ready or 𝐧𝐨𝐭 ...

SETTINGS.

[01.] finding privacy in a cramped dressing room.

[02.] cramming into the backseat of a car together.

[03.] slipping into the lonesome alleyway behind the bar for "time alone".

[04.] pulling them away from a party after hours of relentless teasing.

[05.] getting handsy under the table at a fancy dining establishment.

[06.] taking the long way home and pulling over on a dark stretch of road.

[07.] staying behind at the venue after everyone else has left.

[08.] the hotel room door barely clicks shut before hands are on them.

[09.] a tent in the middle of nowhere where no one can hear anything.

NEW TERRITORY.

[10.] finding yourself staring at their mouth and getting caught.

[11.] pulling back from a kiss to look at them, then immediately going back in.

[12.] memorizing the shape of them for the first time with your palms.

[13.] that exploratory first kiss, reserved and shy.

[14.] a gentle first kiss that morphs into intense want.

[15.] feeling the shape of their body through their clothes.

[16.] asking for permission to remove one of their garments.

[17.] finally succumbing to the thick tension & colliding feverishly.

[18.] fumbling with buttons or zippers because your hands won't stop shaking.

[19.] admitting out loud that you've been thinking about this for a while.

HEATING UP.

[20.] pulling them into your lap in the midst of a heated kiss.

[21.] discovering that they're wearing [ GEAR / LINGERIE ] under their clothes.

[22.] kissing away from their lips, down the length of their neck.

[23.] desperately grinding on them through layers of clothing.

[24.] dirty talking directly into their ear to turn them on even further.

[25.] pushing them onto a piece of furniture before straddling them.

[26.] lifting them onto the countertop while making out.

[27.] tugging their hair to expose more of their throat to your mouth.

[28.] the wrecked way they say your name for the first time.

[29.] fabric tearing because neither of you has the patience for buttons.

[30.] removing an obstacle of clothing with your teeth.

UNRAVELING.

[31.] biting down on their shoulder to muffle how good it feels.

[32.] the sound they make when you find the spot that undoes them.

[33.] begging without any trace of pride left and meaning every word.

[34.] their composure cracking for the first time, they finally stop holding back.

[35.] repeating "don't stop" like it's the only language left in their mouth.

[36.] leaving possessive marks in places only they'll see.

[37.] whispering "look at me" right before you take them apart.

[38.] trying to be quiet and failing, so they clamp a hand over your mouth.

[39.] flipping positions so fast neither of you remembers who initiated it.

[40.] their nails dragging down your back hard enough to sting later.

[41.] being told to open your mouth and doing it before the sentence is finished.

[42.] having your hands pinned above your head.

[43.] the desperate scramble to get closer when there is no closer to get.

COMING DOWN.

[44.] fingers lazily tracing the marks they just left on your skin.

[45.] pulling the blanket over both of you without being asked.

[46.] that silent, dazed smile when they catch your eye across the pillow.

[47.] the shaky laugh when neither of you can remember where your shirt is.

[48.] going to get water and bringing a glass back for them without asking.

[49.] lying chest to chest, feeling their heartbeat slow back down against yours.

[50.] the quiet "hey" that means something completely different now.

[51.] "come here" said softly — not urgently. just wanting them close again.

@finalslay ( adam ), meme / modern au.

Din offers his charge a look, and immediately his hand lifts as if to sign a quick "no". But Adam's eyes are bright, and on the flight here the man had been chattering about how freeing it would be after his concert was over-- something about nobody knows me here and won't it be fun for you too, not having to care about paparazzi?

He's getting soft, surely. When bounty hunting was still his regular gig, he'd never had to stay around the same people as much as he did with Adam now. The unprofessional nature of bodyguarding someone he knew personally aside, helping Adam with this tour means they've been spending more time together than they ever did before. Regrettably, after seeing all the trials associated with being a famous rock star, Din doesn't want to be the reason the first genuine smile Adam's worn in a while disappears.

He doesn't smile like this often. Even in the club's low light, Adam's grin dazzles.

Din signs: <<I don't know how to dance.>>

after all, the freedom is the beauty of a place like this. it’s meant to be mindless fun and a small reprieve from all the busyness and chaos that comes with this tour. hell, they both need an evening off, regardless of what din might think — and standing by the bar, watching with a keen eye, is not what adam would call taking a break.

still, surprisingly enough, he doesn’t have to argue his point further as din takes his hand. the acceptance makes warmth blossom in his chest and adam laughs with almost boyish glee.

there’s a remix of a taylor swift song playing over the club’s speakers as he leads him towards the dance floor. rather than heading towards the center and into the thick of the action as he so usually does though, adam stops them right at the outskirts.

of course, he isn’t a fool — adam could be in the midst of a crowd dancing whenever he wanted to, but din agreeing to dance with him? that’s something far more special.

he’s still holding onto din’s hand when he begins to lightly move and hum along to the song’s beat — and then, as if to add extra incentive and encourage him, adam squeezes his hand lightly, that smile never once faltering.

[ tug ] sender tugs receiver behind them during a tense moment

[ pull ] sender pulls receiver out of harm's way at the last second

[ tuck ] sender stares at receiver and quietly reaches up, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind receiver's ear

[ yank ] sender yanks receiver closer to them, ending up in semi-suggestive close proximity

[ steady ] sender grabs receiver's arm to steady them before they fall over

[ walk ] sender moves around receiver and walks closest to the street as they travel down the sidewalk, keeping receiver away from any potential danger in the roadway

[ untied ] sender drops to their knee and starts tying receiver's shoe for them

[ spoon ] sender lifts a spoon towards receiver's mouth, encouraging them to eat

[ trace ] sender traces receiver's lips with their thumb

[ pin ] sender pins receiver to a tucked-away spot in the shadows to avoid being caught

[ neck ] without a word, sender dips down to receiver's throat and kisses them soundly

[ handheld ] sender slips a hand behind their back and grabs receiver's fingers as they stand behind them

[ carry ] without asking, sender takes receiver's heavy bags from them and carries them

[ lock ] sender and receiver lock eyes across the room

[ drink ] sender brings receiver a drink and holds it to their lips, insisting they take a drink

[ reload ] sender reloads receiver's gun for them in the middle of a fight

[ shelter ] sender uses their body to shelter receiver from an explosion or attack

[ carry ] sender picks up receiver and carries them off the battlefield and into a safe spot before running back to the fight

[ toss ] from a secret hiding spot only receiver and sender can see as they avoid an enemy, sender silently gestures to receiver to toss them (their gun, something valuable, etc.)

[ stairs ] sender offers out a hand to help receiver ascend or descend a staircase

[ cover ] sender covers receiver's eyes so they don't witness something gruesome

[ fix ] sender comes up to receiver and fixes their collar and/or tie

[ shake ] to convince receiver not to do something, sender hastily shakes their head from a distance

[ watch ] from a distance, sender taps on their watch to show receiver they're running out of time

[ i'll go ] sender gently pushes receiver back, taking charge and insisting they will handle the dangerous task

[ reach ] through a locked gate, sender reaches for receiver's hand

[ ship ] as receiver's ship takes off from the planet, sender waves to them from the ground and watches them leave

[ protect ] after someone threatens receiver, sender rushes over and gets right in their face to protect them

[ punch ] after someone attacks receiver, sender rushes over and punches them in retaliation

[ nip ] sender playfully nips at receiver's neck

[ knuckles ] sender kisses receiver's knuckles in a polite gesture

[ squeeze ] sender gives receiver's butt a playful squeeze from behind

[ danger ] as an all-powerful receiver is about to lose control of their powers and cause massive damage, sender finds their eyes and tries to talk them down

[ goodbye ] without saying a word, sender approaches receiver and kisses them goodbye

[ wipe ] sender wipes a tear from receiver's face

[ location ] without saying anything and giving away the surprise, sender takes receiver to a secret spot

[ hold back ] sender has to hold back receiver from attacking someone

[ game ] sender lets receiver win a game they're playing

belle sighed, glancing at the documents scattered about the table — she was usually much more organized then this. the newly titled princess had been pacing around the library as she read these documents; choosing to do her royal duties there, rather then be seated behind a too large desk in a stuffy study. it was unconventional, but it was her way and at least that was familiar. nothing about the rest of this was.

letters from other royals, asking for their attendance to this ball, that ball — something about a summer festival two towns over and a lavender harvest festival in another, four towns over. then there were the examples of bouquets on a table off to the side of the library, table settings on another — things she was supposed to be choosing between for their own ball as a start to the season. things she had requested be brought here, rather then the ballroom, for her to ponder over.

the brunette continued to pace, though now instead of a royal document in her hands — it was a book. a dusty one, from the very top shelves of the library; old, with a cracked spine and smelling of cedar and musk. it was a tale she'd never heard before, one about a princess lost in an enchanted forest after being targeted by her stepmother, with a talking doe and cat.

with her nose stuck in the book, belle failed to notice the sound of the library door opening, or the faint footsteps behind her as she continued to pace and absorb the story — an unplanned respite from her newly acquired duties.

upon entering the library, the prince merely stood and watched her for a moment. there was a fond smile on handsome features as he gazed at her — belle, with her nose stuck in a book. she looked far more at ease with it in her hands than she ever did with any of the documents that had been thrust upon her in recent times.

finally, with featherlight steps, he closed the gap between them. adam's arms wrapped around belle's waist, head dipping down so that his chin rested against her shoulder. “ hello, you, ” he murmured, turning and pressing a kiss against the side of her neck. “ what are you reading? ”

he glanced over at the decoration examples and the stack of letters. it had to be overwhelming for her, all of this. just because her newfound title demanded that she make these decisions did not mean that she was equipped to handle it on her own.

a terrible lack of thoughtfulness on his part, and one that he would soon be making an attempt to rectify.

first comes the smack of adrenaline. nealie nearly drops the trinket in her surprise, flushing her back to the nearby wall and searching for the source of the voice. the little orb, silver and gleaming, stays in her palm as she grips it tight, more out of instinct than a true sense of possession.

"oh, uh!!" finally, she lays eyes on him as he approaches from the shadows. towering and beastly, covered in fur and yet capable of speech, walking on two legs— green eyes blink to check that she's seeing correctly. somehow, perhaps against better reason, nealie relaxes and raises an eyebrow at him. if he had wanted to hurt her, he could've done so already, or at least he wouldn't have revealed himself.

"i'm sorry." it feels like the right thing to say, at least, but she's running on autopilot as curiosity and fear both weigh in equal measure. she tries not to think of the other trinkets already settling into their new home, her bag. "i'll just—" actions speak louder than words. the orb is placed back on its stand, but nealie is quick to return her gaze to him, both wary and searching for approval.

“ of course i do, ” he retorts with a scoff, blue eyes rolling with exasperation. “ and i do believe you're trespassing. ”

if this were any other circumstance, the situation and its absurdity might be amusing, but adam could not care less about the trinket in the girl's hand — it is simply the matter of principle. for all intents and purposes, she should not be here. he knows the bounds of this curse : he cannot leave the castle grounds and no one can enter.

... yet here she is, looking up at him with nothing more than surprise.

it is almost unsettling. a part of adam, jaded and wary, feels that this might be a trick. years and years without another face ; perhaps she is nothing more than another ploy from an enchantress, a test to see how he responds to his punishment this many years later.

“ how did you get in here? ”

you came back.

of course i came back. i couldn't let them... oh, this is all my fault.

if only i had gotten here sooner.

maybe it's better this way.

don't talk like that. you'll be all right. we're together now. everything's going to be fine, you'll see.

at least i got to see you... one last time.

no! no! please, please don't leave me! i love you.

i want to do something for her, but what?

there's the usual things. flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep...

it has to be something very special. something that sparks her interest.

wait a minute!

isn't this amazing?

i'm afraid i've been thinking.

she's never looked at me that way before.

how can you read this? there's no pictures!

some people use their imagination.

i want adventure in the great wide somewhere.

i want so much more than they've got planned.

that hurts!

if you hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much.

if you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened.

if you hadn't frightened me, i wouldn't have run away.

you should learn to control your temper.

hold still. this might sting a little.

by the way, thank you for saving my life.

how could you do that?

i had to.

now we invite you to relax.

this is the day your dreams come true.

what do you know about my dreams?

imagine that.

i'm speechless. i really don't know what to say.

say you'll marry me.

i just don't deserve you.

if it's not baroque, don't fix it.

i thought i told you to come down to dinner.

please, attempt to be a gentleman.

will you come down for dinner?

you can't stay in there forever!

that didn't go very well at all, did it?

it's no use. she's so beautiful, and i'm... well, look at me!

try to act like a gentleman.

if i didn't know better, i'd think you had feelings for this monster.

he's no monster, [name], you are!

who said anything about the castle being enchanted?

who are you? what are you doing here?

you are not welcome here!

what are you staring at?

shower her with compliments!

i've been burnt by you before.

close that at once!

i was trying to be hospitable.

there may be something there that wasn't there before.

i'll tell you when you're older.

may i have my book, please?

don't talk about my father that way!

i'll show you to your room.

you might want to offer her a more comfortable room.

why did you come here?

i warned you never to come here!

do you realize what you could've done?

is anyone here?

your hands are like ice. we have to get you out of here.

i want you to leave this place.

who's done this to you?

no time to explain. you must go! now!

you must promise to stay here forever.

come on out and fight!

were you in love with her? did you honestly think she'd want you, when she had someone like me?

why don't you read it to me?

the castle is under attack!

we must do something!

you always say that.

did you have a good time in town today?

it's just that i'm not sure i'd fit in here. there's no one i can really talk to.

you did it! you really did it!

the castle is your home now, so you can go anywhere you'd like.

there's a stranger here.

will no one help me?

you will join me for dinner. that's not a request!