BROODINGMYSTERY IS GONE!

It’s gonna sound mean but… I’m dropping ALL threads. But I’d like to keep all the ships & verse that I have with people. If people still want me around. If you don’t want to then that’s fine. I’ll understand. We can start over too if that’s what people want. But all threads are gone.The muses are the same, nothing's changing with them. I will be tweaking the rules on my page a little and I’m not sorry for that!

Tomorrow? Well… Anthony normally didn’t have to answer to anyone, but he checked his calendar regardless, just in case he had to (nicely) tell someone off. The man of his dreams had invited him to Ibiza, so kindly fuck off. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. A shame. He’d have liked the opportunity. It would have made him feel like he was going to battle on Derek’s behalf. He got up, checking his text window as he gathered his traveling bags with his other hand and went through the old time-worn ritual.

[text: Derek] Okay.. I’ll be ready, and packed [text: Derek] at least let me cover something [text: Derek]  Meals. I can cover the meals.

Derek rolled his eyes a little at Anthony’s inability to let Derek pay for the entire trip. It was Derek’s idea after all. To get away to some private beach. So he only thought it was the right thing to do.

“I think so,” he said, looking down for the ipad he had set down- a move he was already starting to regret. He ought to have just put everything in a notebook. A notebook didn’t cost a lot, didn’t need recharching, and he could just stick it in his pocket on the go. Fuck. Ah. There it was. “Got the list grouped in terms of need.  Food and nutrition, bracket one. Space/Exercise/Enrichment- bracket two.” He continued reading down the list. He was getting a cat to cut down on the work, entailed in a pet, right? Ostensibly… He chuckled at himself as they made their way on the road. Wouldn’t want to get hungry and irritable as  they were looking at endless warehouses full of salespeople trying to sell  the best water bowl devices, pet shampoos and whatnot.

“How do you feel about sushi?” he asked, pointing to a spot his publisher had recommended once.

Derek smiled and let out a low laugh as he watched Anthony. “Oh wow. Okay, you’re gonna go and buy everything they have there aren’t you?” He teased a little as he looked at Anthony. “You need to relax a little. It’s a cat, not a child.” He spoke softly and smiled at the other.

“Depending on the cat breed, will probably depend on the food and treats you can get it. So have you figured out what kind of cat you want? Or are you waiting to see what they have to offer first?” He hummed softly and nodded his head.

@broodingmystery​ 

“What she? No one else is here,” he informed Derek as he stroked the other’s shoulder in slow, firm motions. He’d never heard of pain being palpable in a dream… That part was worrisome. “Hold on…” he ran to fill a glass with water, and returned, bringing the rim to Derek’s lips. “Try to breathe and relax, okay? What happened wasn’t real. You’re safe now.”

Derek frowned as he looked over Anthony’s face. He knew he wasn’t lying he could hear his heart beat but that didn’t stop him from feeling like it happened. He leaned into the hand stroking his shoulder. His nodded at his breath and took in a deep breath to calm himself.

You okay?  A simple question for most people, Anthony thought. But when he was concerned it was a loaded question. One that always had Anthony’s metaphorical wheels spinning in the sand. You okay? How does one answer that?  He never knew.

“I think so…” he lied, catching his breath. Was he shaking? Thankfully no. Mercifully, no. He felt his breath catch in his throat again as he met Derek’s eyes and swallowed. Why were the innocent touches so terrifying? He’d done things with strangers that would make Derek’s head spin, but this? This unraveled Anthony to the core. “Yeah I’m… Fine..” This was taking too long. He was painfully conscious of the time and how it would appear to Derek. Too long a pause, and it could spell rejection, revulsion, even. He had to get over himself and act. He grazed his fingertips across Derek’s knuckles and tested how it would be to lay his hand against Derek’s.

Derek’s brows raised at Anthony’s answer. “So I take that as a no?” He tilted his head as he looked over the others face. Should he remove his hand? Or should he leave it where it was sitting on Anthony’s thigh? “Are you sure? I don’t want you uncomfortable with just my hand sitting on your leg.” He looked down at said hand; watching Anthony’s fingers move over his knuckles.