So two months here at PSU and it's definitely a lot different than I expected. It's more chill and laid back than school, and everyone is really nice. I don't know why I thought it would be more strict. But I still don't know my way around campus, is there any like quiet rooms or some place a student can go if they're feeling overwhelmed or anxious? If not this college would really benefit from one.
I'm honestly not really sure about that, but I'm happy to help you find something. I mean, the library should generally be pretty quiet, and they usually have private rooms for studying, but those can get really busy around exam time and you have to book them in advance, so I'm not sure that would totally help.
My agent has sent me some scripts for potential films to direct, finally they are not a romcom and instead are actually action films and dramas. I am excited to read them and maybe find my next project.
Don't worry this won't stop me from being your amazing professor if you are studying film studies, just means I will have something to do around the summer next year.
However, we are approaching the end of the year which is crazy, has anyone got exciting things coming up before the end of the year?
Who’s the best roommate you have/had? And the worst?
Worst roommate is Robin, hands down. I mean, we never shared a room, but we shared a house and that's enough. Best roommate? I'm not sure, I've really only lived with family, and I like all of my siblings. Sorry, this is a boring answer.
Fine. I'll extend that window from 15 minutes to two hours, with an exception between the hours of 10pm and 6am. But any more than that and the search team is getting deployed.
No it's cause you're gross. Kidding, you're not gross. You're the opposite of gross actually. It's because you're a Sylvester. You bet I'm gonna call you Joni Sue all the time now, Joni Sue. I actually like it, I think it's cute. It's way better than Penny Sue which sounds like some kind of doll from the fifties, or Sage Sue which is way too much alliteration, or Dexter Sue and Danny Sue which don't even need an explanation. Really? So you would've taken a chance on me anyway? I want to say something sarcastic but I can't, that made me too happy. I'm glad you're willing to take a chance on me, Joni Sue. I'm willing to take one on you too. Do you wanna come to a Halloween party with me next week? Like, as my date?
No, I'm super gross, you're right. Could be worse, I feel like it's kind of cute, too. Just not as cute when you know how unoriginal it is. Yeah, I would have. So, since we totally rocked that costume contest, when should we go out for our fancy dinner?
It definitely started to wear on me, for sure. Missed not being able to communicate with people, see if Stace was okay, see if you were okay. I like to think I did, yeah. We'll see how much of it survives firing, though.
i’d absolutely thrive because i’d just need to replicate my own house. you know like creaky floors, mysterious moans and doors that swing open like they’re auditioning for a horror film. and yeah, addy might have caught on when the lights started doing the disco party for ghosts. i said it was in the spirit of creativity but she wasn’t as amused. mother™ is totally not a fan of a little eerie vibe smh
That's understandable, it was a pretty scary situation, even for me. I'm glad you guys all found each other in the end, I bet that made it a little easier. I kinda hated it honestly, not being able to get in touch with anyone and sitting on my ass during the whole thing is not my style, but it got a little easier once I was reunited with Daisy, and better still now that everything's getting back to normal
Yeah, it was easier knowing that at least some of them were safe. I hope we never have to go anything like that again, though. Do things feel back to normal for you?
Give five yearbook-style superlatives to ______, ______, _____, _____, ______ (e.g. Most Likely to Succeed, Class Clown, etc.)
What’s your biggest fear in a relationship?
What would you do if you woke up naked next to ______?
Which Priv individual do you think of when you picture yourself pressing someone up against the wall and fucking them (or with the roles reversed)?
You’re playing spin the bottle. Who are your top three picks for where you hope the bottle points?
Your partner excluded, and assuming there will be no consequences, who from Priv would you choose to have a night of passion with?
What was the last lie you told? Who did you lie to?
All the Priv individuals are posing for a sexy calendar. Which person would you want to be the pinup for your birth month?
Which Priv individuals have you ever shared a bed with?
Which Priv individuals have you kissed? Slept with? Do you regret any of those instances?
Whom from Priv would you like to go skinny dipping with?
What do you find most attractive about someone’s body?
What does your latest text from someone else say? Who is it from?
If you were Eagle One, who would be your codenames Been There Done That, Currently Doing That, Happened Once In A Dream, and Eagle Two?
What is the worst thing you’ve ever done to someone?
What are three of your top sexual fantasies? Out of all the Priv individuals, whom do you think would be the best fit to explore them with?
What’s your favorite thing about your partner? If you’re single, what’s your favorite thing about your best friend?
What’s the most annoying thing about your partner? If you’re single, what’s the most annoying thing about your best friend?
What and whom were you thinking about the last time you got turned on in a non-sexual situation?
FMK: _____, ______, ______
Your last five Tumblr notifications are your zombie apocalypse family. Who are they? What weapons do you think each will wield? Will you survive? Or are you screwed?
What’s your most used sex toy?
You’re on a sinking ship with ______, ______, ______, and _______. Only four of you can fit in the life boat, so who gets left as shark bait?
Forgetting any current significant other attachments, which Priv individuals would you have a threesome with?
Who’s the best roommate you have/had? And the worst?
WHY: Joni and Patrick do some light flirting at her gym
WARNINGS: None
PATRICK:
Patrick adjusted the towel draped over his shoulder as he leaned back against the mirrored wall, eyes scanning the gym floor like he was sizing up a poker table. The place was busy - Joni’s gym always was, drawing in everyone from serious lifters to office workers trying to burn off stress. But the noise didn’t bother Patrick. If anything, it gave him a distraction, a steady hum to let his thoughts drift as he cooled down from his workout. He’d spoken to Joni a few times now, and knew that this was her place. She was young - mid-twenties, maybe - it seemed. She was gorgeous and the way she carried herself was breath-taking. Sometimes though, it felt as if he would catch her eyes on him, while he was lifting or doing exercises on the punching bag. Maybe it was in his head, but after a few times, he really didn’t think it was a coincidence anymore. Catching her eyes again, he let her watch him for a beat longer before deciding to close the gap. Patrick straightened, ran a hand through the tight curls, and strolled over with that same deliberate stride he used to walk casino floors, exuding a casual confidence that came with years of practice. “You look deep in thought, Joni,” he said, leaning against a water-cooler. His voice was low, almost a purr, a habit he hadn’t bothered shaking since Vegas. “Trouble in paradise?”
JONI:
Okay, so maybe it was a little bit inappropriate the way she stared at Patrick when he was here. He was a person, not a piece of meat, and yet….she couldn’t stop sneaking glances, her eyes tracking him whenever he entered the gym or switched machines. It wasn’t like she was into him, she barely knew him other than casual gym chit chat, and she was pretty into Cassie, plus he was kind of old, but that didn’t stop her from staring. When he made eye contact with her, her first instinct was to look away but decided against it, that would be embarrassing and if he knew she was staring it it would make it seem like she was ashamed, which she probably should she been but she wasn’t. Except then he was walking towards her and she felt her face grow warm. When he spoke, she let out a small chuckle, “No, no trouble. Just enjoying the view.” She grinned, “You seem like you like a good workout,” she added, shrugging a shoulder, “You ever need any help with that? Ya know, taking things to the next level, or anything?”
PATRICK:
Patrick caught the grin Joni flashed his way, the flush coloring her cheeks, and filed it away with the precision of a card shark keeping track of the deck. It was almost too easy, but he didn’t mind. He raised an eyebrow at her response, the corner of his mouth twitching into a slight smirk. “Enjoying the view?” he echoed, voice laced with amusement, as if turning the phrase over in his mind. When she made her offer, throwing in that casual shrug as if it wasn’t the most blatant invitation he’d heard in a while, Patrick couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He leaned against the water-cooler, resting his elbow on top of it as he angled his body slightly towards her. Close enough to create the illusion of intimacy, but not so close as to be invasive. It was all about careful positioning. “Taking things to the next level, huh?” he said, letting the words roll out slowly. His tone was light, teasing, as if he were considering the idea. But his eyes never wavered from hers, wanting to get every reaction. “Well,” he continued, as if he were weighing his options, while a smirk grew, “I’m always up for a challenge. What have you got in mind?”
JONI:
She let out a soft laugh at his words, enjoying the way he moved closer to her. Joni wasn’t easily intimidated, but she imagined if she were that this man could make her crumble. “Well, it’s clear that you have a great understanding of strength training, and you look like you have great stamina,” she said, one hand reaching to trail gently down the muscles of his upper arm, “But I’d be interested in seeing your mastery of flexibility, endurance…precision.” Joni grinned. She knew that everything she said could easily be taken to mean something else, in fact, she was being almost too obvious with it, but Patrick seemed like he could handle himself. There were men that you avoided even making eye contact with for too long, fearing they’d interpret it as some kind of invitation, and there were men like Patrick who Joni suspected, if she purposely spilt coffee all over herself and then stripped naked right in front of him, he’d still probably check that she was okay with being touched. Of course, this assumption was only an assumption but she was usually pretty good at sensing that kind of danger, and she had no alarms going off when it came to the man in front of her. “You know, we offer pole dancing classes as well, and one thing I’ve learned with pole dancing is that you can’t just focus on strength, you have to understand what every part of your body is doing to contribute to the most satisfying final product.” She’d moved a half step closer to him while speaking, and she could smell him now, “Do you eat dinner?” She asked, her voice more innocent now as she smiled, head tilted as if this was a completely normal segue in the conversation.
PATRICK:
Patrick felt her fingers trail down his arm, and for a brief moment, he was almost tempted to react - to tense or respond like a less careful man might. But instead, he kept still, just barely arching an eyebrow as if to acknowledge her touch. He let her words sink in, absorbing their double-edged nature with a practiced smile. Joni was clever, he’d give her that; bold in a way that made it clear she understood the game they were playing. “That’s quite the list of requirements,” he replied, voice steady and low, a touch of admiration laced through it. He didn’t take the bait, at least not directly, but he also didn’t dismiss it. He knew better than to give more than what was necessary; the trick was in leaving her room to keep pushing, if she wanted to. When Joni moved in closer, Patrick held his ground, watching her carefully while keeping that same easy smirk in place. He was aware of the proximity, the way her confidence seemed to grow with each subtle move. It was a well-executed play, and it didn’t escape his notice. “Pole dancing classes,” he mused, the hint of a chuckle in his voice. “Now that’s a skill set I hadn’t considered adding to my repertoire.” He delivered the line lightly, almost jokingly, but he didn’t downplay her point. But then, she shifted the conversation, her voice softening as she tilted her head and posed her next question. “Do you eat dinner?” It was such a stark change in tone that Patrick nearly laughed, genuinely amused by the abrupt innocence. Joni was weaving in and out of her own narrative with ease, and he admired that kind of flexibility in conversation as much as in any other skill. “I dabble,” he replied, deadpan, letting a pause hang between them, his smirk growing slightly. He met her gaze, reading the curiosity in her expression.
JONI:
"I have high standards," She said, when he mentioned the list of requirements. "Well, if you're ever interested, I have plenty of videos on my instagram to show you what it's all about. And I'm happy to offer private lessons...Or demonstrations." She grinned, when he said he dabbled in dinner, before letting a genuine laugh bubble out of her. "Good, you should come by on a Tuesday night sometime." She said, grabbing a flyer from the board behind the water cooler, forcing her to lean in so close to him she was almost pressed against him, and then pulling away to hand it to him. "We do a healthy living cooking class every week. We teach the recipe, everyone makes their own and then gets to hang out and eat it, it's free, and it's a lot of fun, if I do say so myself." She smiled again, her tone much lighter and happier now. "Then I can see how good of a cook you are and see if I'll let you cook for me sometime."
PATRICK:
Patrick’s smirk deepened as Joni mentioned her high standards. He’d expected as much. It was almost charming how she dropped the line so smoothly, making sure he knew that if he chose to play along, he wasn’t going to be dealing with just anyone. The mention of her Instagram and private demonstrations was an interesting move, a not-so-subtle invitation masked as casual professionalism. “I might take you up on those private lessons,” he replied, keeping his voice easy and neutral, like he was talking about scheduling office hours. “Purely for educational purposes, of course.” He didn’t clarify what kind of education he meant, and that was deliberate. Let her interpret the statement however she pleased. As Joni laughed, he allowed himself a small chuckle, watching her reach past him for the flyer. He didn’t shift or step back, holding his ground as she leaned in, almost close enough for their shoulders to brush. When she handed him the flyer, he took it without breaking eye contact, a faint trace of amusement in his eyes as he glanced down at the bold print and cheerful graphic. A cooking class? It wasn’t the kind of thing he’d usually find himself in, but then again, neither was flirting in a gym he frequented out of habit more than passion. “It seems I’m getting the full tour of your expertise today.” He let the words hang for a moment, then nodded slightly, as if making a mental note to consider it. “And would you look at that, Tuesday nights are exactly the nights where I dabble in eating dinner,” he added, tone heavy with irony. Joni’s lighter, happier tone told him she was enjoying herself, and he was enjoying this. When she made her final comment about seeing his cooking skills, Patrick’s smile grew just a fraction. With a polite nod, Patrick took a step back - if she wanted to play this game, then he could play it too. “We’ll see if I can impress you in the kitchen,” he added, his voice light, as if it were all just a friendly challenge.
JONI:
She didn't hate the chill that ran down her spine when he said he'd considered the lessons, something tell her that his mention of educational purposes sounded more like him offering to teach her a thing or two, rather than the other way around. An idea she was shamelessly delighted by, even though he was older and she was sure it was something she'd just have to fantasize about on her own time. "The full tour?" She repeated, a hand reaching up to brush her hair back out of her face, "Not quite, I'm a multifaceted wonder, I've barely even offered a taste so far, but hang around some more and maybe one day you'll get the full experience." She had moved from blatantly obvious to practically handing him a handwritten invitation at this point, but she seemed like he could hold his ground, and that made her want to test the limits. "What a fantastic coincidence." She laughed again, her confidence growing just from being able to hold his attention for this long. Taking in a breath as he stepped back slightly, she nodded. "Good, I can't wait, but like I said, I have high standards, so don't take the challenge too lightly." She licked her lips, not letting her eyes wander from his, "But if it's good I might offer you something for dessert."
PATRICK:
Patrick watched the way Joni’s confidence seemed to swell with each exchange. She was clever, strategic even, pushing boundaries without stepping too far over them - at least not yet. He could see the shift in her demeanor, the way her smile widened and her laughter softened with a mix of genuine amusement and unspoken intent. It was clear she enjoyed the chase as much as he did, and it wasn’t lost on him that she had moved from hints to almost outright offers. “You set quite the standard for yourself.” There was a weight to his gaze, but not a heavy one - just enough to let her know he was taking in every nuance of her approach. Patrick didn’t mind playing along, especially when the other person was so eager to test their own limits. “Good to know where the bar is set,” he replied, a faint smile playing at his lips. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint.” His voice was steady, almost casual, but the underlying message was clear: he wasn’t the type to shy away from a challenge, especially not one that came with this much effort to raise the stakes. When she mentioned offering something for dessert, her tone thick with innuendo, Patrick couldn’t help the slight chuckle that escaped him. Joni was pushing harder now, clearly testing just how much she could get away with before he might push back. But Patrick wasn’t one to react hastily, and he enjoyed this verbal sparring too much to end it prematurely. Patrick leaned slightly closer again, just enough to make it clear he was giving her his full attention. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he added, voice soft but firm, as if he were making a note of something important. He let that linger, the tension simmering between them, before he finally stepped back. “But for now,” he said, his tone shifting back to a lighter note, “I’ve got a workout to finish.” He nodded toward the gym floor, his expression relaxed once more. “We wouldn’t want you to think I’m slacking off after all this talk about standards.”
JONI:
Joni smiled as he stepped away from her, a small chuckle escaping her. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for any kind of slip from your normal performance." She winked, not wanting to get back to work quite yet, even if she knew she should. At least now she knew that he knew she was watching and didn't seem to mind too much. If she'd sense any kind of discomfort she'd have stopped right away, but she hadn't. Instead she stayed where she was a moment longer, watching him get back to his workout before finally heading back into her office, after a satisfactory break.
You can hate your birthday, and I get that. But I'll never hate your birthday because it's the day you were born, and I love you endlessly. Do you want to come over and have a movie night or something lowkey?
Well you know, I had to keep myself busy! I really loved Addy's studio. There were all these cables lying around, so the second night I kinda rewired some things for fun. Nothing major of course, just a few amps and the sound system. But then every time someone walked by, the lights would flicker and the speakers would make these weird ghostly sounds. I didn't think anyone would actually believe the place was haunted but I scared Luna several times
Oh no, does she know about your rewiring? She must have been pissed about that. At least you were entertained, though. You should be in charge of a haunted house for Halloween or something.
Gross. I mean, great...but gross, and I don't need to hear anymore about it. Yeah, I did alright. I was kind of freaked out, or like...maybe really freaked out. At least I had Dex and Penny and Sage at the end, so that was good. How about you?
I don't know, when are you free? Is tonight too last minute? You probably have a date or something, right? Tomorrow? I don't know, whatever day works for you I'll make work!
I'm not going to demand that you never again take longer than 15 minutes to respond to a text message from me, but I will warn you. If you ever take more than 15 minutes to respond, I may or may not have a search team on standby. @syljoni
Okay, but is that because I'm a Sylvester or because I'm me. Like, if I was Joni Smith, would you have still met up with me? You're gonna call me Joni Sue all the time now, aren't you? I would have, no hesitation. I mean, I know there's complications, but I wouldn't have let that stop me from at least meeting you and seeing if there was something there that made the complications worth dealing with. Which, if you're wondering, I think there is.
