Closed Starter: @blakemadden​ Where: On The Beach On Coney Island

blakemadden​:

Blake looked at him with a confused if still fearful expression on her face, because he was obviously still angry. She’d seen what he was capable of - to some degree, and didn’t feel like finding out anymore. Still the woman couldn’t help but ask the first question that came to her mind. “And what would grabbing me have changed if it was your baby? Hmm? It wouldn’t have changed anything.” ‘It would kill my wife’ those words were crystal clear evidence of what side of the fence he stood regardless of his cheating because at no point had he shown any concern for her or the baby. Before or after finding out the supposed paternity of it. If anything he had shown concern for himself ahead of anyone else, even if he claimed it was for his wife. Maybe it was a good thing that she’d not told him earlier in her pregnancy because of her fear he would reject their child because he’d done that before he’d even known if he was the dad. “No, I can imagine if she knew that would make things very difficult for you.” The woman muttered.

-

“I’m sorry, but If you hadn’t kept your condition a secret then, I wouldn’t have drawn to conclusions.” He said with his voice deepening with icy inflictions. He even pointed at his chest. Leo would always blame someone else for his faults. Especially, if his reactions weren’t warranted. No, only when his actions were praised would he ever own up to himself. But he was truly scared. Being caught was his worst fear because he knew what it meant. Knew what he had to lose and he was happy just right where he was. He listened to her, her words forming a mirror in which he could see his selfishness. But that wasn’t new to the Brooklyn orphan. “Imagine what you want, Blake, but don’t act like you didn’t have a hand in it too.” His voice dropped and but his gaze on her face was impassioned. So many times he had used his body to please hers, and not a single protest or worry over his wife were made during those times.

Is there anyone out there? Cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

closed starter: @renfarber​ where: serenity’s apartment

Leo had became desperate. He couldn’t explain the constant desire to want to see and talk to Serenity. She had dodged him so well for the past week. She would appear at Blake’s only when he wasn’t there, and would leave just as before he got there. He had tried texting her. The guy even tried calling her and leaving voicemails. But he got the longest radio silence he’s ever received from any woman. On day eight, he realized he should stop and take it as a sign that he was just nothing but a ghost to her now. But by the next hour, he decided that that was bullshit, and if that were the case he should at least get closure. 

He had gotten Blake to help him, there was no way he could catch Serenity without her help. And quite frankly, Blake owed him a little favor for blind sighting him. He sat on the small steps of Serenity’s place just mulling over things he could say when she arrived. And would look up everytime he heard any movement. 

averydawson​:

Avery playfully rolled her eyes at his words. But her eyes went wide when she saw him bolt for the bathroom. She knew exactly what was happening. She heard the cup falling, knowing he spilled and that his head was in the toilet. “okay.” she said quietly, getting a new cup of water then follow him to the bathroom. She swallowed hard and walked in. “You good?” she  asked, kneeling beside him and rubbing his back. “Let it all out.” she added. “Here drink this, you need to finish it. Please.” she advised. Thankfully, she had mouth wash for him to use. 

-

Leo quickly reached up to flush the toilet when he heard her come in. Whether it was a pride thing or out of courtesy, he didn’t know. No one had seen him this low. He had done such a good job of hiding the effects his depency had on him from everyone close to him. He had done such a good job from hiding himself. And with the biggest secret he’s ever had looming over his head, he couldn’t drink the guilt away. no, not this time. tonight was proof there wasn’t enough alcohol to wash away this indiscretion. it pained him to even think about it that way.  leo coughed and took the water from Avery, his half lidded eyes not showing much. “when I left here the other night... it was because my friend was having a baby... my baby..” he said in weak montoned way. he was becoming coldly sober. he took a sip of the water before dragging his eyes to Avery’s face. “I have a baby with someone who’s not my wife.” 

Is cheating ever okay?

“It’s not right, but it’s okay.” He chimed, a knee jerk reaction to something so serious. But the fact he accompanied the Whitney Houston tune with a finger gun wasn’t the worst part of it all. Cheating was something he was doing best. He had truly suppressed his reality by wrecking his liver every night. The reality of chasing another affection from someone other than his loving wife. But he made himself believe the following sentiment. 

It wasn’t cheating if he’s never met her. It wasn’t cheating if he’s never seen her. It wasn’t cheating if he’s never touched her. It wasn’t.

HONESTY HOUR*

renfarber​:

She could physically feel his eyes on her, so that two feet away still felt impossibly close. It was the way he’d looked at her for a thousand lifetimes, and she would never get used to the way it burned her skin. She wondered if he felt it too, as her eyes traveled over the face she’d long since memorized.

There was so much they needed to talk about, but everything they said felt like throwing knives. Even if one didn’t land a blow, all they were doing was giving each other ammunition. She knew the latter was true about the words on the tip of her tongue. His ego would soak them up like so much whiskey, but she filled both of their empty glasses and then spoke them anyway.

“I haven’t been with anyone since you. Not… not seriously, I mean. There have been hookups, obviously, and flings, I guess, but… nothing more than that. Blake noticed it, years ago, and asked me why, so I told her about… my first love. And how I’d never felt anything so intensely in my life, and how overwhelming it was for me then. And how I purposely fucked it up because it scared me so much.” She avoided his eyes, absentmindedly (nervously) tapping her glass. 

“I didn’t tell her your name, which was obviously a mistake in hindsight, but… I did tell her you had the only key to my lock,” she said, letting out a small humorless laugh, taking a sip of her drink. “Just in case you wondered how much she knows.”

-

He didn’t know if he should be relieved that she had just ended their little spat by pouring whiskey. either way he hadn’t felt so present in a moment than he’s ever had than when he was with her. always an electric current in the air, whether it was a spark or flaming fire. he took his heavy bottom glass back to his lips for a sip when she had spoke again. the topic change at hand made him take another long sip before she had him hanging on every word. it was like being let into her diary. he found himself surprised that she hadn’t taken a chance on anyone else, and that he was being labeled as her first love. serenity was his and only, despite what he believed he claimed on his wedding day. Though another sentence that left her lips made him more perplexed. 

“Is that why you did it…?” His voice trailing off as his head couldn’t help but recall the past. He remembered the night she told him. But every word or explanation had she given him had just went one ear and out the other. He didn’t want to hear it, and he had thanked that defense mechanism many times. One of his many toxic traits was believing that being stubborn was a great thing. It was always easier for the orphan to walk through life with his guard. Had he heard this reasoning then, he wouldn’t be as receptive as he was now. Though the booze might have helped. “You were too scared to...” he paused looking at the counter again as he figured how to word the reasoning she had given him. “...love me?” He said lifting his head and eyes back to her. He still wasn’t even too sure if that was the right wording. “So you decided to hurt me in the worst way possible to end it?” These words flowed out without any malice. Just the string of these specific words trailing one another made it seem harsh. Leo’s face was soft as he tried to analyze it in a way that only a broken man could do. That there was something the matter with him. He reached his hand out to wrap around the glass once more.

wow this cannot be good for me *keeps doing it*

fastcst​:

“Whatever lifts the weight off your conscience is enough, I’m sure,” Román mused without much attention diverted from his slip of paper, before he realised he was being stared down quite pointedly. He looked up, the mask blank as ever, hiding the quirked eyebrow underneath its untelling face. “That’s why anyone donates, isn’t it?” A cynical way of thinking, but one he’d adopted about a decade ago now, anything to ease his conscience. “No good deed goes unpunished, and all that,” Román said, “Personally, I hesitate to donate to most charities, considering how much of the money usually goes into ‘administrative costs’.” He glanced over at the woman on the other side of the table, and smiled politely as ever. She probably heard. Oops.

-

Leo nodded, liking the way this stranger had articulated the reasons to donate and ultimately why not to donate. Leo found himself sharing more of the same ideals, which made him understand his own resistance. from the moment he stepped into the opulent ball, he could see  where the money had truly been going to. Plus Leo had actual experience with being one of the children that the charity was supposedly helping. he straightened up, abandoning his slip and pen on the table. “The conscience thing is what I’m sure keeps churches’ lights on.” He offered, letting the other masked man know they were on the same wavelength. When it came to administrative costs, the other had hit the nail on the head. “No, I think you’ve got that completely right.” Leo said, not catching on that what was being said was in front of a woman who was probably benefiting from those administrative cost. The polite smile that the other had thrown her way was lost on Leo. Which was obvious with the way he kept on going. “I especially hate it when charities showboat like this, when the money could go straight to their cause and not some ball.” His hands opened in front of him, gesturing to the spectacle of their setting. “Is my money going to the kids or to the bar? Cause I’m likely to donate to the latter, I must say.” 

blakemadden​:

Blake couldn’t help but swallow hard again, little did the man in front of her know just how frightening the circumstances were for him but instead she’d chosen to lull him into a false sense of security just for the chance to fend off his anger a little longer. She knew Leo had a temper, he was fiery which was ironic since that was one of the things that made him so hot sometimes, but it was also genuinely scary in others. Like the one just moments ago she seemed to have conveniently forgotten with every passing second because the way he was looking at her made the girl feel like she was the most important person in the world. The power he had over her, was significant. “Well, i wasn’t stupid enough to think you’d want to carry on sleeping with me if i told you i was pregnant.” That was…a white lie because she had thought that, but it had been overpowered by the knowledge he was the father and the need to hide that from him. He had a wife for gods sake, the whole thing was madness.

Her eyes locked with his as he spoke about how she was the one who had ended things somehow managed to tug on her heartstrings, her thumb brushing gently across his shoulder. She’d pulled away from him this was true, but for a very valid reason. Not that Leo was about to find out. Still his mention of not trying anything made her knees feel weak because the implication was that he’d otherwise be willing to do so. Actively wanting to do so. And god she had missed the way he used to touch her. “You can try something…if you want…” The words came out in a small whisper, only loud enough for him to hear, eyes still trained on his lips.

“But don’t you want sex more when you’re pregnant?” He questioned, the first question his mind went to. Sex, another addiction that he clutched onto just like he did the bottle. But her decision was more than reasonable. He became stoic for a moment, giving it actual thought. Would he continue to sleep with Blake while she was growing another man’s baby? His eyes skimmed over her now, taking in the effects that pregnancy had on her body besides her showing belly. What he found was that Blake was still Blake, still mesmerizing, but most importantly her assets were fuller and rounder. He could only imagine just how her body looked like now. And something primal in him caused his nostrils to flare with his next breath.

“If I want?” he questioned, confirming the transfer of power she had handed to him so easily. His eyes had continually watched hers so it wasn’t at all hard to notice that her gaze was so prominently on his mouth. He parted his lips to not say a word but to let his tongue swipe his bottom lip as if to regain moisture to the flesh. But he knew what he was doing. It was always so simple to be a charming Casanova when he became sexually awakened like this. He moved carefully and closely to her to make sure only she heard his next words. “I’ll always want to… but I won’t until you beg me.”