Master Bedroom
Evelyn sat with a pensive expression, absorbing every word of Rip's poignant story. She could feel the weight of his childhood memories in the air, and her heart ached for the young boy he once was. Gently, she traced comforting circles on his hand, offering silent solace as he shared his past with her.

"I'm sorry you had to go through such a tough childhood, Rip,"

she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy.

"But it sounds like you and your brothers found a way to support each other, to become a family in the truest sense of the word."

She inched closer to him and tenderly rested her forehead against his, a gesture of unspoken solidarity.

"I’m so glad you have each other, and now, we have each other too. I want to be here for you, just as you are for me."

Evelyn let out a soft, reassuring smile, her fingers delicately brushing through his hair.

"Thank you for sharing that with me. It means a lot to know more about your past, about what shaped you into the incredible man you are today."

She paused, her gaze locked onto his with a tender expression.

"Tell me something...what's one thing you’ve always dreamed of doing...but haven’t had the chance to yet?"

she wanted to know everything. everything. moments like this meant the world and the sharing was something she had not been able to do for along time, so she would cherish every single word you shared with her.

Inside
Qalli stopped to absorb that answer in silence for a moment as you pivoted to K-pop to talk about it as though it was just an 'Over there' thing, or just as one piece of a long answer that left her a little lost.

"It's like from thousands of years ago, it hits crazy when you're deeply immersed," she continued, rather than answered, necessarily.

About travel, though, she hesitated to form an answer that she thought really qualified. "Ain't been to one just yet, that's definitely a bucket-list thing? I do want to go somewhere-in-Africa one day, though — I'm like three percent African and like four percent Cherokee."

Seconds later, she blinked and parsed your answer for a moment. "Ooooh, yeah my mom's a huge gamer — Candy Crush, yeah? Oh, and Subway Surfers, I played Among Us with the stream, Bloons…"

Counting on her fingers, like this was a big connecting moment. She was in the middle of taking a drink when you mentioned rats, causing her to freeze with her cheeks slightly bulged out, brows crashed in concern.

"Oh my god."

Nearing the bottom of her salad after a difficult swallow of that water, she decided she'd get her fluids from the peaches-not-with-cream and cubed watermelon instead.

"Yeah I'm kinda embarrassed to admit I looked up some of your music after we set a time to go out — hiphop's not my usual thing but I liked what I heard. People are saying you're gonna drop a new album soon or something?"

Qalli Mmm!'d at the fruit and slid the bowl to the middle of the table to invite you to pluck at it if you wanted to.

The House
I should also go attempt sleep again. Work comes too early.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/761c075d0771b4a52fe547b2def9497a/6fe02bddcbba47ff-f1/s640x960/b304e193057e77d50c83463c37eb525ac977b257.webp

The House
Safe travels and have fun!

Master Bedroom
He smiled wider when he heard you say ours, you kept tracing those circles on his hand and it soothed him even more. He moved up a little more to lay the side of his head on the pillow, his eyes never leaving you

"I am very happy to hear you are comfortable here cause this is your home now."

A bold statement maybe but it was truthful

"We will share everything with each other."

He looked away for a second a sigh spilling from his lips

"Well the few cherished memories I have from my childhood all have my brothers in them. My parents were not the greatest well more my father, my mother tried.

The day Zeb, Ace and I became blood brothers is a cherished memory the three of us were always together, cause their situation at home was like mine. We always hung out and did things that kids do and one day we were down at the waters edge. It was after school and we had gone home and done our chores and Zeb's father had gone on a tirade about something. Got in his face, raised his hand to hit him but he got away and ran to Ace's place got him and they came and got me. We were talking about how our home life sucked and skipping rocks, and Ace said you know we are like brothers we should make it official by becoming blood brothers, always be there for each other no matter what so we made a cut on the palm of our hands and did just that.

It hurt but it was one of the best things we ever did."

The House
Anyway, I should get back to packing.

Goodnight all. See you in about week.

Chuckles out loud and shoulder bumps you.

I'm never 'free' .. always uber-expensive. And I might quip in reply to your question .. 'be careful what you wish for!'.

The House
I've seen parts of it. While walking through the living room.

The violin soundtrack for sex scenes was cool, but...kung fu fights in late 1800s San Francisco is my jam.

"Hellooooo."

Sidles on up next to you.

"Are you free now? Can I take you back to my place?"

Eyebrow jump.

The House
Seriously. Lifelong Jane Austen fan here. A good Regency is too much fun for me.

The House
That one is also on my list. I have a weird range of tastes.

#r-vanish

Laughs

I suspect we each have our 'nerdy' little bents. I don't mind. You can call me anything you like.

Smirk.

The House
Probably. Bridgerton is... kind of my thing? Not nearly enough gay for me. But Regency drama is a good time.

ok...

I see.

We should speak in private

"What? I never called you a nerd. I said, talk nerdy to me. That is NOT the same thing!"

Laughs.

i... like being told what to do... like to be used

yeah? what do you like about it?