life's so fun !

                    " ... no. " it's said too casually in proportion to the gravity of their conversation. and it's not like what ryan said —— a legitimate and logically sound solution —— could really be dismissed by a single word of dissent. he really didn't mean to make things more difficult than they already were, but he also wasn't casual enough about this to even pretend to offhandedly agree. " i don't want that, and i'm not letting you off that easily. good luck trying to get rid of me. it's not happening. "

THE RESPONSE IS COMPLETELY unsurprising, but ryan isn't equipped to deal with it in his current stress. he attempts to weigh it against one another — the life he's built, his career, his tight - knit group of friends, and silas; the man he may give it all up for. there's no safety net to catch him on this side. that's what scares him. « you wanna blow this shit up before even giving us a chance ? because that's what's gonna happen, silas. you might as well just end things with me now then. »

                     " at least i didn't say it in there. then you would have lost the momentum you didn't have. " he's smiling so sweetly, sugar - coated candy with an extra coat of sugar, just to toy with him unnecessarily further. just because he was cute. " yes, sir. i'll just stick to you like glue and put out the fires you cause. " palm pats his lower back in a mellow sign of acquiescence, a truce of sorts instituted only so he could maintain contact that wasn't mandatory. after all, troye could still walk straight. beck would just keep his hand on him like he couldn't. " didn't you say five minutes ago that you were fine? " which, of course, he didn't believe. the hand that was resting on his back reaches out to gingerly take hold of the other's wrist, using the sleeve of his much too expensive button - down to wipe off some of the blood crusting onto skin. " oh, god. you mean you won't send me home? you're kidnapping me in broad moonlight? you and your fancy car service are in cahoots to hold me for ransom? "

IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW LITTLE it takes to set him off, even when he reels it in where beck is concerned. his patience always wears thin, always on the verge of snapping, and yet when he feels it breaking he forces to hold on if only not to give beck the satisfaction. instead all he can bring himself to do is glare, and even that is half - hearted when his eyes are formed like hearts whenever the other man is in their vision. « see ? that's all i want, » he confirms, as if this is any triumph when he knows he is being mocked. he'll endure that again and again though, if it means time spent together. « two things can be true, » he pouts, typing out a text to his driver, looking up to grin at beck. « like you fucking mind. » they'll fall asleep tangled up in egyptian cotton, go for a swim in the pool, then have the chef prepare them breakfast. it's the only type of life troye wants to live with beck. if he could keep him locked up in his own home he would. « but if you'd rather go home then by all means ... »

                    the word makes griffin wince. he doesn't call himself that. wouldn't really consider himself that, either. but objectively, it's a fittingly ugly term for the ugly thing he does. " no, " but he's objecting more to the word ( fitting or not, he still doesn't like it ) rather than the sentiment. " well, not ... not exactly. i'm not just roaming the streets searching for people to off. " when he realizes what he says, and how that sounds, eyes widen and frame leans in a little closer in panic. " i mean, i —— i do off people. sometimes. occasionally. but not random people. usually bad people, who've done bad things. " did that make it better? put the moral onus on someone other than himself? " and not you. i wouldn't do that. " which went without saying. " ... do you hate me now? are you scared of me? please don't be scared of me, i'm harmless. "

THE TRUTH SETTLES BETWEEN them like a wall. finneas can decide to turn and walk away, surely no one would blame him for it, but it's the very last thing he wants to do. what he wants is to wrap himself around griffin, now that he has finally found someone who may be able to understand. they're not the type of people who sit around and wait for change to happen — he's always felt that twin flame flicker within griffin, but now he has proof of it. it feels like triumph. « bad people, » he repeats, wondering where on this scale he'd fall. « griffin, i'm not ... i'm not scared of you, » he clarifies, hand shooting out to cup the other's face gently. « i trust you. i trust your judgement. i just don't want you to be in danger, okay ? » he visibly relaxes, offering the other a reassuring smile. « i can't stand bad people either. » it's the understatement of the year, considering finneas can't stand most people regardless of how moral they are. « i can't believe you thought you'd be able to keep this away from me. »

OFF CAMPUS 1.06 "The Breakaway"

“  you  have  been  there  before?  ”    she  perked  up  at  his  recognition  of  the  place  she  spoke.  for  a  long  time  she  thought  of  it  as  a  best  kept  secret  between  her  and  her  father,  but  the  man  had  simply  known  how  to  make  anything  sound  like  an  adventure  to  his  daughter.  perhaps  he  was  to  blame  for  her  restlessness  now.  but  the  man  could  not  be  blamed  for  the  tinge  of  airheadedness  she  possessed.  that  was  all  her  own.    “  of  course  you  may.  i  had  already  begun  to  think  these  formalities  were  rather  silly,  ”    she  waved  off  his  question,  her  hands  clasped  behind  her  back  as  her  hues  trailed  how  he  rose  to  both  his  feet.    “  but  i  would  love  to  be  enlightened  how  you  intend  to  get  to  know  me  better,  francis.  ”

« i will add that to my consideration, » he promises with a gentle beam as he rises. he'd been prepared to stay on that knee for the entire evening if that was her wish. war has made him obedient, malleable. it is a privilege to be given this post, though despite the other knights's crude remarks francis does not view this as rest. he'll protect pippa's life with his own if need be. « i have, a few times. it is a good place for contemplation. » he shifts his weight as he regards her carefully. « we will be spending much time together, your highness. i will stand post at your door when you sleep, accompany you when you leave your chambers. you might grow sick of me. » she will. of this he is certain. « i have made a vow to your brother, but this is my vow to you, » he takes one step towards her, keeping a respectable distance still, « i will do my utmost to allow you your freedom. »

the  manner  in  which  she  held  herself  was  a  taunting  contradiction.  her  tongue  sharper  than  most  would  have  dared  to  use  on  him,  and  her  words  pushing  him  away  as  much  as  they  reeled  him  back  in.  had  this  been  anyone  else,  jasper  would  have  believed  it  was  bashful  reluctance.  not  with  sylvia  though.  not  with  the  woman  turning  the  tables  on  him,  and  leaving  him  on  the  receiving  end  of  familiar  games  for  once.    “  what  would  make  you  think  that?  is  this  really  humility,  or  do  i  just  make  you  nervous?  ”    distance  between  them  had  narrowed  as  those  words  came  out  of  his  mouth,  his  head  ducked  lower  so  his  mouth  hovered  closer  to  her  ear.  he  did  not  even  fight  how  it  made  the  corners  of  his  mouth  curl  into  a  grin.  the  hand  that  rested  on  her  shoulder  lingered,  even  when  he  allowed  it  to  trail  down  towards  her  back.  insistent  but  still  light  as  a  feather.    “  how  convenient  that  i  do  happen  to  know  each  corner  of  this  castle  like  the  back  of  my  hand.  and  i  am  confident  lady  alina  would  understand  you  were  otherwise  preoccupied  for  a  moment.  perhaps  she  might  even  be  otherwise  preoccupied  herself this time of night.  ”

IT IS SIMPLE TO BLAME her sense of duty as why she stays when she should have left the moment she made contact with the prince. truth is, sylvia is intrigued. she has moved around the castle like a mere shadow since she arrived, has made peace with alina being her only friend here, and whilst she knows better than to believe she can befriend royalty it is at the very least nice to know she is not completely invisible. « whichever you prefer, your highness, » she scoffs, a barely noticeable roll of her eyes revealing she believes he thinks too highly of himself. and who can blame him ? if she were royalty and could make the people around her do her bidding with a wave of her hand she would do the same. it is unfair to judge him based on this. his proximity brings a blush to her cheeks despite herself, gaze dropping to the floor as if that will make him avert his own. it is new, being considered like this. « what are you attempting to say, your highness ? » she questions, lips curving into a beam. « you should not inconvenience yourself by letting me trail behind you through these castle halls. i have many questions and a lot of time on my hands, » she warns playfully, taken aback by how quickly she's fallen into pace beside him, how easy it is to keep up with his words.

his  rooms  were  large  enough  for  his  voice  to  echo  off  the  walls,  and  still  he  commanded  the  space.  their  sudden  closeness  forced  alina  to  lift  her  chin  to  look  back  at  him,  making  a  conscious  effort  to  lean  her  shoulders  back  in  attempt  to  look  as  if  she  belonged  in  the  place.  like  she  could  be  trusted  with  what  was  his.    “  you  care  for  my  opinion?  ”    she  did  not  mean  to  sound  sceptical,  something  of  an  honest  slip  of  the  tongue.  she  could  not  recall  the  last  time  someone  cared  for  what  she  had  to  say.  the  last  time  someone  asked  her  for  honesty,  rather  than  following  the  leads  of  those  she  was  meant  to  impress.  she  wondered  whether  she  still  remembered  how  to  voice  them.    “  i  realize  the  trust  you  are  putting  in  me.  i  shall  not  make  you  regret  it,  ”    was  her  attempt  at  saving  the  situation,  words  accompanied  by  slight  bow  of  her  head.  even  when  the  permission  to  speak  her  truth  did  allow  another  thought  to  slip once the silence between them lingered for just a second.  even  when  there  was  a  carefulness  to  it  still. spoken just in the safety of his chambers, where not another voice could overhear.    “  does  this  mean  i  should  admit  i  despise  the  dress?  ”    the  wedding  dress  that  hung  in  her  closet,  tailor  made  for  her  specifically.  and  yet  she  thought  it  was  frilly,  too  extravagant,  almost  gauche.  she  was  afraid  it  would  somehow  swallow her whole.    “  you  did  not  choose it for me,  did  you?  ”

« of course, » he frowns, taken aback by her surprise. marriage is a contract, but within that lies trust. they have a long road ahead of them to become the union the kingdom needs, but edwin has faith that they will — partially because they have no choice. alina will not sit and collect dust in some lonely chamber, not as long as edwin is around. at least this he can make sure of. he's got half a mind to scold her for her cautiously chosen words when her confession slips and, in spite of himself, the prince chuckles. he has had very little say in the matters of his own wedding, mind running with other thoughts that take precedence, but he realizes alina's inclusion in the planning may keep her busy, allow her to make friends at court. « i have not seen the dress, » he admits, motioning for her to sit on his bed if she should like. « but there is time to make alterations. i will arrange for you to meet the seamstress tomorrow. bring sylvia if you'd like. perhaps my sister may also be of some use to you. » he's thinking out loud, pacing the room calmly. « tell me, what is not to your liking about it ? »

Aubri Ibrag via carolinabenitamakeup on Instagram, 04/28/2024.

Anastasia (1997) dir. Don Bluth & Gary Goldman

All eyes were on the pair as they made their way to where they would be spending their evening. Some gave respectful looks to their leader while others called not so respectful things towards Winnie. Björn made no move to try and speak over them and reassure Winnie that it would not happen again, he did not see the point. Her future would partially stem from moments like this and moments where she needed to decide to behave or rebel. Once they reached the home he claimed as his for their stay he opened the door and waved her inside, waving a hand at his kin to signal his retreat for the night before stepping inside and shutting the door. He didn't bother locking it, there would be individuals guarding the building all night. A small fire burned in the hearth to keep the place warm while Björn shed his mantle and tossed it to a nearby chair. "You don't need to look so fearful, Winnie, you look like an animal who knows they're about to be traded. I have no plans on doing that to you anytime soon."

she trails dutifully next to him, head held high and eyes glued to the road ahead of them. ironically enough she feels most at home here: glaring eyes traveling after her, raised voices of outrage at the sight of her. this is nothing new. what is new is that there are no hungry hands attempting to claim a piece of her and it occurs to her that perhaps she will be safe from that by björn's side. though this also means that no one will keep her safe from him. she can only hope he proves to be the lesser of two evils. she steps into the home, legs trembling slightly as her eyes dart over the interior. « forgive me. i am attempting to gauge whether that is a good thing or not, » she states, turning to face him. it is unwise to keep challenging him this way, but she hopes it will make her undesirable. it is not lost on her that they are to spend the night here, together. she knows what that entails, has offered her body for less. « whether i'd be safe by your side. from you. »