#dan sinker

[heathenwisp]

Part 3 of the Say Who? Animatic

Episode “HUDSON’S ELEVEN”, October 5, 2021

#flipaclip #says who? podcast #maureen johnson #dan sinker #animatic

[joemeno]

Question Mark, OH.

Written by Joe Meno and Dan Sinker.

Help Violet Bookman solve the mystery of time coming unwound by decoding messages and exploring this incredible, imaginary town...

#joe meno #dan sinker #question mark #fiction

[adreamthatsworthkeeping]

I'm listening to the latest Town Watch and Dan said "the year before Covid, 1999".

Look, Dan. It does feel like we've had Covid for 25 years and the Before Times may well have been 1999.

#I know he meant 2019 #but 1999 is great because you have to say so many wrong numbers #says who podcast #town watch #dan sinker

[mulberryroad]

Twitter has always been the strangest social network. Facebook offered connections to everyone you’ve ever known, especially the people you didn’t want to know anymore. Instagram offered to filter your life into something more beautiful than it really was. Twitter was always rougher, more enigmatic, as much about ideas as it was about anything. A lot of early criticism was that Twitter was just for sharing what you had for lunch. But you couldn’t even post a photo back then: You had to describe what you had for lunch. And in describing our lunches, we described our hopes and our lives in ways that the other networks could never replicate. Capturing your ideas in the truncated character count of Twitter always felt closer to writing poetry than prose, and as a result, the whole thing had a strange beauty to it.

In Slate, this piece by Dan Sinker is quite good. I’ve collected my best reads on Twexit over the last week and will post them soon on my new blog, Reloaded.

#Twexit #Twitter #dan sinker #blogging #social networks

[emsleyanbluejay]

Hook should tweet a picture of him with Danhausen and then never post again.

#Blue Jay Chirps #Hook #Danhausen #Hookhausen #i think it would be funny #also your requisite following/followers/tweets ratio: #1/33.9k/0 #Hook Line Sinker #Dan that Lovehausen #Blue Talks Wrestling

[yurinaa-world]

Please forgive me for bothering you, but can you do blade, jing yuan and dan heng (separate), where the reader has the personality of the raiden ei? Please

And I love your writing, it's really good! ^^

Characters: Blade, Jing Yuan, and Dan Heng x Female Reader

Synopsis: with reader that's like ei

Warnings: Fluff and spelling mistakes,

Notes: I ended up mixing these two if you don't mind

𝐵𝓁𝒶𝒹𝑒

Honestly, tall, strong women are what he likes: striking down people with lighting and having a very cold personality, but having a warm personality and liking sweet things now is what he’s into. He can get a little handsy with you, like your waist; he's going to be all around that if Kafka doesn't have hypnotized half the time and he would be on his knees for you, a hook line and sinker, I tell you.

Why bother understanding ‘those people’ when you have him? Since you are the same, you don’t have to bother to even try to think on the same level with 'them', which is a waste of time if you ask him.

He’ll get you anything you want. Want candy? He’ll get it. Want to buy clothes? He’ll get it, no matter how expensive it is! Want someone’s head? Sure! Can’t cook? Don’t worry about that, dearest.

𝒥𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒴𝓊𝒶𝓃

Long hair, twins!! stylish and strong now; that's what you call a power couple; it’s giving a dumb husband and a pretty wife at its finest, I tell you. You both have spark, and your lighting (gold and purple) mixes to make rose tea (I actually went on a color mixer).

Your wedding is going to be gold and purple (or already happened), and now he even made a whole separate room that is full of purple, and everything in that room is purple, from the bed sheets to the carpet. It is full of things you like about your sweet tooth, but you would rather sleep with him in that room.

𝒟𝒶𝓃 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝑔

You always ask him why people feel a certain way or act the way they do, and he’ll give you an answer since you don’t seem to understand other people. When you both got together, your confession was a little weird. You know, the way you say that you never felt anything towards anyone like this before, and if his heart beat like his?!! What? It did, but he never thought someone could be so airheaded with emotions like you.

March is totally both of your wingmen—well, more like yours—because you just have a hard time with feelings and stuff. He tells you what kind of gifts Dan Heng would want and then just watches you from the sidelines, trying to give him the gift with a bit of a nervous expression on your face.

Li Dan Heng time: power couple again, of course, like, look at you too; you both look like you’ll strike down anyone that dared to speak out of turn in front of them, just radiating, “I don’t think I'm better then; I know, so get on your knees and ask for mercy.” That kind of vibe.

if you liked this, consider tipping me on ko-fi! it'd mean a lot!

#✧*:･ﾟ✧:･ Yurinna's Writing :･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ #honkai star rail x you #honkai star rail x reader #star rail #star rail x reader #star rail x you #blade x reader #blade x you #hsr x reader #dan heng x reader #jing yuan #jing yuan x you #hsr jing yuan #jing yuan x reader #hsr x you #hsr x y/n #dan heng x you #honkai blade x you

[nevver]

Not, Dan Sinker

#image modified

[luvvsoft]

Main Masterlist

Genshin Impact:

➼ “Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon” [Neuvillette x reader]

— The rain pours over Fontaine, darkening its skies. You immediately take that as your sign to see a certain someone.

➼ “Once Mine” [Male Character x reader]

— He was yours once, now he belonged to another.

➼ “My Dearest Love” [Baizhu x reader]

— You’d fallen hook, line, and sinker for Baizhu, but you were more than okay with it.

➼ “Close To Me” [Yandere Alhaitham x reader]

— You finally give into Alhaitham and fall right into his arms.

➼ “I Wished For You” [Male Character x Reader]

— You saw the love he gave to another, and could only wish he would have done the same to you when you were together.

➼ “One Day” [Zhongli x reader] - (pt. 2) (alt. ending)

— You loved Zhongli, but he could never be yours.

➼ “Are You Mine Yet?” [Zhongli x reader] - (pt. 1) (alt. ending)

— You’re plagued by Hanahaki Disease because of your unrequited feelings for Zhongli, but there might still be a chance for you.

➼ “A Chance” [Alhaitham x reader] - (pt. 1) (pt.2)

— Alternative Ending: You move to Sumeru, leaving Zhongli and romance behind. Will it be that easy for you though?

Honkai: Star Rail:

➼ “I want you” [Blade x reader]

— Your soul yearns for Blade, but does he feel the same?

➼ “Through Heaven and Hell” [Nanook x reader]

— Nanook being fond of you (headcanons)

➼ “Hurry Up Now, Darling” [Dan Heng x reader]

— Dan Heng’s been waiting for you for so long.

Unwind Series:

➼ “A Sickly Sweet Home” [Connor Lassiter x reader]

— Connor only wishes to settle down after everything that went down, only this time, its with you.

➼ “The Trials of Time” [Roland Taggart x reader]

— You let Roland in during your time as an AWOL, but it only hurt you more than it helped.

➼ “How About?” [Connor Lassiter x reader]

— You don’t think Connor loves you, especially now that Risa showed up.

Jujutsu Kaisen:

➼ “Fool’s Gold” [Megumi Fushiguro x reader]

— You’ve lost Megumi, but now he’s lost you forever.

➼ “Second Best” [Yuji Itadori x reader]

— You were never Yuji’s first choice.

Record of Ragnarok:

➼ “Undeserving of Your Love” [Poseidon x God! reader]

— You meet Poseidon, soon falling in love. Unluckily for you, he already had someone he adored.

Demon Slayer:

➼ “In Another Lifetime” [Akaza x reader]

— Akaza and you are in love, but you can’t be together, not when the universe itself is against you.

Any Characters:

➼ “Would you choose me just this once?” [Male Character x reader]

— You love him so dearly, yet he thinks of you as nothing.

➼ “Hope To Be Yours” [Male Character x reader]

— He picks someone else over you, but you’re used to it.

➼ “Love Me, Please?” [Yandere Female Character x reader]

— She loved you first, so why were you with someone else?

➼ “Web of Lies” [Female Character x reader]

— You and her play a game of manipulation, but who’s really in charge?

➼ “Maybe” [Male Character x reader]

— You knew, no matter what, he would never choose you or love you.

➼ “Want Me Too” [Female Character x female! reader]

— You wished you were him.

➼ “Call Me Back” [Male Character x reader]

— It hurt to be something, but it was worse to be nothing. You choose the former.

Beings:

➼ “God’s Gift” [Yandere Archangel x Demon! reader]

— They’ve set their sights on you during battle, vowing you’d forever be theirs from then on.

#x reader fluff #x reader #x reader angst #genshin x reader #zhongli x reader #alhaitham x reader #angst #fluff #genshin angst #hsr angst #hsr x reader #xiao x reader #unwind series #unwind roland x reader #unwind roland angst #unwind x reader #unwind angst #unwind fluf #unwind connor #connor lassiter x reader #roland taggart angst #roland taggart x reader #demon slayer angst #demon slayer x reader #akaza x reader #ror x reader #poseidon x reader #yandere x reader #yandere angel x reader #angel x reader

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

I was thinking about the Harry Styles/ Ben Winston CBS sitcom, Happy Together.

When I was a Larrie, the show seemed like a vehicle to erase any trace of Louis: the show was saying, Harry and Louis never lived together; Harry always brought girls back to the Winston attic to bang (or as Ben Winston heavily hinted in the GQ Australia interview, Taylor Swift hung out nude in his kitchen).

In retrospect, the show was HSHQ’s transparent myth-making propaganda. Its purpose was to establish the myth that One Direction might have been a passing teen fad, but Mr. Harry Styles was the real deal, the rock ‘n roller, the genuine It Boy, the natural star. He was the looker, the talent, the charisma. He carried it all; the rest were hangers-on.

[btw this strategy is still HSHQ’s modus operandi, and most of the public bought it hook, line, and sinker.]

Unfortunately, Ben Winston’s hamhanded incompetence with the show’s storytelling crippled any chance of popularity with the general public, and of course 1D fans hated this myth (Harry’s fandom was still majority OT5 and Larries back then).

But they tried. How they tried!

Harry had the urtext rock journalist, Cameron Crowe, writing his first Rolling Stone cover story. Rob Sheffield and Shirley Halperin followed up. Harry had one of the decade’s biggest and most accomplished producers, Jeff Bhasker, lushly delivering a blend of Laurel Canyon/ White Stripes lite sound for his first album (Harry’s fandom still can’t tell that HS1 was a complete Rock Lite ripoff). Bhasker invented Harry’s protean musical taste.

The old money men behind Harry Styles tried to fabricate a rock star legend before there was any actual product. They tried to establish the bandleader-boyband-breakout myth before Harry had released a single solo song. Eight months before Harry’s first single, he was interviewed by Sir Paul McCartney, an actual living legend with sixty years of music lore behind him, as if they were already on par.

And yet…

And yet…

Harry just couldn’t land it. He just didn’t have it in himself, not without the hoopla, without the window dressing, without hands inside the puppet moving the wooden parts. He couldn’t get the big awards or sufficient numbers his first round. Harry failed. He was an embarrassment. He couldn’t do it until Louis was sidelined for two years, and Zayn disappeared from media, and Liam’s mental health destroyed.

With dramatic irony, the go-ahead for Happy Together was discovered on the same day (July 14, 2018) that Louis made his Twitter video, announcing he would be a 2018 X Factor judge, and specifically mentioning that this would, in no way, interfere with his musical career. What an interesting, transparently sad way to announce a judging gig.

What an interesting coincidence, as well, that Louis’ very first solo interview was with Dan Wootton, back in 2017, specifically for the purpose of denying Larry— a fact that Wootton heavily promoted. This took precedence over the discussion of Louis’ solo music, his album, his tour, One Direction dirt, his personal history— of anything else, really.

Denying Larry is something that Harry Styles has never done. Not once in 13 years. (Interesting, as well, that Harry had to do an interview with Wootton for the release of HS1, but neither audio nor video were ever released.)

What an interesting coincidence that when offered the chance, during the Cooper Lawrence interview for Sweet Creature, Harry clumsily tried to play both sides instead of denying Larry. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words. It took him six full years to explicitly dedicate it to his sister. Six years! Baiting his fans is far more important to Harry than Gemma ever will be lol.

What an interesting coincidence that Jeremy O. Harris tagged Harry in the infamous Euphoria episode depicting Larry fanfiction, which made Louis angry enough to tweet about his lack of consent, yet Harry stayed silent. Throwing Larry, and by extension Louis Tomlinson, as fresh meat for Harry’s fetishizing, fantasizing, mostly heterosexual female fans was, and is, a major HS marketing strategy.

I think about Harry’s new-found “best friend” Mitch Rowland, the pizza-parlour story sticking around long enough for Harry’s fans to forget he had 1D bandmates, about Harry’s never mentioning 1D except as “the band,” his mocking tone calling Zayn “Ringo.” “They’re not here, are they?” he had said smugly, triumphantly on SNL, “I am.”

I think about Harry’s statement that making his first album in Jamaica was the “happiest” he had ever been in his career. About Sir Paul McCartney “interviewing” Harry in 2016 (for Another Man) as if Harry were already in the pantheon of legends.

In 2023, Harry’s 1D bandmates are supposed to be gone and buried because they are no competition whatsoever for his natural genius, the entertainment supernova, the quadruple threat to music and movies and stage and television, this one-man theme park, a soulful poet and universal gift to womankind. One Direction was supposed to be just a back story for Harry, the way NSYNC was for Justin Timberlake (the parallels), or The Police for Sting, or Fleetwood Mac for Stevie Nicks (same management tricks).

[And yet, despite the industry shutting him out, despite BBC Radio pretending he doesn’t exist, or Billboard’s misleading headlines, or Greg James saying fans bring tomatoes to throw at his concerts, or Roman Kemp making fun of Louis and 1D, despite Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and many other media outlets never reviewing an album that debuted No. 1 in the UK and No. 5 in the USA, despite all of that, Louis Tomlinson has survived. He’s made it. He is an industry presence. He’s thriving, with indie artists and bands appreciating his generosity and genuine support. Louis’ opinions and person are respected. Fans pay attention to what he has to say. Critics can no longer ignore his actual value. His judgment has weight. He has gravitas, personality, intelligence, creative talent. And most important to the music industry— Louis brings with him a big fanbase, and the potential for impressive revenue.]

In retrospect, the contortions Harry went through to be an entertainment juggernaut are both gristly and amusing. His chosen personal friends: James Corden, Ellen Degeneres, Kim Kardashian, Rande Gerber, Irving and Shelly Azoff, Lizzo, Jann Wenner so influential in rock journalism— embody a list of the most entitled, narcissistic, abusive traits of the Hollywood rich, but Harry, famously, habitually, lamentably— stays silent. He sides with the abusers and colonizers, because that’s where the money and fame are.

Has it been worth it for him? Harry is certainly one of the most famous entertainers in the world at the moment, surrounded by hype, desired by millions, someone every media outlet wants to interview. His career is lava hot, yet in the midst of this glory, Harry’s story is built on a core of brutality and cruelty, underhanded behavior, an amoral, depthless hunger for fame, transparent sexism and misogyny, a willingness to smear colleagues and partners on his way to the top, good old classism, a talent for politicking and sucking up to power, and an unblinking drive to steamroll everything and everyone in his way. And his worshipful, gullible, obsessive fanbase often imitate Harry Styles’ ethos. His H/Larrie fans have persistently tried to snuff out solo Louis fans and paint Harry as a victim. Multiple Tumblr, Twitter, IG Harrie accounts follow Louis’ every move and stalk solo Louies and Larries by the second. They attacked Liam Payne to an extent that made him feel suicidal. Harry is still young, but has the face and body language of a middle-aged industry player. How long can he be sustained by negative, rather than positive, motivators for his work? How much is enough for him? For a person who craves to be loved (his TPWK motto is aimed mostly at himself), how long can Harry Styles be satisfied with a manufactured, datamined, inauthentic, pretentious façade of a life, where his every thought and action are aimed toward marketing?

In retrospect, Harry has achieved everything he set out to achieve, and seems very happy with the bed he made for himself. One can argue that nothing is consequential in the world of some celebrities except fame, wealth, and power. We know so little about their motivations other than a tiny fraction of the outcomes of their actions. But we do see this fraction, and the fractions add up over time, no matter the data scrubbing and the Google search manipulations and the second-to-second Columbia Records datamining. One Direction is old history, which also means there are lots of fans who have been here forever, and 1D fans do not forget.

Whatever history has in store for Harry, it can never change Harry himself. Throughout his solo career, Harry has made a habit of passing off other people’s work as his own, conflating personal and business relationships, and siding with oppression and greed. That is a truth— good or bad— he’ll have to live with.

#harry styles #one direction #louis tomlinson #liam payne #zayn malik

[elvesandlanterns]

Captain marvels strange little family

Chapter 3

Deep deep deeeeeeep breath. In and out. “Okay,” Billy finally managed to sigh out, “Let me get this straight.” In and out. In and out. “You’re an ex-villain who cloned a /teenage/ hero who is now king of another dimension.” Breath. “For whatever reason this clone YOURE goddaughter is destabilizing!

A-g-a-i-n And your first idea was to build an underground lair in our house to find a cure?” In and out. “I got that so far. Nod if i got that so far.” Breath. “And and and all three of you are /half/ dead. Making you a half ghost called a halfa is that all?”

Vlad stopped his nodding to glance off to the side, “Thats the majority of it yes but well…”

In and out Billy reminded himself to breathe, it cant possibly be that bad.

“Well technically theres four of us.”

Okay that not that bad-

“He’s my… son …from the future…..”

A series of banging sounds could be heard from upstairs as well as shattering glass from assumably their nice plates and the voice of a man spouting expletives. Breath in.

“And he’s coming to stay with us….” Vlad chuckled humorously, “Surprise???”

The breathing exercises are suddenly not enough.

- - -

Dan looks like them. This… stranger looks like them. Except Dans not the stranger here Billy is. And it would be enough to make Billy uneasy, to make him run off instead of being a burden. But despite Vlads loving placating demeanor, Dan sits on the couch body turned towards the window in distaste. A clear dismissive sign if he’s ever seen one in his years in foster homes, and how many years has it been? Three ? Twelve? Twenty? Wait. What?

Right, Dan clearly didn’t want to be here. Vlad by comparison looked as if they had gone back to the beginning of their arrangement. The beginning of their fights and beginning of their little awkward family. Of introducing him to Freddy and Darla. Of it just being the two of them. The inside of Billy’s mouth twisted, this was Vlad’s actual son and something told him those days were coming to a close. But if the way Dad turned to look for his approval as he set down a tray of pastries like he did every Saturday was any indication… then maybe Billy’s optimism wouldn’t be misplaced this time around.

Billy sipped his tea glancing at the halfas way as Dan outright growled at the plate of bread in front of him. Mocking Vlad’s baking skills, hurling taunts at the older mans head. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t take the bait.

Hook

Line

Sinker

Because of course Vlad had to say something back. Huhhhh in and out. Yeah Billy was probably not misplacing his trust this time around and eventually they might seven make a pretty good family. But…

Crash!

“That was a vintage piece!”

“Yeah and so are you old man!!”

A tart flew across the kids vision as the ghosties in the room began to float mid argument.

….But for now they still had a long way to go.

#dp x dc #captain marvel #captain marvels strange little family

[sproutwings]

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

The lovely @crestfallercanyon tagged me for this weeks ago, and I haven't been ignoring it - I just didn't get around to it sooner. Sorry!

How many works do you have on AO3? 380 (382, technically, because two are still anon/unrevealed exchange works.)

What’s your total A03 word count? 1,123,214

What fandoms do you write for? Currently, mostly DCU, The Flash and a bunch of tiny fandoms, but I've been writing fanfic for ages, so I went through quite a few fandoms.

What are your top five fics by kudos?

a) cut me open, take my heart (DCU, JayTim, 1744 kudos) b) A Bird in the Hand (DCU, Dickstroke, 1694 kudos) c) Hook(er), Line and Sinker (The Flash, Coldflash, 1586 kudos) d) No Shortage of Blood (Original Works, Starving Vampire/Vampire Hunter Having A Moral Crisis, 1453 kudos) e) Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Man (Gossip Girl, Dan/Blair/Chuck, 1149 kudos)

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I always try to, but sometimes it takes a while to get around to it. /o\

What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I have no idea. I used to write a lot of angsty stuff back when I was younger but the older I get the more I gravitate towards fics that leave the characters in a... well, maybe not necessarily in a good place exactly, because I tend to ship a lot of dysfunctional ships and write unhealthy relationship dynamics, but I don't want the characters to feel hopeless and unhappy in the end, so even when they're in a bad situation, they're making the best out of it.

A very old, very angsty fic of mine is Too Close To Touch (Harry Potter, various permutations of Draco, Harry and Hermione). I don't know if it's the angstiest overall, but it occasionally still gets comments so it's fresh in my mind despite having been written almost two decades ago.

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Oh no, this is similarly hard to answer. Maybe Throw Away the Plan (The Flash, Coldwestallen)? Most of my endings seem to be "the main conflict of the story is dealt with, the ship kisses and things are okay-ish for now". 🙃

Do you get hate on your fic? Maybe once or twice, but nothing dramatic or memorable, luckily enough.

Do you write smut? Sometimes.

Do you write crossovers? No.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Yes! Someone copied a few of my fics word by word, replaced the names and posted them as Kpop RPS. D: D: D: I got the author to take them down, but they did it with a lot of people's fics and eventually AO3 banned them.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes, a few! I blanket allow translations, as long as they're credited properly and not posted anywhere but AO3.

Have you ever co-written a fic? Yes, but it was a really long time ago, and coordinating was pretty stressful. I prefer to work on my own schedule.

What‘s your all-time favourite ship? Noooo, don't make me choose. I love so many ships! If I absolutely had to pick one, it would be Tommy/Bubonic from Eye Candy, but it mostly depends on what I'm in the mood for right in that moment.

What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? There's Coldflash BDSM fic based on a long-forgotten Tumblr prompt I would have loved to write one day, but it would be far longer than anything I'm comfortable writing and it's only 'in progress' in so far that I have a few dialogue snippets from it written down yet.

What’s your writing strengths? Character voices and snappy banter, probably.

What’s your writing weaknesses? Plot!!!! As you can see by every fic I've written where the characters get captured or attacked by some nameless villain for nebulous reasons. I always handwave stuff like that because I simply can't bring myself to care about it or put any thought into it. 😅 Sorry!

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? As a reader, It always throws me out of the story. :(

First fandom you wrote for? The X-Files! Mulder/Krycek was teenage Sandrine's first fanfic obsession. (Though technically, I wrote terrible Star Wars and The Three Musketeers fic long before I knew what fanfic was! But I've decided that doesn't count. 😅)

Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

(never been) so much at stake (OW, Vampire Moonlighting As A Barista/Exhausted Vampire Hunter In Search Of Caffeine) is probably the best, but The Biggest Score of All (The Flash, Coldflash) has my heart!

I'm supposed to tag people here, and I'm terrible at this, so @waysheswings, @sunherirai, @moriavis, @zeroducks-2, @hithelleth, @elasticella - if you want to do this, consider yourself tagged and if you want to ignore it, pretend I never mentioned your name. And anyone else who sees this and wants to answer, you're also tagged! Yes, I mean YOU. :D

#memememe #hello ask box #sandrine's favorite things #ao3 #fandom and other kinds of crazy

[heathenwisp]

Part 2 of Says Who? Podcast animatics

Episode “HUDSON’S ELEVEN”, October 5,

#says who? podcast #dan sinker #maureen johnson #hudson’s eleven #animatic

[joemeno]

Question Mark, OH.

Written by Joe Meno and Dan Sinker.

Help Violet Bookman solve the mystery of time coming unwound by decoding messages and exploring this incredible, imaginary town...

#joe meno #dan sinker #novels #fiction #question mark

[crimsonheart01]

The Right Connection [Chapter 6] (Dieter Bravo x Fem!Reader)

Author’s Note: Here’s the newest update! Finally! Apologies for taking an extra few weeks but I got here, we ready! I’m posting this a day earlier than I normally would because I’m impatient and just want it out there for y’all. I also only proof read this a few times so it’s likely riddled in mistakes. I hope you like it anyways. 

In this one, we have a little party here, and a little party there. Tension thick enough to cut with scissors and perhaps Jealous!Dieter makes an appearance. I can’t be too sure though 🤷🏻‍♀️ Guess you’ll have to read and find out. Their outfits are based off these costumes: 1, 2, 3, 4. Bisous!

+ Story Masterlist +

[Prev. Chapter] [Chapter 6] [Next Chapter]

Next update for this little series is coming soon. I try and update every Friday. 

Summary: Dieter Bravo is the celebrity host on a new dating reality TV show and she was signed up by her friends as a joke. She decides to try and stick it out for the prize money and keep everyone else away from her. Word Count: 5k Playlist: Fever (feat. Angèle) - Dua Lipa Warnings: Recreational drug use, alcohol, horny, shallow people, swearing, innuendo, contempt, annoyance, slow burn. Disclaimer: ✨ If you are under 21, please do not interact.✨

“Car dans mes yeux, ça se voit La fièvre dans les yeux, oui ça se voit Mon cœur se serre, j'ai du feu dans la voix Le plus souvent, c'est quand je pense à toi” Fever (feat. Angèle) - Dua Lipa

Anthony nearly tripped over his own feet when he spotted Dieter standing near the edge of the pool. At first it was due to him being out in the main area, which wasn’t cause for much concern, but when he realized who was floating in the pool he jumped into action. He whipped out his walkie and immediately sent word to Jemma while smacking the camera guy closest to him and pointing in the their direction.  

“Pan over,” Anthony hissed, “Pan over!” 

They quickly set themselves up and even the boom mic was adjusted accordingly to try and pick up on their conversation. Of course Dieter chose to approach her now. She wasn’t wearing a mic pack. Anything related to water meant they weren’t required to wear their mics and Anthony had to give Dieter kudos. The man was slick. He may have come off aloof, but he’d given some thought to what he was doing. 

Anthony crouched down and watched the tiny screen of the camera with thinly veiled glee. This was it, this was the content they were looking for. They all watched as Dieter sat down, inviting her to join him and the rest was going to be history. He could feel it. 

He grinned to himself, without meaning too, he’d become invested in these two, and not just because their situation was a priority for him. After him and Jemma had gone through all the original tapes and the subsequent ones that came along at the end of each filming day, he found himself wrapped up in whatever world these two were currently in. It was hard no to be. There was a certain magic watching their relationship unfold. Especially when they didn’t know that there was a whole crew dedicated to their story and however it turned out. 

Anthony had been the one to push the dates when introducing the new contestants. At the time is was a tactic to try and rock the boat, so to speak. However, it didn’t have the affect any of them were expecting. Well that wasn’t entirely true. Kevin fell for the trap, hook, line and sinker. The fall out giving them an amazing sequence for the show and mixing up the dynamic within the whole group. But when it came to the other two, all bets were off. Instead of causing a rift, it brought the two of them closer together and he wasn’t even bothering to  pretend it wasn’t an exciting turn of events. 

Between him, Jemma and their little crew, they needed to find more ways to foster the budding relationship developing. Anthony had a few ideas up his sleeves, and hopefully everyone else was on board. Tonight, allowing him to put one of those ideas into motion. See what kind of traction it would bring them. Altogether they needed more ways to keep these two in each other’s orbits. For the show of course, but also for all of them to see how this all played out.  

The whole crew of them assigned to this secret project were all equally invested in their turnout. None of them had any idea how it was going to go, given Dieter’s reputation, the rules of the show and well, how opposed to making any kind of meaningful interaction their rogue contestant was. However, for the past few days, it was becoming much more obvious how willing both parties were to be around each other. It may not be the explosive dramatic event that they were used too, but watching them slowly come around was arguably even more satisfying. 

Anthony’s walkie chimed to life and as he looked down to grab it, the mic guy kicked him int he shin to get his attention. With a curse on his lips, Anthony looked up to find the guy inclining his head aggressively towards their subjects. Anthony furrowed his brow but looked over at them, then down onto the screen of the camera to find it zooming in. Anthony’s mouth dropped at the subtle but direct touch. There was quiet intimacy in the way Dieter’s hand clutched at her calf, then the swipe of his finger along her bare ankle. The contrast of their skin tones illuminating in the bright sunlight. 

All of them held their breath, waiting to see the reaction. None of them knew what to expect but seeing the way she lifted her feet to cross them over Dieter’s thigh had them all vibrating with anticipation. It was the first time they’d openly touched each other, and they’d gotten it all on camera. This was so much more than any of them had expected. Anthony grinned widely to himself, plucking his walkie off his belt and connecting with Jemma. This opened up a whole new chest of opportunities. 

~(TRC)~

She stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. There was a lot of commotion going on around her but she was immune to it. She smoothed her hands down the front of her costume, the one-piece suit bright and colourful. A mix between lime green and electric blue. She turned from side to side, admiring the matching coloured feathers that she had strapped to her upper arms. She’d fastened her head piece on and loved the way it framed her face. 

She felt great. She couldn’t expressly pinpoint why. Maybe it was the outfit, or maybe it was the fact that her housemates were warming up to her again, or perhaps it was because she spent time with Dieter earlier in the day. Whatever it was it had her excited for the night ahead of her. 

She continued to primp and prime herself in preparation for their welcome party coming up. They hadn’t had one since the very first night, but with new contestants around, the producers decided now would be a good time to throw one. If they’d announced this a few days ago, she would’ve been annoyed at having to join in, but today? Today, she was all in. She was ready to have fun. 

She backed away from the mirror and was quickly flanked by Jasmine, Shereen and Christina. The new girl, Tamara, was still gathering her berrings to the house dynamics and it didn’t help her case that she was one of the parties to wrong Christina. It had proven to be a bit of a switch in the ordering of most liked to least liked and she found herself no longer at the very bottom. She felt bad for Tamara, but she was balancing on a thin rope and wasn’t sure when it would eventually snap. 

She felt bad, but looking over at the newest housemate, she didn’t appear to be bothered in any way and that settled her guilt for the time being. There would be time to offer an olive branch later. At least tonight they were all getting the chance to relax and unwind in fun way that would hopefully quiet down the drama. 

The feathers framing her arms began to shift and she looked over to find Jasmine repositioning the arm band to straighten them out a bit more. She smiled over at her and Jasmine winked back. As a group they continued to get ready together, all of them fawning over the vibrant colours and accessories of their costumes. 

Every now and then, when there was a quiet moment, she let herself drift back to this morning and spending time with Dieter. She wondered if he’d make an appearance at the party. She hadn’t figured out if he was into the whole scene or if he really was here to stay lowkey and only do exactly what was written out in his contract. She let herself fall into false hope that he’d at least stick around for a drink or two. 

She touched up her mascara, leaning closer into the vanity mirror and found herself lost in her memories. Even thinking his name had her nerves on edge in the best way. Everything about him felt electric and caused a current to run through her. She couldn’t explain it, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to try. She felt a tingle on her ankle and smirked to herself as she felt the phantom caress from this morning. She could still feel his warm hands laid out comfortably on her legs and she had to hide the sigh threatening to escape. 

“Hey,” Jasmine bumped her hip against hers, “You good?” 

“Hmm?” She murmured, glancing up to see Jasmine staring at her with an amused expression. She flushed a bit at being caught up in her thoughts as if Jasmine knew what she was thinking about and gave a hasty smile, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” 

Jasmine arched an eyebrow and gave her a potent stare. She capped her mascara and turned to stare back at Jas. Jasmine grinned and nodded, appearing to accept her answer but with a look of ‘we’ll talk later’. She gulped, it was as if Jasmine knew something. Not that there was really anything to know. Dieter and her being friendly with one another wasn’t new. She was sure all the other housemates were on a good terms with him. She knew she had a little bit more of a friendship with him, but that’s all it was. They were friends by proximity and it was fun. There was nothing else to know. 

She continued to stare as Jasmine walked over to one of the smaller vanities and adjusted her eye shadow. There really wasn’t anything to know. Dieter and her were friends. She scrunched up her nose knowing full well she was lying to herself but wasn’t going to acknowledge it. 

~(TRC)~

Dieter allowed himself to be corralled by Jemma and a few of the other crew members to attend the festivities. It was with veiled reluctance that he agreed. He was unsure about getting too involved with ongoings of the contestants, but there was a tingling at the base of his spine that drove him to making the decision. He wanted to be there. He could continue lying to himself but deep down he knew exactly why he wanted to be in attendance. However, he would continue to ignore the obvious inklings of real emotions growing in him. 

The last party the house hosted had been at the very beginning and he was scarce for that one. Sticking around only to make sure all his pleasantries were administered and then retreating to his room to unwind. However, now he knew the contestants a bit better and wasn’t as adverse to mingling. At least, not when it came to her. They had a good rapport, light and carefree. To him, she was a breath of fresh air. Someone who was more than aware of his celebrity but didn’t boil him down to only that. She saw past the fame. She saw him. 

He knew that he was letting himself be convinced to participate, past more than just having his presence there. The crew had persuaded him into following the dress code. He sighed, realizing now that it may have been a better idea to sit this one out. Make his contractual appearance and then leave it be. Perhaps putting up a bit more of a fight at how much they were expecting from him. 

He didn’t dislike the theme, it was fun and set the tone but that’s what he was worried about. The tone of the evening. A party was one thing, but the theme of Carnival was another. He wasn’t sure he had the stamina to keep up with the rest. He closed his eyes, his age catching up to him for a moment. Albeit this would be a much less smaller version, it still had the potential to keep up with the traditional energies. 

He glanced down at the intense blue shorts and thick neck piece set on the edge of his bed. He knew the idea behind the costume was to go shirtless, but he was honest enough with himself that he didn’t want to be that exposed. He crossed his arms over hiss chest and drummed his fingers along his forearm, considering his options. He didn’t have much by way of wardrobe, but what he did have was simple enough to match with the colours he was presented with. 

Resigned to his predicament, he grabbed the shorts, headpiece, and necklace and stopped to grab a plain white linen button up. It only took him a few minutes to get himself dressed and he glanced at himself in the mirror. It wasn’t much but he found that he liked it. He couldn’t be one hundred percent sure, and maybe it was the colours, brighter than anything he’d wear regularly, or it was the prospect of getting more time with her, but he felt good. There was a low simmer inside his chest that had him looking forward to the night ahead. 

He shrugged his shoulders, shifting his shirt until it sat more comfortably on him. He opted to leave it unbuttoned, playing to the theme but still giving himself more comfort. He turned the tap on, running his hands underneath it and then running his fingers through his hair. He wet his curls and detangled them with a few swipes of his hands until his signature tousled look was set in place.  

Checking for all his essentials, he pat down his pockets before reaching for the door. He did one last scan of the room and paused when he caught sight of his night table. He turned over the options in his mind. He argued with himself that he wasn’t old, but on the other hand he was older than them. He knew it probably wasn’t the best idea nor solution but it would help him keep up with the rest. He’d pay for it in the morning, but he figured that he could deal with those repercussions when he was presented with them. Nothing to worry himself over in the present. 

Resolved in his decision making, he stepped up to the piece of furniture and pulled the drawer open. He picked up the baggie and opened it gently. He scooped up a small amount, only enough for a bump, and snorted it. He sniffed deeply, making sure he get it all and then rubbed his fingers against the tip of his nose before closing the baggie and dropping it down in to the drawer again. 

With renewed vigor, he pushed the drawer shut and rolled his shoulders back. Now he was ready. He checked the time then left, letting his door slam shut behind him. 

~(TRC)~ 

They had been called to gather on the beach, where the crew had set up a little dancefloor and bar for them. Their crew was acting as their bartender as well as the DJ. The speakers were placed in a square around the designated area and quiet house music was playing in the background. She laughed to herself when she noticed the speaker they’d dressed up. Even Betty was out to party tonight. 

Jemma and Anthony signalled for everyone to group together and come closer to the speaker, while they waited for their host to come down. She was standing, sandwiched between Jasmine and Shereen, with Christina hovering close to Jas’ other side. Tamara was a little ways off to the far side of Shereen and then the boys were all milled around to their left, hyping each other up while they waited for the kick off. 

She noticed right away as the crew starting to reposition themselves, cameras pointing in the opposite direction, and when she followed their lead, she found herself watching as Dieter walked down the pathway leading to their little paradise on the beach. She felt the air in her lungs cease and she froze. He hadn’t laid eyes on her yet, but she knew he’d notice right away, just as she had. 

Jasmine felt her reaction and looked over at her, studying her face before following her line of sight. Jasmine let out a quiet noise, akin to a gasp and she snapped back to focus. She furrowed her brows in feigned confusion and turned to Jasmine. Jasmine’s eyes were wide, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. Remembering to start breathing again, she inhaled noisly but continued to pretend like she didn’t know what assumptions Jasmine was connecting together. 

She turned her attention back to Dieter only to find his gaze now leveled on her. His eyes roamed her body, taking stock of every detail of her costume. She noticed as his eyes snapped over to Jemma and then back to her. That was interesting. It made her wonder, did the crew know about their little nightly meets? Did they know about the drugs? Did them knowing change things for her?

Before she could be overwhelmed by her thoughts, Betty chimed to life and Dieter dazzled them all with his lopsided grin. Shereen handed her a drink and she thanked her silently, taking a deep gulp from it and then paying attention to the announcements being made. 

It was all par for the course. No, tonight wasn’t a free for all. Yes, the rules still applied. Of course, have fun, blow of steam and most of all, dance! Once Dieter and Betty finished up their spiel, a new round of drinks were handed out and the music was turned up until she could feel the bass beating in time with her heart. 

She was immediately pulled into the group, both Jasmine and Shereen spinning her around with them. She giggled out loud, closing her eyes and letting the vibes take over. She lifted her hands into the air and danced around with the girls, letting loose and shedding all her anxieties. She jumped up and down with Christina, bopping along to a new song, singing the lyrics out loud to each other. 

Her and Shereen wrapped their arms around each other and two stepped their way side by side, waving their drink filled hands as they shouted along to another song. She reaches out and grabs Jasmine’s hand, twirling her around and then being twirled around in turn. They laughed and smiled as they all celebrated together. The sun was setting further and further, casting a beautiful glow over the group and splashing oranges and purples across the horizon. 

Everything about the night was turning out to be perfect. Or, almost perfect. 

~(TRC)~

Dieter wasn’t sure what to do with himself. As soon as the music started, he was handed a cup, filled to the brim with something sweet and alcoholic. All the contestants had taken over the dancefloor and he was not getting caught up in that. Instead, he leaned against one of the tall bar tables they had placed periodically around the dancefloor. Jemma joined him for a little bit, keeping up some small talk and pleasantries but she was eventually called away by the job and she left him to occupy his own company. 

He had half a mind to ask her about the situation he’d found himself in, but Jemma seemed too innocent to have a hidden agenda. He’d have to keep a close eye on her for a bit. Maybe it was a coincidence but given that this was a reality TV show, he highly doubted it. He knew they’d be noticed together this afternoon but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. He’d been spotted chumming it up with other contestants before. How would his time with her stand out in any way. 

Regardless, he found himself constantly distracted. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her even if he tried. From the second he laid eyes on her, he’d been captured. It wasn’t only because of her costume, but also because the moment their eyes met, he was reminded of every revelation he was trying to suppress. All the things he was willfully in denial about. They had fun together. They were friends. 

He was sure he could’ve left a long time ago, but every time he mustered up the energy to leave she did something to make him want to stay. He hadn’t even spoken to her directly since the party started, but she continued to hold his attention. The way her body swayed in tune to every song without fail. The carefree way she threw her hands into the air. The shimmy of her shoulders when she leaned into one of the other contestants. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Everything she did calling to him. He cleared his throat and slammed back the reminder of his drink. 

He’d lost count a while ago of how many cups he’s downed. He was well and truly tipsy and rolling with it. He felt his inhibitions loosen, not that they were all that tightened up in the first place. If he had been anywhere else, he’d have jumped into the fray already, but here, he was less on display and he wanted to keep it that way. 

He noticed as she stopped dancing, fanning at her face and miming something to her companions. She slipped her way through the group and under moving limbs until she was a few steps away. He watched as she glanced around, taking in her surroundings and zeroing in on him. She flashed him a brillant smile and he gripped the table top to steady himself. She bounced over to him, her feathers fluttering with her movements.

He immediately turned to the bar and grabbed the nearest bottle of alcohol and glasses. He didn’t even register what he’d grabbed, choosing instead to start pouring. When she approached the table, he held out the glass to her and she accepted with a nod and a smile. He waited until she took a sip for him to raise his own glass and drink. 

As she set her glass down on the table, she leaned her forearms on it and tilted her head up at him. He smirked down at her, and winked, “We match.” 

He waved an aloof hand between the two of them, bringing the fact that their costumes were the only two that matched into the spotlight. She grinned and nodded, laughing. 

“I can only assume you had something to do with this?” She quipped, “Do I need to report a peeping Tom among us?” 

He arched an eyebrow at her, pinning her with a heated stare, “I wouldn’t stoop that low. I’d seek you out and you know I would.” 

She pulled back, a look of astonishment on her face. It was the most forward thing he’d said to her. Bordering on acknowledging the current between them. The one they were content to let run it’s course without ever outrightly admitting to anything. 

He chuckled at her reaction and rolled his eyes playfully, “If we’re going to blame anyone, I would bet on Jemma, or one of the other crew members. They seem to enjoy causing ripples in the routine.” 

She nodded in agreement and then moved to slide around the table and stand directly next to him. 

“Are you having fun at least?” She asked, “You’ve been over here in this corner all night, alone.” 

He glanced down at her, belatedly noticing how close she now stood to him. He swallowed and nodded, “Yeah, yeah I’m alright. I’ve had something to keep me entertained the whole time.” 

She raised her eyebrows at his response but the recognition of his unsaid words registering in her expression. She grabbed her drink without taking her eyes off him and took a sip. 

“Well I’m glad that you’ve found something to keep you occupied.” She smiled as she set her glass back down on the table, then turned to watch her housemates on the dancefloor, “I’m sure that whatever it is was enjoying the attention you gave it.” 

His grin widened as he watched her side profile. He could see as she shot a glance over at him under hooded eyes and he stepped in even closer, brushing his chest against her shoulder. In tune with his movements, she shifted on her feet until she was angled against him in an open ‘v’ towards the beach. 

He bowed in closer to her, crowding her space and watching her reaction carefully. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable but she pulled him in with her presence. Everything in him wanting to be as close to her as he could possibly get. She gave him a soft smile, her eyes glittering as she looked up at him. He wanted nothing more than to grab at her hip and tug her the miniscule distance between them and line her body against his. But, he knew he shouldn’t. He flexed his fingers, curling them into a fist and then relaxing them. Leaving his hand to hang in the empty space behind her. 

He let out an exhale, watching as his breath washed over her face causing her eyes to flutter shut. He ground his teeth together as her head tilted up, the column of her neck elongating. He rolled his lips together, desperately shutting down all the ideas that were starting to swirl in his head. All of the experiences he’d been turning a blind eye to now bubbling to the surface. Falling victim to his own urges, he leaned in, his lips only a few inches away from her ear and murmured her name. He felt the shiver that ran through her then kept his gaze trained on hers as she turned to meet his. 

“Hey babes!” A voice called out towards them, shocking them both out of their reverie. “Come back, we miss you!” 

Their attentions snapped towards the caller, both of them abruptly stepping apart. Her shoulder knocked backwards into him and he let out a soft grunt before moving to the side. However, losing his presence behind her had her stumbling into the open space. She flung a hand out in an attempt to catch the table and bring herself balance but he was faster. His reactions kicked in and he reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, and tugging her forward. She fell into him, her hands landing flat against his chest, keeping her steady. 

His heart raced, realizing that he’d unintentionally done exactly what he was trying to avoid moments before. She stared up at him and he stared down at her. Her chest was expanding against his, while his breath came in heavy pants. She swallowed thickly as they found themselves nose to nose, staring deep into each others eyes. 

It was a long moment where they held onto each other, stunned into silence. The air around them charged with the unspoken connection between them. Sooner than he would’ve liked, he felt her breathing level out and her fingers contract against him before she was pushing away. He let her go, his arms falling back to his sides and then tucking his hands safely away into his pockets. 

The music of the night slowly trickled back into his awareness and he spared a look over at the dancefloor. Jasmine was standing on the sidelines, smirking over at the two of them. He closed his eyes and let out an exhale through his nose. That could be a problem, one that he didn’t want to have but one that he also didn’t want her to have to deal with. 

Realistically, nothing had even happened. Whatever it was that this was between them could easily be waved away. He didn’t want to complicate things for himself. He didn’t even know what it would mean if he fraternised with the contestants. Was it even allowed? Had there been a clause written into his contract? He didn’t remember one but he also only skimmed it, trusting his lawyers to warn him of anything truly shady. He nearly groaned out loud when he thought of all the implications that could arise. 

His eyes snapped open, when a warm hand laid across his forearm, tearing him out of his thoughts. He focused his gaze and found her giving him a soft, almost shy smile. An expression he’d yet to see grace her features and it sent him reeling. A moment of true vulnerability from her and he was caught up in what his fucking contract might say. 

He forced himself to calm down while she backed away, walking backwards towards the dancefloor. He angled himself to the side, studying her as she went. She kept the smile on her mouth, letting it slowly curl into a smirk and he laughed lightly to himself when he saw it. She gave him a cheeky wink and went to turn away but then paused. He held his breath, waiting for what would come next. 

“Goodnight, Bravo.” She called over at him. 

He laughed, his shoulders shaking with his mirth. The tension was still thick between them but she managed to find a way to dissipate it while also keeping their fire ignited. He inclined his head towards her, offering her the same sentiments and with one last bright grin, she spun around and rejoined her housemates. 

He faded into the shadows, taking a moment to himself while he let his eyes wander up and down her body while she fell into step with one of the guys on the dance floor. If this had been any other situation he’d immediately have his back up, jealous and ready to start a fight. But not tonight. Not here. Something about their situation made him pause. He knew there was nothing to be up in arms about. 

He had her. She had him. Whether either of them was ready to admit it or not. 

He turned on his heel and with a hidden smile for himself, he retreated back to the house to call it a night.

#the right connection #dieter bravo #dieter bravo x reader #dieter bravo x f!reader #dieter bravo x fem!reader #dieter bravo imagine #dieter bravo imagines #dieter bravo fanfic #dieter bravo fanfiction #the bubble #the bubble imagines #the bubble imagine #the bubble fanfic #the bubble fanfiction #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #the right connection inspo #trc #trc inspo

[javaelemental]

Indictment.FYI

There's still time to sign up at indictment.fyi. You'll get a regular email with all the news and updates pertaining to Trump's indictment or indictments from Dan Sinker, the guy who ran impeachment.fyi both times Trump got impeached.

#Trump Indictment #Donald Trump #US Politics

[wyn-n-tonic]

Hello! I came by to say I just finished Book Lovers (per some previous recs you’ve given) and I am but a shell of a human now. I haven’t connect to a main character to deeply in a long while. And the banter was effortless and not forced. It was so perfect I’m gonna have a hard time moving past it. I borrowed it from my local library and I think I have to go buy it now.

Do you have any other recommendations? I read Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (again because you recommended it) and thoroughly enjoyed it…I think your writing styles are so similar, but totally think you have an edge over her!

PS I still think about Frizzy on a regular basis

Hiii! Oh my god, I haven't read Book Lovers yet (I'm waiting on Ari) but everybody has told me, 'That's gonna be your favorite Emily Henry book.' Did you get the Target special edition with bonus content? Have you read her other books (People We Meet on Vacation, Beach Read). She also cowrote a book called Hello Girls. It's on my list!

Tessa is so amazing and the fact that you think I write similarly to her is such a compliment, holy shit. Thank you so much.

Some books on my bookshelf currently awaiting to be read or books that I've loved:

Forget Me Not by Karissa Kinword (Technically, I'm in the middle of reading this but I've been very stressed out that I can't quite focus and I feel so bad. But anyway... yeah, KRISS' BOOK!).

Part Of Your World by Abby Jimenez (on shelf)

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (on shelf)

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (I listened to the audiobook in the car and, at one point, had to turn the recording off so I could focus on driving, it was THAT HOT).

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (People think it's cheesy, I really loved it).

Anything by Talia Hibbert

The Bromance Book Club Series

Anything by Jasmine Guillory

Chloe Liese's Bergman Brother's Series

There's a load more on my GoodReads. My favorite book is Circe by Madeline Miller. That's not romance but it's perfect.

And I'm so glad you still think about Frizzy. Here's an excerpt of something I've written for the book. IDK if it'll make the final cut but I hope you like it!:

He finds her half a mile up the beach, cross legged on the jetty with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Hey.”

Turning towards him, she wipes her eyes. “Hey.”

“You wanna tell me what’s going on?”

She shrugs.

“Elizabeth,” he breathes out, perching himself on a flat rock in her line of sight. “That's not an answer, baby. What’s wrong?”

Crashing waves fill the silence as she takes deep breaths, looking everywhere but at him. Finally, quietly, she says, “this week has been hell.”

“I know.”

“No, Frankie, I don’t think you do. It’s easy to hide when Rob’s up in DC or Danny’s at the fire station every moment of his fucking life. It’s not easy here.” 

He nods. “I know.”

“But here, I’ve had to spend all week beside you without actually being beside you while my brothers rib you about the girl you’re seeing and then I sneak into your room at night and—“ 

“I know,” he tells her again. “Do you not think this is how I felt on your birthday, baby? I had to sit there at your dinner and answer your dad’s questions about how life is going and couldn’t even tell him that the best part of my life was his daughter. Do you think I don’t feel like shit this week too? Do you think I like trying to deflect Dan’s comments about the girl I’m seeing? This isn’t just hard on you, Elizabeth.” 

Sniffing, she stands, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand again. “Forget I said anything, Frankie, let’s just go.”

“Yeah, let’s go tell them right now.”

“Please don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because”—she takes a deep breath, steadying her voice—“I don’t want their reaction to ruin your birthday.”

“Baby girl, come here,” he tells her, resting his hands on her hips as she comes to stand between his legs. “I don’t give a shit what they think.”

“Yeah, but I do and you don’t like it when I’m upset.”

Frankie huffs a laugh. “You're upset right now, baby.” 

#ask o #oh this was lovely #frizzy things