fuckin' fake

It had been what drove him to ending things in the beginning, him and Dheer and their different stances on what Noah needed from life - but at this point, they’ve reached something of a agreement - or rather, they’ve just stopped talking about it as much, over the years. So he just smiles at Dheers words, laughing softly for a moment. The kiss to the cheek brought a faint blush to his cheeks, and Noah, for a moment, had to blink at the easy affection given so thoughtlessly, each and every time he and Dheer met. “Dunk tank” It’s his traditional first stop at the festival, every year - and he has to admit, the chance to be able to throw something is one he would welcome at the moment. It was almost like being a teenager again, the flush of nerves that rose in him.

Dheer just hoped Noah would realize this whole politician thing wasn’t really what he wanted on his own at some point. It was probably obvious to everyone but him. As the other blushed, he chuckled and nuzzled his cheek with affection. Usually, it was Dheer who was shy but being with Noah was easy and familiar. “Who are you going to make cold and wet this time around? There’s that lifeguard dude. What’s his name...Lincoln?” That was one thing Dheer would never volunteer for. Being constantly dunked in water didn’t sound pleasant to him. “And then...we can play games?”

When he got downstairs, he came up behind the other man and placed his hands on his hips before nipping playfully at his ear. “Mari is asleep, mi alma,” he cooed. “I’m here to remove the winky face from your vocabulary.”

Cesar: You might have to come here and make me ;)

Cesar: Am I? OH I'm not very good that. No I definitely wouldn't want to do that lol

Cesar: She doesn't but I can't fight the excited cuteness that is her in times like that either

Tomas: I'm coming downstairs.

Tomas: Better be ready

Cesar: Is that so? Well my dumb face waits for that kiss to happen.

Cesar: Si, I think we can definitely do that. who knows we might get lucky and win something.

Tomas: Shhh

Tomas: You're supposed to act like you don't want me to kiss you

Cesar: You mean this winky face ;) ;D

Cesar: Never a doubt my love.

Cesar: I think that would be a lot of fun so yes. Mari would love it I'm sure.

Tomas: I'm going to kiss that winky face off your dumb face

Tomas: Good

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be.” York offered no explanation. He didn’t owe anyone one - he knew that much, even if he was still in the habit of apologising for who he was.

“That’d be nice, though. Staying around. Maybe I can dunk you a few more times.” He gave a half grin, like he was attempting to tease. “Just let me know when you get too cold and I’ll throw you in again.”

“You don’t need to apologize!” he exclaimed rather quickly. “I just don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable around me.” He wanted to pull the other into a hug and give him a good cuddle. People who always apologized for things seemed so sad. 

“If that’s what you want,” he laughed. “But that would mean that had to have not just been a lucky shot.” Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to the other’s cheek before climbing back on his little seat. “Maybe I should have gone shirtless.” But it took a little away from the appeal.

Wide blue eyes blinked a little in surprise at the kiss to his hand. The lips were soft and slightly chapped despite the water currently soaking the man through. York swallowed, unsure how to react.

“I’d like that.” Was all he managed, nodding a little jerkily. Was it so obvious he was shell shocked by the sweet gesture? He hoped not. “I can leave you my number, if you want?” He offered, attempting a casual effect. “Or… I don’t know, I can wait around… wouldn’t- uh…” he paused, wondering if it was okay to say what he was going to say next. Did submissives get to flirt so openly as he was about to? “Wouldn’t mind sticking around and seeing you in a wet shirt some more.” He bit out, hoping it was well received.

This submissive was definitely cute. Link wasn’t used to this type of person. Usually people were more upfront with him, but this was nice too. It was sweeter than the more forward people he usually dealt with.

Oh. It was definitely obvious, but Link was not the type to judge. “You don’t have to be so nervous around me,” he stated. He tried very hard to not come off as intimidating despite his large side. “I can give you my number and you can stay around for a bit. How does that sound?”

Things with Dheer were complicated, even at their easiest - between their time as classmates, as partners, when Noah went nearly completely off the grid for a year and didn’t speak to anyone from the states for months at a time, to Dheers constant belief that Noah could ever be something other than what his father expected - complicated was not a word that could encompass everything, but it was the best he had at the moment. So he just smiled at the other, shaking his head with a small laugh. “I remember where the important things are - just not where they put the roadblocks” He responded easily, rocking back on his heels, speaking impulsively. “You look really nice tonight, by the way.”

Dheer just hated seeing Noah suffer. That’s all this determination to be something he wasn’t was - suffering. It would have been easier to walk away, but Dheer figured he was allowed one bad decision and he’d decided that decision was Noah. A soft smile came over his face when Noah finally complimented him. Perhaps the submissive should have played it cooler, but he’d dressed up specifically for the man in front of him. “Thank you,” he chirped. “You’re looking cute as usual too.” Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to the other’s cheek. It was very much a teenage meeting move, but he kind of felt younger in the moment. “Where do you want to go first?”

Boston smiled, giving a bit of a snort before the he realised the other was serious and he shook his head “No. Why? Do I look like a dom?” he asked, a little impressed if the answer was yes. “I’m just a sub.”

“I mean, what does a dom look like? There are some tricky looking ones out there,” he pointed out. “Just a sub?” What was wrong with being just a sub? “I just...prefer other subs.” Which wasn’t exactly truthful in certain ways, but they were certainly easier to talk to.

“Touche.” he said and lifted his hand to order them both a drink. He wasn’t going to say sorry, Ash should of known that by now. He’d apologised about cheating when they were together, he’d even apologised for breaking them up, but now, it was Ash that hung around, and Maverick never stopped wanting him, so he took no blame in what the other chose to do with those facts. A drink, was his way of getting them to move on, to move past their argument. 

When the man gave them their drinks, he passed one to Ash and smiled “So are you coming back to mine? Or are you planning to drink my memory away until the next time I call you?” Sure, he was antagonising the other male, but he couldn’t help himself. That was why they were in this situation, Maverick couldn’t help himself around people he was attracted too. “I promise to fuck you so hard you’ll be sober at the end of it.” he winked, teasingly.

What did apologies matter if it felt like they really weren’t sorry? Ash genuinely needed to find someone better, who didn’t tug his heart around. Mav wasn’t going to change. And Ash was never going to be okay with not being the primary person in his heart. 

The drink couldn’t have come fast enough. Downing it was the only way to deal with Mav antagonizing him about his weakness. He didn’t feel like getting into another fight. Ash wasn’t the fighting type. “You know, I don’t fucking get you,” he grumbled. “You want me to come home with you but then you’re mean to me. Could it kill you to be a tad bit nicer?” He was pretty sure this was the definition of stupidity: doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.

Bobby didn’t give a shit if Kaden couldn’t come up with a reason to be kissed by Bobby. He’d put up with Bobby repeatedly quipping warnings in his oh-so not charming manner as they’d walked through the woods down to the property line with John Massey’s barbwire fence with a “No Trespassing” sign.

The moonshiner had a place deep in the woods where he kept his still, but to keep people from getting on his property? Well, the old coot had setup booby traps that he’d even lost track of in the underbrush. The locals didn’t even have the heart to have him dragged in for detainment after Massey had snared himself in his own trap. Bobby took on the duty of keeping stupid kids from going over that fence. Bobby had left out that he sometimes jumped the fence to save an animal caught in a trap or snare. He couldn’t stand sound and even less the sight.

Now, though, he just felt cocky because Kaden seemed to really have thought Bobby was going to kiss one of the ladies. Bobby could get a lady and treat her right, but the problem was that there was a seldom a person who resisted him and Kaden had certainly never warmed up on that entire hike down to Massey’s fence and back up to his dirt drive. The only people that typically told him to shut it were his older brothers, but he didn’t want to think too hard on Kaden being like his brothers beyond friendship. Wasn’t that how all great relationships started? Plus, he had to know, exactly how high Kaden was on the Kinsey scale.

Kaden accused him of making fun of him (but not of being something Kaden didn’t want) and Bobby chuckled as he dug around in his wallet. “You got your Chucks on?” he asked with nod downward and a raise of his brow as he pulled out a ten-dollar bill, the deep-kissing minimum. He put the money on the counter and was already putting away his wallet as he leaned forward. “Gotta kiss ya mouth, you so pretty,” he added with a grin and heavy-lidded eyes. In the next moment his calloused hands took Kaden’s face and Bobby sought for his deep kiss but only paused to tease Kaden’s lips with his tongue before breathing thickly as he got at least ten dollars worth of a kiss.

Kaden’s stubborn attitude seemed to attract dominants who had an equally stubborn streak. First, the dude at the bar who had been texting him for two weeks (despite Kaden’s best attempts to ignore him), and now? Bobby. Kaden most certainly hadn’t been nice to him during their first encounter despite the other making sure the submissive had found his way back out of the forest.

Which was why he didn’t understand why Bobby didn’t kiss someone nicer. Surely there were other submissives at the booth who were pretty and nice and, most importantly, unlikely to bite. 

The dominant even had the nerve to ignore his question! How rude.

That said, when he was called pretty and pulled into the deep kiss he found his heart fluttering at the sheer control Bobby seemed to have. He wasn’t sure where to put his hands so he awkwardly moved them to the other’s chest as his face heated up at the contact. When he finally managed to pull himself away, he looked stunned and his face was a deep red color. “I...I still feel like you’re mocking me!” Pretty? Kaden would still hardly call himself pretty.

“  SLIM  TO  NONE  !  ”  Letty  answered  without  any  hesitation,  looping  one  of  her  arms  around  his  waist.  “  You’re  stuck  with  me  for  a  whole  day  and  you’re  not  getting  out  of  it  !  So  turn  that  frown  upside  down  and  let’s  give  some  people  some  cheek  kisses,  since  we  both  know  they  don’t  deserve  anything  else.  ”

Another grumble left him as she grabbed onto him. How were women so scary? Anyone who thought they were weak had clearly never met one. He was terrified. “Cheek kisses? What if they go for more? Can we punch them?” he asked. Yes, smooth, Kaden. Because punching would solve everything.

In truth, Noah had spent a good half hour going back and forth on this, pacing a hole into the worn carpet underfoot as he tried to decide. They were still exs, after all, and a few drunken texts, good nights, and one temporary bout of insanity asking Dheer to be seen in public with him again didn’t exactly undo all the pain he knew he had put the other through. But eventually, he’d ventured to the festival (after being threatened in eight different ways by a certain Alex) and set out to find Dheer. The town was awash with people, and it was only his height that let him spot the submissive, smile appearing on his face as he made his way over. “Never even crossed my mind” He lied, shrugging. “Just took a minute to get down here, I keep forgetting what they have blocked off this year for the festival.”

It was true. Noah had hurt him in so many ways. That said, Dheer was also still soft for the other. And perhaps he didn’t blame him completely for the hurt given what he knew. Part of him still hoped he could save Noah from himself and the miserable path he was putting himself down in order to live up to some family name. Was that love? Or stupidity? It could easily be both. Whatever it was, his heart began to beat a little faster when he saw the other’s face - and his eyes found their way to the other’s hand (though he wasn’t brave enough to grab it). “You know this happens every year, and you still can’t remember?” he teased. “I...I’m glad you’re here though.” If Noah hadn’t shown up, Dheer might have actually gone and hid himself in Nightingale. And maybe have gone home with someone else to drown his sorrows.

Cesar: I try.

Cesar: nothing big, caramel drizzled churros

Cesar: For Mari of course, of course ;)

Tomas: Don't do that winky face at me

Tomas: Of course it's for Mari