adventures of a lifetime

" i am fuckin' being nice considering you're a god damn mouthpiece . " the boys bickering was no out of the ordinary . smart mouth comments , swinging elbows and shoves . it was a shock to anyone how they all manage to live in such tight quarters and survive each day unscathed . if blood wasn't shared between froggy and henric , there was no way he could put up with his antics . " you ain't gonna be the distraction . you're doing the deed . gotta take home the title of best uncle , right ?? "

henric didn't bother to give that a reply, knowing fully well he knew just how to drive froggy insane - and he loved that he did. it wasn't something he tried... it happened effortlessly. man, henric wished pissing off his big brothers would be what would get him paid, he'd be a damn millionaire by now if it was. "damn, fine, okay, just know the amount of stores i'm banned from lately are... in the big numbers," he rolled his eyes, but he knew froggy knew that he would do it. after all, he did do everything for his brothers if they asked, to his best effots anyway. "and i already am the best uncle, thank you. kid loves me."

jace can't help but flush at the compliment ( he will never get used to such trivial acts of pure human kindness, as long as he walks this earth ). ❝ ah -- but you're bias, jamil ! ❞ he challenges his friend with a goofy grin and finger extended as if prepared to engage in a sword-fighting duel. as the teasing continues, the flush brightens in color as jace rolls his eyes. ❝ you are something else, you know that ? ❞ he means it in the best way possible, in a way one could only mean when talking about their very best friend. ❝ god fine -- lets see... where do i even start ? saying hey just feels so simple, but i feel like that's our best option here. i am so fucking clueless. ❞

"i'm not bias excuse me!" he said, offended, but soon the pout turned into a big grin. "okay, so, maybe i'm a little biased but jace, i am also right and you know it!" he looked proud at his own statement, humming at it. "i'm something else, and i'm the one that is finally going to get you laid and.. well, hopefully loved and all that shit too," he grinned, unable to make it too long without making some crude joke. jace was used to it by now. "hey always works. don't knock the classics, sometimes the best way to go about things is to make it simple." he almost bounced off his seat now. "come on jace, text him!"

the pair walk together to the nearest taxi rank, and they hop into a taxi, pari felt a little bit like an imposter, unlike her friend she didn't come from money. she nods, "totally! oooh, what are you thinking?" a smile comes across her lips, "cute! i'm not sure yet, maybe some new heels".

"girl, what am i not thinking?" michaela says with a big smile, the confidence as obvious as the fake tan on her skin as she thinks for a moment about what she could be getting. "aw, heels are cute. maybe i should too. heels, some new sun dresses, oh, that matches the hat.... i'd love to up my beach game this summer, and i feel a good dress hat combo is what will do it." she pays as the taxi drops them off, grabbing her friend's arm as they enter the big, fancy store. "let's go, girl."

his nose scrunched, head shaking in one jerking motion. “well, brighton beach is stones,” he corrected in his pedantic, particular way—just jasper being jasper, “but, no, i didn’t drop it and neither did he. i had some sort of idea he was going to propose. i mean, he asked me before, but…” a soft chuckle had his dark eyes glancing downwards, focused on his knitted fingers that had recoiled after the flash of his ring, “...but the time wasn’t right, and he wanted to make everything perfect. it was. perfect.” and now, whenever he was hit with doubt that he was lovable, the boy had a tangible reminder; that silver band was testament to a love that had burned bright ever since the beginning.

"well how would i know if it's stones or sand, i don't have a boyfriend that invites me on romantic getaways and propose to me," jamil teased, nudging jasper's side before focusing on the ring once again. god, jamil loved it. he could see why jasper was so fond of it, and of linus, and why this was perfect for him. there was no one that deserved it more. "i'm so very happy for you," jamil said with a smile again, as if he couldn't say it enough. "you really really deserve this jasper. you're going to have... such a great life," he sighed happily, resting his chin in his hand. "the wedding is going to be absolutely amazing."

Often, Foster felt like he was a bad friend. He let work take priority, mostly because he genuinely liked his job - but it led to moments like this. He grinned a little as Liam grabbed his arm, gently patting the top of his hand. "Well, at least we're both tired together. I'd love to figure out a standing playdate, as it were. I think we'd both feel better about it in the long run."

"ain't that the truth," liam said with a laugh, shaking his head. "yeah that's why people say, isn't it? ' let the body and mind rest ' or something like that," honestly, liam didn't listen much but he knew people did say he needed to get more hobbies, apart from work, his band and things his daughter wants to do. "we'll make a list, like, of things we wanna do, see what we can make happen, and set dates. it will be real fun!"

in the face of adversity, sometimes all that was needed was one friend. liam had stood by jaden throughout the last few years and, now, it was the musician's turn to return the favour. he had lived through the struggles his friend was dealing with, had firsthand experience with the ways out; if he was able to take the weight off the male's shoulders in any way, of course he would have. they had both rocketed towards the girls, and jaden clumsily lowered to his knees to wipe sand from jacie's mouth. "i think i could feed her every ten seconds and she'd still put dirt in her mouth. i never need a DNA test with her—i know she's my girl from how she prefers the ground to, like, normal vegetables." so long as she ate her dinner, though, he was confident he could get away with the mishap without telling his wife. "worms?!" he gasped, squeezing his daughter's cheek, "you don't want worms in your belly, huh, little j?" the girl was scooped up into his arms, a kiss to her forehead. "i suppose we should get going, but thanks for our little playdate."

THE END.

there was no bitterness there, even if evanie had loved and lost. the girl had lost her only chance at a happy family, at the cookie-cutter life every country girl dreamed of. she could have turned foul, glaring at anybody else who had what she didn't, cursing cupid's arrow whenever it struck. instead, the girl was gushing just as much as linus as they discussed his partner and the plans for an engagement that was right on the horizon. craning her neck to look at the photo, her eyes softened and her mouth rounded into a soft 'aw'. "oh, linus, ain't he a cutie! he looks like a little fairy. you're both as lucky as each other. i absolutely love love!" there had been photos of her and canyon, once, laughing and making silly faces, snapshots of a relationship that was destined to fail. "you know what? i'll buy you two this little bouquet. my treat, to love!" she clasped the arrangement in her hand as she moved towards the counter. she may not have been able to contribute much to the romance, but there could be a tiny part of evanie-may in the proposal that way. when the time came, she would buy them a toaster or a kettle, a nice gift for their new married life. "i would love to go for coffee with the two of you. meet the lucky boy."

who would have guessed he'd get such help with this proposal from a stranger? honestly, linus already felt very close to the sweet girl, as much as people found him cocky and cold at most times, linus horner was a friendly guy, not one to be difficult to get to know or let people into his circle of life. her comments about jasper has him smiling even more, and then the bouquet. "you're far, far too kind," he said with a little smile, bumping his elbow against her side, as if they were long lost buds finally finding each other again. "give me your number and i'll keep in touch, perhaps after all this is said and done... i want to be able to show off him as my fiancé, not just my boyfriend," he said with a grin as he held his phone out for her to add her number into it. "i'll be proposing next week so, it won't be too long. i promise to keep you updated."

"Enough effort to show you care, but not enough that it's like... embarrassing, you know?" Satine laughed a little. "That's good though, right? You wanna talk a lot about your partner. It's a red flag in my book if you do everything to avoid talking about them, personally."

THE END.

"Mm; that sounds like the ideal and perfect proposal then, if you ask me." Javier gave Linus a warm smile. "I know I'm just a stranger in a flower shop, but I really do think moments like that are meant to be private, and then you can have a more public thing later."

THE END.

❝ whoa, whoa, hey ! it's alright, yeah ? i wasn't being serious when i said that you were checking her out ― i mean, unless you were, which would've been perfectly cool too, but you're not ― ❞ dani makes sure to emphasize the word to make it clear they've understood her, and they've dropped a bag of crisps to their lap to hold palms up defensively. they get the point, and truly, they're sorry for overstepping a bound. ❝ ― but it wasn't even a good joke, you're right. that's my bad.❞ dani sighs, elbow digging into a scabbed knee as he props his head against his hand. ❝ i was checking her out, though, ❞ they admit with a chuckle, dark gaze flickering toward michaela. ❝ not because i thought she were fit or anything, i just ― well, to be honest, i thought her earrings were pretty sick. was that ― was that a tiny plastic naked baby dangling off the one ear, yeah ? i mean... i might... ❞

"ew. no." and michaela's voice is more of a whine, and she knows she might have just gone at the whole situation too hard, but she couldn't help it. "naked baby, yeah. like, no style, ew," and she shakes her head then, looking over at them, at least happy that they aren't pressing the matter any further, actually moving on, which makes it so much easier for michaela. "do you really want to sleep with someone that has earrings like that? dani please," her eyes watches with judgement, roll of the eyes, fixing her her behind her ear. "there's gotta be someone better for you to take yo bed if you wanna pull here, come on." anything to move on, focus on dani instead. much better.

Michaela was one of many similar people Ana had grown accustomed to being around. Her job connected her with people exactly like the other woman on a regular basis, the only difference being, that Michaela was actually her friend, unlike all the others. "I am for real," she chuckled, moving her drink to the other hand as she went fishing around her bag, producing a slim pink case a moment later. "Here we go!"

for a spoiled brat, as michaela knew people called her behind her back and sometimes to her face, it was easy to get her pleased, which a metal straw was right now doing. she sipped her drink as ana had handed her the straw, sighing happily as if the drink was nectar from god. "oh my god, this was just like, so good. remind me to always have one of these."

ender was the first to speak her disgust towards the nerd that juniper had decided to play house with but, after jacie had come along, there was a part of her that was rather sympathetic. she wouldn't be caught saying it to juni's face, of course, but with a scrunch of her nose, ender conceded. "you know, maybe i need to try it with a nerd guy. he must be pretty good if juni took his last name and had a kid with him. maybe she's got the right idea." because hunks were too obsessed with their cars to be good boyfriends, and jocks were too busy staring at their muscles in mirrors. women were beautiful, but it seemed that ender had been more or less out of luck. "high standards!" she took a small sip, wanting to pace herself so that beer goggles didn't funnel her into making a bad decision, "listen. you both have bad taste. the very idea that either of you think any man is worth your time means you're wrong. you're both goddesses, and you deserve a god in return."

"i don't know," she shakes her head, fixing the hair that falls out of place with heir perfectly manicured nails so that nothing is out of place with her, ever. "i still suspect he did something to her. some nerd potion to have her love him or something, don't all those musicians get high on... mushrooms or something?" as if she'd even call junipers husband that, but well, he wanted to be one and it was fun to make fun of him. easy victim of her comments, as much as she sometimes felt jealous of the life juniper had. she'd never say that out loud though -- her pride could never handle that. she downed the drink effortlessly, smiling at ender with a roll of her eyes. "please, just point me in the direction of a god then, because i can't seem to find anyone. i don't even ask for much, just handsome, tall, rich, big dick and good tongue," and then she giggles loudly, hand over her mouth, as if she can't believe she just said that. "oh my god!" @rufficns

henric never really understood art. honestly, he wasn’t really sure why he was here to begin with, well, clearly because leyla had asked him to, but it was still not his place. he belonged in alleyways, not in fine galleries. “i guess it’s fine,” he shrugged, knowing if he said anything else he’d just sound like uneducated cowboy, which… true. “don’t know why people pay big bucks for it tho,”

leyla didn’t really get it, but clearly, someone else did or it wouldn’t have been up on the wall, “it’s cute” she nods. if she had money, her flat walls would be decorated with beautiful works of art, “well some people have more money than sense, don’t they”.

"yeah, don't get it, never will!" henric said with a shrug of his shoulders. "if i had that kinda money, wouldn't bloody well have it on me walls," his eyes rolled a little bit, but for a moment thinking of what he would do if he had that kind of money - a bigger, better place for his brothers more definitely. "when ya start spendin' on these? you gotta give that money up to someone that spends it better."

"i always knew you'd give amma a grandchild before me. she always wanted me to get married off and start popping out babies but i knew you'd cave in first." lena had put her studies first, held off a relationship until she was in a comfortable position. now, with a professor's role at oxford and a home to call her own, a family was all that she was missing. she may have patronised her little brother—that was her job, after all—but maybe he had the correct path in life after all. "and is her mother behaving, or is she still a thorn in your side? you know, i can always go over there and teach her a lesson." nobody fucked with lena kumar. "i'd love to. count me in. i'll have to go shopping for a new bathing suit for the occasion."

"oh she's still waiting for you to start popping out babies, lena, you know that," liam's smile is wide and teasing, and he knows it was probably not expected for their mother that liam would be the first one to bring grandchildren to the family home. he was so happy though that jassie was his, even if he knew some people might think he was doing things the wrong way 'round, or too early. as much as lena was thinking liam had chosen the right path, liam wondered if he would have given jasmine a better future if he had settled down fully. marriage. maybe. he'd hope the village he had around him to raise her would be enough. "eh... her mother is..." liam hesitates, because isn't that a sore subject. "she's trying. having jassie like, a saturday here and there, with me or somebody else there to make sure everything is fine..." and it felt awful, to have his only daughter with a mother that couldn't (for now, at least) be trusted alone with her, social service watching over as they were in the park, but liam knew it was for the best. "just please don't buy jassie yet another floatie," liam tells his big sister with a grin, knowing fully he can't stop her. "she has like, six of them now." @rufficns

a pitchy giggle fell from his lips as jasper was once again scooped up. to linus he weighed nothing—it was just one more reason that the two of them were made for each other, written in the stars. his fingers curled into his future husband's shirt, lightly bobbing in linus' hold. arwen obediently followed along behind them as they moved from the wedding setup; those hazel eyes focused on the fading arch, the flowers and little lights, committing the moment to memory. "well... i think i'd like to put that big bed to good use. practice for our wedding night." and near immediately his head wiggled into the crook of linus' neck, another soft laugh falling against the warmth of his skin in the darkness. "and the balcony. maybe the shower." he was thankful for the low light, shielding that telltale pink that flushed over the heights of his cheeks, russet freckles standing against fuchsia. "and then who knows. maybe we can get more room service. cuddle. watch a movie." and stay up way into the night, gushing over that pretty ring that fit so perfectly between his knuckles. what more could he have asked for? their wedding couldn't possibly come soon enough.

he would never tire of kissing jasper, lifting him up, feeling that he belonged holding him, and jasper belonged in his arms. out of all people linus had met, social life, work life, growing up -- none had left even a tenth of the impression that jasper had. and never had he knew that love could be like this. easy, beautiful, perfect. he hummed, pleased as he heard jasper make suggestion on what they should do and he nodded. "i think so. i say we might have to practice a lot before we go back home... maybe we shouldn't leave the room until we know the wedding night is fully prepared.." he is smiling into the kiss, dropping jasper down on the bed as arwen finds her bed in the corner, bored with her daddies already now and ready for her nap. linus though, never bored with jasper, his flushed cheeks and well kissed lips, slight salt water in the grey of his hair, eyes dark of lust. "come here..." linus murmured, his body hovering over jasper as long fingers unbuttons, unzips, trying to get fabric out of the way. arousal is something he can't stop once they get going like this, and to be fair, as soon as jasper speaks of want and need, linus feels ready to give him everything he asks for. dark fingers over pale, white skin, tracing memories of their love nights before, love bites and marks. "you are so beautiful. i can't believe you agreed to marry me." and yet, he knows none of them have been more sure of anything in their lives. @rufficns