❝ Be Brave; Be Soft.

❝ The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripples effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together. Making them closer than before. While sending others spinning off into great ventures, landing them where you've never thought you've found them. That's the thing about moments like these. You can't, no matter how hard you try, control how it's gonna affect you. You just gotta let the colliding part go where they may and wait for the next collision. ❞

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--- Lavinia:

Sure, there was sushi — even if it was only the scent of it that she could figure out, the siren she was, being always fully aware of seafood around her. But the rest of those… snacks? Good question. Quinn did try them, however, and when Lavinia was being offered whatever it was, she leaned forward, lips slightly parting to get a little bite. She didn’t miss out on the opportunity to grave Quinn’s finger lightly — just for a little tease. “Hmm… Avocado… something. It’s good,” she hummed.

Quinn’s smirk only grew at Lavinia’s willingness to try what she was offering - what it was, Quinn had no clue, but it tasted good and she figured Lavinia would like it too. “Don’t ask me what it is either, I can’t figure it out for the life of me. But it is good, so I’m gonna keep eating it. Just your luck I’m willing to share my plate with you.” She added with a wink, linking her arm through the other’s. “Hope you don’t have a date hanging around somewhere, because I don’t plan on giving you back any time soon.”

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--- Adrienne:

She had already donated a quite good amount and had not planned to get herself involved into the date bidding, but seeing Carter up there had her change her mind though and she began to compete with the other people who wanted him. Who knew, she might just have good chances of winning him. A pleasant surprise as it turned out that it was happening, contacts had been exchanged and date quickly arranged. Well, she was taken on one, actually. 

Unsure what to expect she went with a simple dress, actually. A little black dress was always fitting, said once Karl Lagerfeld and he was not wrong. Matching high heels and clutch to it and he was already there, just on time. A smile on her face as she opened the door for Carter. “Hello there. Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself actually.” She stepped out, shutting the door behind her. “So, what’s the plan for us both tonight?”

Carter grinned in response, every bit pleased with the night already - and how could he not, with a company such as Lavinia? She was quite stunning alright, but it wasn’t just that. She was also someone he enjoyed exchanging words with, who he could have a good talk with. As the woman was walking towards him, he was already offering her his arm to take - like the gentleman he was (or tried to be). “Well, I was thinking of keeping it as a surprise.” He told her, glancing towards the blonde, but he quickly decided that he could just tell her anyway. If the plan didn’t suit her, perhaps they could find an alternative. “But I’ll tell you. There’s this small little restaurant by the beach… I thought I could take you there. I quite enjoy the food there and it’s not too packed. Then I thought that, if dinner goes well and you’re up for it, we could go play some mini golf. What do you think?”

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--- Lucas:

He had no clue what to expect of the date other than that the girl he bid on looked exactly like his type, but there was more than that to figure out about her — looks weren’t everything, after all. Now, he had gotten himself involved and scored the date with her. She suggested a bar, which was pretty okay. They could talk, get to know each other, see how they got along. Honestly, he wasn’t looking for anything in particular other than just meeting new people. He was there first, ordering himself a beer and taking a seat. Only a few minutes later Sloane arrived too and she was no sorts of shy, having him already chuckle at her bold move to grab his beer and drink it. “Hey. Uhh… I was passing the time until you came. But if you want one, feel free to order more. I didn’t want to assume what you would like to drink.”

“Well, I can’t blame you. A man can’t go thirsty after all.” She retorted back with a smirk, taking the sit next to him and looking over the bartender, ordering herself a drink and gesturing for the bartender to wait before she turned to her date. “What would you like to drink? Stick with the beer? Some people don’t like to mix drinks, what kind of guy are you?” She wasn’t one to hold back or wait around for her date to do all the work and order their drinks or food. Sloane wanted to get right to it and start drinking, no need to be shy about it. “Also, at some point, I’m gonna need to eat something, if you’d like to accompany me to it.”

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--- Zara:

After all classes got canceled, the bar got closed for some days — what else would she be doing? Electricity was still fine in her building, so Zara did something she had not done in a long time. Just binge some goddamn show without a time limit and chill out on the couch. She had done everything for uni already and also did some preparations for later, so she probably deserved that. Snuggled in between a pillow fort in her sweats, her laziness got disturbed when someone knocked at the door. Finding Landon standing there, she couldn’t help but feel confused for a moment. He had told her everything was cool when they were checking up on one another during the storm and all — why was he here now? “The what?” Oh right, she had scrolled past something on her phone — damn, the world was really shut out from her at the moment. “Uhh.. sure, why not. If I can get myself to change into some actual clothes that is. When was it again?” She asked, stepping aside to let him in and making her way back to her couch.

Landon fought the urge to fight at her response. Zara was always so put together, with everything under control, it was a funny look on her to seem confused and caught off guard. Sure, he knew that he should have probably sent her a text first asking if it was alright for him to barge in like that. But he had Mandy with him and the little girl had been begging him for the three of them to go out. And there wasn’t many things (or any things, really) that he denied his daughter. “Tonight. You didn’t notice the messages about it? It’s all over the town’s page.” He told her, finding the situation every bit of amusing. “What were you doing anyway?”

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( &&. @thcbcstkindofhcll )

It had been a long night at the hospital, and Logan was finally coming out of his shift. He didn’t even bother changing his scrubs - he went into the coffee shop just like that, with scrubs, messy hair and bags under his eyes. It was clear the man had had a tough time and so, he asked for his coffee to go. But before he could make it out the door, Logan found himself right in front of a very familiar face. Just what I needed right now. “Hey--- Lia. You look good.” Better than he did, anyway.

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( &&. @thcbcstkindofhcll )

Sitting on a park bench, taking advantage of the fact that she was alone with her thoughts, Kenna tried with all her might to sort through her jumbled thoughts and put them down into her notebook. No such luck. That girl’s head was all kinds of confused, and with frustration growing inside her, she ended up just running her pen along the page, multiple times, with a fury never before heard of from her. Heaving a deep sigh, Kenna pushed herself back against the bench, closing her notebook down and looking up to watch the people around, just in time to catch sight of Adrian. “Hey you.” She greeted with a soft smile, happy to see him.

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( &&. @thcbcstkindofhcll )

Claire wasn’t very good at cooking - she’d never been, not really, there had always been people who cooked for her. And even after she ran from home, she wasn’t very good at taking care of herself. But God, she tried. Especially because she wanted to do something nice for Hasan every once in a while - and everyone who knew Hasan, also knew that he was a lover of food. Heaving a sigh, she threw out the contents of the frying pan for the third time, just as the male was making his way inside the house and into the kitchen. “I’m sure by the smell of it, you’ve already been able to guess that I wasn’t able to save dinner… So take out it is...”

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--- Hadley:

“And you’re in luck. I’m perfectly available to be yours. Though, I cannot promise to show up in a catsuit for our crime sprees, it’s hidden far too far back in my closet.” She teased him, letting him kiss her forehead too before she walked away. Walking up to the agreed upon man, Hadley was already in the drama mindset. “Excuse you?” She started, her voice not too loud. It only took a few moments before her voice was loud enough to bring attention to them though as she started to rant on about how her sister, her made up sister, was suffering t home with bedrest from the pregnancy he was responsible for, so why was he not picking up the phone when her sister tried to call? Oh she was so going to end up in hell for this stuff. “Really, if anything, you should have the whole tower of champagne flutes fall over you with the lack of respect for women you have.” she finished with, leaving the man bright red as she marched back over to Enzo. “Men, psh, how dare he leave my sister like that?” She said, trying to not completely fall into laughter. 

“Ah, dang it.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head, looking almost disappointed. “And I was already dreaming with that catsuit… Guess any other clothes will have to do. Or any lack of them for that matter.” He added teasingly. As the woman went off to approach the man, Enzo stood back nursing a glass of champagne, his eyes glued on the pair, to watch the scene unfold. God, he almost felt sorry for the man. Hadley was ruthless, and unafraid to cause a scene. He tried to keep from laughing, knowing that it would attract attention to himself and Hadley if he allowed himself to react. But the man was bright red, looking as humiliated as ever in the crowd of people, not knowing where to turn or what to do. “Oh boy, you really showed him, uh? Men should respect women a lot more.” He agreed nodding his head, before he finally broke into a fit of laughter. “That was briliant.” 

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--- Aiden:

He should be getting ready to get back out there and help out again, but he also just needed to gather his mind first. To be able to think rationally. Looking up, he saw the shorter male be looking down at him. “What can I say? I’m better with encouraging, than being encouraged.” He said with a slight laugh. He really did need to listen to his own advice at times though. Maybe he should text Mercia after work, she always made him laugh at least. “Yeah no… I get it. Loss never gets easier, you just learn how to deal until you can break down. unfortunately.”

Logan smiled softly at the other male. He was tired, he could imagine Aiden was too, and the worst part was that as much as they could take some little breaks here and there, they still had a few hours left to go, after a few minutes to gather their thoughts. “I guess so. No one ever tells you that at med school.” And even if they did, Logan would still probably go through all of it anyway, because when he was indeed able to help someone, the sensation was indescribable. “How long until you have to go back out there again?”

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--- Emma:

“Good, I like when you agree. I usually have to agree because people are so booo.” She told him with a giggle, happy he was letting her have her will. Even as drunk as she was, and as much as a mess she was on his lap. Cuddling close, she hid her face against his neck, nuzzling it with her nose. “I’ll feel better? But I feel really good now. Or… I think i do! I feel giggly. And likeverything tickles. My nose is tickly. But I also can’t feel it. Can you feel your nose? Is it normal to feel noses? Oh my god would you even notice it if you left your nose?”

“Sure.” Rowan didn’t know what else to say, but it didn’t seem like he needed to say much anyway. Emma was drunk out of her mind - for some reason that was still unknown to him. That was so out of character for her, but Rowan had to believe that she had simply wanted to have some harmless fun. “Uh---” He frowned, a little thrown away by her questions, but he supposed that was just what normal drunk people acted like. “Your nose is just… There. I don’t think anyone ever feels it unless it’s hurting…” 

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--- Madeline:

It wasn’t exactly her place to just sit down in front of him, and demand the spot, but she had. She’d just claimed it as hers, but it was a bit of a sweet feeling to see that he wasn’t exactly unaffected by her. That he still reacted to her, even if it wasn’t the kind of reactions she’d loved. His jaw clenching, the way he leaned back… It was a reaction at least. “Touchy much, Rowie?” She returned, picking up her drink so she could wrap her lips around the straw, sipping it a bit before she’d continue. She was jealous, it was true. She had wanted to rip those damn feathers out of the back of that child, but she had far better temper than that. For the most part. “Well damn, you think that situation needs an explanation? Now I’m curious, what happened? Did you bring her back home to your own bed, since you think I am asking for an explanation?”

Rowan tried his best to seem unfazed, though she had definitely caught him by surprise. Their last meeting had been anything but pleasant, and the man certainly wasn’t ready to meet her again, in such circumstances. God, he hated her guts. Ah, she was jealous alright. He knew her well enough to know that, and it would almost make him smile if he wasn’t still so pissed off at her. Who did she think she was? “I don’t care to give you an explanation either way.” And that’s as far as he was going to go. Maddie could think whatever she wanted to, he owed her nothing more. “If you’re done, you can go now.” 

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--- Sam:

“You were bringing muffins, you just don’t trust my ice cream.” He teased her, watching her as her cheeks became oh so pink, and so flustered. She was so argumentative though, and he couldn’t help but love it at times. So he came even closer to her. Holding her hand in one of his, and moving his other hand to her cheek, he leaned down, close enough that his lips were nearly touching hers. “We could watch a movie… Or we could do something far more fun, Kenna.”

“I do trust your ice cream.” The brunette argued, following by a sigh. By now she’d already learned how much Sam liked to mess with her, especially when she tried to argue back, so really, there was no use, it would only make him press further. “You know what, maybe I really do not trust your taste.” She joked at last, turning her head and noticing just how close he’d become to her. Her heart stopped for a second, her lips parted at how close he was, noticing the heat that emanated from his body. “Hm?” Her eyes went up to meet his. “What’s more fun?”

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--- Mason:

“Such a funny girl. So hilarious.” He said with a dry laugh. She really was loving that he was out of luck with all of this, and he hated all of it, but it was however it was. “Oh yeah? You think you get to eat a steak if I’m stuck with dog food? Then you really have no idea about how you’re going to end up, little girl.” He playfully threatened her, and picked her up. “Generous? Such a good girl. But are you going to let me make the steak so it ends up perfect? You can make the side dishes.”

Sloane raised a brow as Mason spoke, however she just couldn’t help the smile that was added to her features, turning into a full fit of laughter when he picked her up. “If you think I’m a good girl, you haven’t been living here long enough, that’s for sure.” She teased some, rolling her eyes at him. “You men are all the same. As if it wouldn’t end up perfect if i cooked it.” It probably wouldn’t, Sloane just didn’t have any patience for cooking whatsoever. “What do you want for side dishes? I can make us some fries.” No one fucks up fries, right? 

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--- Max:

With his home completely ruined, Max had moved into the office in the garage together with his cat, and was just trying to figure out where to go from there. Not that the garage had power either. But at least it had doors that could be locked, and a couch in the office, just in case someone needed a nap. Or a full on sleep like it was at that point. With the cat somewhere, he wasn’t quite sure, he was using a flashlight to look at an engine, just so he could get a bit ahead before they started to receive the cars that had been fucked over by the storm that had happened. Knocking his head into the lid as he hurried up as he heard Mia start talking, he looked over at her. “Uh, hi, Mia, I didn’t hear you come in.” He started, grabbing a kitchen towel to wipe off his hands. “I was just trying to get some work started on, but, it’s nothing big. It just needs new breaks really, but I don’t like sending them off without knowing for sure the car is good.”

Mia winced as she saw Max knocking his head, forehead already wrinkling in worry. “Are you okay? That looks painful.” It must have been her fault if he got hurt, right? She startled him after all; so knowing that, the blonde made a mental note to be more noisy next time and not to sneak up on someone again. “I’m sorry, I did knock before I came in, but since no one answered I thought I should just come inside and come see if you were around…” She explained, her eyes glancing towards his forehead to make sure he wasn’t bruised - it didn’t seem like it, at least. “Ah, for sure.” Mia knew nothing about cars, but one thing she’d learned already was that breaks were a very important part of what made those tiny metal things work - or rather, stop. “Why are you working in darkness, though? The shop lost the power too?”

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--- William:

William still was friends with a fair bit of his former sugar moms, one of which had stopped him when he was eating some pretzels that the dryads had made, leaving him to try and eat while also being entertaining. Which could be… Well, very entertaining. Until a certain brunette came jumping up on his back, and he had to excuse himself quickly, trying to not drop the pretzel in the process. “Just a friend, little nightmare. You know, you could give me a heads up before you jump on my back.” He told her, starting to carry her away from the woman.

“What fun would that be?” The brunette retorted with a grin, quite pleased with herself for having made him turn his entire attention towards her. Sloane liked attention alright, especially when it came from handsome men and, well, it was a bonus point that it just so happen to be William tonight. “Eating pretzels? Those look good.” She commented, while pressing her lips to his neck and playfully biting into his skin. “Although they probably don’t taste as good as you.” 

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--- Bluebell:

After calming down her hamsters after the buzzing sound of the doorbell, not wanting them to be stressed out as she left, she had to hurry down the staircases in the apartment complex, jacket over her arm, and shoes nearly making her fall down. She was wearing one of the outfits one of her clients, her followers, had sent from her wish list. So of course she had to wear it, and having posted a few photos on instagram, and on her patreon. Well, she had to do that. Almost stumbling out into his arms as she opened the door, she was just hanging onto it, trying to remain standing. “Hi, I.. Uhm… Thank you.” She said, breathless as she smiled to him. “Sorry, I just… Stumbled a little. New shoes, never easy.”

Well, at least she’d quite literally fallen into his arms without Enzo having to do much about it. That caused him to smile, as if fate or whatever other force there was, was on his side, working its magic to help him out. The outfit fit her like a glove, which he was happy about. Like it was made just for her. The heels though, she seemed to struggle a bit with them, which came as a surprise, since the woman he remembered her being, always carried herself with grace, and never struggled with anything. It was a small, subtle difference, and Enzo did enjoy learning these small little details about Bluebell. “That’s quite alright. Feel free to hold onto me, I promise I will not let you slip and fall.” He told her with a charming smile. “Shall we?” 

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--- Margaret:

Making a woman hurry up was never a good idea, especially not one who prided herself in always looking presentable, and like a good representative for the companies she worked for. Luckily Isaac knew the rules of dealing with her, and so he knew to wait patiently, and let her take her time. When she finally was done though, he did know how to make her smile. “Good boy, you know what to say.” Her words teasing as she walked over to him, placing a kiss at his cheek. “Come on now, are you ready to go? Otherwise I’m going to need a coffee, and a bagel, because I’m starving.”

Isaac grinned in response, wrapping his arm around her lean waist and tilting his head to happily accept the kiss that the woman placed on his cheek. “Well, we haven’t been married for - how many decades now? - without me learning a thing or two about you.” He retorted playfully, nodding his head in response to Margaret’s question. “I’m ready, we can leave now. And we can stop halfway to get you that coffee and bagel anyway. Anything my wife wants, she gets.”