splash

“Well, I do try,” he said softly.  “And I’ll concede your victory in this discussion.”  It wasn’t that hard after all to accept that a handsome guy also found you handsome.  And to be fair, Brax did know he looked good. He just wasn’t one to say so.

“Not too late. We’re mostly at the getting to know each other stage.  I think they just stagger arrivals to make it easier to edit the footage.  As for the guys…expect hotness and flirtiness and abs…lots of glorious abs.”

“Thanks, I graciously accept this victory”, he chuckled, biting his lip in a slightly awkward, hopefully humbling smile. “I did join the debate team in school, I guess I tend to channel that energy a bit too much sometimes.” Laughing, he nodded as he listened carefully to Brax’s words. It was good to know the other’s opinion of what had gone down so far, both for strategic reasons as well as Bran’s own curiosity. “Well, that does sound terrific. I love me some glorious abs. I struggle a bit to keep up with mine most of the time”, he admitted with a laugh. “I have other assets. What about you? Are you part of the abs team, or what do you think is your best feature?”

Though his initial plan was to go for a swim to clear his mind, Wells was never one to say no to some company – especially company that happen to be attractive. “Well, if it helps your decision at all, my response to conflict is fight not flight. So, I won’t go down easy,” he joked, pulling off his shirt to get ready to hop in. “Hmmm, alright. As long as you behave in regards to not being a murderer this afternoon, then you can definitely join me in a swim.”  Wells smirked, talking a moment to appreciate the other man showing off his trunks for him. “Yes, what a shame it would be if myself in particular was deprived of that sight. One of the credentials of being my swim partner is to look extra hot in a swim suit, so I’m glad I don’t have to turn you away.” 

Bran could certainly understand the impulse for some alone time to clear his mind, but he definitely was a very social type and had no problem offering his company to others - especially guys this handsome, offering eye candy and apparently a good sense of humor on top. “Great, I would expect nothing less. It’s quite boring when one person just dishes it out and the other merely takes it like some cold dead fish”, he mused, smirking a little at the hidden innuendo. In some ways, sex and a fight did have something in common - either was boring when it became too one-sided. “I promise I’ll behave in that regard. I’ll try to be a good boy”, he winked. “I feel honored. Had I known you had such high standards for swim partners, I would’ve been more nervous to approach you.... but I’m glad I passed the test. And for the record, I do think you look extra hot in yours as well.”

WAKE UP OR POTENTIALLY ROLL OUT OF BED AND HIT THEIR FACE ON THE FLOOR. Or slam the snooze button so hard their hand would be aching for the following hours… but that clearly didn’t seem to be the case. Everything was far too perfect to be a dream. And a general hallucination seemed to be out of the picture as well. Where they were – what they were experiencing was indeed real. And all that life of luxury and gorgeous company came with a price to pay – something everyone at the villa was willing to pay. But were people there merely for the prize or to actually succeed in finding that special someone? “Bran? Please tell me your last name isn’t Stark. I wasn’t that much of a Bran fan during the show. Luckily, you are far better looking and interesting than a kid whose face I wanted to permanently maul.” But indeed, very luckily – this Bran was far better in a lot of senses than a fictional character that earned a rather large and collective hate. “I have no clue about any relevant gossip. Or any at all. I’m… fresh off the boat? I think I haven’t even seen the bedroom. I’m too mesmerized by the outside as it is.”

A dream would have been all too comfortable in the end, after all - the fact that this was reality made it all the more exciting. Sure, it seemed like paradise on Earth, but they weren’t here purely to enjoy the scenery. Of course everybody’s intentions and plans might differ; for Bran, the prize money felt equally important as the prospect of meeting his match. Or at least, a sarcastically cynical part of him found winning the cash more realistic at least. A real connection was hard to find, but hey, he was willing to give it a shot at least. “Well, what a compliment”; he laughed, giving Mike an amused grin, “but no, I’m no Stark. Davies. Classic Welsh name. For the record, we did Bran first. Westeros stole that name from us.” Of course it wasn’t rare for him to get that comparison, but luckily Bran had little in common with his fictional namesake. “Same here. As fascinating as I am sure the bedroom is, I do prefer talking to you so far. Guess if we both don’t know anything about the others yet, we should use the opportunity to get a head start in getting to know each other, at least.”

⠀⠀⠀ ❝    well  …  that’s  one  way  of  saying  hello  .    ❞    chirps  the  athlete  ,  gazing  at  the  brunette  through  wide  ,  glossy  hues  .    ❝    i  can  already  tell  that  i’m  going  to  like  you  .    ❞    in  his  defence  ,  what  wasn’t  there  to  like  ??  those  big  ,  chocolate  browns  and  that  heart  -  melting  smile  ??  he  could  (  no  doubt  )  charm  the  birds  off  a  tree  ,  i  mean  ,  hell  ,  he  already  had  bes  swooning  and  he  had  only  just  made  his  acquaintance  !!  a  grin  of  his  own  blossoms  across  his  features  ,  parallel  to  the  one  that  embellishes  the  stranger’s  visage  .    ❝    i  take  it  you’re  new  here  ??  i  think  i  would  definitely  remember  seeing  you  around  here  …    ❞

“It’s my favorite way”, he responded with another wink, not a hint of hesitation in his smile. Bran was aware that sometimes he could get too confident with his outgoing, flirty ways, but for this place they seemed more than appropriate. Shyness wasn’t going to get him anywhere, and fortunately this guy appeared to agree. “Oh I certainly hope so, I’d be forever saddened if one as handsome as you were to hate my guts.” Chuckling, he gave the other another eye over. There certainly were a lot of reasons why he was eager to make sure the other liked him; not just for the competition’s sake, but also because this dude had a gorgeous face paired with a body that appeared to be in splendid shape. Certainly eye candy, and a flirt as well, apparently. “I’ll take that as a compliment, and yes, I would’ve for sure noticed you right away if I’d been here longer. You are correct though, I’m a very fresh arrival. Late to the party - for a moment I was scared I’d missed all the fun. But it seems like there’s still plenty of that to be had... I’m Bran, by the way. It’s a pleasure.”

IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT THE INITIAL REACTION SEEMED TO BE THE SAME. The whole shock and surprise act that were usually overboard in things such as this… but what was there to fake? The house on itself was spectacular and Michael’s brain was already registering all the ways he could put it on the market and win a fairly generous amount of money from it – not to mention the sea of handsome male specimens walking around. Sure, he admired a gorgeous figure here and there but to be so openly free to gaze, complete and compliment without the prospect of a backlash? What was there not to like? If the concept was to have jaws dropping on the floor… well, success there. “I think that might be the general consensus. Everything is too dreamy on one way or another.” At least, these would be very, very enjoyable vacations. “I’m Michael, by the way. Mike – for short. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Bran wasn’t one to fake a reaction; he clearly showed his approval rather freely, not taking shame in handing out compliments and signaling interest. But no matter how ambitious he was in pursuing a goal, he didn’t admire what didn’t deserve admiration. The island clearly did, the impressive villa just as much - and the men? Just as he’d expected, they were sure to become Bran’s favorite part judged by first impression. And Mike was certainly no exception, quite the opposite to say the least. “Well if this truly is a dream, we better enjoy ourselves before we wake up”, he winked and took the straw of his cocktail between his lips once more, sucking to take another sip. “I’m very pleased as well, Mike, great meeting you. I’m Bran. Just Bran - it’s short enough as is”, he joked. “Are you a recent arrival as well or do you already know all the gossip?”

“Well, I suppose it would be rude of me to disagree with flattery from a handsome man such as your self.”  

There was a twin joke to make in there somewhere, but Brax was neither bold enough to make it nor willing to annoy the censors for it.  So instead, he smiled at the man.  “Guess we’ll have to get to know each other as well as twins….or more,” he said with his best flirty smile for the other man. 

“Indeed, it would be very rude. And you seem like you know your manners, right? So no disagreements here. I’m right and you’re handsome.” Bran had obviously spent too much time around lawyers, which made him maybe a bit too eager to come out victorious in an ‘argument’ like that. But hey, there wasn’t anything wrong with making a handsome guy accept a compliment.

“Haha, yeah... I’m sure we will”, he winked, his smile widening a little. That little hint at flirtatious humor from Brax was a nice surprise. Bran was planning to get to know everybody here very well. “So... How late am I to the party? How long’ve you been around already? They don’t exactly brief you on what’s been going down when you arrive late. Care to catch me up on what to expect from the guys?”

“It’s pretty awesome,” Brax agreed blushing as at the man’s compliments.   “I’m pretty sure most of the guys are much more gorgeous than me.”  He gestured to Bran.  “Case in point,” he said.   The man was very good looking and clearly very happy to be there.   Both of which, Brax could appreciate.  “I’m Brax,” he said, offering his hand.

It was almost adorable in a way how the other man responded with such humility, even blushing at Bran’s blunt words. “Oh trust me, I think you fit right in. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t, right? Come on, confidence is sexy”, he added with a wink that was meant as encouragement. This guy clearly didn’t lack in looks, so there was no need for this self-doubt. “Nice meeting you, Brax - I’m Bran. Look at that, we’re almost twinning in the name department!”

IT WAS A LOVELY SUNNY DAY. The warmth provided was enough to make almost everyone peel most of their clothed layers – a visual buffet that made it quite hard to focus on anything that didn’t involve skin. Whoever picked the guys to participate had quite the flawless taste when it came to the male gender. Everyone around seemed carved from marble. Walking gods from the times of old… quite the distracting surrounding in a cacophony of colors, sounds and sensations. “I don’t consider myself gorgeous but I do appreciate the sentiment.” Michael chuckled audibly to the compliment, half hiding his smile behind his drink’s umbrella. Was there a more suitable place to drink a colorful beverage with a damn umbrella?!?! “Whoever made the selection deserves a raise. Not to mention the interior designer. I am… blown away with everything.”

Weather like this truly was a win-win situation. Particularly in a place like this where literally everybody around him was a gorgeous man right out of a coloring book about Greek mythology. Not only did he get to watch everybody else peel out of most their clothing that usually would’ve covered up such an enticing view, but Bran also got to channel his own exhibitionist side and feel the approving gaze of men like this. “You don’t? You must either lack a mirror or be incredibly humble, then”, Bran mused as he eyed the other man once more and then winked at what could be seen of his face behind the colorfully decorated drink. “I agree, for sure. The casting director has immaculate taste. I feel quite lucky to be chosen to be a part of this... What’s not to love about a dream island full of dream men?”, he laughed and took a sip of his own drink. “Part of me is still worried this is just a very pleasant dream and I’ll wake up all alone in my bed any moment.”

“Well, if this isn’t paradise indeed”, Bran mused with a smirk on his lips, looking around at the beautiful island around him, the lush green of the palm trees, the white sand beaches, the clear blue ocean. And of course, most of all, the hot single guys populating the place. In a way, it really felt quite optimal of a surrounding - though of course he couldn’t forget what this was. Pleasure was one thing, but there was a prize to win, and the goal was to couple up. So there was no time to be shy, particularly being a comparably late arrival. “Is everyone just as gorgeous as you?”, he asked approaching one of the other men, eyeing them over with a slight grin. “My, my, they didn’t promise too much.”

 taron egerton  ,  cis-male  ,  he/him  ;  hi  ,  there  bran  davies  .  welcome  to  the  villa  !!  just  to  make  sure  that  everything  is  correct  ,  you  are  a  /  an  twenty-seven  year  old  paralegal who’s  looking  for  someone  adventurous  to  match  your  outgoing nature  ,  right  ??  you  said  you  can  be  a  bit  sarcastic  but  that’s  okay  because  you  can  also  be  a  bit  coquettish  .  fingers  crossed  you  find  everything  you’re  looking  for  on  the  island  !!  (  d  ,  29  ,  cet  )