Shoot first. Regret later.

(soft light, tangled sheets, and the kind of silence that says everything)

𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖

“You’re awake… I was wondering how long you’d let me watch you sleep.”

“Stay here a little longer. Just like this.”

“Your heartbeat feels calmer than it did last night.”

“You look different in the morning. Softer.”

“I could get used to waking up like this.”

“Don’t go yet… the bed gets cold without you.”

𝐖𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊… 𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐓

“…So, are we pretending that didn’t happen?”

“Be honest—do you regret it?”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen between us.”

“I don’t know what this means. Do you?”

“If you want space, say it. Don’t make me guess.”

“We crossed a line last night, didn’t we?”

𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒, 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 & 𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒

“You should’ve heard yourself last night.”

“Keep looking at me like that and we’ll never leave this room.”

“If you keep touching me, round two is happening whether you like it or not.”

“Want me to remind you how you begged?”

“We really broke the bedframe, didn’t we?”

“I’m not done with you. Not even close.”

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐏

“Last night felt… different.”

“I didn’t expect to fall asleep in your arms.”

“Tell me you don’t regret it.”

“I don’t want this to be a one-time thing.”

“Why does this feel like more than it should?”

“If I kiss you again… it’s because I mean it.”

𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐘 & 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃

“We really shouldn’t have done that.”

“Someone’s going to notice we’re both missing.”

“This is going to make everything harder.”

“We’re in trouble if anyone finds out.”

“I don’t know how to act around you now.”

“Last night changed something—whether we admit it or not.”

𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 & 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅-𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏

“You stole all the blankets again.”

“I made coffee… but don’t ask me how drinkable it is.”

“Shower with me? Save water?”

“You look cute when you’re confused and half-awake.”

“Breakfast or round two? Choose wisely.”

“Please tell me you remember last night… because I definitely do.”

sender blocks receiver's path with a smug grin.

sender steps into receiver's space just to prove a point.

sender folds their arms and challenges receiver to prove them wrong.

sender steals receiver's victory with a teasing bow.

sender rolls their eyes at receiver, but can't hide the smile tugging at the corner of their mouth.

sender catches receiver staring after an argument and raises an eyebrow.

sender deliberately chooses the seat beside receiver, claiming everywhere else was taken.

sender cleans up receiver's injuries while insisting it's only practical.

sender mutters that only they're allowed to beat receiver.

sender catches receiver before they lose their balance.

sender finds themself defending receiver from someone else, and receiver overhears.

sender scoffs at receiver's idea before admitting it was a good one.

sender argues with receiver over something neither of them actually cares about anymore.

sender notices they've memorized all of receiver's tells.

sender reluctantly agrees to team up with receiver.

sender smirks when they realized they got under reciver's skin.

sender instinctively reaches out to stop receiver from getting hurt.

sender deliberately provokes receiver just to get a reaction.

sender leans far too close while arguing with receiver.

sender refuses to admit they were worried about receiver.

sender notices receiver looks unfairly attractive when they're angry.

sender finds themself smiling after one of receiver's insults.

sender interrupts someone else before they can insult receiver.

sender rolls their eyes when receiver shows off, but can't look away.

sender catches receiver laughing and forgets what they were going to say.

sender gets unexpectedly defensive when someone calls receiver incompetent.

sender insists receiver is cheating during a friendly competition.

sender reaches the finish line first, only to turn around and wait for receiver.

sender realizes they actually enjoy arguing with receiver.

sender instinctively steps between receiver and danger.

sender realizes winning doesn't feel as satisfying if receiver isn't there.

sender remembers every sarcastic nickname receiver has ever given them.

sender begrudgingly compliments receiver's skills.

sender catches themself watching receiver instead of the competition.

sender offers receiver a hand up, pretending it's purely out of convenience.

sender notices they're smiling before they even realize receiver has walked into the room.

sender throws their jacket over receiver's shoulders while complaining the entire time.

sender realizes they know exactly how to make receiver laugh.

sender accidentally lets a genuine compliment slip while arguing with receiver.

sender catches receiver looking at them with something softer than annoyance.

sender realizes the line between rivalry and affection has become impossible to find.

BACK TO YOU

"I think I'm hitting a wall."

"I haven't felt myself in a minute."

"You don't know what it is 'til you're in it."

"You don't know pain that deep 'til you live it."

"I was scared of changing."

"Now we're strangers, we ain't the same."

"Maybe we lost a little more than we wanted to."

"Took a little time just to face the truth, that's all."

"I was always gonna find my way back to you."

NICER

"I used to be nicer."

"I was the girl who'd do anything to make everyone like her."

"That shit makes you tired."

"Look at all the time and energy I wasted."

"Feels like overnight I forgot how to fake it."

DOWNHILL FROM HERE

"I'm done taking advice from anybody under fifty."

"You can think it won't get worse, then the floor disappears."

"You can know something for sure, then it's gone in a year."

"I miss those younger days when it all felt clear."

"No one says what it's like when the feelings don't come easy."

"You can love someone with all you got, but it doesn't mean it'll be enough."

ALL OUR FRIENDS ARE SPLITTING UP

"I need to get some air, I need a change of scene."

"I don't know if you care if I stay or leave."

"You fall in fast and then it falls apart real slow."

"I won't give it up if you won't."

"I used to bite my tongue, find something else to blame."

SHIT HAPPENS

"I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom."

"Sometimes shit just happens, worse than you can imagine."

"Stop trying to make it make sense."

"There's no real deeper meaning, let me save you the suspense."

"Sometimes shit just happens and you learn to live with it."

"By all means, find the silver lining."

"I know it's hard to swallow, that no one's in control."

"There's not always someone or something to blame."

YEAR FROM NOW

"I can't wait for a year from now."

"All there's left for me to do is wait."

"I lose a little more of you each day."

"All the little things I learned to love I'll learn to live without."

OUT OF EXCUSES

"I've been taking what went wrong and owning all the truth."

"I was wrong for thinking you would too."

"I'm done feeling stupid."

"I'm out of excuses for you."

"A broken heart makes you do crazy shit."

"It's been brutal but I've grown a bit."

HURT LIKE THAT

"You made it look easy to just walk out. Like it was nothing."

"When you said you were in love I hate that I believed you."

"When you see my face do you even miss me?"

"You can't live without me, at least, that's what you told me."

"If this love doesn't hurt you, then did our love even matter?"

AT THE SAME TIME

"I need you till I don't."

"Just when I think we won't make it out we always do."

"So many things can be true at the same time."

"I don't wanna fight, not settling a score."

GLAD I GOT YOU

"It's nice to see the sun again."

"It's nice to know you're here."

"Turn on something we can fall asleep to."

"They say life is short, but it's pretty long too."

"I'll probably say I'm sorry a couple million more times."

"I hope you get everything you've ever wanted."

WHEN I LEAVE HOME

"I know that I'll cry soon as I say goodbye."

"I always get this way when I leave home."

a compilation of action based ask prompts with two variants for different perspectives. there is a mix of romantic, platonic and antagonistic dynamics.

sender:

💋 sender brushes a kiss against receiver’s forehead

🗡️ sender stabs receiver from behind

🤝 sender offers their hand to receiver after a fall

🩸 sender wipes blood from receiver’s lip with their thumb

🛡️ sender steps in front of receiver to shield them

🔥 sender grabs receiver’s wrist to stop them from leaving

👑 sender adjusts receiver’s crown, hat or headpiece

🌙 sender tucks a loose strand of hair behind receiver’s ear

⚔️ sender disarms receiver in a swift motion

🕯️ sender lights a candle for receiver in the dark

📜 sender presses a sealed letter into receiver’s hand

🫀 sender places receiver’s hand over their heartbeat

❄️ sender drapes a cloak over receiver’s shoulders

🔒 sender locks the door with receiver inside

🪶 sender traces a mark or scar on receiver’s skin

🍷 sender offers receiver a drink from their own cup

🕊️ sender unties receiver’s restraints

🩶 sender rests their head briefly against receiver’s shoulder

⚡ sender grabs receiver before they can fall

🪓 sender knocks receiver’s weapon from their grip

🌹 sender pins a flower to receiver’s clothing

🕰️ sender pulls receiver back just in time

🧎 sender drops to one knee before receiver

🗝️ sender presses a key into receiver’s palm

🩹 sender bandages receiver’s wound with careful hands

receiver:

💋 receiver brushes a kiss against sender’s forehead

🗡️ receiver stabs sender from behind

🤝 receiver offers their hand to sender after a fall

🩸 receiver wipes blood from sender’s lip with their thumb

🛡️ receiver steps in front of sender to shield them

🔥 receiver grabs sender’s wrist to stop them from leaving

👑 receiver adjusts sender’s crown, hat or headpiece

🌙 receiver tucks a loose strand of hair behind sender’s ear

⚔️ receiver disarms sender in a swift motion

🕯️ receiver lights a candle for sender in the dark

📜 receiver presses a sealed letter into sender’s hand

🫀 receiver places sender’s hand over their heartbeat

❄️ receiver drapes a cloak over sender’s shoulders

🔒 receiver locks the door with sender inside

🪶 receiver traces a mark or scar on sender’s skin

🍷 receiver offers sender a drink from their own cup

🕊️ receiver unties sender’s restraints

🩶 receiver rests their head briefly against sender’s shoulder

⚡ receiver grabs sender before they can fall

🪓 receiver knocks sender’s weapon from their grip

🌹 receiver pins a flower to sender’s clothing

🕰️ receiver pulls sender back just in time

🧎 receiver drops to one knee before sender

🗝️ receiver presses a key into sender’s palm

But she couldn't risk that chance that it wasn't.

She grabbed the glass, heading to the man in the booth. He didn't look too surprised but he didn't look creepy either. Maybe this whole thing was a genuine gesture. Mich didn't have the heart to throw the drink at him, not with the mask of his kind gaze. Instead, she set the glass down harshly, letting it settle with a 'clunk'. Her words from that far were indiscernible, but it was clear she was setting some harsh boundaries with him. She hadn't the energy to be cruel that day, so instead - once he understood her message - she went back to the bar, leaving the drink behind.

Never trust a drink from a stranger, she thought. Even if he hadn't touched it, accepting it could be a worse invitation for harassment.

The redhead goes back to the bar, sitting beside the man who had passed it along to her.

"No?"

He lifts his head. Having been on the cusp of resting it against the counter while waiting for yet another refill. The absence of the drink he'd slid towards her earlier elicits little more than a knowing tsk as his dark eyes survey the room and briefly flicker towards who might be the source of the brightly colored 'offering'. No good deed goes unpunished. No futile one, either.

"You prefer quiet then?" It's a feigned effort to make conversation. He hears the clink as a glass is finally set in front of him again, but resists the almost automatic impulse to down it.

"These places are traps for social interaction. Kinda the point." Unless you know how to hide in plain sight. He shrugs while rotating the cool glass around the countertop. Leaving a slight damp stain across the scuffed wooden surface.

"Well, you're clearly not here to make friends. If it's just drinks you're looking for, you might end up waiting awhile just to get a buzz." A beach ball flies across the sand outside. From the closed window, he observes a group of twenty-somethings race after it. He isn't sure why he's spoken so much. It's more words than he's exchanged with anyone else in days. A symptom of the problem, perhaps.

The place where mistakes, regrets, spirals, and assaults happen the most. All in one space. Like a melting pot of misery.

“I usually take the corner booth, away from the crowd. Here it’s… Harder.”

And hot, maybe the heat is simply getting to her.

She signals the bartender for something better. Stronger. More strict on flavor, more burn to ease the pain. She had nothing against fruit drinks. They were delicious, she enjoyed one every now and then. But she wasn’t here to have fun or enjoy a drink, she was here to cope. Like always.

She should’ve found a more secluded bar in town… She’s so far away from home, it began to eat at her. The irony of conflicting emotions hit her like the waves behind her, beyond the horizon of the sand.

Home didn’t feel like home, yet she was addicted to staying comfortable. Keeping to what she knows. Her boss sending her far away like this wasn’t normal. It must be something really important, it couldn’t be trust. There was never trust between those two…