Heading back to her office, she sat behind her desk, figuring he'd drop onto the couch. Before he did, "You can grab a beer from the mini fridge if you want," she offered, "but only if you hand me one," she teased, giving him a smile. It was never wise for them to be alone, she knew it. More than once, they'd come close to crossing that line, to kissing, but something stopped them each time. It was a familiar yet difficult and frustrating dance - but she kept trying to tell herself this was wrong. "I shouldn't be much longer - though you know you don't have to stay," she smiled softly because she did appreciate it.

[muse-legion]

Truth be told, he could easily count the few people he cared about on one hand. One of which was his best friend - the only one who stood by Sam's side through his worst, no questions asked. The years he'd spent behind the bars showed, if anything, who he could count on. Visitors were a rare occurrence those days and while he never held grudges, he never forgot who'd had his back then either. It was a given he'd return the favor, come what may. Keeping an eye on his best friend's sister was initially just a natural instinct, really. His friend didn't even have to mention it to him, who did it anyway. As the time passed by, it became a habit, a routine of sort and he found himself tapping into it without even thinking about it. He couldn't even tell, when exactly the energy started to feel more... charged between them; no matter how hard he tried to convince himself it was nothing. Deep down he knew perfectly well it would be for the best to stay away from her but that wasn't really an option either, was it? His dark gaze briefly met her own as he dropped onto the familiar couch in the back office of Lynx, a faint smirk playing around the corner of his lips. "You got it!" Sam chuckled lightly, before he grabbed two beers from the mini bar by his side and handed a bottle to Rowan, once he'd opened it for her. "I know. Not like I've got anything else to do, anyway." Which granted, wasn't exactly the truth - but she didn't need to know that, much less feel bad about him staying to make sure she'd get home safe later.

[etxrnaleclipse]

For Those Who Have Been Hurt @muse-legion said: “If you ever want to talk about it, you know I’ll always be here to listen.” (Maddie & Eddie)

The comment caught her a little off guard, but not in the fact that it was unexpected. Eddie was a good man, that was incredibly clear to her, but it was not something she would have imagined them talking about tonight.

"Thanks Eddie." she replied, her voice soft as she nursed her glass, eyes glancing over to where Buck had dozed off nearby. When she invited the two of them over for dinner, she hadn't expected her brother to fall asleep leaving her and Eddie to chat alone. "But frankly, I'd rather talk about the two of you. Now, I don't mean to pry, but you two are very close... I know Evan cares about you a great deal."

[muse-legion]

The words left his lips without thinking about it, really. Maddie was practically family so of course, to Eddie it was only natural to offer an ear, in case she wanted to talk. He nodded once, - a quiet "you're welcome". His gaze followed hers towards the couch, the sight of a sleeping Buck drawing a soft chuckle from his lips. "You know, Christopher always says Buck's half a cat. He just plops onto the couch and passes out right away." Her next words however did catch him a little of guard. Not because he was surprised to hear them, it was just not the subject he'd imagined their conversation to be redirected to. His eyes met her own, reflecting the same fondness they always displayed at the mention of the people he cared about the most. "Yeah, the feeling's mutual." Eddie took a small sip of his beer, before he let out another light chuckle. "crazy, if you think about how he couldn't stand me when I started at the 118"

[muse-legion]

Happy new year to everyone!! Hope this year is goin to treat you well! I feel like I owe you all a huge apology for disappearing. Life’s been tough but I’m still alive and so are my muses.

So here’s to a better 2026, new plots and threads (doesn’t mean I’m dropping old ones), new muses (because some things never change lol) and so on and so forth.

Pls like, dm or discord me if you’d like to plot with my slow ass and THANK YOU for sticking around despite everything.

Love ya’ll to bits (and pieces)

~C.

[grapefruitey]

my muse walked in on yours killing someone

Odette had seen some rather gruesome things in her life. Major injuries on camping trips that required airlift rescues. It was mostly snapped bones but other innocuous things like snake bites, an actual quicksand escape, and the results from upsetting a wasps nest. She herself had a plethora of scars on her body from encounters on the mountains that she spent her life climbing. All of those were, in a way, passive. Even the very rare brawl between climbers was quickly resolved. Never in her life did she think she'd see the kind of violence that people loved to watch in movies. "What are you fucking doing?!" As if it wasn't obvious. She wished her reactions could have been faster but it felt like there were years between when she entered the room and the words left her lips. Despite being able to reach out to protect herself when one misstep lead to a crazy whip within microseconds, here she was frozen.

[muse-legion]

Gennaro's eyes were cold and focused, the barrel of the gun in his hand still smoking, as he stared down at the dead man, who had once been his most trusted advisor. His hands trembled slightly, not from fear or regret, no; but from the sheer adrenaline coursing through his veins. He felt a strange mix of rage and relief, his mind racing with the betrayal that had led to this moment inevitably. With a swift motion of his hand, he ordered for his men to dispose of the body; the smell of gunpowder mingling with the coppery scent of fresh blood was something he’d gotten quite accustomed to, after all he grew up in this world. However, the last thing he’d expected was an audience for his grim task — then again, life had a funny way of ruining even the most meticulously planned scenarios. So, the moment his ears picked up a scream and realization hit him, Gennaro turned to face the stranger who’d unwittingly interrupted his … job. He composed himself, his movements slow and deliberate. "It had to be done," he explained calmly, his mind racing with the implications of her witnessing what he’d just done. Taking another step closer to her, his expression hardened into one of calculated calm, whilst his dark gaze held her own firmly; a silent warning flickering in his dangerous depths. "You should not have come in here."

[atgvnpoint]

Boxing was probably the most horrific sports Benji knew. Why was there pleasure in punching each other in the face? He'll never understand that but at the same time, he has to do what his father wants until the right time comes. His new instructor was different and Benji was not sure if he liked it or not. The young man learned that he couldn't trust anyone, so he was not putting any trust in the other. Instead, he just hoped that this damn hour will be over soon. Better this guy than my father. Was the only thing that went through his mind. His father punched him into the hospital. It was this particular memory Benji activated to unleash the anger the other talked about. He tried to imagine his father whenever he tried to land a punch. It was the least he could do to suppress his distaste for this sport. And deep inside he was happy that Raph could dodge the punches. On top of that, he wasn't dumb enough to believe that he could win this little challenge but at least it could be fun. His shoulder hurt a little from the punch he received but he's been through worse.

❝I didn't expect anything else. It's not fun when you'd let me win.❞ Again, Benji couldn't care less. He wanted to be with his boyfriend whom he'll see after this damn training. Only for a second appeared a tiny smile on his lips. His boyfriend was the light in his life without him he'd lose everything worth living for. ❝Just don't make me too ugly in the face, I have a date later.❞ with a smirk, Benji got into the correct position with his hands lifted in front of his face before he moved in for the first attack.

[muse-legion]

Raphael chuckled at Benji's remark about not letting him win, understanding that the young man was probably more invested in the challenge than he was letting on. Despite the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger of the sport, Raph couldn't help but find a bit of humor in Benji's determination. Don't worry, I'll keep your face pretty for your date. But remember, this isn't about winning or losing, it's about growing and learning”. He smirked, although part of him should at least feel somewhat bad about the tiny, little fact of knowing this would be the last date Benji would get with the current boyfriend — but alas; he didn’t.

With swift movements, Raph dodged Benji's punches with ease, his reflexes and experience allowing him to move around the ring without breaking a sweat. He didn't throw any punches in return, instead opting to use his footwork to stay out of reach while giving Benji verbal cues to improve his form and timing. “Good, keep your guard up. Let's work on your jab. It's a quick, straight punch that can set up other moves. It's also great for keeping your opponent at bay. Like this.” Raph demonstrated the jab, his fist shooting out rapidly before retracting just as fast. “Now, you try it. Focus on your hand speed and snapping your arm back quickly.” He watched closely as Benji attempted the jab, making adjustments to his stance and offering advice where needed. Despite his reservations about the sport, Raph had to admit that Benji had potential. With the right guidance and mindset, he could become quite formidable. “Alright, that wasn’t so bad. You deserve a little break. Gotta make sure you stay hydrated.” He chuckled, handing him his water bottle.

[muse-legion]

🏆 This is the Amazing Person Award 🏆 ✨💛 Once you are given this award you are supposed to paste it in the ask of eight different people, who, in your opinion, deserve it. If you break the chain nothing will happen, but it is sweet to know someone thinks you're amazing inside and out 💛

Tysm!! Right back at you 💙

[sugartclking-archived]

open to: anyone, 25+ muse: april kingsley. 45. she/her. bisexual. pediatric nurse. portrayed by kate hudson. connection/plot: our muses both end up waiting for the same delayed flight and strike up a conversation to pass the time; it turns out that they are also plane seat mates.

April sighed as the overhead announcement confirmed what she already suspected — her flight was delayed. She rolled her eyes softly, shifting her purse higher on her shoulder as she made her way to an empty seat near the gate. All she wanted to do was go visit her son, Jamie, out of state and of course something just had to get in the way of it. She hated the waiting. The way airports seemed to freeze time, trapping everyone in the same recycled air and restless energy. She sat down, smoothing the front of her blouse even though no one was looking. A person sat a few seats away, flipping the same page of their book over and over like they weren't really reading it. She caught herself watching them for a second too long. Maybe it was the boredom, or maybe it was the fact that talking to strangers felt safer when the stakes were this low, just passing time in a place no one wanted to be. She glanced over again before speaking, her voice casual, almost surprised at herself. "I'm guessing you're not thrilled about this delay, either?"

[muse-legion]

It had been a very long day already and a delayed flight was the last thing he needed but oh well — here he was — stranded at the airport and stuck with exactly that. But there was nothing he could do about it so he decided to make the best of it and finally start reading the book he’d been carrying in his backpack for so long, without even touching it. Not because he wasn’t interested but because he didn’t get a chance during his short trip. Eventually, Hasani looked up from his book, a bit startled by the sudden interjection into his solitude. He'd been so lost in his own thoughts about the book he wasn't actually reading that he hadn't noticed the woman sitting down. He took a moment to process her question, his eyes flicking to the board displaying the flight information before returning to her. Offering a wry smile, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners as his gaze met her own. "No, not particularly," he admitted, his voice a smooth blend of accents from his travels. "It seems the universe has decided to test our patience today."

He took a moment to assess her, noticing the way she held herself, the tension in her posture, which suggested she was trying to keep it all together. Hasani closed the book and set it aside, deciding to be present in the conversation rather than just going through the motions. "Where are you heading?" he asked curiously, hoping to keep the conversation going and maybe make the wait a little less unbearable for both of them.

[atgvnpoint]

What the actual fuck was wrong with her? The way he tried to put distance between them again rubbed her the wrong way even though it shouldn't. With both hands, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled it down a little more. She never liked Michael, she never liked his guts and how he pretended to be someone he wasn't in front of others (or maybe this was what she thought of him). Slowly, she turned around to face him. Her blue eyes sparkled with something that could be considered a glare. Was she glaring at him? Was she angry? No. Disappointed. That was more the feeling she faced right now.

Swallowing her pride, she cleared her throat, threw her red hair back over her shoulder, and took a few steps closer to him. It wasn't her intention to close the distance between them, but unconsciously, she did exactly that. ❝What about you? Do YOU still hate my guts?❞ she asked back without really answering him. For a split second, she eyes him from head to toe and back. ❝Not to sound desperate here but was our night so bad that you want to forget it? Or was it so damn good that I ruined any other woman for you?❞

[muse-legion]

“Does it matter?” Michael looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment before he averted his eyes. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of something at the sight of her. The way her red hair fell over her shoulder, the spark in her eyes, and the way she was dressed all brought back memories of their night together. Memories he hadn't allowed himself to fully process, let alone admit that he enjoyed. “The point is, you're making it pretty damn hard to ignore what happened between us.” Taking a deep breath, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he tried to keep his emotions in check. “And for the record, no one could ever ruin anyone for me.” Meeting her gaze once more, he tried to read what was behind her question. Was she fishing for compliments? Was she really that insecure? Or was she just trying to get a rise out of him? “I'm not saying it was bad. Far from it but it can’t and it won’t happen again. The last thing we need is any more complications in our lives.”

He looked at her again, his eyes a stormy mix of confusion and frustration, whilst taking a step back — not because he wanted to put distance between them, but because her sudden closeness had thrown him off-balance. Michael wasn’t sure what she was trying to accomplish exactly but he was acutely aware of the mess they had created, the lines they had blurred, and the potential fallout from their actions. He raked a hand through his hair, the gesture one of agitation. “Listen Dove, I don't know what you want from me. All I know is, this shit’s gotten messy enough as it is and last time I checked we both agreed it was a mistake. Let’s just not make it even worse.”