#whiskeywrites

Bradley Bradshaw x Grace Smith

Bradley and Grace met in high school during their junior year orientation when Bradley accidentally spilled his coffee on Grace.

They immediately hit it off and started dating.

Bradley moved out to California a couple years after starting college.

Once Bradley was drafted by the NHL, he had Grace move with him from Texas.

Mickey Garcia x Baylie Steele

Mickey and Baylie meet during practice.

Baylie is Team USA’s skating princess.

Mickey knows she’s his forever the moment she goes against her coach’s direction and skates to her own song choice.

Their friendship and love grows every day since the moment they met. (They’re Team USA’s fave couple)

Jake Seresin x Alana Metcalf

Jake and Alana meet through Grace and Bradley.

Alana is Grace’s childhood best friend.

Jake needs a girlfriend to downplay his playboy persona.

Bradley sets them up as a “couple” until Alana’s ex shows up to ruin their plan.

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Whiskey's Barrel: @askmarinaandothers @bayisdying @breadsquash @callmemana @callsignscupcake @cycbaby @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @hisredheadedgoddess28 @ladylanera @starlit-epiphany

Whiskey's Pilots: @novagreen04

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The sea was loud.

Much louder than it had been in the faded memories he had of visiting a sandy cove when he was younger, when his family was nothing but that still. When there was no betrayal, no bright splashes of blood, no stench of death. Nothing but seashells in his little hands and blurred faces of people who had since become strangers. Enemies.

The sea was loud. It crashed against the steep cliffs and jutting rocks beneath him, a fine spray coming up and glittering in the slowly fading sunlight. Genji watched it churn and foam far beneath him, the way it swallowed up the rocks and swirled into the crannies of the cliff-side carved out by time.

Thought about how easily it could swallow him up just the same. He would be nothing to the crashing waves. Tossed around and forced under into the deep, the body that had been so meticulously created to keep him alive helpless to something far more powerful than he could ever hope to be.All the sharp edges and hidden weapons there to make him unstoppable, to make him an assassin beyond human, useless. 

Genji wondered how long it would take them to find the shell of his body. If they would ever find it. Nothing Dr. Ziegler could do to revive him again, even with all her talent.

Genji liked that thought. 

Liked the idea of falling, falling, weightless as he had felt lying on the tatami beneath his brother’s sword. Consciousness drifting in those precious few moments before darkness, stretched thin, everything going fuzzy and muted. Knowing there was nothing but darkness waiting when that last stroke fell, when the water swallowed him whole and never let go. Genji had faced death before. Had been terrified and confused and betrayed.

It was not so frightening now that he craved it. Now that he knew what it felt like. Now that it was on his own terms.

The sea was loud. Genji’s mind was quiet.

He leaned forward, and the sound of boots clicking broke the numbing silence ringing in his ears.

“Oh, it’s you. Shimada, ain’t it?”

Genji blinked a few times, inhaling deep and slow, as if he had just been pulled from a dream. Jesse McCree walked right over to the edge of the cliff, stopping next to him and looking over the edge, hands resting on his gaudy belt. He whistled, a short, descending sound.

“That’s one helluva drop, huh? Never much cared for the ocean myself, but I can’t complain about the view. Didn’t think anyone else would find my lil’ spot here,” he chatted, dropping to sit with his feet dangling over the edge of the cliff. Careless. Genji stared at him. Watched him pull something from the back of his pants, tucked into the waistline. A flask.

“Commander doesn’t want us drinkin’ while we’re on base, so I come out here whenever we’re stationed at this Watchpoint and have a smoke, too. Sunsets are always pretty and it smells good.”

Genji did not know McCree had been stationed in Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Had not had much time with him outside of when he had come into the medical ward with Commander Reyes to see his cybernetics progress and the occasional Blackwatch training after he had been approved for it months later. He knew McCree was boisterous and friendly, but also one of the sharpest shots they had and a deadly opponent, the title of the commander’s right-hand man well earned. That was about all.

Yet, McCree acted so familiar. He patted the patch of dirt next to him as he took a swig from the flask.

“Didn’t think of you as someone who also enjoyed watchin’ the sunsets, but hey, I like it.”

Genji did not know what came over him. He sat down slowly, like he had just started his physical therapy with his prosthetics all over again. The movements stilted and unsure. McCree had his brows raised. Surprise in his eyes before he tilted his head to one side and shrugged a shoulder to himself. Not expecting Genji to do what he did. Genji had not expected it either. He folded his hands in his lap, legs crossed. They both looked out at the sea for a long few moments. Then, McCree offered his flask.

“Not sure if you can drink this, but you’re welcome to it. Might warm you up some.”

Genji had not felt the chill of the wind coming off the water until McCree mentioned it. His brows furrowed, human hand flexing.

“I cannot drink anything,” he finally replied, voice not but a murmur. He did not like hearing it. The synthetic tone and warping from a brand new jaw and windpipe foreign and disturbing. A stranger’s voice. Not human.

“Well I’ll be damned, he does talk! You gonna be coming back to Rome with us?” McCree asked, Genji raising a brow.

“Us?”

“Blackwatch. Commander told me you’d be spendin’ more time with us now that most of your cybernetics and whatnot are finished.”

“They have not told me anything,” Genji shrugged. They never did. He was always told where he needed to be and would be brought there, no explanation, no warning. Just another pawn, another weapon, now in someone else’s hands.

“If you do, that means I get to see more of you around. That’ll be nice. Get to know you good and proper, train more and might even get some missions together.”

It sounded sincere. McCree truly sounded like he meant those words. Genji did not understand how, or why. They were just sitting there, having what could hardly be called a conversation. Still, McCree gave him a half-grin that was a lot more charming than it should have been, and the ringing in his ears softened. The sea no longer sounded so deafening.

Genji nodded once, turning his gaze back out to the water.

“Perhaps we will.”

It was quiet between them again, though, it was not the strained kind that Genji was so used to he hardly noticed anymore. He looked at the dirt beneath his legs, the small tufts of grass managing to fight their way through the rocks and grow through the cracks. Tugged absently at the valiant blades, their browning colour making them tough beneath his fingertips. Dying.

“I know we haven’t been able to talk much before this, but I’m glad I found you up here. It’s nice havin’ company. And I like the sound of your voice. It’s pretty,” McCree suddenly spoke up, Genji blinking.

He did not turn to look at McCree, but the urge was only just barely resisted. Instead, he looked at the churning waters beneath him, the way they lapped at the rocks and crashed against the cliff. Moved his gaze up, watched the way the sunset bounced off the rippling sea, then higher still to the hues of pink and orange and purple reflecting on the wispy clouds above them.

McCree had said the sunset was pretty. Said his voice was pretty. Genji wondered if he remembered saying that, if he had meant to compare the two.

“I think I’m going to turn in. Guess I’ll see you around again soon?”

Genji did look at McCree then, the sunset shining golden on a soft freckled face and a patient, open gaze with a honeyed glow, and he nodded again.

“Yes.”

He hoped so. Did not say it, but McCree smiled nonetheless and stood up with a grunt, hands going to his hips as he looked out at their view one last time.

“Well alrighty then. I’ll be lookin’ forward to it.”

Genji watched him leave the way he came, then stood and felt the wind sweep up the cliff and prickle what little of his face was showing with a salted mist. Felt the chill on his arm, the sun fading below the horizon. Listened to the waves, crashing and receding. Genji turned and followed McCree back inside.

The sea was loud, but Genji could ignore its call for one more night.

July 21, 2015

Silence. All I can hear is silence. I can’t even feel my heart or the tears anymore. I had time to say bye Jules… But I never wanted to. I need you Jules. I can’t do this without you - you’re my brother. My best friend.

All we can see is Charles from across the church. I don’t know what to tell him to comfort him. The somber music starts and we see the pallbearers walk towards you. I can only focus on Seb and Romain. Once they grab hold of your casket, everything around me fades away.

A hand grabs mine and I know her heart is breaking too. You two were supposed to be forever. Jules and Alana. Ever since you met, there was never a day when you wouldn’t say you were going to marry her.

Our souls mourn you. We’ll never know how to fix this hole you left in us. Jules… I’ll do everything I can every day to make you proud. I know I’ll have bad days. I know I’ll struggle to accept you being gone. I’ll never forget you. I do hope you look after me and after Alana.

Forever your baby sister,

Baylie Bianchi

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Jules… My love… My fiancé. I can't believe it's true. I keep looking for you. I check my phone and wait to hear from you.

Our time together will never be enough. We promised each other forever. We were weeks away from forever… But now I’m forever without you.

I’ll keep my promise to always look out for Baylie. She’ll always be my baby sister now. I can’t promise I’ll ever love again. Jules you stole my heart that day we met when our sibling were karting. I’ll still have weekly lunches with your parents. I’ll look after Charles.

Je t’aime mon cœur,

Alana Hubert

September 10, 2019

I thought losing Jules would kill me… but losing you, my baby brother… I don’t think I’ll survive. I don’t know how I’ll say goodbye. We were never supposed to say goodbye. I don’t know what I did to deserve losing my baby brother. I love you Anthoine.

You’ll always be my most favorite person. The one who I’d share all my secrets with. I’ll miss our weekly sibling pizza nights. I’ll always wear your number with me. I’ll do my best to be brave and strong but I don’t know how to without you. You always gave me the strength and confidence I needed.

Anthoine… Find Jules and papa Hervé. They’ll know how to help you guide and cheer Pierre, Baylie and Charles up. We’ll miss you and never forget you.

Always your proud big sister,

Alana

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Mon croissant… Mon cœur… Anthoine… My sweetheart… Life will never be the same without you and your smile. I don’t know how I’ll survive without you. I wish I could have stopped time and saved you.

I’ll be there for Alana. I know what losing your brother… your favorite person is like. I can help her. I’ll help Pierre too. I remember the first time I met you both. We were karting and you two were too busy trying to out pace the other one that I just sped past you. Ever since that day, it was always the three of us. We were inseparable.

This isn’t goodbye. Anthoine. It’s just until later.

Your sweetheart,