✧ my life through a lense ✧

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren’s hand lingered gently at her waist, feeling the subtle warmth of her skin beneath his palm, his thumb brushing softly in slow, careful circles as if he could reassure her with the movement alone. When she leaned in for the second kiss, he met her halfway, letting the gentleness of the moment guide him. He kept his body close but relaxed, giving her room to lead without hesitation, and the faint unevenness of his own heartbeat only made him more attentive to hers. When they pulled back slightly, he rested his forehead against hers again, letting out a quiet, soft breath. “You don’t have to worry,” he murmured, voice low and steady. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to know you, really know you. What you like, what makes you laugh, what makes you feel safe.” He smiled, gentle and careful, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “I want to take my time with you, if that’s okay.” His gaze lingered on hers, warm and open, quietly asking for permission to keep learning her, piece by piece, in the safest way he could offer. “Even the little things,” he added softly, tilting his head with a small, teasing glint in his eye. “Like what your favorite song is or if you like chocolate more than vanilla." He stayed close, letting the moment breathe, careful not to overwhelm her, his hand still resting lightly at her waist, his presence a quiet promise of patience and care. His lips brushed softly against hers, just enough to graze, and then, almost on impulse, he gently bit her lower lip. It was soft, teasing, playful without being rough, he tugged it back lightly with his teeth, a slow, mischievous movement.

[vivicnjacobs]

her fingertips rested on his jaw, not quite cupping his cheek, just enough to keep herself close without crowding him, she wasn’t the kind to be all over someone. he was being so gentle it made her want to stay right there, she felt… safe. when he rested his forehead against hers, her eyes fluttered closed, trying to steady her breathing. "you want to know a lot of things," she chuckled nervously, unsure if she was that interesting. "you make me feel safe in this moment," she admitted, "i guess i can tell you one fact a day so you don’t get overwhelmed with me," she added with a soft laugh, opening her eyes again to meet his. as he said he didn’t want to rush things, she let out a quiet sigh. "that’s okay," she nodded, "i’ve never liked rushing, the one time i did, it didn’t end well," she confessed. as he listed the little things he wanted to know about her, her gaze dropped to his lips for a second, taking in every word. his hand rested on her waist, and for a moment she simply enjoyed the closeness. then he closed the distance, catching her lower lip between his teeth, and her eyes widened briefly, heart racing as she looked at him. for a second, she was speechless. but instead of saying anything, she leaned in again, pressing a deeper kiss to his lips this time, her fingers still resting along his jaw as she moved just a little closer, letting that slow, charged moment he had started settle between them.

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren didn’t think what Vivian did was just brave, he thought it was precious. The way she tried to be honest, even when it scared her a little, made something warm bloom in his chest. He could tell it wasn’t easy for her. He could see it in the careful way she chose her words, in the quiet pauses between them. But she still chose to speak. He didn’t see her trust as something small or something to measure. To him, it was delicate, like being handed something made of glass and sunlight. He didn’t want to rush it. He didn’t want to drop it. He just wanted to hold it gently and prove, without big dramatic promises, that she was safe with him. When he shifted closer, it wasn’t bold or calculated. It was instinct. Like gravity had quietly decided she was where he belonged. And when he brushed his thumb over the corner of her mouth, it was almost absentminded, a gentle little gesture because he’d been looking at her lips and thinking how pretty her shy smile was. Her whisper made him grin slightly, playful but soft. “Good,” he murmured back, his voice low and teasing in the most innocent way. “Then I’ll risk it.” But the teasing faded the second she looked at him like that, soft, thoughtful, something deeper behind her eyes. He felt it. The shift. The way the air changed. When her hand touched his cheek, he stilled completely. Not tense, just careful. His heart was beating so loudly he was sure she could feel it. And when she leaned in and kissed him, gentle and sweet and a little shy, Soren melted into it without hesitation. He didn’t rush. Didn’t take more than she offered. He just kissed her back softly, like he’d been waiting for her to decide it was okay. The kiss wasn’t dramatic or overwhelming. It was warm. Tender. The kind that makes your chest feel too small to hold everything inside it. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead lightly against hers, smiling in that quiet, boyish way he only ever showed when he felt something real. He didn’t say anything big. He didn’t need to. But if she’d looked closely, she would’ve seen it in his eyes, he wasn’t going anywhere. Then, almost shyly playful, he nudged his nose against hers. It wasn’t dramatic. It was soft. A little clumsy, even, like he’d thought about doing it for a while and finally gave in. The small brush of his nose against hers made him grin, eyes half-lidded and warm. His hand slid carefully to her waist, giving her plenty of time to react, to stop him if she wanted. With slow, gentle pressure, he guided her back onto the bed beneath them, not in a forceful way, not in a claiming way. More like he was following the natural pull between them. He moved with her, careful and attentive, one hand braced beside her shoulder so his weight never fully pressed down on her. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his thumb lingering softly near her temple. “Still okay?” he asked quietly, searching her expression. There was a small, playful curve to his mouth, but underneath it was something sincere. He needed to know.

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian had never been much of a talker. it wasn’t that she didn’t have things to say—she just grew up learning that her voice didn’t always matter. eight foster homes had a way of teaching someone that. still, beneath the quiet, there was warmth in her, something soft and bright that only showed itself when she felt safe enough. with soren, some of those layers had slowly started to peel away. they had gone out a few times already, and even though love hadn’t exactly been kind to her in the past, she found herself feeling hopeful again. she just wasn’t the kind of person to make the first move. so when soren said he wanted to risk it and leaned in, she smiled softly, her head tilting just a little as their lips met. her hand rested against his chest and she could feel his heartbeat beneath her palm, quick and uneven, and it made her realize she wasn’t the only one nervous. the kiss was gentle, unhurried—just a first kiss, without pressure or expectation. when he rested his forehead against hers afterward, a small giggle slipped out of her, pure nerves. she smiled warmly, eyes lifting to his for a brief moment when he nudged his nose against hers. later that night she’d probably thank the rats for forcing them into that moment. when his hand settled at her waist she didn’t pull away, letting him guide her down onto the bed while he steadied himself with a hand beside her shoulder. “more than okay,” she promised softly, propping herself up on her forearms before leaning in to kiss him again, this time taking the lead just a little even though he had started it. she wanted him to see that side of her—the one that could be brave, that could choose something for herself. the only quiet wish in the back of her mind was that this time things would be different, that he wouldn’t hurt her the way someone else once had.

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren met her look without hesitation, his expression steady and open. He told her, calmly and honestly, that yes, amazing. Not embarrassing, not awkward. Just brave. He explained, matter-of-fact, that saying what she felt took guts, and he respected her for it. Simple could be good. When she questioned it again, he gave a small, reassuring smile and confirmed it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Two people who liked each other. That was all he meant. Nothing more demanded, nothing less dismissed. As she walked off for the blanket, he stayed where he was, relaxed but attentive. At her invitation to sleep beside her, he didn’t tease or make it a big deal. He just nodded, appreciative, and shifted closer with an ease that matched hers, like it really had happened a thousand times already. When she asked what he wanted to do, he glanced at her, eyes warm, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth. “Honestly?” he said, friendly and soft. “I’m good with whatever you want.” Then, just a touch more playful, he added, “But for the record, lying here with you sounds like a pretty great start.” Soren shifted closer, just enough to close the space without crowding her. His eyes flicked to her mouth for a brief second before he lifted his hand, thumb brushing gently at the corner of her lips. “Nobody saw me come in, right?” he asked, tone casual but warm, like it mattered only a little, enough to be playful about it. “That means we can do whatever two people who like each other do, if you want?"

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian didn’t know if what she’d done would be considered brave by everyone else; she was just trying to be honest, even if it was hard— even if part of her would’ve preferred keeping those thoughts to herself. but she knew that staying quiet wouldn’t get her anywhere. things weren’t easy. feelings weren’t easy. still, he wasn’t her ex-girlfriend. maybe this time she could just be herself and trust him enough to believe he wouldn’t hurt her. she didn’t know whether that counted as a big step or a small one, but it was a place to start, regardless of what anyone else might do. she felt happy around soren. safe. comfortable. when he shifted closer, a shy smile curved her lips. as he lifted his hand and brushed his thumb gently over the corner of her mouth, her breath hitched, heart skipping at the simple touch. “i don’t think they care enough to notice you sneaking in,” she whispered, the words barely more than air. at what he said next, she glanced down for a second before meeting his eyes again, something soft settling in her expression. she lifted her hand to his cheek and leaned in, pressing her lips to his in a gentle kiss—the kind she’d been thinking about for longer than she wanted to admit.

[shauni--lee]

Shauni: I think I'm learning from my mistakes Shauni: I think I picked a good one this time Shauni: Ugh, fine, I'm going to do it

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: same here, sister vivian: i trust your intuition vivian: amazing! speak to you later, my client is here vivian: love you

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren let out a soft laugh when she insisted she’d embarrassed herself, shaking his head as he watched her retreat to the bed. The blush on her cheeks only made her look even sweeter than she already was to him. “Hey,” he said gently, voice still warm and steady, “if that was embarrassing, then I’m clearly doing life wrong—because I thought it was kind of amazing.” His smile softened, less cocky now, more sincere. “You trusted me enough to say something. That counts for a lot. Communication is under-rated nowadays. Words are so important." When she asked what happened next, Soren paused—not because he didn’t know, but because he wanted to be careful with her. He leaned back against the edge of the bed, relaxed, one knee bouncing slightly as he looked at her. “What happens now,” he said slowly, thoughtfully, “is whatever you’re comfortable with.” He met her eyes again, confidence still there, but grounded in care. “No pressure. No expectations. We’re still us—roommates, friends, two people who like each other now." Her glance at his lips didn’t go unnoticed. He smiled at that, just a little smug, but kind. “And maybe,” he added lightly, “we see where it goes from there. It's out in the clear and we see what happens." At the mention of the extra blanket, Soren chuckled, watching her as she went to get an extra blanket for them from somewhere in her room. Soren tilted his head slightly, a playful curiosity slipping into his expression as he looked at her. His voice dropped just a touch, still easy but more private. “Hey,” he asked casually, brows lifting, “does anybody else know I snuck into your room?" Soren drummed his fingers lightly against his thighs, the restless energy giving him away just a bit as he shuffled back on the bed to get more comfortable. He shifted until he had a better spot to lean into, stretching out with an easy, familiar confidence—like sharing space with her already felt natural. He glanced over at Vivian, tone gentle but casual, giving her an out without making it awkward. “So,” he asked, a small smile tugging at his mouth, “how do you usually sleep?” Then, with a soft chuckle, he added, “Do you want me here next to you or top and tail?”

[vivicnjacobs]

as he told her he didn’t find it embarrassing how she had told him she liked him, she looked at him. she felt a flicker of embarrassment—she had spoken her mind, but if she was honest, she didn’t know why she had done it in that moment. she needed to get it out of her system, and it was probably what she would have told shauni to do. “amazing?” she asked, genuinely surprised. “that’s true,” she nodded, a small smile on her lips as she glanced at him for a fraction of a second before looking away again. she noticed him shifting on the bed, leaning back casually against the edge, and she nodded at his words. “two people who like each other?” she asked, as if she couldn’t quite believe what he was saying. “sounds like a solid plan,” she nodded. she walked away to grab a blanket, as if she needed a moment to breathe after realizing soren liked her back, to clear her head. when he caught her attention again, she looked at him. “i don’t know if anyone saw you sneaking in,” she mused, her voice calm, though deep down she wondered if he cared about anyone seeing him there. she pushed the thought aside and walked back to the bed, seeing him resting so casually, as if he belonged there. “uhm,” she thought. “you can sleep next to me,” she nodded, sitting on the bed, cheeks still red. she rested against the headboard, looking at him, and it felt comfortable, like they had done this a million times before. “i’m such a bad sleepover host, what do you want to do?”

[shauni--lee]

Shauni: I fall for people too quickly Shauni: It's my own red flag Shauni: I should, huh?

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: i mean, i wouldn't consider it a red flag vivian: just something you need to be careful of. vivian: YES, PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

[sorenwolfgang]

He glanced at her as she rambled about Shauni, a soft smile tugging at his mouth—one that said he heard every word. Soren’s brow quirked slightly as he watched Vivian shift, a small, thoughtful smirk tugging at his lips. He leaned back just enough to keep the space comfortable but close enough to gauge her reaction. “Are you two close?” he asked, voice low and careful. “You seem it." He let the question hang for a moment, watching her eyes flicker, giving her room to answer honestly while making it clear he was genuinely interested And the moment his knee brushed hers and she tensed, he almost chuckled—almost—because her reaction was so honest, so painfully sweet. Then her cheeks flushed and he knew she knew he saw it. His smirk softened into something warmer. As soon as she said he could sleep with her, Soren’s head tilted slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “I wouldn’t mind either,” he said quietly, his knee pressing just slightly more into hers, intentional this time. "I won't take too much room, don't worry." But when her reckless honesty flooded out and she jolted upright, covering her face like she wanted to vanish, Soren didn’t move at first. “Viv,” he said softly, the kind of soft that shut down storms. “Hey. Look at me.” He waited until she finally peeked. “I’m not forgetting anything you said,” he told her, voice strong but warm. “And I’m definitely not running from it.” He moved closer, if possible. “You didn’t embarrass yourself,” Soren added, eyes locked on hers like he meant every syllable. “You told the truth. That’s… kind of brave.” A faint smile tugged at his mouth—gentle, not teasing. “And for the record?” he said, voice dropping just enough to feel like a confession. “I like you too.” Soren’s hand reached out slowly, brushing against her wrist. His thumb traced a soft, deliberate line over her skin, grounding her without words at first. “And you’re not running out there,” he murmured, voice low and steady, threading warmth and authority into the words. “We hate rats in the house, remember?” He gave her wrist another gentle stroke, eyes meeting hers so she couldn’t look away. “Nobody needs to know what you just said. Just me. Our secret… promise.”

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian nodded at his question. “we are,” she said softly, nodding again. “i’d even say she’s my best friend.” she really was grateful to have shauni in her life, someone who mattered that much to her, someone who felt like a sister after everything she had lost in the car accident, after moving from one foster home to another, shauni had been the one who made her feel like she’d finally found family. vivian wasn’t good at relationships; after being cheated on by an ex-girlfriend, she’d learned to navigate around them differently, mostly by avoiding them altogether. but with soren, things felt easy. maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her, but she felt comfortable, like she wanted to be there with him. still, she was a mess—blushing, nervous over the smallest things, painfully aware of it all. and then she said the thing that had been sitting in her mind for a while, immediately wanting to disappear. when he said her name so softly, she looked at him, her heart feeling like it might leap out of her chest. when he told her she hadn’t embarrassed herself, her brows furrowed. “i did embarrass myself,” she insisted. when he said she’d been brave for telling him, she braced herself, certain the rejection was coming, like a bucket of cold water about to be poured over her head—but then he said he liked her too. vivian froze, stunned by his words, feeling his hand close around her wrist to keep her from pulling away, blushing even harder and feeling ridiculous for it. “yeah, rats,” she chuckled, moving back to sit on the bed. “okay,” she nodded, relieved at the idea that if he didn’t tell anyone, she could still exist around the place without feeling watched or judged. she looked at him, silently wishing he’d tell her what came next. “so… what happens now?” she asked softly, her gaze flickering from his eyes to his lips for just a second before she shook her head. “i’m getting an extra blanket.”

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren followed Vivian down the hall, his expression easy and unreadable — the kind of calm that came naturally to him, even when she was clearly overthinking every word. When they reached her door and she made the comment about sharing a bed, he chuckled under his breath — not mocking, just amused. “Guess not,” he replied simply. “Doesn’t really matter to me — I’m fine with whatever you’re comfortable with.” The nonchalance in his voice wasn’t forced; he genuinely didn’t seem bothered. As she opened the door and let him in, his eyes swept over the room in quiet curiosity, taking in the details without a hint of judgment. "She’s got an eye for this kind of thing, huh?" When Vivian’s words tumbled out about her sister and her boyfriend, Soren’s mouth twitched into an almost-smile — the kind that showed up when he was trying not to make her more embarrassed. “Viv, it’s fine,” he said, voice low and even. “We’ll figure it out. Bed, couch, floor — whatever works.” He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. “I don’t mind sharing, as long as you’re cool with it.” There was no hesitation in his tone, no awkwardness — just the calm steadiness that made it hard to tell if he even realised how flustered she was. Without saying anything at first, he sat down beside her — close enough that the mattress dipped under his weight, the space between them shrinking naturally. He glanced over, caught the color rising in her cheeks, and couldn’t help himself. With a light tap of his knee against hers — playful, not teasing in a mean way — he let out a quiet chuckle. “You’re blushing,” he said, voice warm and low, carrying that effortless calm he always seemed to have. Then, a small smirk. “It’s pretty cute.” He leaned back on his hands, looking entirely at ease, legs stretched out in front of him.

[vivicnjacobs]

she followed him into the room and the nerves hit harder, curling tight in her stomach for reasons she couldn’t name. “she really does,” she said of shauni, forcing a small laugh, “life of the party and interior designer, apparently.” but when soren gently stopped her rambling, she looked up at him with wide, nervous eyes—caught, exposed, unsure what to do with the attention. as he sat beside her and his knee touched hers, she froze for half a second, then tried to play it off, but the moment he smirked and called her cute her cheeks went warm so fast she couldn’t deny it even if she tried. “you’re crazy,” she muttered before dropping back onto the bed beside him, staring up at him while he leaned on his hands like he belonged there. “there’s no point in lying, is there? i’m totally blushing,” she admitted with a tiny laugh. when she finally spoke again her voice was softer, steadier than she expected. “you can sleep with me. i… wouldn’t mind.” she didn’t look away, not at first, her leg still pressed to his because she liked the closeness more than she wanted to admit. and then the words slipped out—shauni-level reckless honesty—before she could stop herself: “if i’m blushing it’s because maybe i like you.” immediately she shot up, covering her face with both hands, mortified. “forget i said that, oh my god,” she groaned, pacing a step away. “i’m going to disappear real quick, this is too embarrassing.”

[shauni--lee]

shauni: i won't, don't worry shauni: i am starting to fall madly in love shauni: i just hope he feels the same about me

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: AHH my sister is in love vivian: he'd be stupid if he didn't! vivian: ask him on a date!

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him, warm and amused, as he watched her stumble over her own words. There was something endearing about how flustered Vivian got, and he let his grin linger, clearly enjoying every second of it. “Viv, relax,” he drawled lightly, following after her with easy steps. “You’re not making it weird— don't worry.” His tone was teasing but soft enough to keep it playful, his eyes twinkling with charm. As she moved toward her room, he reached out to brush his fingers against her arm, voice dropping just a little lower, full of amused confidence. “ Soren’s grin softened into something more genuine, though the playful glint never quite left his eyes. “Hey,” he said lightly, falling into step beside her. “Thank you. Honestly, that room feels safer than anywhere else right now, and I’m not gonna argue with the upgrade.” He gave a small, amused shrug, tilting his head toward her. “And you don’t need to kick yourself out to sleep with Shauni. We can top and tail, or… whatever normal people do when they share a bed. It’s cool.” His tone was reassuring, casual, but there was still that undercurrent of charm in the way he smiled at her. Soren trailed after her into the room, his eyes sweeping over the space with an approving glance before he let out a low whistle. “Wow,” he said, the amusement in his tone laced with genuine surprise. “Your room’s cute. Way nicer than I expected. My room looks like a hurricane tore through it compared to this.”

[vivicnjacobs]

words weren’t vivian’s thing — probably soren’s, because in her mind he was a living poet, but she wasn’t. she had to think about what she wanted to say a few times before it sounded natural, and speaking without that time only made her trip over her words. when he told her to relax, vivian took a deep breath. she was nervous, and it showed. she felt his fingers brush against her arm, which didn’t help at all. “you’re welcome,” she said softly, trying not to overthink. “i just wanted to help.” she stopped by her door once they reached her room. “i don’t know what normal people do when they share a bed,” she chuckled, “guess we’ll have to figure it out tonight.” she opened the door and let him walk in behind her, watching his eyes sweep over the space. it felt strangely personal — no guy she liked had ever been in her room before, and it was like letting him see a piece of her she usually kept hidden. “it’s all thanks to shauni,” she said quietly. “my side would be way more boring if she hadn’t used her magic on it.” she shrugged lightly. “i’ve never seen it, so i can’t really judge.” walking over to her bed, she sat down and waited to see what he’d do. “if my sister can share her bed with her boyfriend, i think we’ll be fine sharing mine,” she blurted, her face turning red. “or, you know, we could share the couch — it wouldn’t be the worst place we’ve slept.”

[shauni--lee]

shauni: too much? i'm sorry shauni: he knows i have high expectations shauni: i'm a girl that has needs to meet shauni: i think you'll like him tho

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: please, don't list the things the needs you need vivian: i hope so, you seem to be in love

[sorenwolfgang]

He looked up, startled at first, then caught the way Vivian’s voice softened, almost hesitant, when she offered him a place to sleep. His brows lifted, and for a second he just stared at her like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right. Then his lips quirked into a sheepish smile, and he shook his head a little, the tips of his ears pink. “You don’t have to do that,” he said, the words coming out softer than he intended, almost playful in the way he tried to downplay how much it meant. His grin widened, crooked and a little shy, like he was both embarrassed and touched at the same time. But then his gaze flicked toward the couch, and he couldn’t stop the quiet laugh that escaped him. “Though… you’re right, the couch doesn’t feel very safe right now.” He rubbed the back of his neck, still smiling, eyes dropping before finding hers again. “So, uh… if you’re sure, I wouldn’t say no.” The rat was in his room. Among his clothes, his consoles, his books. His stuff. The idea made his skin crawl, his stomach twisting. He rubbed a hand over his face, groaning softly. “God, it’s gonna be crawling all over my things until the morning,” he muttered, shoulders hunching. He gave a little shiver, half disgusted, half defeated, before glancing back at Vivian. “Look, you don’t have to give up your bed for me. I can sleep on the floor if you’ve got a pillow spare.”

[vivicnjacobs]

she noticed the surprise on his face, and for a second she wondered if she’d said something so crazy it made him think she had overstepped, but then he smiled, so maybe it wasn’t that bad. “i know i don’t have to, but i want to,” she answered simply. “yeah, i wouldn’t want to stay out here knowing there could be more of those, we’ll put towels under the door to keep them out until we’re sure they’re gone,” she suggested. at his shiver, the brunette chuckled. “yeah, don’t think about that, it’s disgusting. we’ll call someone tomorrow, let’s just survive the night,” she mused softly. when he mentioned her giving up her bed for him, she was the one caught off guard—was she stupid for actually thinking about sharing it for a night? “oh, i… yeah, no, you’re not sleeping on the floor,” she shook her head. “i can sleep with shauni, you can take my bed or something, i’m not letting you sleep on the floor,” she assured. “but when i said share, i meant it, you can sleep with me,” vivian added, her cheeks burning red, “not in that way, you know what i mean—shit, i should shut up already,” she chuckled nervously. “i’m making this weird, let’s just hide already, i’ll call shauni,” she muttered, closing her eyes in embarrassment as she walked toward her room.

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: oh shauni! vivian: amazing! love that vivian: will be time to judge if he's good enough or not!

[shauni--lee]

shauni: everything fabulous, bigger, better and best shauni: poor antonio shauni: that superhero just turns tiny shauni: i don't know if my expectations are low shauni: but he loves me and actually cares about me and actually takes the time to come and see me

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: i hope you catch the reference to hsm2 vivian: he also turns big? idk if he need that lol vivian: that's all i need to know vivian: i want to meet him though.

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren and Vivian and their room-mates were having a fairly normal evening—or at least as normal as it gets in an apartment shared by too many people and cleaned by too few—when the nightmare began. It started innocently enough: a faint rustling noise from the kitchen. Soren assumed it was the fridge making its usual haunted-house gurgling sounds. But then it happened. A rat. Not a cute cartoon kind with culinary ambitions, but a full-on, streetwise, scrappy little beast, launched itself from the shadows of the kitchen, sprinted across the hallway like it was late for a meeting, and disappeared into his bedroom. “Are you serious right now?!” he half-yelled, half-whimpered, gesturing wildly, as someone closed his bedroom door to trap it inside of there. “It ran into my room, maybe the cleanest room in this whole place. Where the fuck am I going to sleep tonight?" One of the other roommates mumbled something about the couch being free, to which Soren wheeled around like they’d just suggested he live in a sewer with the rat. What if more of them were lingering too? “Oh yeah, great. I’ll just camp out in the living room while a literal feral animal squats in my bedroom like it pays rent. Perfect. Love that for me.”

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian was perched awkwardly on the high stool in the kitchen, one leg hooked over the seat, leaning forward onto the table as she scrolled through her laptop, trying to pick the best shot to start editing. her brows furrowed when she heard the faint noise from the fridge—only it wasn’t the fridge. the second the rat darted out, vivian shot up and bolted straight to the living room, heart racing, where everyone else was screaming just as loud. “oh my god, that was the biggest rat i’ve ever seen,” she shivered, looking around frantically, “where is it?” her eyes widened when she noticed someone shutting soren’s bedroom door, and the look on her face said it all—surprised, horrified, and maybe a little amused. she bit her lip, gaze shifting to soren now complaining about where he was supposed to sleep. when someone suggested the couch, vivian scoffed. “oh, sure, real safe to sleep on the couch after seeing a rat,” she shook her head. everyone else laughed it off, retreating to their rooms and slamming their doors shut as quickly as possible to keep the rodent out. slowly, vivian stepped closer to soren, her voice soft as she offered, “you can sleep with me. it’s not the cleanest room, but as far as i know, it’s rat-free.”

[sorenwolfgang]

Soren had always been more of an observer than a speaker, but there were moments—like this one—when silence felt louder than words. Soren didn’t brush things off the way most people did. He paid attention, not just out of habit but out of a need to understand, to see people fully. Vivian wasn’t someone who wore masks. What she gave you was real—unguarded and unfiltered—and Soren liked that about her more than he could say. There was no pretense, no second version of her kept behind glass for special occasions. Just one Vivian, and he was certain that was the best kind. When she told him they were two peas in a pod, he couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his mouth. It wasn’t rehearsed—it never was with her. As they left the table, he almost wished the day could rewind, like a film he didn’t want to end. The conversation had flowed so naturally, unexpectedly easy. And when she teased him with, that grin on her lips made him laugh under his breath. He glanced at her, then back ahead, his hand still resting comfortably around her shoulders as they walked. “I like talking to you too,” he said, his voice quiet but steady. That wasn’t something he said often—wasn’t something he felt often, either. “I thought we might have had some things in common, but it’s more than I thought,” he added after a beat, thinking out loud in the way he rarely let himself do. Being around her made it easier. Less filtered. Less careful. She didn’t make him feel like he had to measure every word. “I think I’d like an outing or two with you a week,” he said, almost surprised by how easily the thought came out. “It’s been fun.” The word didn’t feel shallow when he said it—it felt like something real, something honest. And then, more quietly, like he wasn’t sure if he was admitting too much or just enough: “I don’t have any close friends or anything. It’s nice to be around someone I like."

[vivicnjacobs]

talking to soren was easy, he was quieter than her, but that wasn’t what she liked most—it was the way he actually listened, and how even the silence between them felt good, like she didn’t have to fill it with words just to make it comfortable. he paid attention, and she gave it right back. she was being herself, and pretending to be someone else had never worked for making friends anyway, so why keep trying? as they walked out of the café, she stayed close, a soft smile on her lips when his arm casually wrapped around her shoulders. when he mentioned how he’d expected to have things in common but not this many, vivian nodded—she felt the exact same way. "who would’ve thought, huh?" she smiled, glancing up at him, "probably shauni, but we’re not letting her win this, she can win everything else," she joked. when he said he’d like to go out with her once or twice a week, her eyes lit up in pure excitement. "i’d really like that," she nodded, her smile growing. "maybe we can take turns showing each other the places we love," she added, glancing over at him. as he admitted their time together had been fun, she let out a quiet sigh. "it was great," she agreed softly, and when he said he liked her, her heart skipped just a little. "i like you too," she said with a warm smile. "being around you feels really nice," she added as they kept walking, the city slowly passing by on their way back home.

[shauni--lee]

shauni: i can send mom if you keep being cheeky shauni: i'm just fabulous - nothing more to it shauni: ant man? is that his new name? shauni: i speak to him eeryday shauni: he's so cute

[vivicnjacobs]

vivian: don't send mom, pls vivian: all things fabulous, that's your simple request? vivian: yup haha vivian: ANTonio vivian: is he? tell me more