bad mouth

"I know, I know." Vic laughed alongside him. "It's a crazy question." She could feel the heat run straight to her face. "I'm asking cause of your sister..." The blonde admitted which in itself was enough of a reason for her to know that she shouldn't have. If Moxie loved one thing, it was to cause mayhem. "Okay, so she brought it up when the girls and me were out having shots and it kind of has been eating at me since then. Not that I'm nervous or worried, it's not that. I promise." Vic began to explain, as she was more than confident with what Cliff and she had. "I just started to think, like what if you started getting tiktok edits, getting stopped for pictures and such. Like, I should start getting ready for my boyfriend to be the publics boyfriend because no shade to Penny Lane, but you're the really hot new guy in the band she use to be a part of."

"My sister?" It started making sense then, that Moxie got into Tor's head for her own entertainment, or just to stir the pot, he didn't know, and he cracked a smile as he looked up at Tori. "You're stressed about some made up scenario Moxie came up with?" He raised his brows, teasing. Even if they were laughing about it, and she insisted his hypothetical groupies weren't something she actually worried about, it clearly bothered her enough to bring it up. Fame as a concept wasn't something he was really after, he just wanted to make music. "Yeah what if. I'm still your boyfriend. A tiktok edit's not gonna change that. If you see one though... send me it."

Tori and Cliff were enjoying one of those perfect 10/10 weather summer days together. One of those days were there was really no rush to do a thing. A day where sitting out in the yard, just existing was actually more than okay. And they'd definitely both earned such a day, given their active schedules as of late. Him actively making his dreams true and she coming to end of her colligate career.

It was hard to keep his eyes open, his head in Tori's lap and the sun hitting them just right. Winters in Rosewood made Cliff appreciate the summer months more than he ever did living in California, whose perfect weather he'd taken for granted. The west coast didn't have his girlfriend though, who he enjoyed every season with but especially the warmer ones, when they could lay out in the yard together, content to do nothing else but be in each other's company.

The biggest grin found itself on Vic's face as he let her know he was free. To say that she was happy with where Cliff and her relationship was would be an understatement, he was nothing short of her perfect person. To be able to say that he was her boyfriend was something she still hadn't gotten use to, just ask his sister as she was surely sick of hearing all about how happy she was. "I would definitely do that for you." She nodded. "But does that also include things where apple is an ingredient? Like, apple cider or doughnuts?" She asked her boyfriend. "Oh, that was quite an era for me." Vic said, with a shake of her head as they didn't need to discuss that. "Clean, Style, New Romantics. Like, I'm not in my Swiftie era anymore but I will always be a 1989 truther."

Cliff didn't take for granted how quickly Vic forgave him, even after the long winter they went no contact. She was his easily his favorite person, someone he could share anything with, and he wouldn't make the same mistake twice of keeping anything from her. "Yeah. Yeah, I mean I'm not just gonna eat a bunch of apples by themselves, that'd be nuts. Not when there's cider and doughnuts around." He learned forward a little as she spoke of her Swiftie past. "Dare I say it... pop bible? Or could it be. Obviously the pop bible is Thriller or Rumors."

"Uh huh." She said with a nod of her head, her lips only growing poutier as he really seemed to contemplate if he wanted to spend the day apple picking with her. Although once he spoke again, she got the answer that she suspected she'd get. "I should be free this weekend, if you are?" Vic said with a nonchalant shrug. Sure, Cliff might have been her boyfriend but she never wanted to come off as pushy. Just a slight nudger. "Oh, I'll definitely make sure you don't apple yourself out." A small giggle leaving her. "Yeah, for sure. You didn't meet me during my Swiftie era and with good reason, I wore my 1989 album out to the point where I literally gave my parents Stockholm syndrome."

"I'm free," he said with no nonsense this time or fake checking of his calendar. As much as he played around Tori had to know if she just said the word he'd come running. "Oh thank you, you'd do that for me? I'm thinking four or five apple limit, that seems reasonable." He chuckled to himself and smiled back at her. "See I didn't even know you were a Swiftie," he teased, "Makes sense. And that album has Clean so it's automatically the best."

"Well, good cause I wasn't going to accept it anyways." Vic told Cliff. A small semblance of a smile working at her lips as he took a sip of her cup and it only grew as he spoke of how good it's contents were. "You're so welcome." The blonde tapped at her chin as he spoke of his favorite flavors of fall was. "You know, there is a whole apple picking farm just about 30ish minutes from here... if you'd like to go? I promise there's gonna be all the cinnamon apple goodies you'd want. Plus, I wouldn't mind taking cute pictures of you reaching for apples."

"Is there?" Brows raised with intrigue, he took a long thoughtful sip of his own drink. "Okay, yeah. We should go. I hope I don't apple myself out, you ever do that? Not with apples necessarily, but, you know. Everything in moderation. I'll do it with songs even."

"Oh, don't you even start." Vic shook her head. "I will not be shamed for enjoying my pumpkin spice latte. I was all about margaritas until literally three days ago, so allow me to enjoy my autumnal treat in peace." She said, a small chuckle leaving her lips. "I know you want some, come take a sip. Come on."

Seeing as he wasn't about to start anything, Cliff raised his hands in a show of innocence. "I'm not shaming you for anything, I was going to say that looks good," he chuckled, and gladly reached for her cup as she offered him a sip. "Mhm, thank you." He slid the drink back her way. "I'm more of a cold brew guy myself. Or anything with apple, like an apple cinnamon situation."

"I told you." Victoire let him know, the smile on her face only growing at his reaction. "Someone who wasn't going to allow a little summer heat interfere with their sweet tooth, that's who." She told him, before turning back towards the kitchen counter to cut herself a piece of cake. "Oh, now that's a question. Summer Forever, certainly. Manchild, for sure." She began before taking a small bite from the slice she'd taken. "And I love Kehlani's 'Folded'. I also really love Game boy from Katseye."

"It's genius, obviously," he agreed, chuckling as he leaned against the counter while she got herself a slice. "Manchiiiiilddd," Cliff sang out, absolutely not hitting the note. "You're missing an important player here, three important players. Sisters... last name Haim. I have not put that album down."

Vic laughed at his question, as he knew very well why she said it the way she had. Cliff might have been amazing with an electric guitar— in fact, better than amazing but she wasn't so sure those skills translated to using cutlery. "I do." She nodded, as she got to cutting out a slice for him. When she turned back towards him, Cliff was closer to her and that was always a welcomed sight. The smile on her face only growing at his revelation. "No way, really? Oh, you're going to love this." Vic let her boyfriend know, as she brought a spoonful up to his lips. "Tell me that wasn't one of the best things you've ever had."

He took a bite as Vic brought it to him, eyes widening while the cake and ice cream melted in his mouth. "That is really good," he hummed back with a nod. "Who thinks of that? Seriously." He covered his mouth as he grabbed a napkin, then took the rest of the slice she'd cut for him. "Okay, song of the summer. What's the verdict?"

"Oh, that was certainly not going to be a task handed off to you." Vic let Cliff know with a shake of her head. Not because she didn't think Cliff couldn't handle any task appointed to him, but she preferred to keep anything sharp nowhere near him. "Well, I'm glad you asked." She let him know, grabbing a hold of his hand to lead him over to the kitchen. "So today's not exactly a baking day—" She let him know, as it was definitely a scorcher out. "but it is definitely an ice cream cake day. FYI, we are a cookies and cream household, which I hope you're okay with."

"Well hang on. Why do you say it like that?" Before he could get his answer though he was tugged towards the kitchen. "You want to know something crazy?" He looked to Tori, brows raised, building intrigue before he took a step towards her, as if sharing a secret. "I've never had ice cream cake."

"I'm airdropping it your way as we speak." She let her boyfriend know, as she pulled up said video. Cliff's interest in what she did never failed to bring a grin to her face. He'd in fact, been one of her biggest cheerleaders. His return to the Toro's circuit having been beyond welcomed— Isis, Whitney, Courtney and even Moxie having missed his presence. "Okay, shall I remind you this is not a film in the Final Destination franchise. I think my house will be a okay if you were asked to charr a hot dog. Now, anything with a cob... now there I'd be a bit scared."

Cliff pulled his phone out as he waited for the airdrop notification to come through, quickly accepting it and then pocketing it again for later. He'd watch it later, when he could get the full ambiance and production value without all the noise behind them. "Thank you. Definitely no cobs. Or skewers. Dogs and burgers are probably fine. What's the dessert situation looking like?," he asked, glancing behind them to see if there was any. That was less Final Destination related though and more of he needed a sweet treat scenario.

"He did. So the girls and me are put together a routine to the song so it'd been on repeat around these parts and now, it's found itself on his playlist." Vic laughed, her parents having always been her biggest supporters. She'd been pretty lucky on that front, she did have such a loving support system. Even her pest of a baby brother had her back... every so often. He'd yet to embarrass her or Cliff, so maybe today was one of those every so often. "Oh, so he must really like you. That over there is his domain, I don't even offer to help anymore. That's a major vote of confidence. Who knows? You might even get to flip a burger."

"And is there a video of this routine somewhere?," he asked teasingly, although cheer was very serious business of course. He never paid any attention to cheerleaders before, or even to the gymnastics meets he sat through for his sister, but when Tori did it he swore everybody stopped to look. And what she did was fucking hard. "Yeah, for now. Until I burn your house down trying to charr a hot dog."

Vic narrowed her eyes, shaking her head as he spoke if only to make him laugh. The blonde looked back at the speaker, Tate McRae's 'bloodonmyhands' blaring from them. "Oh, this was most definitely my dad. He can't get enough of this one. A tater tot for life, that's him." She joked. "He is really excited you're here though. They all are." Vic let him know, her family wanting to know all about the infamous Cliff. Or the rockstar as he was commonly referred to by her little brother.

"No shit, is he really?," Cliff laughed, glancing back at Tori's dad. He'd only been joking before but of course she got her dad into Tate McRae. Whenever she talked, whatever she talked about, she made it sound like the most interesting thing in the world. No shade to Tate. "That's good, I-" He cleared his throat, trying and failing to put on a serious tone, "Tor, your dad asked for help with the grill earlier, and let's just say we're all lucky to be here right now. I couldn't say no."

"That you do." Vic nodded, laughing as he covered his face. "Nope, you couldn't be further from it." She let him know, shaking her head at his failed attempt to clean up the streak of condiment on his face. "You're so welcome." She said told him, before sucking on her thumb. "Uhm, sure, I totally believe you would have." She said, her tone all but letting him know that she in fact didn't believe that would have happened.

"I was getting there," he said in his defense, although he'd much rather take the assist. Summer was his favorite season by far and after the lonely winter he'd had, he couldn't be happier to share it with Tori. "Is this you?," he motioned to the speakers behind them, "Or is your dad a tater tot too?"

"You have a little," Vic pointed at her cheek, trying to guide Cliff to where he'd gotten ketchup on his face. Summer happened to be a big deal at the Shipman household, her parents truly looked for any reason to fire up the grill and have company over. Today being one of those days, one that Cliff had received a personal invite. "I've got it." She reached over, swiping his cheek clean. ( @cliffsaito )

"Do I," Cliff mumbled, hand moving to cover his face in embarrassment. Following Tori's direction, he wiped his cheek with his thumb. "There- no," he chuckled as she got the spot for him. "Thanks. I would've got it, you know, eventually."

"The -ord." Vic said, with a small aw. "I have to confess, I am fond of Clifford." She teased, reaching over to run a hand through Clifford's head of curls. "And yet it feels like we've lived like ten lives since then." She'd had quite the eventful year, one that she could definitely categorize as a Brat year. "Now who do you take me for?" The blonde asked, raising a hand to her chest in faux offense. "No, I wouldn't set you up like that, Cliff." Vic shook her head, meaning that wholeheartedly. Vindictive was not a word she'd use to describe herself, especially not towards the man next to her. "Oh. actually, now that you mention it..." Vic said with a bright grin, before shaking her head. "I'm totally kidding, I'd love nothing more than to see you, this weekend."

"I'm not. Always makes me feel like I'm in trouble." It sounded cute coming from her though and he grinned as her fingers got caught in his curls. "I didn't think so, but hey, you know, I had to be sure." His eyes narrowed as she started a well actually, playful, waiting for the reveal she was just messing with him. "Cool." He smiled back at her then leaned over for a quick kiss, just a peck before he got out of the car to get the passenger side door for her.

"I did hear that." She let him know, excitedly as she loved seeing Cliff keep up with Addison lore. "I honestly get it. This coming from someone who dropped the Vic and the é as soon as she could, I get it." Vic laughed. "Which is also the same day BRAT dropped last year. That's kind of incredible." She pointed at her head, letting him know that she was keeping up. The blonde's grin only grew as she noticed a light flush of pink making it's way onto his cheeks. "Definitely." She nodded, noticing her house coming up in the distance. "So, I think this might be the moment you ask me if I'm free this weekend."

"Right, I dropped the -ord," he agreed, as though their comparisons made all the sense in the world, and grinned. "It is. That's actually crazy, that it's only been a year." Cliff wasn't sure he'd had a brat summer, but he definitely had a I might say something stupid ft. The 1975 fall. He too noticed they were almost to Tori's house, as he'd started taking his time at every stop sign. "You wouldn't say that if you were busy right, like I'm not being set up here?," he teased, pausing a moment as he pulled up next to her house, then stopped the car and looked at her. "Can I see you this weekend?"