Sitting on the couch next to the radiator, you enjoy its warmth as the low hum of the heater fills the room. The heat feels comforting against the chill in the air outdoors. Your thumbs are absentmindedly swiping through social media posts as you glare at your phone's screen. Soon, though, you grow tired of the endless memes. You decide to take a break from the screen and look up.
It's winter. Some people hate it. Some love it. Most people still love the holidays. Thanks to the holidays, for a few days, you're off work. You decide to spend this short time of freedom at home, away from socialization. It does wonders when you want to clear your mind and relax.
Looking through the window, you take notice of how the snowflakes gently drift from the white sky. The city, full of noises and movements, feels quiet under the heavy blanket of snow. It's as if winter had almost silenced society.
The way the snow clings to the rooftops, the cars, the turned-off lampposts, softly dusting everything in //white//. The snow reflects the faint light of the buildings, casting a soft glow that turns the streets into muted shades of blue and silver.
But even as you watch, something inside stirs. The cold seeps into the apartment from the window you had left open for fresh air. You feel the burden of this season—the long nights, the endless gray skies, and the chill that seems to creep into your bones.
Despite everything, you...
[[Hate winter.]]
[[Love winter!]]You sigh as the cold air invades the room. You get up from the couch, irritated, and if it wasn't for your socks, your feet would now be meeting the cold floor. You shuffle over to the window. You slide it closed, the faint squeak of the frame sliding into place filling the room. The warmth of the radiator is fighting back against the intrusion, but you know it'll take time for the room to feel like it was before.
You return to the couch, wrapping yourself tighter in a soft blanket.
Winter is a bitch—each day is colder than the last. You know you'll have to brave the chill soon enough, maybe for some errand or another, but it's never pleasant. Waking up and throwing on layers of clothes, fighting against the freezing winds as you rush through the snow-filled streets is fucking exhausting.
The holidays can be a real pain in the ass. Yeah, you get time off work, but then comes the pressure to be social, to put up with family, or fake enthusiasm for the endless gatherings. It's all fucking stifling. The expectations, the forced cheer, the packed places—you can't stand any of it.
Sometimes, you just want to stay the hell in, away from the cold and the people, and be left the fuck alone to enjoy the silence of your own space.
There is one guy you don't mind spending time with. His name is [[Ash Holloway]].The holidays bring a special kind of warmth too—something about this time of year always feels different, like there's //magic in the air//. It's not just the lights or the festive atmosphere, but the way the cold brings everyone inside, forcing moments of connection. You smile to yourself as you watch the snow, a sense of contentment settling in.
After a few moments of laziness, you rise from the couch, your feet pressing softly against the cold floor. If it wasn't for your socks, your feet would now be freezing.
You walk over to the window, and with a small grunt, you slide the window closed. The soft sound of the glass shutting fills the room, and the warmth of the heater seems to push the cold away, making the space feel even cozier than before.
You return to the couch, wrapping yourself tighter in a soft blanket. But as you settle back, something tugs at your thoughts. The holidays are about connecting, and there's one person you'd really like to spend time with. [[Ash Holloway]].<<if $ash is "fem">>Ash Holloway is a friend and a guy whose presence is impossible to ignore. You’ve seen him shirtless before, and you couldn’t help but notice how his frame is lean yet perfectly sculpted—his waist slender, his arms toned rather than bulky, his body carrying just enough definition to make his soft skin all the more alluring. His stomach is flat, faint lines hinting at abs, but never too harsh. His legs, long and shapely, look almost delicate in the right lighting, yet you know there’s strength there. His hands, slender with long fingers, twitch slightly when he grips something, tendons subtly visible beneath smooth skin.
He’s taller than you, despite being otherwise smaller. There’s a quiet confidence in the way he carries himself, a natural grace that draws eyes without effort. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, his voice is rich and sultry, a perfect mix of softness and masculinity. It’s the kind of voice that lingers, sinking into your thoughts long after he’s gone. There's something magnetic about him, but not in the traditional sense. He doesn’t have to be loud or flashy to make people notice him. He simply exists, and that alone is enough.
You’ve known that you’re into him for a while now, and it’s not just because of his (perfect) looks, but because of how he keeps everything to himself. He is dark and mysterious, impossible to crack, which only makes you want to know him more. Curiosity killed the cat, so to not make him uncomfortable—and to keep your friendship—you don’t press him too much.
As much as he tries to keep it hidden, you’ve seen glimpses of the sadness that lingers beneath his teasing smirks and casual shrugs. He’s made suicidal jokes in the past. A lot. And he always brushes them off as “just dark humor.” You know that’s not true, though. You know he wants to talk to someone so badly, but something is stopping him. And it breaks your heart that he won’t let you help.
He //never// talks about what happened, and you’ve never been able to piece his story together. But you’ve noticed the way his entire body tenses when certain names or places are mentioned, the flicker of something painful crossing his pretty face before he quickly hides it away.
You’ve learned to recognize the signs. The way he freezes. The way his gaze hardens. The way he retreats inward, drifting off into his own world. Those names, those places—they must remind him of that cursed night. Or nights. Grief haunts him like a shadow, and no matter how much time passes, it’s as if he’s still trapped in that moment, carrying the weight of trauma he can never escape.
You wish you could do more. But for now… there’s nothing. Just silence.
[[Text Ash.]]
[[Call him.]]
[[Leave him be and spend the holidays alone.]]<<else>>Ash Holloway is a friend and a guy whose body is hard to ignore. You've seen him shirtless before, and you couldn't help but notice how his arms are thick with muscle. His abs are defined, a solid six-pack visible even when relaxed. His legs are muscular and built for strength, his hands are veiny from working out, and his tendons stand out when he grips something. He's taller than you, and he can effortlessly command people's attention without even trying.
He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's with that deep, majestic voice—always low, always masculine, always carrying a weight that makes even the smallest comment feel gigantic. There's something magnetic about the guy, but not in the typical way. He doesn't need to put on a show to be noticed. His silence speaks louder than most people's words.
You've known that you're into him for a while now, and it's not just because of his (perfect) looks, but also because of the way he keeps //everything// to himself. He is dark and mysterious, and people can't crack him that easily, which makes you want to know him even more. Curiosity killed the cat, so to not make him uncomfortable, and to keep your friendship, you don't press him too much.
As hard as it is, he keeps everything buried, and you respect that. But it's hard to ignore the way his depression sometimes takes over. He's made suicidal jokes in the past. A lot. And he always brushes them off as nothing but pure "dark humor". You know that's not true though. You know he wants to talk to someone so badly, but something is stopping him. And it breaks your heart that he won't let you help him.
He ''never'' talks about what happened, and you've never been able to piece his story together. Sometimes, when a certain name or a place is mentioned, you see his entire body tense up, a flicker of something dreadful crossing his gorgeous face before he hides it again.
You've learned to recognize the signs. The way he freezes, the way his gaze hardens, the way he retreats inward, or when he dozes off into space. You know those names and places must remind him of that cursed night. Or nights. Grief stuff haunts him, and no matter how much time passes, it's like he's still trapped in that horrid moment, carrying the weight of trauma he can never escape. You wish you could do more, but for now... nothing much. Just silence.
[[Text Ash.]]
[[Call him.]]
[[Leave him be and spend the holidays alone.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>You pull out your phone and type a quick message to Ash. Nothing fancy, just a simple, "Hey, how's it going?" A few moments later, the familiar sound of his reply comes through.
"Okay."
Most people might see that and think he's not interested in talking, maybe even annoyed. But you know better. That's just Ash. He doesn't waste words, especially over text. For him, an "okay" could mean anything from "I'm good" to "I'm drowning but don't know how to say it." So you try again.
"Got any plans for the holidays?"
The reply comes after a short pause: "No."
You take a breath. It's always like this with Ash—pulling conversation from him is like pulling teeth. But you know it's not because he doesn't care. He's just... Ash. Simple replies, short sentences, but underneath...
Then, another message comes through, longer this time: "I have the cabin on the mountain. If you wanna go. We could hang out there. But if not, that's fine. It's kinda far anyway."
Your heart skips a beat as you read the words. Ash doesn't usually offer to meet up. He's more of a lone wolf, the kind of guy who prefers to keep to himself. For him to suggest this—it's nice. You can almost hear his soft, delicate voice in your head, lilting with just a hint of hesitation, like he's second-guessing himself.
A third message follows: "You're the only person I can stand being around right now."
The simplicity of his words hits harder than any elaborate confession ever could. He doesn't need to explain. You know he means it.
You stare at your screen, fingers hovering over the keys. The thought of being alone with the guy you're into, in that cabin, away from everything, makes your chest tighten. He's giving you a chance to get closer to him, which is very exciting, but it's also terrifying. Your feelings could easily spill out, and you could ruin your friendship if you're not careful.
So, what do you say?
[[Go to the cabin with him.]]
[[Maybe not...]]<<else>>You pull out your phone and type a quick message to Ash. Nothing fancy, just a simple, "Hey, how's it going?" A few moments later, the familiar sound of his reply comes through.
"Okay."
Most people might see that and think he's not interested in talking, maybe even annoyed. But you know better. That's just Ash. He doesn't waste words, especially over text. For him, an "okay" could mean anything from "I'm good" to "I'm drowning but don't know how to say it." So you try again.
"Got any plans for the holidays?"
The reply comes after a short pause: "No."
You take a breath. It's always like this with Ash—pulling conversation from him is like pulling teeth. But you know it's not because he doesn't care. He's just... Ash. Simple replies, short sentences, but underneath...
Then, another message comes through, longer this time: "I have the cabin on the mountain. If you wanna go. We could hang out there. But if not, that's fine. It's kinda far anyway."
Your heart skips a beat as you read the words. Ash doesn't usually offer to meet up. He's more of a lone wolf, the kind of guy who prefers to keep to himself. For him to suggest this—it's nice. You can almost hear his deep voice in your head, hear how carefully he'd say it, maybe even second-thinking it.
A third message follows: "You're the only person I can stand being around right now."
The simplicity of his words hits harder than any elaborate confession ever could. He doesn't need to explain. You know he means it.
You stare at your screen, fingers hovering over the keys. The thought of being alone with the guy you're into, in that cabin, away from everything, makes your chest tighten. He's giving you a chance to get closer to him, which is very exciting, but it's also terrifying. Your feelings could easily //spill out//, and you could ruin your friendship if you're not careful.
So, what do you say?
[[Go to the cabin with him.]]
[[Maybe not...]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>You pull out your phone, hesitate a moment, and press Ash's name in your contacts. It rings twice before he answers.
"Yeah?" His soft, almost fragile voice comes through, laced with a quiet weariness, like the weight of the world has been resting on his delicate shoulders. It has. It’s the weight of his world.
"Hey," you say casually, "How's it going?"
A pause. Then, "Okay."
Most people would think he sounds disinterested—or worse, annoyed—but you know better. That’s just Ash being Ash. He doesn’t waste words, and to him, the word "okay" could mean anything from "I'm fine" to "I'm drowning but don't know how to say it." His voice gives away nothing but exhaustion, and a bit of something heavier beneath.
"Got any plans for the holidays?" you ask.
Another pause. "No." The word comes out soft, almost dismissive, but you know it’s just Ash’s way. Talking doesn’t come easily to him, and you can almost feel him wondering whether he should even bother saying more.
There’s a long silence on the line, long enough that you almost think he’s done with the conversation. You think about what to say next, but his quiet voice interrupts you. "I’ve got a cabin. On a mountain." He clears his throat, like he’s unsure how much to say, his words now delicate and almost shy. "We could go there. If you want. But, if not, it’s fine. It’s pretty far."
Your heart skips a beat. Ash doesn’t usually suggest things like this. For him to offer something like this is huge. You can picture him now, probably pacing a bit as he talks, maybe even running a hand through his soft hair, overthinking whether he should have even brought it up.
"It’s just..." His voice dips, barely audible now, a little broken. "You're the only person I can stand being around right now."
The simplicity of his words hits harder than anything elaborate ever could. He doesn’t explain further, and he doesn’t need to—you know he means it.
You grip the phone tighter, heart racing. The thought of being alone with Ash in that cabin, away from everyone and everything... it makes your chest tighten. He’s giving you a chance to get closer to him, but it’s also terrifying. Your feelings could easily spill out, and if you’re not careful, you could ruin everything.
"So," he says, breaking the silence again. His voice is softer, uncertain now, like he’s giving you a chance to pull away. "What do you think?"
[[Go to the cabin with him.->go to the cabin call]]
[[Maybe not...->dont go to the cabin call]]<<else>>You pull out your phone, hesitate a moment, and press Ash's name in your contacts. It rings twice before he answers.
"Yeah?" His deep voice comes through, low, tired, as if the weight of the world has been on his shoulders. It was. It was the weight of //his// world.
"Hey," you say casually, "How's it going?"
A pause. Then, "Okay."
Most people would think he sounds disinterested—or worse, annoyed—but you know better, that's just Ash being Ash; he doesn't waste his words, and to him, the word "okay" means a billion possible things from "I am fine," to "I'm drowning but I don't know how to say it.". His voice says very little other than exhaustion. "Got any plans for holidays?" You ask.
Another pause. "No." The word comes out blunt, almost dismissive, but again, you know it's just Ash being Ash. Talking doesn't come easily to him, and the pauses between his words feel like he's trying to figure out if he should even bother saying more.
There's a long silence on the line, long enough that you almost think he's done with the conversation. You think about what to say next, but his quiet voice interrupts you, "I've got a cabin. On a mountain." He clears his throat like he's not sure how much to say. "We could go there. If you want. But, if not, it's fine. It's pretty far.
Your heart skips a beat. Ash doesn't usually suggest things like this, and for him to offer something like this, it's big. You can picture him now, probably pacing a bit as he talks, maybe even running a hand through his hair, overthinking whether he should have even brought it up.
"It's just." His voice dips, barely audible now. "You're the only person I can stand being around right now.
The simplicity of his words hits harder than anything elaborate ever could. He doesn't explain further, and he doesn't need to—you know he means it.
You grip the phone tighter, heart racing. The thought of being alone with Ash in that cabin, away from everyone and everything... it makes your chest tighten. He's giving you a chance to be closer to him, but it's also terrifying. Your feelings could easily spill out, and if you're not careful, you could ruin everything.
"So," he says, breaking the silence again. His voice is quieter now, uncertain. "What do you think?"
[[Go to the cabin with him.->go to the cabin call]]
[[Maybe not...->dont go to the cabin call]]<</if>>The holidays were nice, even if they didn't exactly feel like a break. You had a few days off work, time to relax before the madness of returning to a job that always demands more than it gives. It felt good, though, to have some space, even if you knew that your company would make sure to push everyone harder after the break to make up for the "missed work." Still, it was a relief to have some time for yourself.
It was nice to just be home, away from the chaos of this world. Whether you hate or love winter, the snow outside was a welcome sight, adding to the cozy atmosphere of your apartment. You didn't do much, mostly staying in binge-watching shows or scrolling through social media. No obligations.
As for Ash, you heard through the grapevine that he'd finally found someone. It was hard not to feel a little pang of jealousy when you heard, but mostly, you were happy for him. You could see the change in him, how much lighter he seemed now. He didn't have to talk about it, but you could tell that whoever he was with made him smile, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you realize that, as much as you'd hoped for something more with him, you never made the move. Now, watching him with someone else, you couldn't help but wonder what might have been if you'd tried to get closer to him. Maybe it wouldn't be too late if they broke up, but oh well... you don't want to hope for something like that for your friend.
You had no choice but to move on, even if it was hard. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you'd be back at work, diving into the workforce once more. But for now, you couldn't help but think about Ash and wish you'd been brave enough to take that step before it was too late.
Ending One
[[Start over?]]"Sure thing," You hit send, and almost immediately, his reply pops up.
"Nice."
<<if $ash is "fem">>You smile faintly, already imagining his soft, feminine voice saying the word in that almost monotone way of his. Another message follows, just seconds later:<<else>>You smile faintly, already imagining his deep voice saying the word in that low, almost monotone way of his. Another message follows, just seconds later:<</if>>
"Is it okay if I come and pick you up tonight?"
Your eyes widen slightly. Tonight? You'd expected at least tomorrow, maybe even the day after. But before doubt can creep in, you realize you don't actually mind. You're free, and the idea of getting out of here sooner rather than later feels... good.
"Sure thing," you type again, hitting send without hesitating this time.
Standing, you head to your bedroom to pack. You grab a small bag and start tossing in clothes—just the essentials. A few pairs of underwear, cozy sweatpants, a soft sweater, regular black pants, and your winter hat. You pause for a second, debating what else to bring, but decide to keep it simple. After all, it's just Ash. He wouldn't care if you showed up in mismatched socks and an old hoodie.
Once you're done, you set the bag by the door and pick up your phone again. The hours pass slowly after that, anticipation building in your chest. You scroll aimlessly, checking the time every few minutes, until finally, there's a knock at the door.
Your heart skips a beat. [[He's here]].You hesitate, staring at the screen. The idea of being alone with Ash in that cabin, away from everything, is tempting—too tempting. But the fear of your feelings getting in the way, of ruining what you have with him, weighs heavier. Your fingers hover over the keyboard before you finally type, "I don't think I can right now. Thanks for inviting me, though."
The reply comes quickly. Just one word: "Okay."
It stings, even though you know it shouldn't. That's just Ash—he wouldn't push or pry. Still, you can't shake the guilt settling in your chest. You set your phone down and take a deep breath, trying to convince yourself you made the right choice, even as you wonder if you've just let something important slip through your fingers.
...
The holidays were nice, even if they didn't exactly feel like a break. You had a few days off work, time to relax before the madness of returning to a job that always demands more than it gives. It felt good, though, to have some space, even if you knew that your company would make sure to push everyone harder after the break to make up for the "missed work." Still, it was a relief to have some time for yourself.
It was nice to just be home, away from the chaos of this world. Whether you hate or love winter, the snow outside was a welcome sight, adding to the cozy atmosphere of your apartment. You didn't do much, mostly staying in binge-watching shows or scrolling through social media. No obligations.
As for Ash, you heard through the grapevine that he'd finally found someone. It was hard not to feel a little pang of jealousy when you heard, but mostly, you were happy for him. You could see the change in him, how much lighter he seemed now. He didn't have to talk about it, but you could tell that whoever he was with made him smile, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you realize that, as much as you'd hoped for something more with him, you never made the move. Now, watching him with someone else, you couldn't help but wonder what might have been if you'd tried to get closer to him. Maybe it wouldn't be too late if they broke up, but oh well... you don't want to hope for something like that for your friend.
You had no choice but to move on, even if it was hard. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you'd be back at work, diving into the workforce once more. But for now, you couldn't help but think about Ash and wish you'd been brave enough to take that step before it was too late.
Ending Two
[[Start over?]]"Sure thing," you say after a moment, trying to sound casual even though your pulse is racing.
"Nice." He replies, almost instantly. You can even hear a smile in that magnificent voice of his.
The corners of your mouth tug into a small smile at how simple, how Ash, his response is. Then he speaks again, his tone the same but the words catch you off guard.
"Is it okay if I come and pick you up tonight?"
Your eyes widen slightly. Tonight? You'd expected tomorrow or even the day after—not this soon. "Uh, yeah," you say, recovering quickly. "Sure thing."
"Cool," Ash says, and you can almost hear the faintest hint of relief in his voice before the line goes quiet again.
As soon as the call ends, you head to your bedroom to pack. Grabbing a small bag, you start tossing in clothes—just the basics. A few pairs of underwear, cozy sweatpants, a warm sweater, your usual black pants, and a winter hat. You hesitate for a moment, wondering if you should bring anything else, but then decide against it. This is Ash. He wouldn't care if you showed up with nothing but what you had on.
With your bag ready, you place it by the door and glance at your phone. Hours stretch on, the anticipation making them feel longer than they are. You scroll aimlessly, checking the time every few minutes, until finally, there's a knock at the door.
Your heart leaps. [[He's here]]."I don't think I can right now. Thanks for inviting me, though." You say in a neutral voice.
There's a brief silence on the other end of the line. You can practically hear Ash's disappointment, and even though you know he won't push, it still hits harder than expected.
"Okay," he replies quietly, but you can hear the tinge of embarrassment in his voice. "Well, I gotta go now. I have some things to do."
He tries to sound emotionless, but you can tell—he's embarrassed for even asking. It's not like him to open up, and you can feel the weight of that in his voice.
With a soft sigh, you hang up, feeling the sting of regret mixed with relief. Maybe you made the right decision, but it doesn't feel that way now.
...
The holidays were nice, even if they didn't exactly feel like a break. You had a few days off work, time to relax before the madness of returning to a job that always demands more than it gives. It felt good, though, to have some space, even if you knew that your company would make sure to push everyone harder after the break to make up for the "missed work." Still, it was a relief to have some time for yourself.
It was nice to just be home, away from the chaos of this world. Whether you hate or love winter, the snow outside was a welcome sight, adding to the cozy atmosphere of your apartment. You didn't do much, mostly staying in binge-watching shows or scrolling through social media. No obligations.
As for Ash, you heard through the grapevine that he'd finally found someone. It was hard not to feel a little pang of jealousy when you heard, but mostly, you were happy for him. You could see the change in him, how much lighter he seemed now. He didn't have to talk about it, but you could tell that whoever he was with made him smile, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you realize that, as much as you'd hoped for something more with him, you never made the move. Now, watching him with someone else, you couldn't help but wonder what might have been if you'd tried to get closer to him. Maybe it wasn't too late if they broke up, but oh well... you don't want to hope for something like that for your friend.
You had no choice but to move on, even if it was hard. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you'd be back at work, diving into the workforce once more. But for now, you couldn't help but think about Ash and wish you'd been brave enough to take that step before it was too late.
Ending Three
[[Start over?]]<<if $ash is "fem">>You take a deep breath and head to the door. When you open it, your eyes meet Ash’s, and your breath catches in your throat as butterflies fill your tummy. His face is as delicate and striking as ever, with features so soft and sharp they could cut diamonds. The faint shadows of exhaustion under his eyes only make him look more alluring, like he could just fall asleep on…<<else>>You take a deep breath and head to the door. When you open it, your eyes meet Ash's, and your breath catches in your throat as butterflies fill your tummy. His face is as gorgeous as ever, with features so sharp they could cut diamonds. The faint shadows of exhaustion under his eyes only make him look more alluring like he could just fall asleep on...<</if>>
"Hi," he interrupts your thoughts, his voice low and quiet, like a secret meant only for you.
"Hi," you reply, a warm smile spreading across your face. "I'll go get my bags. Just give me a second."
Ash nods. Quickly as to not make him wait, you head to your bedroom where you left your bags, and pick them up before going back to the front door. Ash is still there, standing tall with his hands in his black leather jacket pockets, his car idling quietly at the curb.
As you head out, he immediately eyes your bag and reaches for it. "I'll take that," he says, already pulling it from your grasp.
"You don't have to--" you begin, but he stops you with a slight shake of his head.
<<if $ash is "fem">>"I insist," he tries to say firmly, his voice allowing no protest. "It's the least I could do," he says, despite being smaller than you.<<else>>"I insist," he says firmly, his voice allowing no protest. "It's the least I could do,"<</if>>
[[Let him take the bags.]]
[[Don't let him.]]You let go of the bag, a bit surprised by his insistence. "Thanks," you say, falling in step beside him as he heads toward the car. Something about the way he said, //It's the least I can do,// sticks in your mind, though, and you can't help but ask.
"What did you mean by that? The least you can do?"
Ash glances at you, then away, his face unreadable for a moment. "Just... a thank-you thing. For agreeing to come up to the cabin with me."
That catches you off guard, but it also makes you smile. "Of course, man. Anytime. I didn't have plans for the holidays either, so at least this way, we can have some fun."
Ash turns toward you, a sly smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "Right."
The way he says it makes your stomach flip, and it takes you a moment to realize what you've just said. //Fun//. You feel heat rising to your cheeks. You look away quickly, pretending not to notice his smirk. Too late now, you think to yourself. Better to just move on. He's not the first guy friend to make jokes like that. But he is the only one that's made you flustered.
Once at the car, Ash loads your bag into the trunk with ease before sliding into the driver's seat. You settle into the passenger side, still trying to shake off your slight embarrassment, when he gestures toward the dashboard.
"Go ahead," he says, nodding toward his phone mount. "Connect your phone to the radio. You can pick something. We like the same stuff anyway."
You pull out your phone and start searching for something to play.
[[Play alternative rock.]]
[[Go for lo-fi beats.]]
[[Pick a nostalgic pop playlist.]]
[[Put on some indie folk.]]
[[Choose a chill electronic mix.]]You hold onto the bag as Ash reaches for it. "I got it," you say with a small smile, brushing off his insistence. He raises an eyebrow but doesn't push further, simply stepping aside as you carry it to the car.
When you reach the trunk, Ash pulls it open for you, and you set your bag inside. "Thanks," you say, falling in step beside him as he heads toward the driver's side. Something about the way he said, //"It's the least I can do,"// sticks in your mind, though, and you can't help but ask.
"What did you mean by that? The least you can do?"
Ash glances at you, then away, his face unreadable for a moment. "Just... a thank-you thing. For agreeing to come up to the cabin with me."
That catches you off guard, but it also makes you smile. "Of course, man. Anytime. I didn't have plans for the holidays either, so at least this way, we can have some fun."
Ash turns toward you, a sly smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "Right."
The way he says it makes your stomach flip, and it takes you a moment to realize what you've just said. //Fun//. You feel heat rising to your cheeks. You look away quickly, pretending not to notice his smirk. //Too late now//, you think to yourself. Better to just move on. He's not the first guy friend to make jokes like that. But he is the only one that's made you flustered.
Once at the car, Ash slides into the driver's seat while you settle into the passenger side, still trying to shake off your slight embarrassment. He gestures toward the dashboard.
"Go ahead," he says, nodding toward his phone mount. "Connect your phone to the radio. You can pick something. We like the same stuff anyway."
You pull out your phone and start searching for something to play.
[[Play alternative rock.]]
[[Go for lo-fi beats.]]
[[Pick a nostalgic pop playlist.]]
[[Put on some indie folk.]]
[[Choose a chill electronic mix.]]You scroll through your playlists, quickly finding something that fits the mood. Once you hit play, the soft strum of guitars fills the car.
"There we go," you say, leaning back in your seat. The music settles between you, a comfortable backdrop to the quiet ride.
Ash glances at you with a raised eyebrow and a small grin. "Not bad. This is definitely gonna keep me awake." He taps his fingers lightly on the steering wheel in time with the beat.
You let the music play for a while, enjoying the flow of the tunes, but then you decide to ask, "So, where'd you get the idea to go to the cabin from?"
Ash glances at you for a second before focusing back on the road. "Honestly, I just needed to get away from the city," he says, "And I wanted to get away from the family stuff. I'm just not in the mood for it this year. Or any for that matter..." His last sentence felt more like he was saying it to himself.
You nod, understanding him. The silence that follows is comfortable, with only the soft hum of the tires and the occasional rustle of the wind outside.
Hours pass, and the sun starts to dip low on the horizon. Despite the music and the random bits of chitchat between you two, you feel your eyelids grow heavy. You try to fight it, but soon enough, your mind starts to drift...
Just before you slip into full sleep, you hear Ash say "Sleep tight, man."
You smile softly, your head resting against the window as sleep finally takes over.
[[Two hours later...]]You scroll through your playlists, quickly finding something that fits the mood. Once you hit play, the mellow beats fill the car.
"There we go," you say, leaning back in your seat. The music settles between you, a comfortable backdrop to the quiet ride.
Ash nods in approval, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Nice choice," he says, his voice calm. "This is the kind of music you can just drift off to." He taps the steering wheel softly to the beat, looking more at ease.
You let the music play for a while, enjoying the flow of the tunes, but then you decide to ask, "So, where'd you get the idea to go to the cabin from?"
Ash glances at you for a second before focusing back on the road. "Honestly, I just needed to get away from the city," he says, "And I wanted to get away from the family stuff. I'm just not in the mood for it this year. Or any for that matter..." His last sentence felt more like he was saying it to himself.
You nod, understanding him. The silence that follows is comfortable, with only the soft hum of the tires and the occasional rustle of the wind outside.
Hours pass, and the sun starts to dip low on the horizon. Despite the music and the random bits of chitchat between you two, you feel your eyelids grow heavy. You try to fight it, but soon enough, your mind starts to drift...
Just before you slip into full sleep, you hear Ash say "Sleep tight, man."
You smile softly, your head resting against the window as sleep finally takes over.
[[Two hours later...]]You scroll through your playlist trying to find something for a long drive. Once you hit play, the nostalgic pop music fills the car. "There we go," you say, leaning back in your seat.
Ash glances over at you, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Okay, going for the throwback vibes," he says with a chuckle. "I can get behind this. Feels like summer. Despite the freezing temperatures," He taps his fingers on the wheel, the beat catching him.
You let the music play for a while, enjoying the flow of the tunes, but then you decide to ask, "So, where'd you get the idea to go to the cabin from?"
Ash glances at you for a second before focusing back on the road. "Honestly, I just needed to get away from the city," he says, "And I wanted to get away from the family stuff. I'm just not in the mood for it this year. Or any for that matter..." His last sentence felt more like he was saying it to himself.
You nod, understanding him. The silence that follows is comfortable, with only the soft hum of the tires and the occasional rustle of the wind outside.
Hours pass, and the sun starts to dip low on the horizon. Despite the music and the random bits of chitchat between you two, you feel your eyelids grow heavy. You try to fight it, but soon enough, your mind starts to drift...
Just before you slip into full sleep, you hear Ash say "Sleep tight, man."
You smile softly, your head resting against the window as sleep finally takes over.
[[Two hours later...]]You scroll through your playlists, quickly finding something that fits the mood. Once you hit play, the gentle strumming of guitars and soft vocals fill the car.
"There we go," you say, leaning back in your seat. The music settles between you, a comfortable backdrop to the quiet ride.
Ash tilts his head slightly, clearly surprised. "Huh, didn't take you for the folk music type," he says with a half-smile. "But it works. This is... kinda nice." He lets out a breath, the calm music seeming to put him at ease.
You let the music play for a while, enjoying the flow of the tunes, but then you decide to ask, "So, where'd you get the idea to go to the cabin from?"
Ash glances at you for a second before focusing back on the road. "Honestly, I just needed to get away from the city," he says, "And I wanted to get away from the family stuff. I'm just not in the mood for it this year. Or any for that matter..." His last sentence felt more like he was saying it to himself.
You nod, understanding him. The silence that follows is comfortable, with only the soft hum of the tires and the occasional rustle of the wind outside.
Hours pass, and the sun starts to dip low on the horizon. Despite the music and the random bits of chitchat between you two, you feel your eyelids grow heavy. You try to fight it, but soon enough, your mind starts to drift...
Just before you slip into full sleep, you hear Ash say "Sleep tight, man."
You smile softly, your head resting against the window as sleep finally takes over.
[[Two hours later...]]You scroll through your playlists, quickly finding something that fits the mood. Once you hit play, the chill electronic beats fill the car.
"There we go," you say, leaning back in your seat. The music settles between you, a comfortable backdrop to the quiet ride.
Ash glances at you with a slight nod. "Chill," he murmurs. "I like it. Sets the mood right for a long drive..." He taps his fingers on the wheel to the smooth beats, visibly relaxing.
You let the music play for a while, enjoying the flow of the tunes, but then you decide to ask, "So, where'd you get the idea to go to the cabin from?"
Ash glances at you for a second before focusing back on the road. "Honestly, I just needed to get away from the city," he says, "And I wanted to get away from the family stuff. I'm just not in the mood for it this year. Or any for that matter..." His last sentence felt more like he was saying it to himself.
You nod, understanding him. The silence that follows is comfortable, with only the soft hum of the tires and the occasional rustle of the wind outside.
Hours pass, and the sun starts to dip low on the horizon. Despite the music and the random bits of chitchat between you two, you feel your eyelids grow heavy. You try to fight it, but soon enough, your mind starts to drift...
Just before you slip into full sleep, you hear Ash say "Sleep tight, man."
You smile softly, your head resting against the window as sleep finally takes over.
[[Two hours later...]]You feel a gentle nudge on your shoulder, accompanied by Ash's soft voice cutting through the haze of sleep. "Hey, we're here. Time to wake up."
You rub your eyes and sit a bit up as the world outside comes into focus. You squint your eyes and notice a snowy driveway, beyond which stands the cabin. Your hands hit the rooftop of the car as you stretch, and when Ash gets out, you follow suit. Outside, the cold bites at your skin, waking you up even more.
Ash walks to the back of the car, popping the trunk open. Before you can say something, he's already grabbed both yours and his bags. "Got them," he says as he slings the straps over his shoulders.
You turn to look at the cabin. It's a cozy wooden building nestled against the backdrop of a white mountain range. There's a darkness beyond the windows, hinting at no better warmth than the one outdoors. The wrap-around porch is half-buried in snow, with a few logs stacked neatly by the door. Pine trees are everywhere around you, making everything look like something you'd see on a winter postcard. It looks nice, but... lonely, too. This cabin is a place someone visits only when they want to. It's not really a home, is it?
Ash trudges toward the porch as you stand for a moment longer, taking in the scene. He then places the bags on the ground, opens the car door, and turns off the lights.
His phone's flashlight illuminates the world around you. "Let's go," he says as he puts the bags in his hands again.
[[Ask Ash more about the cabin.]]
[[Ask him why he picked you to spend time with.]]
[[Don't ask him anything.]]You walk beside Ash as he makes his way to the cabin. The crunch of snow beneath your boots fades as your voice breaks the silence.
"So… can you tell me more about the cabin?" you ask.
Ash glances at you as he reaches into his pocket for the keys. "What do you wanna know about it?"
You shrug, a little unsure. "I don't know. For example, where'd you get it from?"
Stopping at the front door, Ash inserts the key into the lock. "From my uncle," he replies, twisting the key and pushing the door open.
"Alright. How?" you ask, your curiosity piqued.
"Got it after he died," he says, his tone flat and emotionless.
You frown slightly, feeling a little. "Oh… sorry to hear that."
Ash shakes his head, setting the bags down on the floor. "Don't be. We weren't close or anything."
He flips a switch on the wall, but nothing happens. "Fuck," he mutters under his breath. "I need to go get the generator running. I'll bring in some wood for the fireplace too. Be right back," he adds, turning toward the door. "Make yourself comfortable, buddy."
[[Go get the food from the car.]]You walk beside Ash as he makes his way to the cabin. The crunch of snow beneath your boots fades as your voice breaks the silence.
"So… why me?" you ask.
Ash glances at you as he reaches into his pocket for the keys. "What do you mean?"
"Why'd you invite me?" You ask blatantly.
Stopping at the front door, Ash inserts the key into the lock. "I dunno," he replies, twisting the key and pushing the door open.
"You don't know...?" you ask. //He has lots of other friends, so why you?//
"Out of everyone, you're the only one I don't have to force a smile for," he says as he turns to face you with a tired smile. Tired, yeah, but it's a real one.
"Oh… okay. Well, I'm glad to be that person." You say.
Ash sets the bags down on the floor. "Thank you for... agreeing to this. It means a lot. I know I'm not a fun person to hang around--"
"Don't. Don't say that, Ash..."
[[You're not a boring person.]]
[[I'm not a "fun" person to be around either.]]You walk beside Ash as he makes his way to the cabin. The crunch of snow beneath your boots is the only sound between you.
When you reach the front door, Ash pulls the keys from his pocket. He stops to unlock the door.
When he hears the click of the door being unlocked, he opens the door and the two of you step inside. He places the bags down on the floor and flips a switch on the wall. Nothing happens. "Fuck," he swears. "I need to go get the generator running. I'll bring in some wood for the fireplace too."
He turns to head back outside, glancing over his shoulder. "Make yourself comfortable, buddy," he says before disappearing into the cold.
[[Go get the food from the car.]]You step back out into the cold, the crunch of snow beneath your boots filling the quiet. The car sits where you left it, its dark silhouette blending into the snowy backdrop. You open the backseat door and start gathering the bags of food, carefully stacking them in your arms to avoid dropping anything.
As you turn to leave, your eyes land on the glove compartment. You hesitate for a moment, curiosity tugging at you. What does Ash keep in there? It could be anything: maps, old receipts, or maybe something more //personal//.
Your mind starts to wander. Would it be so bad to sneak a peek? You'd be invading his privacy.
Ash is busy with the generator. He probably wouldn't even notice. But then again, it's not right...
[[Go back inside the cabin.]]
[[Check what's in there.]]"I'm not a fun person to be around either." You say.
"You are!" He protests, "And even if you weren't, at least you aren't one miserable fuck..." He laughs at his demise, "This is exactly what I mean."
He flips a switch on the wall, but nothing happens. "Fuck," he mutters under his breath. "I need to go get the generator running. I'll bring in some wood for the fireplace too. Be right back," he adds, turning toward the door. "Make yourself comfortable, buddy."
[[Go get the food from the car.]]"You're not a boring person, Ash," You say.
"I am." He protests, "and on top of that, I'm one big miserable fuck..." He laughs at his demise, "This is exactly what I mean."
He flips a switch on the wall, but nothing happens. "Fuck," he mutters under his breath. "I need to go get the generator running. I'll bring in some wood for the fireplace too. Be right back," he adds, turning toward the door. "Make yourself comfortable, buddy."
[[Go get the food from the car.]]Ash is your friend—if not your best friend. He trusted you to come to this cabin with him. You won't be sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. You've known Ash long enough to respect his boundaries and do something like this. Even if you want to understand him more, snooping around isn't the //right// way to do it.
You turn back toward the cabin and start walking.
Just as you step through the door, the light flicks on, brightening the dark room.
A few seconds later, Ash walks in, his expression tired but relieved. "Hey, got the generator working and brought in the wood. Now we can light the fireplace."
You nod and respond, "Okay, nice."
He looks away and starts walking toward the fireplace. "I'll light it."
[[Watch as he lights the fireplace.]]
[[You light the fireplace.]]
[[Have him teach you how to light it.]]You glance back at the glove compartment, hesitating for a moment before opening it. Inside, there are a few documents—likely related to the car or something legal, nothing unusual. But among them, one item catches your eye: a <<if $ash is "fem">>pink<<else>>black<</if>> leatherette notebook, its edges slightly worn as though it's been used frequently.<<set $snooping to true>>
Your pulse quickens as you stare at it. What could be inside? Notes? Drawings? Something he's kept hidden?
The cold air nips at your fingers, urging you to make a decision quickly.
[[Check what's inside.]]
[[Stop this and go back inside.]]You carefully pick up the <<if $ash is "fem">>pink<<else>>black<</if>> leatherette notebook, feeling its weight in your hands. The cold air around you fades as your curiosity takes over. You didn't even know Ash had a diary—if that's what this is.
With a quick glance toward the cabin to make sure he isn't coming, you open the cover. The first page reads, in bold letters:
''Journal''
Below it, written in Ash's familiar neat handwriting, is a note:
<div class="handwritten">//This is Ash's journal where he keeps his most private thoughts. If you're not Ash (which you probably aren't as you're actively reading this), please don't read it. There's nothing fun in it, I promise. You'd be better off not knowing some things.//
</div>
A small, nervous laugh escapes your lips. The warning feels both typical of Ash's sarcastic sense of humor and strangely... vulnerable.
Your grip tightens slightly as you consider what to do next. He'd probably never notice it was gone. He wouldn't be writing tonight, not with both of you here at the cabin.
[[Take it inside and read it while he's sleeping.]]
[[Put it back where it belongs.]]You feel a twist in your gut. Ash is your friend—if not your best friend. He trusted you to come to this cabin with him. And here you were with his car's glove compartment open, wondering if you should peek inside.
You shake your head, pushing the thought aside. You've known Ash long enough to respect his boundaries and do something like this. Even if you want to understand him more, snooping around isn't the //right// way to do it.
With a deep breath, you close the glove compartment, turn back toward the cabin and start walking.
Just as you step through the door, the light flicks on, brightening the dark room.
A few seconds later, Ash walks in, his expression tired but relieved. "Hey, got the generator working and brought in the wood. Now we can light the fireplace."
You nod, your voice flat as you respond, "Yeah, good."
Ash raises an eyebrow, clearly noticing the tension in your tone. "What's wrong?"
You force out a fake laugh, shaking your head. "Nothing, it's fine."
He studies you for a moment, before asking again, his voice softer this time. "Are you sure? Something happened?"
The guilt tightens in your chest, but you do your best to brush it off. "No, nothing happened," you insist, but your words feel hollow.
Ash doesn't look convinced. He lets out a quiet sigh, his gaze lingering on you for a beat longer. "Okay..." He finally looks away and starts walking toward the fireplace. "I'll light it."
[[Watch as he lights the fireplace.]]
[[You light the fireplace.]]
[[Have him teach you how to light it.]]You feel a twist in your gut. Ash is your friend—if not your best friend. He trusted you to come to this cabin with him. And here you are, about to invade his deepest, darkest secrets.<<set $journal to "have">>
He made it clear that he never wanted anyone to see this. But still, you can't shake the thought that by doing this, you might be able to help him. He's struggling, and he doesn't talk about his problems. In the end, everyone needs a place to unload their sorrows, and this journal might hold the answers you're searching for. It could help you understand him better, and maybe even allow you to offer the support he's too afraid to ask for.
Still, it feels so wrong. You try to justify it to yourself, convincing yourself that your intentions are good and that you're just trying to help him—it's not out of curiosity. It's not about snooping; it's about understanding him better.
With a deep breath, you slip the notebook into your inside jacket pocket. You turn toward the cabin, heart pounding.
Just as you step through the door, the light flicks on, brightening the dim room.
A few seconds later, Ash walks in, his expression tired but relieved. "Hey, got the generator working and brought in the wood. Now we can light the fireplace."
You nod, your voice flat as you respond, "Yeah, good."
Ash raises an eyebrow, clearly noticing the tension in your tone. "What's wrong?"
You force out a fake laugh, shaking your head. "Nothing, it's fine."
He studies you for a moment, before asking again, his voice softer this time. "Are you sure? Something happened?"
The guilt tightens in your chest, but you do your best to brush it off. "No, nothing happened," you insist, but your words feel hollow.
Ash doesn't look convinced. He lets out a quiet sigh, his gaze lingering on you for a beat longer. "Okay..." He finally looks away and starts walking toward the fireplace. "I'll light it."
[[Watch as he lights the fireplace.]]
[[You light the fireplace.]]
[[Have him teach you how to light it.]]You feel a twist in your gut. Ash is your friend—if not your best friend. He trusted you to come to this cabin with him. And here you were about to invade his deepest, darkest secrets.
You manage to pull away from the temptation. You've known Ash long enough to respect his boundaries. Even if you want to understand him more, the means don't justify the ends here.
Perhaps one day, when he is ready, he will open up. But for now, you turn toward the cabin, wondering when, or even if that day ever comes.
Just as you step through the door, the light flicks on, brightening the dark room.
A few seconds later, Ash walks in, his expression tired but relieved. "Hey, got the generator working and brought in the wood. Now we can light the fireplace."
You nod, your voice flat as you respond, "Yeah, good."
Ash raises an eyebrow, clearly noticing the tension in your tone. "What's wrong?"
You force out a fake laugh, shaking your head. "Nothing, it's fine."
He studies you for a moment, before asking again, his voice softer this time. "Are you sure? Something happened?"
The guilt tightens in your chest, but you do your best to brush it off. "No, nothing happened," you insist, but your words feel hollow.
Ash doesn't look convinced. He lets out a quiet sigh, his gaze lingering on you for a beat longer. "Okay..." He finally looks away and starts walking toward the fireplace. "I'll light it."
[[Watch as he lights the fireplace.]]
[[You light the fireplace.]]
[[Have him teach you how to light it.]]Ash walks and then crouches in front of the fireplace, carefully arranging the wood. First, he places a pile of kindling—small twigs and thin branches—leaving space for air to flow. Below them, he adds some marshmallow-looking firelighters that catch fire quickly and burn hot for a while.
He strikes a match and lights it, holding it to the firelighters. They catch almost instantly, and the flame spreads to the kindling above.
The fire is small at first, but Ash blows on it gently to help it along. Soon, the kindling is burning well, and the flames spread to the larger logs. He adjusts the pieces of wood to make sure the fire continues to grow, and before long, the whole stack is burning bright and steady.
"There," Ash says with a nod. "The room should get warm in a bit." And he was right—the room starts to warm up as the fire crackles, casting soft, flickering light around the cabin.
"Nice," you say as he turns to face you. You step closer to the fire, warming your chilled hands. Ash does the same.
When you feel warm again, you take a moment to step back, glancing around the space you hadn't really noticed earlier. It's a basic, functional cabin, but there's a warmth to it, almost like it's seen years of use and love.
The room is fairly small, with the fireplace at one end. There are two beds along the opposite wall, covered in thick brown blankets that look like they'd keep anyone warm in the winter's cold. The beds are simple—wooden frames with metal headboards. Beside each bed, there's a small wooden table serving as an alternative to a nightstand, and between the two beds stands a table with two chairs and an oil lamp.
The floors are of rough-hewn wood, a little uneven, though worn smooth in places by the many feet that over the years have crossed them. A stone fireplace centered within the wall is the central feature of the room, with a thick stone chimney running up.
You turn around to take more of the space in. There's another door near the back, slightly ajar, and you can't help but wonder where it leads.
"What's behind the door?" you ask, curious.
Ash glances over, shrugging. "Oh, that's the bathroom."
"Bathroom?" you repeat, raising an eyebrow. "How do you have a working bathroom way out here?"
Ash laughs lightly, almost in amusement at the question. "It's not a typical bathroom. It's a bit of a setup, but it works. We've got a composting toilet, no sewage system, just a system of buckets that get emptied outside. The shower's got a small water heater which runs on gas. We heat water in a tank, and it's good enough for a quick shower. It's not glamorous, but it does the job.
You nod slowly, taking it all in. It's not exactly what you'd expect from a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but it sounds pretty practical given the remote location.
Next comes the kitchen area, simple but efficient. There is a small, old-fashioned sink made of metal, with a hand pump beside it to draw water. A few dishes are stacked in a drying rack, and a small rustic stove sits in the corner. Above the sink are open shelves with basic kitchen supplies: plates, cups, a few mismatched bowls, and some utensils.
Against the walls are a few "hunter's" accouterments: above the sink, some mounted antlers; a couple of old, wooden plaques, carved into them the likenesses of wildlife, hang; a set of crossbow arrows leans against the wall, in the corner next to the door. Certainly, this is the outdoors, and even down to the unadorned furniture, all of the ornamentation in this tiny cabin reveals evidence of such a life being lived out-of-doors.
It's small, but the cabin has all anyone might need to survive in the middle of nowhere. And it's cozy. Best of all, you get to share it with Ash. Or rather, Ash is sharing it with you.
[[Suggest to do something now.]]
[[Go to sleep.]]You walk over to the fireplace and crouch down, carefully arranging the wood. First, you place a pile of kindling—small twigs and thin branches—leaving space for air to flow. Below them, you add a few fire starters—small, marshmallow-like logs that catch fire quickly and burn hot for a while.
You strike a match and light it, holding it to the fire starters. They catch almost instantly, and the flame spreads to the kindling above.
At first, the fire is small, but you lean down and blow on it gently to help it along. Before long, the kindling is burning well, and the flames spread to the larger logs. You adjust the pieces of wood to make sure the fire continues to grow, and before long, the whole stack is burning bright and steady.
"There," you say with a satisfied nod. "The room should warm up soon."
It is crackling softly, giving warmness to the room as flickering light dances across the cabin.
"Nice, " says Ash, then you closer, holding up your cold hands to catch a little firelight. The two of them perform the same action immediately:.
As you begin to feel warm again, you take a moment to step back, looking around the room you hadn't really noticed until now. It's a basic, functional cabin, but there's a warmth to it, almost as if it's seen years of use and love.
The room is pretty small, with the fireplace at one end. There are two beds along the opposite wall, covered in thick brown blankets that look like they'd keep anyone warm in the winter's cold. The beds are simple—wooden frames with metal headboards. Beside each bed, there's a small wooden table serving as an alternative to a nightstand, and between the two beds stands a table with two chairs and an oil lamp.
The floors are of rough-hewn wood, a little uneven, though worn smooth in places by the many feet that over the years have crossed them. A stone fireplace centered within the wall is the central feature of the room, with a thick stone chimney running up.
You turn around to take more of the space in. There's another door near the back, slightly ajar, and you can't help but wonder where it leads.
"What's behind the door?" you ask, curious.
Ash glances over, shrugging. "Oh, that's the bathroom."
"Bathroom?" you repeat, raising an eyebrow. "How do you have a working bathroom way out here?"
Ash laughs lightly, almost in amusement at the question. "It's not a typical bathroom. It's a bit of a setup, but it works. We've got a composting toilet, no sewage system, just a system of buckets that get emptied outside. The shower's got a small water heater, which runs on gas. We heat water in a tank, and it's good enough for a quick shower. It's not glamorous, but it does the job.
You nod slowly, taking it all in. It's not exactly what you'd expect from a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but it sounds pretty practical given the remote location.
Next comes the kitchen area, simple but efficient. There is a small, old-fashioned sink made of metal, with a hand pump beside it to draw water. A few dishes are stacked in a drying rack, and a small rustic stove sits in the corner. Above the sink are open shelves with basic kitchen supplies: plates, cups, a few mismatched bowls, and some utensils.
Against the walls are a few "hunter's" accouterments: above the sink, some mounted antlers; a couple of old, wooden plaques, carved into them the likenesses of wildlife, hang; a set of crossbow arrows leans against the wall, in the corner next to the door. Certainly, this is the outdoors, and even down to the unadorned furniture, all of the ornamentation in this tiny cabin reveals evidence of such a life being lived out-of-doors.
It's small, but the cabin has all anyone might need to survive in the middle of nowhere. And it's cozy. Best of all, //you// get to share it with Ash. Or rather, Ash is sharing it with you.
[[Suggest to do something now.]]
[[Go to sleep.]]"Hey, Ash, can I actually start the fire?" you ask, eyeing the fireplace.
Ash looks at you with a small smile. Sure thing," he says as he nods.
You then add "Can you teach me though? I've never done it before, haha," you finish your sentence with a peal of nervous laughter.
"Sure," Ash says, "It's not that hard."
You walk to the fireplace and crouch down in front of it, your hands hovering over the pile of wood. You pick up the kindling and try to arrange it the way you think it should go, but it looks //off//. The twigs are packed too tightly, and you're not sure how to make space for the air to flow.
Ash watches you work for a bit, then crouches next to you. He gently places his hands over yours, guiding you to shift the kindling around. His touch is gentle, but the warmth of his fingers sends a surprising rush of heat through you, making it pretty hard to focus. Your breath catches, and your chest feels like you've breathed in rocks.
"You need to leave space for the air to flow through," Ash explains quietly, his voice close to your ear, not knowing that you're the one who can't breathe now. "That way the fire can catch and spread. You want the kindling to burn evenly, not smother itself."
You nod, your hands trembling a little as you shift the twigs apart. Ash's hands guide yours, and him being this close only adds to the growing anxiety in your chest.
He seems to notice the change in your breathing and pauses for a moment. When you turn to face him, your faces are inches apart, and your heartbeat races. Ash's gaze softens, his lips curling into a soft smile. "You alright?" he asks.
You swallow, forcing the words out. "I'm fine. Just... nervous. Don't want to set the whole cabin on fire."
Ash chuckles, "You're not," he reassures you, his thumb brushing over your hand before he pulls back slightly. "As long as I'm here, you'll be fine."
You try to breathe easier, and with his help, you finish arranging the kindling. After the kindling has turned to ambers, you grab a log and place it on them. The flames catch quickly, and soon the fire is crackling and making the room warm.
"There," you say, standing up a little straighter. "At least I know how to add a fucking log."
Ash laughs as he stands up beside you. "Nice work."
You scratch the back of your head. "Thanks."
As you begin to feel warm again, you take a moment to step back, looking around the room you hadn't really noticed until now. It's a basic, functional cabin, but there's a warmth to it, almost as if it's seen years of use and love.
The room is pretty small, with the fireplace at one end. There are two beds along the opposite wall, covered in thick brown blankets that look like they'd keep anyone warm in the winter's cold. The beds are simple—wooden frames with metal headboards. Beside each bed, there's a small wooden table serving as an alternative to a nightstand, and between the two beds stands a table with two chairs and an oil lamp.
The floors are of rough-hewn wood, a little uneven, though worn smooth in places by the many feet that over the years have crossed them. A stone fireplace centered within the wall is the central feature of the room, with a thick stone chimney running up.
You turn around to take more of the space in. There's another door near the back, slightly ajar, and you can't help but wonder where it leads.
"What's behind the door?" you ask, curious.
Ash glances over, shrugging. "Oh, that's the bathroom."
"Bathroom?" you repeat, raising an eyebrow. "How do you have a working bathroom way out here?"
Ash laughs lightly, almost in amusement at the question. "It's not a typical bathroom. It's a bit of a setup, but it works. We've got a composting toilet, no sewage system, just a system of buckets that get emptied outside. The shower's got a small water heater, which runs on gas. We heat water in a tank, and it's good enough for a quick shower. It's not glamorous, but it does the job.
You nod slowly, taking it all in. It's not exactly what you'd expect from a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but it sounds pretty practical given the remote location.
Next comes the kitchen area, simple but efficient. There is a small, old-fashioned sink made of metal, with a hand pump beside it to draw water. A few dishes are stacked in a drying rack, and a small rustic stove sits in the corner. Above the sink are open shelves with basic kitchen supplies: plates, cups, a few mismatched bowls, and some utensils.
Against the walls are a few "hunter's" accouterments: above the sink, some mounted antlers; a couple of old, wooden plaques, carved into them the likenesses of wildlife, hang; a set of crossbow arrows leans against the wall, in the corner next to the door. Certainly, this is the outdoors, and even down to the unadorned furniture, all of the ornamentation in this tiny cabin reveals evidence of such a life being lived out-of-doors.
It's small, but the cabin has all anyone might need to survive in the middle of nowhere. And it's cozy. Best of all, you get to share it with Ash. Or rather, Ash is sharing it with you.
[[Suggest to do something now.]]
[[Go to sleep.]]Ash yawns and stretches. "Alright," he says, his voice relaxed and warm. "What do you wanna do?"
[[Play Monopoly.]]
[[Play a card game.]]
[[Make some hot cocoa and chat a little bit.]]
[[Tell a horror story by the fire.]]
[[Start a puzzle.]]
[[Cook a simple meal together.]]<<if $ash is "fem">>"I'm kinda tired," Ash says with a soft yawn, his voice sweet and a little breathy. "Do you think it's a good time to hit the sack?"
"Yeah, we should," you reply, your voice matching his drowsy one.
Ash walks to his bed and turns his back to you. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the soft curves of his back, his slender shoulders shifting as he moves. The way he moves is almost... delicate.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice soft and a little dreamy, already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>"I'm kinda tired," Ash says with a soft yawn. "Do you think it's a good time to hit the sack?"
"Yeah, we should," you reply, your voice matching his drowsy one.
Ash walks to his bed and turns his back to you. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>>"Do you have cards?" you ask, to which Ash nods.
Ash starts fishing around beneath his bed. You hear the faint scrape of a box before he pulls out an old, very well-worn deck of playing cards. "This should work."
He shuffles the deck easily, the sound of cards flicking together crisp in the quiet room. "How about Rummy?" he asks. "It's simple enough."
"Sure," you reply, sitting across from him on the table.
Ash deals out the cards quickly. You try to focus, sorting through your hand, but as the game goes on, it becomes clear that Ash isn't just good at this—he's really good at this.
Every time you think you're one step ahead, Ash quietly lays down a sequence or a set. His expression stays the same—calm, disinterested like it doesn't even matter whether he wins or loses. He knows he's going to win.
When he finally sets down his last cards, the game over, you sigh and throw your hand down dramatically. "Okay, you're way too good at this. Or maybe you even cheated!"
Ash smirks faintly, but there's no gloating in his expression. "Guess I just got lucky," he says, gathering up the cards again.
"Lucky?" you repeat. "Yeah, right..."
Ash shrugs, humbly slipping the deck back into its box. "Doesn't really matter who wins, right? It's not like we were betting money or something," He looks up at you, but it's like he's half here and half somewhere else. "It's just a game."
"Sure, sure," you mutter. "Next time, I'm taking you down!"
Ash chuckles quietly as he tucks the cards back under the bed. "We'll see about that."
Ash sits on the table again, but something is different. Something feels off. Ash's gaze is... distant as if he's lost in thought again. He's always been the quieter one, but there's something about his silence tonight... it feels like there's more beneath the surface.
You glance at him, studying his expression. "Hey, you good? How are you feeling lately? Anything new in life?" Maybe you asked too many questions there.
Ash pauses, "Same old, I guess. Nothing exciting to report." His voice is light, but it's hard to miss the undertone of whatever it is he's not saying.
"Yeah?" you press on gently.
Ash glances up, his expression guarded. "Yeah. I mean, there's something I've been wondering if I should do..."
"What exactly?" You ask, setting your mug down carefully.
"I..." He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's... uh..." He struggles to form a sentence, which is unusual for him. "It's just... I don't know if I should do it or not."
"…Do what exactly?" You ask, hoping he'll open up just a little more.
"Well... I uh... I can't really tell you that..."
"…Alright…" you reply quietly, almost in a whisper.
Ash frowns faintly. "It's just... whatever I want to do... it's a big risk, you know? It could ruin everything." His voice is soft but trembling with uncertainty. The consequences, imaginary or not, clearly scare the hell out of him.
"But... it could also end up being the best thing that's happened to me," he adds after a pause. "And I don't know what to do..."<<set $hint to "true">>
[[Tell him to go for it.]]
[[Tell him to not go for it.]]
[[Tell him he should try and decide on his own.]]"Wanna play a game," you ask.
"Sure. Which one? I only got a few board games in here," Ash replies with a tiny smile. //He's just so fucking adorable...//
"You got Monopoly?"
"Yeah, I do actually," Ash says as he walks over to his bed. He crouches and from under it pulls out a Monopoly box.
The two of you walk over to the table and set up the board. The sounds of small clinks of metal pieces and rustles of faux money fill the cabin.
[[Take the top hat.]]
[[Take the car.]]"How about some hot cocoa?" You ask, hoping he'd be up for it.
"Hm... alright." You watch as Ash grabs a small, worn-out pot and fills it with water from the sink. He kneels beside the fireplace, carefully hanging the pot over the flames using the metal hook from the hearth. The fire crackles softly as he stirs in cocoa powder and sugar, its delicious scent quickly filling the room.
You can't help but admire him bathed in the flickering glow of the firelight.
When the cocoa is ready, Ash carefully pours it into two mugs. He hands you one and sits across the table, the cozy warmth radiating from the drink in your hands.
For a while, neither of you says anything. Ash stares at the fire, its crackling sounds filling the silence, alongside the faint sipping of your drinks.
Something is different. Something feels off. Ash's gaze is... distant as if he's lost in thought again. He's always been the quieter one, but there's something about his silence tonight... it feels like there's more beneath the surface.
You glance at him, studying his expression. "Hey, you good? How are you feeling lately? Anything new in life?" Maybe you asked too many questions there.
Ash pauses, his fingers lingering on the side of his mug. "Same old, I guess. Nothing exciting to report." His voice is light, but it's hard to miss the undertone of whatever it is he's not saying.
"Yeah?" you press on gently.
Ash glances up, his expression guarded. "Yeah. I mean, there's something I've been wondering if I should do..."
"What exactly?" You ask, setting your mug down carefully.
"I..." He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's... uh..." He struggles to form a sentence, which is unusual for him. "It's just... I don't know if I should do it or not."
"…Do what exactly?" You ask, hoping he'll open up just a little more.
"Well... I uh... I can't really tell you that..."
"…Alright…" you reply quietly, almost in a whisper.
Ash frowns faintly, staring into his mug like the answer might be at the bottom. "It's just... whatever I want to do... it's a big risk, you know? It could ruin everything." His voice is soft but trembling with uncertainty. The consequences, imaginary or not, clearly scare the hell out of him.
"But... it could also end up being the best thing that's happened to me," he adds after a pause. "And I don't know what to do..."<<set $hint to "true">>
[[Tell him to go for it.->tell him to go for it, cocoa]]
[[Tell him to not go for it.->tell him not to go for it, cocoa]]
[[Tell him he should try and decide on his own.->tell him to decide on his down, cocoa]]"Hm... that sounds intriguing..." states Ash.
[[Have Ash tell a horror story.]]
[[You tell a horror story.]]Ash pulls out a box of a jigsaw puzzle from under the bed. He opens it and scatters the pieces across the table. The image on the box is a beautiful scene of a deer standing in a forest. It looks like it might be a medium difficulty—not too easy, but not impossible either.
The two of you start sorting the pieces, beginning with the edges. Ash occasionally picks up a piece and sighs, glancing over at you but not offering much help. You don’t mind—it's a nice change of pace to do something quiet and simple.
As you start piecing together the deer’s outline, Ash watches for a while before commenting, “You’ve got a good eye. I don’t know how you can see where those pieces go so fast.”
You smile, not stopping your focus on the puzzle. “I don’t know... just pays attention to the little details, I guess.”
Ash watches for a while longer as you start connecting the smaller details, connecting the image. Finally, he stretches out with a yawn, his voice quieter now. “Without you, I'd have given up a long time ago.” You know he's referring to the puzzle, but you can't help but wonder...
You give a small, modest shrug. “It’s just a puzzle, Ash.”
“Yeah, well,” Ash says, picking up a piece with a half-hearted glance at it, “you make it look so easy.”
After a while, the puzzle is mostly complete, and the deer and its surroundings finally come together. You place the last piece with a satisfying click.
“Nice job,” he says with a tiny smile. But then Ash's gaze becomes... distant as if he's lost in thought again. He's always been the quieter one, but there's something about his silence tonight... it feels like there's more beneath the surface.
You glance at him, studying his expression. "Hey, you good? How are you feeling lately? Anything new in life?" Maybe you asked too many questions there.
Ash pauses, "Same old, I guess. Nothing exciting to report." His voice is light, but it's hard to miss the undertone of whatever it is he's not saying.
"Yeah?" you press on gently.
Ash glances up, his expression guarded. "Yeah. I mean, there's something I've been wondering if I should do..."
"What exactly?" You ask, setting your mug down carefully.
"I..." He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's... uh..." He struggles to form a sentence, which is unusual for him. "It's just... I don't know if I should do it or not."
"…Do what exactly?" You ask, hoping he'll open up just a little more.
"Well... I uh... I can't really tell you that..."
"…Alright…" you reply quietly, almost in a whisper.
Ash frowns faintly. "It's just... whatever I want to do... it's a big risk, you know? It could ruin everything." His voice is soft but trembling with uncertainty. The consequences, imaginary or not, clearly scare the hell out of him.
"But... it could also end up being the best thing that's happened to me," he adds after a pause. "And I don't know what to do..."<<set $hint to true>>
[[Tell him to go for it.]]
[[Tell him to not go for it.]]
[[Tell him he should try and decide on his own.]]"Wanna cook something?" you suggest, glancing toward the bags of food brought in earlier.
"Sure. What are we making?" Ash asks, and you swear you can almost hear his tummy rumble as he hears you mention food.
You kneel down next to the bag, rummaging through it. In it, you find a couple cans of beans, which are simple and quick to make. After that, you catch a small loaf of bread and cheese; so grilled cheese. At the bottom are packs of instant noodles.
Ash leans over to inspect the options. "Yeah, sorry I... I was in a hurry and I wasn't sure what to get..."
"We make do with what we've got." You reassure him.
[[Cook the beans.]]
[[Make grilled cheese sandwiches.]]
[[Boil some instant noodles.]]You decide to follow Ash's lead. Slowly, you pull off your jacket and your shirt. The cool air immediately hits your skin, sending a shiver down your spine as you place it on your bed.<<set $MCclothes to "onlyunderwear">>
You then bend down and slip off your shoes, setting them aside. Afterward, you slide your socks off, feeling the chill of the room against your bare feet. You place them on your bag next to your other clothes.
Next, you unbutton your pants, feeling the fabric loosen around your hips as you slide them down your legs. You put your clothes on your bag.
With a deep breath, you climb into bed, sliding under the thick covers. The soft rustling of the sheets echoes in the quiet room as you adjust yourself, pulling the blanket over your body.
The blankets are cold. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to sleep like this. You might not have the same resistance to cold Ash has.
After ten minutes, you can tell that Ash has fallen asleep. Who can blame him; he was driving for hours.<<if $journal is "have">>
But you're not going to be sleeping, are you? There's something you gotta do...
[[Read Ash's journal.]]
<<else>>
[[Fall asleep.]]
<<endif>>The journal... //Ash's// journal. It's within reach, and the curiosity eats at you. Slowly, you slide the covers off your body, your feet touching the cool floor, doing your best to not make any noise whatsoever.
You walk carefully over to your bag. Your jacket is right there. With a small glance toward Ash's sleeping form, you reach into its inside pocket. Your heart races when your fingers brush against the familiar leathery texture of the journal. You grip it tightly and pull it out.
This could ruin everything. If Ash finds out, it'll destroy the trust you've built over all these years. You shake off the thought—this might be your only chance! You can't let it slip away.
With the journal in hand, you quietly walk back to the bed. You lie on your stomach, propping the journal up in front of you. The oil lamp flickers softly beside you, casting a warm, golden glow on the pages. You feel oddly like you've stepped into some medieval scenario, reading by candlelight like a knight or scribe.
"Fuck..." you mutter under your breath as you open the <<if $ash is "fem">>pink<<else>>black<</if>> notebook. You skip the first page with the very clear note and go to the second one.
<div class="handwritten">//3rd of Jan, 2020
So, uh, this is my first time doing something like this. I don't know what I'm doing, to be quite honest. I heard that journaling helps with stuff or whatever. To be honest, I think it's bullshit. I guess I'm supposed to be writing about feelings and whatnot. Why would it help me? I don't get it. But anyway, right now I'm feeling like the worthless shit I am. I just want to die. Okay, I wrote it. Now what? I don't feel any less shitty. If anything, I want to die even more now.//</div>
You stare at the words, feeling guilty and sad, but you can't stop yourself from wanting to [[read more]].First, you kick off your shoes and slide your socks off, feeling the coolness of the wooden floor against your feet. You place them on your bag, then begin unbuttoning your shirt. The cool air hits your bare skin as you pull it off, laying it down on the bed next to your jacket. You then unbutton your pants, feeling the fabric loosen around your waist. You slide them down your legs and step out of them, placing them on the pile of clothes beside your bed.
Now in just your underwear, you reach into your bag and pull out your plain blue pajamas. You slip into the soft fabric, pulling the top over your head and adjusting the pants around your waist.
Once dressed, you climb into bed, sliding under the thick blankets. The cold sheets make you shiver as you adjust, pulling the blanket tightly around you. It's going to take a little while for the covers to warm up, and you realize it might not have been the best choice to sleep in just your underwear.
After a few minutes, you can tell that Ash has fallen asleep. Who can blame him? He had been driving for hours.<<if $journal is "have">>
But you're not going to be sleeping, are you? There's something you gotta do...
[[Read Ash's journal.]]
<<else>>
[[Fall asleep.]]
<<endif>>You lay back against the pillow, adjusting the blankets around you. The only sound around is the cracking of the now dying fire and your breathing.
The cold air seems to slowly creep into the room after a while, but the warmth of the blankets keep you safe from it, and before you know it, you're lulled into a peaceful sleep.
...
So, the next morning, you wake up before Ash. It's so cold in the room that when you breathe out, you can actually see your breath, like you're making your own little cloud. The fire has long since gone out, leaving the cabin very cold. You glance over at Ash, who’s curled up under his blanket, still sound asleep.<<if $MCclothes is "onlyunderwear">><br>
The cold air nips at your skin, sending a chill down your spine. You pull the blanket tighter around you, but it's like trying to stop a tidal wave with a paper towel. Probably why you woke up in the first place. You leap out of bed, grabbing your clothes and throwing them on in a hurry. Ah, sweet relief as the fabric warms against your skin. Who knew getting dressed could feel so good?<<endif>>
Quietly as to not wake up Ash, you make your way to the fireplace, crouching down to inspect the charred logs and ash. It’s out, and the room is almost unbearably cold. To you, at least. You gather some wood from the nearby stack, arranging it carefully inside the fireplace.
You grab the matches from the mantle and strike one, the flame flickering in the dim morning light. You hold it to the firestarters below the kindling, waiting as the small flames catch and grow, slowly spreading warmth back into the room. The fire crackles to life, emitting a golden glow around the cabin.
You step back, rubbing your hands together for warmth as you glance over at Ash. He’s still sound asleep. Ash is probably going to be glad the room isn't freezing when he gets up.<<if $mugs is "unwashed">><br>
[[Wash the mugs from yesterday.]]
<<else>>
[[Make your bed.]]
<<endif>>[[Jan 5th, 2020]]<br>
[[Mar 12th, 2020]]<br>
[[May 8th, 2020]]<br>
[[May 9th, 2020]]<br>
[[Aug 22nd, 2020]]<br>
[[Nov 14th, 2020]]<br>
[[Feb 2nd, 2021]]<br>
[[May 15th, 2021]]<br>
[[July 7th, 2021]]<br>
[[Sept 4th, 2021]]<br>
[[Nov 19th, 2021]]<br>
[[Feb 11th, 2022]]<br>
[[Apr 25th, 2022]]<br>
[[Jun 9th, 2022]]<br>
[[Oct 3rd, 2022]]<br>
[[Dec 15th, 2022]]<br>
[[Mar 22nd, 2023]]<br>
[[June 1st, 2023]]<br>
[[Aug 16th, 2023]]<br>
[[Dec 21st, 2023]]<br>
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Jan 5th, 2020
Went to the grocery store with Dad. We ran out of milk. Forgot what brand he likes, and he yelled at me in the car. That was fun. Anyways, nothing else happened.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]You stop, your eyes still lingering on its page. The words blur for a second, and you realize you've gone way too far. You've read Ash's journal—the place where people place their most private thoughts. You know you shouldn't have done that. It was supposed to be a way to understand your friend better, to see the world from his point of view. But now, you can't shake the guilt gnawing at you.
You sigh as you close the journal before sliding it under your pillow, hoping he won't find out what you've done. You've crossed a line you can't ever undo now. Your intentions weren't of malicious nature, but that doesn't make what you've done right. You just wanted to understand; to know how he was feeling, thinking. But now that you've had a glimpse at the thoughts he put down on paper, it feels like you've violated his trust you've built over the years.
You can't shake the guilt off. It plagues your heart, and it's both very heavy and suffocating. Despite it though, you tell yourself that you had no bad intent. You wanted to help him, //that is all//. Maybe reading his journal was a mistake—no, not maybe; it was a horrible mistake—but you know you weren't trying to hurt him.
With that thought in mind, you close your eyes and [[fall asleep->Fall asleep.]]<div class="handwritten">//Mar 12th, 2020
I'm so tired. I feel like I've been drowning in this... feeling for days, weeks, months. I don't even know anymore. I'm not sure what's worse—the sadness or the emptiness. Neither of them go away.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//May 8th, 2020
Cleaned my room today. Found a VERY dirty sock under the bed... Yieks.
I thought about doing some homework, but I didn't.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Aug 22nd, 2020
I keep thinking about... How can someone live rent free in my head that much? I don't know why it's so hard to stop. Every little thing they do makes my heart race, but I can't say anything.
What if they think I'm weird?
What if they stop being my friend?
I can't risk it. Not with them.
I can't lose the only good thing about my shit life.//</div>
So... Ash has a crush on someone? By the looks of it, they seem to be his friend.
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Nov 14th, 2020
Watched TV for like six hours straight. My eyes hurt. I should probably stop watching that show, but it's kind of addicting even though it's stupid.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//May 15th, 2021
I'm so sick of pretending I'm fine. I just want to get away from everyone. I hate everyone. Why do they bother to ask me how I am if they look annoyed the moment I tell them how I actually? Like, dude, why the fuck even bother? It's so fucking annoying.
So I just stopped talking about it. They look at me like I'm some broken toy and then move on with the conversation like it's nothing. But I also get them. They don't want to be bothered with my bullshit. I need to get over it already.//</div>
"Oh, Ash...", You whisper under your breath to yourself. //You never have to hide how you feel in front of me.//
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//July 7th, 2021
It rained today. That's it. Just a rainy day. I sat in my room and stared at the wall for a while.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<<if $ash is "fem">><div class="handwritten">//Sept 4th, 2021
Every time I see them... him. Why am I saying them? He won't become a girl if I call him them or something. Fuck, it feels like I'm suffocating.
My chest gets so fucking tight, and I want to say something so bad dude, but I can't! I don't know what happens if they find out. What if I lose him??
Knowing my luck, I probably will. I just want him to look at me the way I look at him at least once. But I won't say a word. I can't.//</div>
//Him?!// You think to yourself. //Ash likes a guy?// Of course, it makes sense now—he’s always been so open about it. The way he carries himself, the little glances, the way he lights up around certain guys. Whoever this guy is, he's got a real catch. You feel a sharp pang in your chest. You're a guy. Just not the guy he’s into...<<if $hint is "true">> Wait, is this the thing Ash is so scared of doing? Confessing?<<endif>>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<<else>><div class="handwritten">//Sept 4th, 2021
Every time I see them... him. Why am I saying them? He won't become a girl if I call him them or something. Fuck, it feels like I'm suffocating.
My chest gets so fucking tight, and I want to say something so bad dude, but I can't! I don't know what happens if they find out. What if I lose him??
Knowing my luck, I probably will. I just want him to look at me the way I look at him at least once. But I won't say a word. I can't.//</div>
//Him?!//, You think to yourself. //Ash likes a guy?// You never thought you'd read something like that here... Whoever it is, it's a lucky one. You feel like you're being stabbed in your chest. You're a guy. Just not the guy he's into...<<if $hint is "true">>Wait, is this the thing Ash is so scared of doing? Confessing?<<endif>>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<</if>><div class="handwritten">//Nov 19th, 2021
Tried to make spaghetti, but it didn't go well. Ended up eating toast instead. Cooking sucks.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Feb 11th, 2022
I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I keep telling myself I'll be okay. One day. Maybe.
I'm starting to not believe that anymore. I can't keep going like this. I just wish I had someone to talk to without feeling like a shit burden, but I can't.
I don't want to be a burden. It's better if I keep it all inside instead of pushing people away with my bullshit.
I won't ever get better.//</div>
//Just talk to me, damn it, Ash...// the words cross your mind.
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Apr 25th, 2022
Found a stray cat outside. It looked at me, then walked away. Not sure why I wrote this down, but here we are.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Jun 9th, 2022
I wish I could be honest. But I can't. Every time I think about telling him how I feel, it's like... the words are stuck on my throat.
I just... I know there's nothing that could even happen between us.
I'll try to find a way to be content with that.//</div>
//You don't know Ash...//, you think to yourself.
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Oct 3rd, 2022
Did laundry. One of my socks disappeared in the dryer. Where do they even go?//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Dec 15th, 2022
I don't think he'll ever know. I'll never tell him, no matter how much it hurts. I'll probably kill myself before something remotely close like that happens.
I have nothing left to live for anyway.//</div>
It hurts you every time he mentions suicide as a joke to begin with. You hate seeing him in pain.
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Mar 22nd, 2023
is asking to be loved too much to ask for?
maybe i just don't deserve it//</div>
//Ash... there's quite a few people that love you...// Or maybe he just can't even feel their love?
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//June 1st, 2023
Got bored and rearranged my bookshelf. Not sure why, but now I hate it. I'll probably move everything back tomorrow.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Aug 16th, 2023
Tried to draw something. It looked terrible. Art is hard.//</div>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Feb 2nd, 2021
It happened again. They said something so sweet, something so kind, and it just made me feel even worse. Because I can't have that. Not from them. Not in the way I want. I can't tell them how I feel. It'll ruin everything. So I say nothing. Just like always.//</div>
//Wow, Ash is really scared of rejection,// you think to yourself.
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]<div class="handwritten">//Dec 21st, 2024
I asked my buddy to come with me to the cabin. I swear, out of everyone I fucking know, he's the only guy that's not a fake bastard.
Anyway, it's been a while since I wrote. That's because there's nothing new in my life. As usual.
If I died right now, a grave is all I would have to show for my worthless life.//</div>
You smile as you read the first part, but the second one is quite upsetting. He's never said stuff like that about himself in front of you. You're guessing it's the wrong people he tired to talk to. You don't want to lose Ash...
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]"I'm taking the top hat," you declare, holding the tiny silver figure between your fingers.
Ash rolls his eyes. "Of course. I'll take the car."
[[You're playing to have fun. It doesn't matter if you lose or win.]]
[[You have to win.]]"I'm taking the car," you declare, holding the tiny silver figure between your fingers.
"Alright. I'll take the top hat." Ash replies.
[[You're playing to have fun. It doesn't matter if you lose or win.]]
[[You have to win.]]It doesn't matter if you win or lose. All you care about is having fun right now.
The game begins, and you start snatching the properties up early, smugly sliding your pieces onto Boardwalk and Park Place while Ash plays at a slower pace, carefully counting his money and debating the worth of purchase.
"Come on, Ash, it's Monopoly, not chess," you tease him when he pauses for a solid minute over buying a railroad.
Ash smirks, leaning back. "You really gotta learn to have some patience, buddy."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll see about that."
As the game goes on, you stack up houses on your prized properties while Ash, with his meager line of railroads and utilities, seems resigned to his (horrible) fate. You land on one of his properties occasionally, handing him a few dollars almost in a pitiful way.
"I should've gone into banking," Ash mutters dryly as you hand him rent.
"Don't quit your day job just yet," you shoot back.
...
Eventually, the game winds down, Ash's funds dwindling while you remain ''victorious'', surrounded by stacks of cash and little green houses.
"Another win for me," you declare, leaning back with a grin.
Ash gives a mock groan, resting his head in his hands, "Unfair advantage. You cheated." He accuses.
You scoff. "Please, I'm just //naturally// good at being ruthless."
"Even towards me?" Ash gives you puppy eyes.
[[Especially towards you.]]
[[Nah, I even went easy on you.]]The game begins, and your desire to win is obvious. You snatch the properties up early, smugly sliding your pieces onto Boardwalk and Park Place while Ash plays at a slower pace, carefully counting his money and debating the worth of purchase.
"Come on, Ash, it's Monopoly, not chess," you tease him when he pauses for a solid minute over buying a railroad.
Ash smirks, leaning back. "You really gotta learn to have some patience, buddy."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll see about that."
As the game goes on, you stack up houses on your prized properties while Ash, with his meager line of railroads and utilities, seems resigned to his (horrible) fate. You land on one of his properties occasionally, handing him a few dollars almost in a pitiful way.
"I should've gone into banking," Ash mutters dryly as you hand him rent.
"Don't quit your day job just yet," you shoot back.
...
Eventually, the game winds down, Ash's funds dwindling while you remain ''victorious'', surrounded by stacks of cash and little green houses.
"Another win for me," you declare, leaning back with a grin.
Ash gives a mock groan, resting his head in his hands, "Unfair advantage. You cheated." He accuses.
You scoff. "Please, I'm just //naturally// good at being ruthless."
"Even towards me?" Ash gives you puppy eyes.
[[Especially towards you.]]
[[Nah, I even went easy on you.]]"Especially towards you..." You say.
"Huh. Well, that's not nice.." Complains Ash.
Ash begins putting the game away. When he's done, the two of you sit on your beds. Ash puts one leg up to his chest as he leans back against the wall. His gaze is... distant as if he's lost in thought again. He's always been the quieter one, but there's something about his silence tonight... it feels like there's more beneath the surface.
You glance at him. "Hey, you good? How are you feeling lately? Anything new in life?" Maybe you asked too many questions there.
Ash pauses, his fingers lingering on the sheets. "Same old, I guess. Nothing exciting to report." His voice is light, but it's hard to miss the undertone of whatever it is he's not saying.
"Yeah?" you press on gently.
Ash glances up, his expression guarded a bit. "Yeah. I mean, there's something I've been wondering if I should do..."
"What exactly?" You ask.
"I..." He sighs, "There's... uh..." He struggles to form a sentence, which is quite unusual of him. "It's just... I don't know if I should do it or not..."
"...Do what exactly?" You ask, hoping he's willing to tell you more.
"Well... I uh... I can't really tell you that..."
"...Alright..." You say quietly it almost sounds like a whisper.
"It's just... whatever I want to do... it's a big risk, you know. It could ruin everything..." You watch him closely, observing his slightest facial expressions. The consequences, imaginary or not clearly scare the hell out of him. "But... it could also end up being the best thing that's happened to me... and I don't know what to do..."<<set $hint to "true">>
[[Tell him to go for it.]]
[[Tell him to not go for it.]]
[[Tell him he should try and decide on his own.]]"Nah," you start, "I went easy on you."
"And I still lost... that's embarrassing." Complains Ash.
Ash begins putting the game away. When he's done, the two of you sit on your beds. Ash puts one leg up to his chest as he leans back against the wall. His gaze is... distant as if he's lost in thought again. He's always been the quieter one, but there's something about his silence tonight... it feels like there's more beneath the surface.
You glance at him. "Hey, you good? How are you feeling lately? Anything new in life?" Maybe you asked too many questions there.
Ash pauses, his fingers lingering on the sheets. "Same old, I guess. Nothing exciting to report." His voice is light, but it's hard to miss the undertone of whatever it is he's not saying.
"Yeah?" you press on gently.
Ash glances up, his expression guarded a bit. "Yeah. I mean, there's something I've been wondering if I should do..."
"What exactly?" You ask.
"I..." He sighs, "There's... uh..." He struggles to form a sentence, which is quite unusual of him. "It's just... I don't know if I should do it or not..."
"...Do what exactly?" You ask, hoping he's willing to tell you more.
"Well... I uh... I can't really tell you that..."
"...Alright..." You say quietly it almost sounds like a whisper.
"It's just... whatever I want to do... it's a big risk, you know. It could ruin everything..." You watch him closely, observing his slightest facial expressions. The consequences, imaginary or not clearly scare the hell out of him. "But... it could also end up being the best thing that's happened to me... and I don't know what to do..."<<set $hint to "true">>
[[Tell him to go for it.]]
[[Tell him to not go for it.]]
[[Tell him he should try and decide on his own.]]<<if $ash is "fem">>"Ash, whatever you're thinking of doing... unless it's life-threatening, I'd say go for it," you say. "You know, you might regret //not// doing it later on."
He looks at you for a few seconds, thinking about what you just said. //Is the risk worth it?// "Well, what about you? Anything new?"
"Not much, really. Nothing exciting."
The quiet stretches again for a beat too long. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, soft skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves catches your full attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfect ass, hidden by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, soft yet defined in a way that draws you in. His waist tapers in a way that seems almost sculpted, and you can't help but admire his beauty. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>"Ash, whatever you're thinking of doing... unless it's life-threatening, I'd say go for it," you say. "You know, you might regret //not// doing it later on."
He looks at you for a few seconds, thinking about what you just said. //Is the risk worth it?// "Well, what about you? Anything new?"
"Not much, really. Nothing exciting."
The quiet stretches again for a beat too long. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>"Ash... if the aftermath of whatever could happen scares you this much..." You start, "Then... maybe don't do it."
In the blink of an away, you can almost see disappointment in his face. "Yeah," he smiles, but you can tell it's not an authentic one, "Well, what about you? Anything new?"
"Not much, really. Nothing exciting."
The quiet stretches again for a beat too long. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, soft skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves catches your full attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfect ass, hidden by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, soft yet defined in a way that draws you in. His waist tapers in a way that seems almost sculpted, and you can't help but admire his beauty. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>"Ash... if the aftermath of whatever could happen scares you this much..." You start, "Then... maybe don't do it."
In the blink of an away, you can almost see disappointment in his face. "Yeah," he smiles, but you can tell it's not an authentic one, "Well, what about you? Anything new?"
"Not much, really. Nothing exciting."
The quiet stretches again for a beat too long. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>>"I don't know what you're thinking of doing, Ash," you say. "So... I can't really give you solid advice. But maybe whatever comes afterward won't be as scary as you think."
He looks at you for a few seconds, thinking about what you just said. //Is the risk worth it?// "Well, what about you? Anything new?"
"Not much, really. Nothing exciting."
The quiet stretches again for a beat too long. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
<<if $ash is "fem">>Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, soft skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves catches your full attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfect ass, hidden by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, soft yet defined in a way that draws you in. His waist tapers in a way that seems almost sculpted, and you can't help but admire his beauty. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.<<else>>Ash gets up from the bed and turns around. He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.<</if>>
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]"Ash, whatever you're thinking of doing... unless it's life-threatening, I'd say go for it," you say. "You know, you might regret //not// doing it later on."
He looks at you for a few seconds, thinking about what you just said. //Is the risk worth it?// "Well, what about you? Anything new?" He says as he stands up, picking up the now empty mugs from the table, and bringing them towards the sink. "I'll wash these tomorrow... I'm too tired right now..."
"Not much happened. Nothing exciting." You answer his question.
[[Offer to wash the mugs.]]
[[Leave the mugs be.]]"Ash... if the aftermath of whatever could happen scares you this much..." You start, "Then... maybe don't do it."
In the blink of an away, you can almost see disappointment in his face. "Yeah," he smiles, but you can tell it's not an authentic one, "Well, what about you? Anything new?" He says as he stands up, picking up the now empty mugs from the table, and bringing them towards the sink. "I'll wash these tomorrow... I'm too tired right now..."
"Not much happened. Nothing exciting." You answer his question.
[[Offer to wash the mugs.]]
[[Leave the mugs be.]]"I don't know what you're thinking of doing, Ash," you say. "So... I can't really give you solid advice. But maybe whatever comes afterward won't be as scary as you think."
He looks at you for a few seconds, thinking about what you just said. //Is the risk worth it?// "Well, what about you? Anything new?" He says as he stands up, picking up the now empty mugs from the table, and bringing them towards the sink. "I'll wash these tomorrow... I'm too tired right now..."
"Not much happened. Nothing exciting." You answer his question.
[[Offer to wash the mugs.]]
[[Leave the mugs be.]]<<if $ash is "fem">>The mugs clink as he puts them in the sink. "I'll wash them," you say.
"Dude... there's no hot water. Your hands are going to legit freeze." He protests. "It's really fine."
"I insist." You say as you start walking towards the sink. He moves to the side, letting you turn the faucet on. He was right; shivers run down your spine as the cold water hits your hands.
Ash notices and gives you a 'I told you so' look. Ash walks to his bed. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from a person to person.
He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing soft, smooth skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves catches your full attention, the gentle curve of his back drawing your gaze.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>The mugs clink as he puts them in the sink. "I'll wash them," you say.
"Dude... there's no hot water. Your hands are going to legit freeze." He protests. "It's really fine."
"I insist." You say as you start walking towards the sink. He moves to the side, letting you turn the faucet on. He was right; shivers run down your spine as the cold water hits your hands.
Ash notices and gives you a 'I told you so' look. Ash walks to his bed. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from a person to person.
He stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>The mugs clink as he puts them in the sink. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.<<set $mugs to "unwashed">>
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from a person to person.
Ash walks over to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing soft, smooth skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves catches your full attention, the gentle curve of his back drawing your gaze.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>The mugs clink as he puts them in the sink. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.<<set $mugs to "unwashed">>
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from a person to person.
Ash walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>>"Canned beans sound good," Ash says, rolling up his sleeves with a determined look on his face.
"Sit down. I'll take care of it," he adds, already pulling the cans of beans from the bag.
You raise an eyebrow as you take a seat, watching him move with surprising efficiency. "I didn't know you could cook," you tease, leaning back and crossing your arms.
"Of course I can," Ash replies, pretending to be offended as he flicks on the burner of the portable gas stove.
He opens the cans of beans before setting a pot onto the flame, waiting for it to heat up. He stirs the beans, the soft bubbling sound filling the cabin. You watch as he carefully adjusts the flame, making sure they heat through without burning.
"Smells good," you admit, the savory scent already beginning to spread throughout the cabin, mixing with the earthy wood smoke from the fire.
"Better than cold beans, that's for sure," Ash quips, his eyes glinting as he stirs the pot with a satisfied smile.
When the beans are hot and ready, he hands you a bowl before grabbing his own seat across from you.
Ash doesn't say much while he eats. He's just staring at the fire, watching the flames do their little dance. The silence isn't awkward. For a while, the only sounds are the gentle crackle of the flames and the soft, distant wind outside. Kind of peaceful, right?
[[Finish your food.]]"Grilled cheese sounds good," Ash says, rolling up his sleeves with a determined look on his face.
"Sit down. I'll make them," he adds, already pulling the bread, butter, and cheese from the bag.
You raise an eyebrow as you take a seat, watching him move with a surprising efficiency. "I didn't know you could cook," you tease, leaning back and crossing your arms.
"Of course I can," Ash replies, pretending to be offended as he flicks on the burner of the portable gas stove.
He butters the bread before setting a pan onto the flame, waiting for it to heat up. He tests the temperature with a drop of water—just enough sizzle to tell him it's ready. He places the sandwiches in the pan, the sound of frying butter filling the air.
"Smells good," you admit, the rich, buttery scent already beginning to spread throughout the cabin, mixing with the earthy wood smoke from the fire.
"Better than cold beans," Ash quips, his eyes glinting as he flips the sandwiches with a flick of his wrist. You catch the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth, a tiny, satisfied smirk.
When the bread's all golden and crispy, he hands you a plate and then grabs his own seat across from you. You take a bite, and it's like heaven—crunchy on the outside, with that gooey, melted cheese inside. Yum!
Ash doesn't say much while he's eating. He's just staring at the fire, watching the flames do their little dance. The silence isn't awkward. For a while, the only sounds are the gentle crackle of the flames and the soft, distant wind outside. Kind of peaceful, right?
[[Finish your food.]]"Instant noodles sound good," Ash says, rolling up his sleeves with a determined look on his face.
"Sit down. I'll take care of it," he adds, already pulling the pack of noodles from the bag.
You raise an eyebrow as you take a seat, watching him move with surprising efficiency. "I didn't know you could cook," you tease, leaning back and crossing your arms.
"Anyone can cook noodles," Ash replies, pretending to be offended as he flicks on the burner of the portable gas stove.
He tears open the noodle pack before setting a pot onto the flame, waiting for it to heat up. He fills it with water, then adds the noodles, the soft bubbling sound filling the cabin as the water heats. You watch as he carefully stirs the noodles, making sure they don't stick.
"Smells good," you admit, the savory scent of the broth already beginning to spread throughout the cabin, mixing with the earthy wood smoke from the fire.
"Better than cold beans, that's for sure," Ash quips, his eyes glinting as he stirs the noodles with a satisfied smile.
When the noodles are ready, he hands you a bowl before grabbing his own seat across from you.
Ash doesn't say much while he eats. He's just staring at the fire, watching the flames do their little dance. The silence isn't awkward. For a while, the only sounds are the gentle crackle of the flames and the soft, distant wind outside. Kind of peaceful, right?
[[Finish your food.]]When you're both done, you push your bowl aside, a satisfied sigh escaping you. Ash follows suit, finishing his last bite before placing his bowl down.
"I'll clean up," Ash says, stretching his arms with a small groan as he stands up. "You can relax."
[[Wash the dishes.]]
[[Let him wash them.]]<<if $ash is "fem">>"No way," you say, getting up before he can protest. "You cooked, so it's only fair I clean up."
Ash raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching like he's holding back a smile. "Suit yourself. But I'm telling you, the water's freezing."
You shrug, already gathering the dishes. "I don't care."
"Alright," Ash says with a mock shrug of defeat. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
The moment you plunge your hands into the water, you flinch. It's icy like it came straight from a glacier. Ash leans back against the counter, watching with an amused expression.
"Still don't care?" he teases.
You shoot him a look but keep scrubbing. "It's fine," you grumble through chattering teeth, earning a soft laugh from him.
"Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>"No way," you say, getting up before he can protest. "You cooked, so it's only fair I clean up."
Ash raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching like he's holding back a smile. "Suit yourself. But I'm telling you, the water's freezing."
You shrug, already gathering the dishes. "I don't care."
"Alright," Ash says with a mock shrug of defeat. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
The moment you plunge your hands into the water, you flinch. It's icy like it came straight from a glacier. Ash leans back against the counter, watching with an amused expression.
"Still don't care?" he teases.
You shoot him a look but keep scrubbing. "It's fine," you grumble through chattering teeth, earning a soft laugh from him.
"Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
He walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>You watch as Ash walks to the sink. He turns on the faucet and despite the cold, he remains unbothered. When he's done, he turns around to face you. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>You watch as Ash walks to the sink. He turns on the faucet and despite the cold, he remains unbothered. When he's done, he turns around to face you. "Dude... don't you think it's time for us to go to bed?" He says as he looks at his watch.
You nod, agreeing with him. He yawns and you follow after him. Yawning really does spread from person to person.
He walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settles into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>>Ash leans back in his chair, the firelight dancing shadows across his face. He's quiet for a bit like he's trying to figure out where to start.
"Alright," he finally says. "This one's about two friends who went camping in the woods. Just like us—isolated, quiet, nothing but trees and darkness around them."
He paused, gave you a look that you couldn't quite read, and then went on.
"They pitched their tent, got a fire going, and started swapping stories—kind of like what we're doing now. Everything was chill until they hit the sack. In the middle of the night, one of them woke up to this faint scratching sound outside the tent. Shhhk. Shhhk. Like nails dragging over fabric."
"'It's probably just an animal,' the first friend whispered, trying not to wake the other. But the sound didn't stop. It circled the tent. Shhhk... shhhk..."
Ash leans forward slightly, his tone dropping. "When the second friend woke up and heard it, they both froze, listening. And then..." Ash's voice lowers to a whisper.
"They heard someone breathing."
You feel a chill creep down your spine as Ash stares into the fire, his voice calm but cold.
"They stayed quiet, didn't move an inch. Eventually, the sound stopped. The scratching, the breathing—everything. When the sun rose, they thought they were fine. Just a sleepless, spooky night. But when they unzipped the tent...
"They saw it."
Ash pauses for effect, his gaze flicking to yours.
"The fabric was slashed open, and there were bloody handprints leading away from their campsite. A few steps in... they found their own bags. Emptied. Torn apart. And on one of the backpacks, smeared in blood, there was a single word: RUN."
He leans back with a faint smirk like he hasn't just made your heart skip a beat. "They didn't. They stayed another night, trying to figure out what happened. No one ever heard from them again. Moral of the story: don't be stupid."
You watch Ash with wide eyes, which boos at you.
[[He fails to scare you.]]
[[He scares you.]]You sit up straighter, the fire crackling as you prepare your tale.
“Alright,” you begin, “ever heard of Bloody Mary? The whole ‘say her name three times in the mirror’ thing?”
Ash raises an eyebrow but doesn’t interrupt.
“Well, this story’s about a group of friends who decided to try it. Just for fun. They were at a sleepover—like any normal night. Around midnight, they turned off the lights, stood in front of a mirror, and chanted her name. Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.”
You pause, letting the firelight dance in your eyes.
“Nothing happened, of course. They all laughed, called it fake, and went to bed.”
Ash’s expression darkens slightly as he listens.
“But in the middle of the night, something changed. One of them woke up to a sound. Drip. Drip. Drip. Like water falling somewhere nearby. She sat up, thinking it was the sink. That’s when she saw it—the girl lying in the bed next to her wasn’t moving. Just... staring at the ceiling. Eyes wide open.”
Ash shifts a little, but you keep going.
“The girl panicked and shook her friend. No response. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the mirror across the room. There was a shadow. A woman—tall, with tangled hair and hollow eyes. She just stood there, watching.”
You lower your voice to a whisper.
“The others woke up to the screaming. But by then, it was too late. One by one, Bloody Mary visited each of them. Not in the mirror—no, that would’ve been too easy. She came for them in their sleep. The next morning, the parents found them... all of them... staring up at the ceiling, mouths open in silent screams.
“And the mirror? Smeared with blood. Three handprints. As if she’d clawed her way out.”
You finish the story, the silence settling thick around you. Ash blinks once, then mutters, “Remind me not to let you tell stories before bed.”
[[Boo at him.]]
[[Stop here.]]<<if $ash is "fem">>You roll your eyes, trying to act unimpressed. “Nice try, Ash,” you say with a smirk. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.”
Ash raises an eyebrow, his smirk growing. “Really? Not even a little chill?”
“Please,” you scoff. “The scariest part was you booing at me like a child. That’s what almost got me.”
Ash laughs, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, tough guy.” He says the last two words in a voice softer than usual, almost playful, leaving you surprised at how his tone can shift so effortlessly.
You try to shake it off, but he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>You roll your eyes, trying to act unimpressed. “Nice try, Ash,” you say with a smirk. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.”
Ash raises an eyebrow, his smirk growing. “Really? Not even a little chill?”
“Please,” you scoff. “The scariest part was you booing at me like a child. That’s what almost got me.”
Ash laughs, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, tough guy.” He says the last two words in a voice deeper than usual, which you didn't even think was possible.
You try to shake it off, but he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>You jump slightly as Ash finishes, your eyes still fixed on him. He watches you for a second before letting out a loud, playful boo!
“Dammit, Ash!” you yelp, your heart leaping into your throat.
Ash grins, leaning back smugly. “Gotcha.”
“No, you didn’t!” you fire back defensively, crossing your arms. “It wasn’t the story! It was you booing like an idiot.”
“Oh, of course,” he teases, the smirk never leaving his face. “You weren’t scared at all. Totally believable.”
“I wasn’t!” you insist, but the warmth in your cheeks betrays you as Ash chuckles, clearly pleased with himself.
Ash chuckles softly, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, tough guy.” His voice lowers just slightly for the last two words, and something about it makes your stomach tighten.
You try to shake it off, but he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>You jump slightly as Ash finishes, your eyes still fixed on him. He watches you for a second before letting out a loud, playful boo!
“Dammit, Ash!” you yelp, your heart leaping into your throat.
Ash grins, leaning back smugly. “Gotcha.”
“No, you didn’t!” you fire back defensively, crossing your arms. “It wasn’t the story! It was you booing like an idiot.”
“Oh, of course,” he teases, the smirk never leaving his face. “You weren’t scared at all. Totally believable.”
“I wasn’t!” you insist, but the warmth in your cheeks betrays you as Ash chuckles, clearly pleased with himself.
Ash chuckles darkly, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, tough guy.” His voice drops lower for the last two words, and something about it makes your stomach tighten.
You try to shake it off, but he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>You grin, the perfect opportunity to get a reaction. With a sudden, sharp "Boo!" you jump, your voice echoing in the night. Ash jumps back, eyes wide, and you can't help but laugh. "Gotcha!" you say, still chuckling at his startled face.
"Oh, screw you!" He laughs as he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>You grin, the perfect opportunity to get a reaction. With a sudden, sharp "Boo!" you jump, your voice echoing in the night. Ash jumps back, eyes wide, and you can't help but laugh. "Gotcha!" you say, still chuckling at his startled face.
"Oh, screw you!" He laughs as he glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>><<if $ash is "fem">>He glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed, stretching briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing smooth, pale skin. The way his slender shoulders shift as he moves captures your full attention, the gentle curve of his back holding you in a trance.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly shaped, slender ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned yet soft physique. His abs are subtle, defined but not too harsh—a reminder of his workouts, but still gentle. You force your gaze to meet his. You don’t want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<<else>>He glances at his watch, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. "Dude... I'm tired. I've been driving all day. Don't you think it's time to hit the sack?"
You blink, suddenly feeling an uneasy chill run down your spine. Still, you nod, yawning with him. He gets up and walks to his bed and stretches briefly before tugging off his shirt, revealing the defined back muscles. The way his shoulders shift as he moves catches your total attention.
He slowly slides off his pants, revealing his perfectly sculpted, muscular ass, now framed by a pair of black boxers. Without thinking, you place a hand over your bulge, instinctively adjusting it. As he turns to face you, his chest comes into full view, showcasing his toned physique. His abs are defined, his reward for working-out. You force your gaze to meet his. You don't want him to catch you checking him out.
Ash doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, as he grabs his blanket and settling into his bed in just his underwear. "Goodnight," he murmurs, his voice already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight," you reply softly, your heart still racing slightly.
[[Sleep in your pajamas.]]
[[Sleep in your underwear too.]]<</if>>You quietly walk over to the sink. Careful not to make too much noise, you start to wash the mugs. The water is cold as it flows from the tap, making you shiver as you scrub the mugs clean. Once they’re spotless, you set them to dry on the rack and glance back at Ash, who’s still curled up under the blanket.
After washing the mugs, you turn your attention to your bed. You straighten the blankets, fluff the pillow, and make sure everything looks neat.
You grab a chair next to the table and move it closer to the fireplace before sitting on it. Pulling out your phone, you start scrolling through it as more of the warmth of the fire seeps into you.
[[An hour later...]]You turn your attention to your bed. You straighten the blankets, fluff the pillow, and make sure everything looks neat.
You grab a chair next to the table and move it closer to the fireplace before sitting on it. Pulling out your phone, you start scrolling through it as more of the warmth of the fire seeps into you.
[[An hour later...]]<<if $ash is "fem">>Finally, an hour later, Ash seems to begin to wake up. He murmurs something while stretching his slender arms high above his head. The movement sends his blanket tumbling down, and you get another view of his gorgeous physique. Just a glimpse, but still captivating, the gentle curve of his body as he inhales and exhales deep breaths is an absolutely mesmerizing sight.<<else>>Finally, an hour later, Ash seems to begin to wake up. He murmurs something while stretching his strong arms high above his head. The movement sends his blanket tumbling down, and you get another view of his gorgeous physique. Just with a glance, but still great to behold, the flexing of his muscles as he inhaled and exhaled deep breaths is an absolutely mesmerizing sight.<</if>>
Something about the way he looks having just woken up; the soft tousle of his hair, the dreamy expression in his eyes; it's all so hot, almost unfairly so. It keeps you staring, even if you don't want it to.
Ash sits up, rubbing the back of his neck lazily, and looks at you through half-lidded eyes.
"Morning," you said cheerfully, the words spilling a bit too much out of enthusiasm.
"Morning," he answered quietly, still low and sleepy in his voice.
[[Complain about how cold the cabin was.]]
[[Ask him how his sleep was.]]
[[Make some breakfast.]]You cross your arms and shiver dramatically. "Dude, it was freezing in here. I could see my own breath when I woke up."
Ash leans back slightly. "Well, yeah," he says matter-of-factly. "There was no fire, and it's winter outside."
You squint at him, gesturing to the blanket that’s barely covering him. "Okay, but how the hell could you even sleep almost naked like that in this cold? Seriously, were you trying to give yourself hypothermia?"
Ash shrugs with a small smirk. "Helps me wake up early."
You laugh, unable to hide your disbelief. "But I woke up before you!"
Ash scratches his chest lazily, his fingers brushing over his skin in a way that’s way //too distracting//. "Because you lit the fire," he counters.
Before you can retort, Ash throws off the blanket, standing up. He pulls a shirt over his head, then grabs a pair of pants, sliding them on with ease.
"I'll go get some wood," Ash says, his voice casual as he heads toward the door.
[[Make breakfast.]]You tilt your head, watching as Ash stretches. "How’d you sleep?"
Ash leans back slightly, a lazy grin on his face. "Like a baby," he says, his voice still rough from sleep.
"Yeah, you were driving all day," you reply with a small smile.
Ash scratches his chest, his movements unhurried. "Thanks for lighting the fire," he says, glancing at the now glowing hearth.
You shrug, brushing it off. "It's no biggie."
Ash throws off the blanket and stands up, reaching for his clothes. He pulls a shirt over his head, then slides into his pants.
"I'll go get some wood."
[[Make breakfast.]]You watch as Ash stretches, his arms reaching high above his head. You can’t help but admire him again before you softly say, “I’ll make some breakfast, Ash.” His name rolls off your tongue like honey.
Ash removes the blanket from himself and gets up, pulling on his shirt and pants with a sleepy, unhurried pace. As he adjusts his clothes, he glances over at you. "How’d you sleep?"
"Good," you reply. "But I woke up from the cold. You?"
Ash chuckles quietly, scratching his gorgeous chest. "Guess I was more tired than you. And, well, you lit the fireplace, so that probably helped me stay asleep."
You nod as Ash moves toward the door. "I’ll go get some wood," he says before stepping into the winter cold.
Turning to the bag of food, you rummage through it and pull out some sausages and a stick of butter. Setting up the portable oven, you place a pan on top and drop a chunk of butter into it. As the butter slowly begins to heat, the door creaks open, and Ash walks back in, his arms full of firewood.
He kneels by the fireplace, carefully stacking the wood. The room begins to get hotter with each passing second.
You turn your attention to the pan, dropping the sausages in just as the butter finishes melting.
[[Sit down and eat.]]Turning to the bag of food, you rummage through it and pull out some sausages and a stick of butter. Setting up the portable oven, you place a pan on top and drop a chunk of butter into it. As the butter slowly begins to heat, the door creaks open, and Ash walks back in, his arms full of firewood.
He kneels by the fireplace, carefully stacking the wood. The room begins to get hotter with each passing second.
You turn your attention to the pan, dropping the sausages in just as the butter finishes melting.
[[Sit down and eat.]]Once the sausages are cooked to a golden brown color, you slice up some bread and arrange everything onto two plates. It’s nothing fancy, but it'll satisfy your hunger.
Carrying the plates over to the table, you set one down in front of Ash and the other in front of yourself. Without much ceremony, you both dig in.
After a few bites, Ash looks up from his plate. He hesitates for a moment, as if he's scared of what you're going to reply with. Finally, he asks, “So… how do you like the place so far?”
You glance up, catching the subtle flicker of something in his expression—hope, maybe even //nervousness//. By the way his eyes search yours, it’s clear your opinion means a lot to him.
[[I like it.]]
[[It’s alright.]]
[[I don’t really like it.]]"I like it," you say with a smile, the words sounding more sincere than you expect.
Ash blinks, clearly taken aback. He stares at you with wide eyes, his brow furrowing. "A-are you sure you're not just saying that? It's really okay--"
You don't let him finish, interrupting with a soft chuckle. "I like it, Ash," you repeat, meeting his gaze. "I'm glad you brought me here." //It's not just the cabin that you like.//
He looks at you for a beat longer, still a bit unsure, but eventually his expression softens.
With a quiet sigh, you both go back to eating, and when you're done, Ash gets up from the table saying "I'll take care of these.
[[Wash the dishes.->wash the dishes 2]]
[[Let Ash take care of it.]]You glance up, catching the subtle flicker of something in his expression—hope, maybe even nervousness. He’s waiting for your honest opinion, and you don’t want to lie.
“It’s alright,” you say after a moment of consideration, giving a small shrug. Not that you hate it, but you’re not exactly raving about it either.
Ash’s face falls just a little, his brows pulling down in slight disappointment. You can see it: he was hoping you'd like it, but at least you’re not completely shitting on the place, right?
The silence lingers for a moment before he speaks, his tone softer now. "I... see." It’s clear that your answer didn’t sit well with him, but he doesn’t push it. You can tell he's trying to hide some disappointment.
You both finish your meal in silence. When you're done, Ash pushes his chair back and stands.
"I'll take care of these," he says with a small sigh as he starts to gather the plates.
[[Wash the dishes.->wash the dishes 2]]
[[Let Ash take care of it.]]You glance up, catching the subtle flicker of something in his expression—hope, maybe even nervousness. He’s waiting for your honest opinion, and you don’t want to lie.
“I don’t really like it,” you admit after a moment of hesitation, your voice soft. You can feel the weight of Ash’s expectations, but you’re not going to pretend. “I’d rather be in the city, away from all this cold...”
Ash’s face falls, and you can see the disappointment in his eyes. His shoulders slump just a little, and his expression hardens as he tries to keep his emotions in check. He was clearly hoping you'd enjoy this time together more, but your words sting him.
You can’t help but add quickly, “But I do like spending time with you, Ash. That part’s been great.”
The silence stretches between you, and you can tell Ash is taking a moment to process it. His response is quieter than before, almost distant. “I... see,” he says softly, his gaze dropping to his plate as he pushes his food around. The weight of his sadness is palpable.
You both finish your meal in silence, the air feeling heavier than before. When you're done, Ash pushes his chair back and stands, looking a little downcast.
"I'll take care of these," he says with a small sigh as he starts to gather the plates, his tone lacking its usual energy. "And we can go back later to the city if you want."
[[Tell him you want to stay here.]]
[[Tell him it sounds like a good idea.]]Ash rinses the last plate, his movements quick but effortless. He looks over at you with a grin.
"So, what do you wanna do now?"
[[Watch a movie together.]]
[[Go outside for a snowball fight.]]
[[Create a bucket list together.]]
[[Draw together.]]
[[Take a walk in the snow.]]
[[Chat a bit.]]"Let me," you say as you stand up reluctantly and make your way to the sink.
"I won't bother trying to change your mind," says Ash.
As soon as your hands hit the cold water, you flinch. It’s uncomfortable, the chill sinking into your skin. You try to power through, scrubbing the dishes quickly. Every plate feels heavier in your hands, but you push through, determined to get it done.
When you're done, you quickly walk over to the fireplace, cradling your freezing hands near the crackling warmth. The heat is a relief, slowly bashing the cold that had settled into your bones. It takes a few minutes, but soon enough, the discomfort fades, and you can feel the warmth spreading through your fingers.
Ash’s voice breaks the quiet again, softer now but still laced with a touch of amusement. "You know, the cold doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it does you."
You turn, meeting his gaze. His eyebrow is arched, like he's waiting for something. Anything. "So what?"
"...So why not let me do it?"
[[Just because.]]
[[I don’t want you to get your hands cold.]]You watch him, his shoulders slumped as he clears the table, and something tightens inside you. You don’t want him to feel like this—like he’s let you down.
“No,” you say suddenly, your voice slicing through the awkward silence.
Ash stops, looking over his shoulder, surprise and confusion obvious on his face.
“I want to stay here,” you continue. “I mean it, Ash. I just… need time to adjust. It’s different, but it’s not bad. I want to give it a real shot.”
His gaze searches yours as he's trying to figure out if you're being honest. “Are you sure?” he asks, his voice quiet, the vulnerability there catching you off guard.
You nod with a small smile. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. I just need a little time.”
Ash’s lips twitch, the weight on his face beginning to lift. “Okay,” he says softly, setting the plates on the counter. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” you confirm, stepping closer. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like I don’t want to be here. I do, especially with you.”
That seems to break through his doubts. He smiles fully, a real smile that brightens his face, and the sight of it loosens the knot of guilt in your chest.
“Alright,” he says . “Then we’ll make it work.”
[[Wash the dishes.->wash the dishes 2]]
[[Let Ash take care of it.]]"It sounds like a good idea," you say.
When Ash is done with the dishes, you both pack your things in silence, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Ash moves slowly, methodically, folding blankets and zipping up his bag. His emotions fill the room, but you're at a loss for words. You've made your choice—it’s for the best. Staying somewhere that doesn’t feel right serves no purpose, even if it hurts him.
The drive back is awkward. Ash grips the steering wheel, his jaw tight as he keeps his eyes on the road. His usual easygoing attitude is gone, replaced by a heavy quiet that presses down. He doesn’t even attempt to mask his sadness, and each glance at him sharpens the guilt you feel.
You remind yourself it’s the //right// choice. But that logic doesn’t dull the ache in your chest as the city looms ahead.
When Ash pulls up to your place, he doesn’t look at you. His gaze stays fixed on the road, hands still clutching the wheel. Finally, he says, “See you around,” his voice devoid of its typical warmth.
Before you can say anything, he’s already driving away, leaving you standing alone, bag in hand, with the weight of it all settling in.
...
The rest of the holidays were nice, even if they didn't exactly feel like a break. You had a few days off work, time to relax before the madness of returning to a job that always demands more than it gives. It felt good, though, to have some space, even if you knew that your company would make sure to push everyone harder after the break to make up for the "missed work." Still, it was a relief to have some time for yourself.
It was nice to just be home, away from the chaos of this world. Whether you hate or love winter, the snow outside was a welcome sight, adding to the cozy atmosphere of your apartment. You didn't do much, mostly stayed in, binge-watching shows or scrolling through social media. No obligations.
As for Ash, you heard through the grapevine that he'd finally found someone. It was hard not to feel a little pang of jealousy when you heard, but mostly, you were happy for him. You could see the change in him, how much lighter he seemed now. He didn't have to talk about it, but you could tell that whoever he was with made him smile, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you realize that, as much as you'd hoped for something more with him, leaving the cabin that day sure wasn't a good way to get him. Now, watching him with someone else, you couldn't help but wonder what might have been if you'd tried to get closer to him. Maybe it wouldn't be too late, if they broke up, but oh well... you don't want to hope for something like that for your friend.
You had no choice but to move on, even if it was hard. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you'd be back at work, diving into the working force once more. But for now, you couldn't help but think about Ash and wish you'd been brave enough to take that step before it was too late.
Ending Four
[[Start over?]]"Just because," you say trying to sound as casual as you can. The fire crackles behind you, but the heat from his gaze is stronger, holding you in place as he watches you.
"Hmm," he says, voice light but with that familiar edge to it. "Or does that mean you care about me?" He says in a joking way, but you notice a hint of more seriousness tucked underneath.
[[Of course I care about you.]]
[[Meh.]]"I don't want your hands to get cold," you glance at Ash. The fire crackles behind you, but the heat from his gaze is stronger, holding you in place as he watches you.
"Aww," he says, voice light but with that familiar edge to it. "Does that mean you care about me?" He says in a joking way, but you notice a hint of more seriousness tucked underneath.
[[Of course I care about you.]]
[[Meh.]]You don’t hesitate as you say "Of course I care about you,", your words simple but sincere. The moment they leave your mouth, you feel something shift in the air between you. It’s like the joke isn’t so much a joke anymore, and you realize it’s exactly what he needed to hear.
Ash blinks, caught off guard for just a heartbeat, before his lips curl into a grin. "Well, that’s... nice to hear." His tone is a mix of relief and affection, though he quickly tries to hide it with a playful shrug. "Guess I’ve been keeping you around for a good reason after all."
"So you've been keeping me around just because I care about you?" You ask, trying to sound offended.
"One of the many reasons, buddy," replies Ash with his deep voice. "So... what now? Is there something you wanna do?"
[[Watch a movie together.]]
[[Go outside for a snowball fight.]]
[[Create a bucket list together.]]
[[Draw together.]]
[[Take a walk in the snow.]]
[[Chat a bit.]]You shrug, playing it cool. "Meh."
Ash can't help himself but giggle. "If you say so." He looks at you for a moment, a quiet smile tugging at his lips, as if he knows exactly what you’re hiding. "You don’t have to pretend. I get it." The words are playful, but the underlying sincerity doesn’t go unnoticed. "So... what now? Is there something you wanna do?"
[[Watch a movie together.]]
[[Go outside for a snowball fight.]]
[[Create a bucket list together.]]
[[Draw together.]]
[[Take a walk in the snow.]]
[[Chat a bit.]]"Wanna watch a movie?" you ask, hoping he'll say yes.
"Sure thing. Not exactly eager to head out into this cold, huh?" he replies with a grin.
"No way!" you say, shivering just thinking about it. "It's freezing out there, Ash!"
"Okay, okay, no worries. What type of movie do you wanna watch?"
[[Horror.]]
[[Romance.]]
[[Comedy.]]"Let's go outside for a snowball fight."
"Hm, sounds fun." He replies.
The two of you head outside. The crisp air bites at the skin of your face, but luckily not the rest of your body as your clothes serve as protection against the cold.
You make your way into the freshly fallen snow, and with each footstep you can hear the snow crunch beneath you.
Ash smirks at you, picking up a handful of snow and forming it into a ball.
"Ready?" he teases as he tosses the snowball toward you.
You dodge it just in time, grinning. "Bring it on."
The snowball fight starts off lighthearted, the two of you laughing as you take turns throwing snowballs at each other, but as the minutes pass, the game becomes more and more intense. Each throw is more aggressive than the last. Ash gets faster and his movements get sharper. You two get more competitive with each passing second.
Suddenly, you miss a throw, and Ash lunges at you, catching you off guard. Before you know it, he's on top of you, both of you tumbling into the snow, laughing as you roll around. You try to push him off, but he just grins wider, pinning you down for a moment. His breath is warm against your face as you both catch your breath.
For a moment, he stops, his face barely a few inches from yours. His eyes lock onto yours, and you can see something that looks like a spark in them. And that spark makes your pulse race.
Then, Ash shifts, ending whatever that might have been. “It’s getting late. We should head back inside."
You nod, your heart still hammering as you both stand up, brushing the snow off yourselves. Without another word, you make your way back to the house, the warmth of the indoors beckoning.
You step inside, the door closing softly behind you, and the air between you is thick with unspoken words.
"Dude... we gotta watch a movie now."
[[Listen to the boss.]]You sit down at the table, pulling out your phone. "How about we make a bucket list?" you ask, glancing up at Ash. "You know, a list of things we want to do together. Places we want to visit, things we want to try."
Ash sits down across from you, looking more intrigued than you expected. "A bucket list? Hell yeah, let’s do it," he says, his voice filled with excitement. He leans forward, eyes lighting up. "What should we start with?"
You smile, a little surprised by his energy. Usually, he’s so stoic, but now he’s practically bouncing. "Well, how about places we want to visit? Big cities, maybe."
Ash doesn’t hesitate. "Paris," he says instantly. "I wanna see the Eiffel Tower and get lost in those streets."
You laugh, adding it to the list. "Paris, yeah. What else?"
"Tokyo!" Ash exclaims, his voice growing more animated. "We could check out the shopping districts, try the food, and just wander around all day."
You pause for a second, amazed by how excited he is. Normally, Ash isn’t this expressive, but it’s like the idea of traveling with you has unlocked something in him. "Tokyo sounds perfect," you agree, typing it down. "What about London?"
"London! I wanna see Big Ben, walk through the markets, maybe grab a pint at a pub." His grin is wide now, and you can’t help but smile back at his enthusiasm.
"Alright," you say, typing quickly. "London’s on the list. What about Rome? We could see the Colosseum, maybe walk around the city."
Ash nods eagerly. "Rome! Definitely. And we could eat all the pasta."
"Add it to the list," you say. "What about New York? We could check out the Empire State Building and walk around Central Park."
His eyes widen, clearly thrilled by the idea. "YES. New York is a must. And we could go to a Broadway show! I’ve always wanted to see one."
You grin, jotting it down. "Okay, that’s four big cities. What else? Something fun, like an activity."
Ash looks thoughtful for a second. "Cooking class. We could take one in Italy—learn to make real pasta."
You nod, impressed by his suggestion. "That’s a good one. And what about dancing lessons? We could learn salsa or ballroom."
Ash practically jumps in his seat. "Yes! I’ll be the best dancer in the room. We’re gonna kill it."
You laugh at his sudden burst of energy. "Alright, dancing it is. Skydiving? Or bungee jumping?"
"Skydiving," Ash says with a grin. "We’ll do it together, no backing out."
You can’t help but be amazed by how open he’s becoming, his usual 'stoic' exterior slipping away as the ideas keep flowing. "I didn’t know you were this excited about all this," you admit. "You’re usually so... reserved."
Ash shrugs, a bit sheepish. "I dunno. I guess it just sounds way more fun with you. Like, I really wanna do all this with you."
You feel your heart skip a beat, and you smile. "Me too. This is gonna be amazing."
Ash leans back, giving you a playful look. "Okay, okay, but we’ve gotta watch a movie now. All this planning has made me wanna just chill for a bit."
You chuckle, nodding. "Fine, fine. [[Movie time->Listen to the boss.]] it is.""Let's walk outside." You say before leaving the cozy, warm cabin.
You and Ash trudge through the snow, each footstep crunching beneath you. The cold air bites at the skin of your face, and you can see the little clouds your breaths are forming in front of you.
After a few minutes, Ash asks “You ever feel like no matter what you do, you’re just fucking up? Like, no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get anything right?”
You think for a second. “Yeah, man. I get that. I think we all do, at some point.” You shove your hands deeper into your jacket pockets. “It’s like, you fuck up, then you fuck up again, and you just... keep trying.”
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty damn good at fucking up. Feels like it’s the only thing I’m good at.”
You can tell he's not looking for sympathy, but you can't help but feel the frustration in his words. You let out a breath and glance over at him. “You’re not the only one who feels like that, Ash. Doesn’t make you any less of a person.”
He meets your eyes then, his gaze serious, maybe even a little angry, like he’s fighting with himself. “You sure? ‘Cause sometimes it feels like I’m the only dumbass who can’t get shit together. Despite all the... all the time... and effort too...”
You look at him for a long moment, the snow falling around you. "Everyone's just trying to figure it out. You’re not alone in that."
He grunts, like he’s heard it before but isn’t sure he believes it. "Yeah, well, doesn’t help that it feels like I’m stuck in some loop, y’know? Like I’m just... stuck."
The intensity of his words hits you hard, and you’re close enough now to see the tension in his jaw. Your chest tightens too, but before you can think of what to say, he rubs his hand over his face, looking away.
"Whatever," he mutters, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I’m just... tired. So fucking tired... Fuck it,” he says, pulling his gaze from the ground to meet yours. “It’s late. We should get back inside. I want to watch a movie."
With that, [[you go back inside the cabin.->Listen to the boss.]]"What if we try drawing together?"
Ash looks at you, raising an eyebrow. "Draw?" he asks amused.
"Yeah, just for fun. Let's see what we come up with."
Without saying much more, Ash gets up and pulls some paper and pencils from under his bed. Who knows what else he has under there...
He places them neatly on the table between you two. "Alright," he says as he sits down.
You both begin to draw in quiet. The only sounds are the scribbling of graphite on paper, the occasional shuffle as one of you adjusts your position and the fire crackling.
After a while, Ash stops drawing and looks over at you. "Done," he says, sliding his paper toward you.
You look at it, and your heart skips a beat. It’s a ////drawing of you////—and it's freaking awesome. You’re surprised at how well he captured the little things that make you, you: the way your hair falls, the expression on your face. You blush a little, not knowing what to say.
"Wow," you whisper, feeling your cheeks burn. "It’s... beautiful. I didn’t know you could draw like this."
Ash’s lips curl into a small smile, but he’s watching you closely. "Do you really like it?"
You nod quickly, still stunned by his art skill. "Yeah, I do. It’s amazing."
You glance down at your own drawing.
[[Show him your drawing, which is bad since you can't draw.]]
[[Show him your drawing, which is good because you can draw.]]“We can sit down and chat a bit,” you suggest, glancing at Ash.
“Yeah, sure. That sounds good,” he says, nodding.
The two of you settle on your bed, sitting cross-legged and facing each other. There’s a comfortable pause as you both get situated.
Ash tilts his head, his eyes searching yours. “So... what do you wanna talk about?” he asks, his tone curious but light, like he’s ready for anything you might say.<<if $journal is "have">>
[[Ask him who his crush is.]]
[[Ask him how he's feeling.]]
[[Talk to him about his journal.]]
<<else>>
[[Ask him how he's feeling.->ask about feelings without journal]]
<<endif>>You smirk. "Horror," you say, pulling up your streaming app. "I was thinking something like //The Silent Veil//. It’s about a cursed house where everyone who stays gets trapped in their worst fears. The trailer was freaky enough." You summarize the trailer as the two of you sit down on your bed, leaning back against the wall.
Ash raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "Are you sure you can handle it? It sounds pretty intense."
"Shut up!" you reply, nudging him playfully.
As the movie begins, the screen fades to black, and stereotypical eerie music starts playing. The main characters, a group of friends, enter the old, decaying mansion on the edge of town. The one which people are warned to never visit, as rumors suggest cultists used to perform unspeakable rituals there—rituals that even Lovecraft might struggle to describe.
The house seems to whisper, its creaky doors and windows groaning as if alive. Inside, the group notices strange symbols on the walls—symbols that shift and change the longer they look at them. One by one, they begin to face their worst fears: one sees a shadowy figure of someone they loved, another is trapped in a room that slowly shrinks, while another is tormented by a voice that calls their name in the dark.
The tension rises as the characters split up, unknowingly walking into more dangerous parts of the house. The atmosphere thickens, and every door creak and whisper sends an unsettling vibe through the room.
Then, the first major scare hits. One of the characters, just after escaping a near-death trap, turns to find the reflection of themselves in the mirror—but it’s not them. It’s something... else.
Suddenly, the air feels colder, and Ash, who’s barely flinched, turns to you with a teasing smile.
"You good?" he asks, his voice low. "Still think this is fine?"
A door slams open with a deafening bang, and you jump slightly. "That caught me off guard!" You try to brush it off as a shadow darts too quickly down the hallway on the screen.
Ash is still watching the movie, absorbed, as if it’s just another scene from an action film. His gaze never wavers from the screen, not even for a split second.
At the scariest part, when a figure suddenly lunges from the shadows.
[[You get scared.]]
[[You don't get scared.]]You smirk. "Romance," you say, pulling up your streaming app. "I was thinking something like Hearts in the Dark."
Ash raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "Sounds pretty cheesy. You sure you can handle it?"
"Shut up!" you reply, nudging him playfully.
As the movie begins, the screen fades to black, and soft, //emotional// music fills the room. The main characters, a man and a woman, are clearly falling for each other but too shy or afraid to admit it. They have moments where they touch subtly, their gazes linger, and quiet confessions of love that make you feel... something.
The chemistry between the couple is undeniable. Every time they look at each other or laugh together, you can’t help but feel a twinge of something; jealousy, maybe? Ash is completely absorbed in the movie, a soft smile on his face as he watches them do their romancy stuff.
The couple kiss each other and your chest tightens. You glance over at Ash. His eyes are still glued to the screen.
[[You get jealous from the couple on the movie.]]You smirk. "Comedy," you say, pulling up your streaming app. "I was thinking something like Laugh It Off. It’s about this guy who accidentally joins a circus while trying to impress a girl. The trailer looked hilarious."
Ash chuckles, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like something I'd do."
"Haha, yes it does." you laugh at the joke that's at his expense.
As the movie begins, the screen fades to a bright, quirky title sequence. The protagonist stumbles his way into increasingly ridiculous situations—trying to juggle flaming torches, getting caught in a slapstick chase with a mischievous monkey, and accidentally turning the audience’s seats into water jets during his debut performance.
Ash laughs softly at first, a sound that makes you smile. You glance at him as one particularly absurd scene unfolds: the protagonist is stuck in a clown car with a swarm of bees. His laugh grows louder, and for a moment, the warmth in the room feels like sunlight breaking through clouds.
But as the movie continues, Ash’s laughter fades. He’s quieter now, staring at the screen with an expression that’s harder to read.
You nudge him gently. "What’s wrong?"
He shakes his head, brushing off your concern with a forced smile. "Nothing. I’m fine. Really."
You tilt your head, unconvinced. "Dude... I know."
Ash hesitates, then sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It’s just... fuck, this is going to sound so stupid, but..." He exhales sharply. "I’m jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Yeah," he mutters, not meeting your gaze. "From them. They look so happy, you know? And I feel like... I never get to experience joy like that. It’s like I’m watching something I can’t have. Sorry, dude. That sounded so depressing, haha. I’ll stop."
You shake your head. "Dude... it’s really okay. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
Ash blinks, caught off guard by the question. He bites his lip, thinking for a long moment before replying hesitantly. "Hmm... how far are you willing to go for that?" His voice is soft, almost unsure, as though he’s afraid of asking too much.
[[I'd do anything.->id do anything comedy]]
[[Depends.->depends comedy]]You jump, your body tensing at the sudden movement in the shadows. The fear spikes in an instant, and you instinctively grab for something, anything, to steady yourself. Your eyes flick nervously to Ash, who’s still watching the screen with that unfazed expression.
Ash chuckles softly, glancing over at you. "You’re not handling this too well, huh?" He jokes. "I mean, if you need someone to protect you... I guess I could be your hero."
You roll your eyes. "Shut up, it was just a jump scare." You say annoyed from the producers' cheap attemp to scare the movie's audience.
Ash shrugs dramatically. "Well, if you’re really that scared from just one jumpscare, I suppose I could offer a solution..." You turn your head to look at him. "You know, if you want to cuddle. It’s //clearly// the only way you’re going to survive the rest." He says with that perfect smirk of his and an eyebrow raised, "But... one condition: only if you’re brave enough to ask."
[[Ask him to cuddle you.]]
[[Don't ask him to cuddle you.]]You barely react when the shadowy figure jumps out from the screen, a small smirk tugging at your lips. “Not bad,” you say, glancing at Ash, who’s still focused on the movie.
He doesn’t respond to you right away. His eyes remain locked on the screen for a moment before he turns to look at you, difficult to read. “Not even a little scared?” he asks a light voice, but with something else lurking beneath.
You lean back against the wall. “It’s good, but I’ve seen worse.”
Ash’s lips quirk slightly, though his eyes don’t show any amusement. He almost looks... disappointed? Like he expected something more from you.
“You sure?” he asks again. “I mean... if it gets too intense, I’m right here. Just in case.”
You look at him, puzzled. The way he’s watching you... it almost seems like he wants you to get scared.
“I’m fine,” you reply with a grin, brushing it off. “Pretty sure it’s you who’s scared. Trying to hide it behind all that ‘tough guy’ act?” You throw out whatever you remember from psychology articles, just to poke at him.
Ash exhales, a quiet laugh escaping him. “Yeah, right. Whatever you say.” He looks back at the screen, but you catch a glimpse of something flicker across his face before he looks away.
[[Ask him if he's really scared.]]
[[Don’t ask anything.]]You glance at him, your cheeks blushing. He’s "kinda" teasing you, but the idea of actually asking him to cuddle makes your heart race.
“I... uh...” you stutter, struggling to find the courage.
Ash tilts his head. “What was that? Didn’t catch you there, tough guy.”
You take a deep breath, avoiding his gaze at all cost. “Will you... cuddle me?” you finally say, but it's so quiet you wonder if he even heard it.
Without another word, he shifts closer and puts an arm over your shoulders before pulling you in.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” he says, his deep sexy voice warm as he settles next to you.
Your heart may be pounding wildly in your chest, but as he wraps himself around you, the tension from the scary movie begins to disperse.
You lean into him, resting your head against his chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat and you realize that maybe you can make it through the rest of the movie without pissing yourself.
[[Tell him that it feels nice to cuddle him.]]
[[Don't say anything.]]You don't say anything.
“Okay, how about this. C-can I ask you something?” He says sounding like whatever he's about to ask you might be a mistake.
You nod. “Sure, go ahead.”
He shifts a little. “How... how do you think you’d feel if you were to cuddle me?”
[[Tell him it'd feel nice.]]
[[Tell him you probably won't like it.]]You shift slightly, feeling his warmth surrounding you, and can't help but smile. “This... this feels nice,” you say, your voice just a little more relaxed now. Having him around you generally feels nice, but to be cuddling like this is far better.
Ash hums, but there's a shift in his tone. "Yeah, it’s nice, but... we could probably find a more comfortable position." He shifts a bit, eyes scanning for a way to adjust.
You look at him, slightly confused. "Like what?"
He looks back at you, his gaze a little mischievous. "Well, for starters, you could put your head on my lap. It’d definitely be more comfortable than having it pressed against my chest."
You blink at him, your cheeks heating up yet again. //Is he serious?//
[[Go ahead and lie your head on his lap.]]
[[No, I’m good.]]Ash glances over at you, a curious expression on his face. “Can I ask you something?”
You meet his gaze, nodding slightly. “Go ahead.”
He hesitates for a moment, then asks, “Does it... do you like... this? Us, cuddling, I mean?”
The question takes you by surprise. You shift, feeling his warmth envelop you, and a soft smile spreads across your face. “Yeah,” you respond quietly, your voice more relaxed now. “This... this feels nice. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
Ash hums, but you notice a subtle change in his tone. “Yeah, it’s nice, but... we could probably find a better way to sit,” he says, shifting his weight and scanning for a more comfortable position.
You look at him, slightly confused. “Like what?”
His expression turns playful as he meets your eyes. “Well, for starters, you could put your head on my lap. Might be more comfortable than having it on my chest.”
Your cheeks heat up, and you can’t help but wonder if he’s being serious. //Is he serious?//
[[Go ahead and lie your head on his lap.]]
[[No, I’m good.]]Ash turns his gaze toward you, his face neutral as he watches the screen, the dim light from it flickering over his features.
"Hey, dude," Ash says, his voice low. "Can I ask you something?"
You glance over at him. "Yeah, go ahead."
He hesitates, then looks at you, his expression serious. "Would you care if I was scared? Would it... matter to you?"
[[Yes.]]
[[No.]]You glance over at Ash, his face intentionally neutral to the on-screen actions while the dim light from the screen dances over his features.
"Hey," you whisper, pulling his attention around.
"Mm?"
"Are you really scared?" you ask after a hint of a head tilt this time, not teasing, instead sounding quite curious.
Ash's eyes flicker, and he says nothing for a moment. He looks at you, then back at the screen, weighing his response. When he speaks, his voice is quiet.
"Does it matter?"
[[Yes.]]
[[No.]]"Yes, it does," you reply, your voice warm, showing you care about how he’s feeling, even if it’s just a movie scaring him. "We can switch to something else if you want."
"No... I don’t want to watch something else. I want to watch this," Ash responds, his eyes still glued to the screen.
"Even if you don't like it?" you ask.
"I do like it," he says, his voice softer now. "I just wish I wasn’t so scared..."
You look at him, unsure of what to say next.
"Do you, uh... how far would you go if I asked you to help me feel less scared?" Ash asks, hesitation obvious in his voice.
[[I'd do anything.]]
[[Depends.]]"No," you say, your voice sharp.
"Oh... alright." He replies, his tone deflating as he turns his attention back to the phone. Even if you tried to say that as a joke, it clearly didn't come out like that.
[[Tell him you're kidding.]]
[[Leave it be.]]"Hm, say... would you cuddle me?" he asks, his cheeks as red as a tomato. The sight of him so flustered is almost too cute to handle—like something out of a daydream you never want to wake up from.
[[Yes, I'd cuddle you.]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash]]"Okay. What if... you had to cuddle me?" he asks, his cheeks as red as a tomato. The sight of him so flustered is almost too cute to handle—like something out of a daydream you never want to wake up from.
[[Yes, I'd cuddle you.]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash]]"Hm... but I’m not sure how to lie down comfortably... being taller than you and all," he says, a little hesitant. "Would you mind if I rested my head on your lap?"
[[Go for it.]]
[[Maybe not...->maybe not head on lap]]<<goto "no to cuddling ash comedy">>Ash isn’t usually this vulnerable; his gaze is shyly fixed on you but darting away every few seconds as if he’s bracing for rejection.
You scoot a little closer to him, closing the already small gap between you. “Yeah,” you say. “I’d cuddle with you. Even if you put your head in my lap.”
Ash’s eyes snap back to yours, wide and disbelieving, as if he didn’t think you’d actually say yes. “You—really?” he stammers.
You laugh lightly, putting your hand on his shoulder to bring him closer. “Come here already, dork.”
He slides over, his shoulder brushing against yours. You wrap an arm around him, pulling him into you. He shifts a bit, trying to figure out how to get comfortable, before gently placing his head on your lap, his gaze flickering up to meet yours.
You’re a little surprised by the move, you have to admit. His body is warm, and though he stiffens slightly at first, you feel him relax as you run your fingers through his hair, soothing him into comfort.
Ash lets out a soft sigh. “This is... nice.”
You chuckle. “I know.”
He brings his knees up and holding the phone, you rest your hands on him. For a while, neither of you speaks. The movie continues to play in the background, but you're having too much fun to be paying attention to it.
Ash shifts slightly, his arm brushing yours as he adjusts to get more comfortable. “Thanks,” he says quietly.
You run your free hand through his hair again. “Anytime.”
It's all fun and games until from time to time he moves his head around a bit, unknowingly rubbing your now-growing bulge.
It starts out innocently enough, but then Ash moves, completely unaware, and suddenly you feel the press of his head against your growing tent. At first, it's just a mistake—an accidental nudge—but as his head shifts, the pressure intensifies, sending a rush of heat straight to your core. The feel of his hair in your hand now is maddening, each shift of his head driving you crazy with the slow, teasing friction.
Your breath catches in your throat, and no matter how hard you try to focus on something else, it’s impossible when every movement brings him closer. The warmth between you both grows, making it harder to ignore the way your body is reacting—the quickening of your pulse, the tightness in your chest, and the undeniable heat in your underwear.
You feel the weight of him now, the unmistakable pressure of his body against yours, and it's all you can do to keep yourself from showing too much. But every shift and each slight touch pulls him in, and you're losing control over your dick. He is ripping the oxygen from your lungs, the tension crackling between you, and the longer it lasts, the harder it becomes to pretend you don’t want this to continue.
[[Don't say anything.->don't say anything despite getting boner]]
[[Tell him to stop moving around so much.]]
[[Apologize. He might have noticed.]]<<goto "no to cuddling ash comedy">>"Dude, stop moving around so much!" you say, your voice playful, but Ash shifts again, pressing against you even more.
"Oops, sorry," he mumbles, as if unaware. For a moment, you try to dismiss it as just an accident, but the sensation lingers, growing harder to ignore. His movements may be accidental, but the feeling they stir in you... isn’t.
Ash lifts his head slightly, a curious look in his eyes as he meets your gaze.
“Wait... there’s something hard under my head. Did you put a phone there or something?” he asks, eyebrow raised in innocent confusion. But there's something about the way he looks at you—like he might already know. Like he’s aware of what he’s doing.
[[Tell him the truth.]]
[[Don’t say anything.]]"Sorry about that," you mutter embarrassed, your voice light, but Ash shifts again, pressing against you more.
What are you sorry for?" he asks, unaware. For a moment, you try to brush it off as an accident, but the sensation lingers, becoming impossible to ignore. His movements may be accidental, and your reaction isn't really your fault.
You stay silent, the words stuck in your throat, your heart pounding in your chest.
After a brief moment, his eyes widen, and he pulls back just enough to look down. "Wait... there's something hard under my head. Did you put a phone there or something?" His voice is still innocent, but there's a glint of realization in his gaze now. It’s almost as if he knows what’s going on, but he doesn’t say it outright.
[[Tell him the truth.]]
[[Don’t say anything.]]You decide it's best to not say anything, but Ash shifts again, and you suddenly feel him pressing against you even more.
For a moment, you try to brush it off as an accident, but the sensation intensifies. His movements are unknowing yet... undeniable. You fight to keep your composure, but the fire in your lap grows more impossible to ignore.
Then, Ash lifts his head slightly, his curious gaze meeting yours.
“Dude... there’s something hard below my head. Did you put a phone there or something?” He asks, an eyebrow raised, just looking curious and naive. But beneath the obliviousness in his eyes... it’s almost like he knows. Like he knew what he was doing.
[[Tell him the truth.]]
[[Don’t say anything.]]“Oh, screw you,” he says, his voice tinged with hurt. You can tell he’s genuinely upset. For once, he tried being vulnerable, and you went and messed it up.
[[Tell him you're sorry.]]
[[Leave it be.]]You decide to leave it be, unsure of what to say. The silence between you stretches, thick and heavy, as Ash glares at the phone, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
It looks like the night will end on this awkward, sour note. But then, he lets out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"Fuck it," he blurts, turning to you abruptly. "Do you wanna cuddle?"
With wide eyes, you...
[[Say yes.]]
[[Say no.->no to cuddling ash comedy]]You take a deep breath, guilt settling in. “Ash, I’m sorry,” you say, your voice softer now, a little more sincere. “That was... a dumb move on my part. Of course, your feelings matter. Even if it's just you being scared from a movie, it still matters to me.” You glance at him, trying to let him see that you truly mean it. "I didn't mean to shut you down like that. It was just a joke..."
He looks at you, his expression still a mix of frustration and hurt. “Okay. What are you gonna do about it, huh? You gonna cuddle me or something?”
[[Yes.->yes i'd cuddle you ash]]
[[No.->no i wont cuddle you ash]]<<goto "no to cuddling ash comedy">>Ash isn’t usually this vulnerable; his gaze is shyly fixed on you, but it flickers away every few seconds as if he’s still bracing for rejection.
“Yeah,” you say, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I’d cuddle you, Ash.”
“But... I’m taller than you,” he mutters, looking down as if unsure how to navigate this. “I don’t know how to... wait, are you joking?” He stops mid-sentence, now more scared about embarrassing himself.
“No, I’m not,” you reply reassuringly. “I really would cuddle you.”
A tired sigh escapes his lips. “But I’m taller than you,” he repeats, his voice trailing off. “I... I might have to put my head on your lap.”
[[I won't mind.]]
[[Maybe not...->no to cuddling ash comedy]]I won't mind even if you put your head in my lap.” You say.
Ash’s eyes are wide and disbelieving as if he didn’t think you’d actually say yes. “You—really?” he stammers.
You laugh lightly, putting your hand on his shoulder to bring him closer. “Come here already, dork.”
He slides over, his shoulder brushing against yours. You wrap an arm around him, pulling him into you. He shifts a bit, trying to figure out how to get comfortable, before gently placing his head on your lap, his gaze flickering up to meet yours.
You’re a little surprised by the move, you have to admit. His body is warm, and though he stiffens slightly at first, you feel him relax as you run your fingers through his hair, soothing him into comfort.
Ash lets out a soft sigh. “This is... nice.”
You chuckle. “I know.”
He brings his knees up and holding the phone, you rest your hands on him. For a while, neither of you speaks. The movie continues to play in the background, but you're having too much fun to be paying attention to it.
Ash shifts slightly, his arm brushing yours as he adjusts to get more comfortable. “Thanks,” he says quietly.
You run your free hand through his hair again. “Anytime.”
It's all fun and games until from time to time he moves his head around a bit, unknowingly rubbing your now-growing bulge.
[[Don't say anything.->don't say anything despite getting boner]]
[[Tell him to stop moving around so much.]]
[[Apologize. He might have noticed.]]You let your head settle more comfortably, your cheek pressing against the soft fabric of his jeans. Ash’s hand slides through your hair, fingers threading through it gently, almost absently, like he's done this a hundred times before. The movement is slow, and soothing, and you can’t help but lean into his touch.
You feel his other hand move to adjust the blanket over you both, just enough to pull it closer without disturbing you. "You good?" he asks, his voice low, almost distracted. He’s still focused on the movie, but the way his fingers keep moving through your hair shows he’s paying attention to you, too.
After about twenty minutes, you shift a little, still trying to find the right position, but it’s clear you’re both getting restless. Ash glances down at you, his lips curling into a smirk as he stretches out.
“Alright, enough of this,” he says, pushing himself up slightly. “It’s my turn now.”
You look up at him, slightly confused. “Your turn for what?”
He looks down at you with that mischievous glint in his eyes. “For you to lie down, obviously. You’ve been hogging the comfy spot long enough.”
You raise an eyebrow but can’t help but smile. “You want me to put my head in your lap now, huh?”
Ash shrugs, a grin still tugging at his lips. “Yeah, sounds like a fair trade. C’mon, let’s switch it up.”
You shake your head but move to get more comfortable as he scoots closer. You slide down, making enough room for him to settle on your lap, feeling the weight of his body shift into place.
“Better?” you ask with a grin, your fingers lightly brushing his hair as you hold your phone, still trying to watch the movie, but it’s hard to focus now with Ash so close.
He gives a satisfied nod, eyes flicking back to the screen, but he’s definitely still aware of you, his hand resting on your thigh as he leans into the new position. “Much better.”
Ash isn’t usually this vulnerable; his gaze is shyly fixed on you but darts away every few seconds as if he’s bracing for rejection.
You scoot a little closer to him, closing the already small gap between you. “Yeah,” you say. “I’d cuddle with you. Even if you put your head in my lap.”
Ash’s eyes snap back to yours, wide and disbelieving, as if he didn’t think you’d actually say yes. “You—really?” he stammers.
You laugh lightly, putting your hand on his shoulder to bring him closer. “Come here already, dork.”
He slides over, his shoulder brushing against yours. You wrap an arm around him, pulling him into you. He shifts a bit, trying to figure out how to get comfortable, before gently placing his head on your lap, his gaze flickering up to meet yours.
You’re a little surprised by the move, you have to admit. His body is warm, and though he stiffens slightly at first, you feel him relax as you run your fingers through his hair, soothing him into comfort.
Ash lets out a soft sigh. “This is... nice.”
You chuckle. “I know.”
He brings his knees up and holding the phone, you rest your hands on him. For a while, neither of you speaks. The movie continues to play in the background, but you're having too much fun to be paying attention to it.
Ash shifts slightly, his arm brushing yours as he adjusts to get more comfortable. “Thanks,” he says quietly.
You run your free hand through his hair again. “Anytime.”
It's all fun and games until, from time to time, he moves his head around a bit, unknowingly brushing against the growing pressure in your lap.
At first, it’s innocent enough, but then Ash shifts, completely unaware, and suddenly you feel the press of his head against the growing bulge. It's just a mistake at first—an accidental nudge—but as his head moves, the pressure intensifies, sending a rush of heat straight to your core. The feel of his hair in your hand is maddening, each shift of his head driving you crazy with the slow, teasing friction.
Your breath catches in your throat, and no matter how hard you try to focus on something else, it’s impossible when every movement brings him closer. The warmth between you both grows, making it harder to ignore the way your body is reacting—the quickening of your pulse, the tightness in your chest, and the undeniable heat building between your legs.
You feel the weight of him now, the unmistakable pressure of his body against yours, and it's all you can do to keep yourself from showing too much. But every shift and each slight touch pulls him in, and you're losing control over your growing arousal. He is stealing the breath from your lungs, the tension crackling between you, and the longer it lasts, the harder it becomes to pretend you don’t want this to continue.
[[Don't say anything.->don't say anything despite getting boner]]
[[Tell him to stop moving around so much.]]
[[Apologize. He might have noticed.]]<<goto "no to cuddling ash comedy">><div class="handwritten">//May 9th, 2020
I’m so fucking tired. Not a "I need a nap" kind of tired. NO. This is the kind of tired where my soul feels like it’s been dragged through hell. Like I’m carrying a damn boulder inside me that never stops weighing me down. And NO MATTER WHAT I DO, it’s still there. Every single day. I just... want a fucking break. Why can't I get one?
People—oh, people—love to say "time heals all wounds" like that means anything. Yeah? Well, guess what? Time doesn’t do SHIT. It just makes you better at pretendin'. Like you can fake it until you forget how to feel anything.
You wanna know what I think when people talk about childhood? I think about FUCKING CIGARETTES. Not just the smell or the burn in the air, but how my dad—MY DAD—used me like an ashtray. He’d snuff his cigarettes out on my skin like I wasn’t even human. Just a damn piece of furniture. I can still feel the burn sometimes, even though most of the scars are gone. But honestly? The ones on my skin? The ones that faded over time? They don't matter. The shit he burned into my HEAD, into my FUCKING SOUL? That’s the stuff that stays. Forever.
And my mom? Don’t get me started. She saw it. She KNEW what was happening. She was RIGHT THERE. And... she did NOTHING. NOTHING. She just sat there. Pretended it wasn’t happening. I don't know what hurts more!! Her pretending she cared or the fact that she didn’t even try to help?! Like what the fuck???!
Goodness, growing up like that... it fucks you up in ways you can’t even begin to fix. It makes you think that you’re not worth a damn thing. That you’re not worthy of any kind of love. Of safety. Of kindness. Those are things for other people. Not you. NEVER you. And you start to believe it. You believe every fucking word.
Depression? Depression is a bitch. A mean, dirty bitch. It’s like you’re stuck in a room full of people who don’t see you. You’re right there, but you're invisible. No one can hear you. No one cares. And they all go on with their lives—laughing, smiling, being NORMAL—and you? You’re just... sitting there, broken, and wishing you could disappear. You wanna scream, but... who the hell would even care?
I hate that I still think about it. I hate that I'm not "over it" by now like people think I should be. I’m so fucking tired of not being "fine." I’m a grown-ass man and I'm still carrying that scared little kid with me. Still hiding in my room, waiting for the world to just stop. So I can breathe.
I’m so fucking jealous. Not of their jobs or their money, but of their... happiness. Their normalcy. Their fucking ability to just BE. To just FEEL okay. I don’t even know what that feels like anymore. I don’t remember what that was like.
And then there’s the guilt. The voice in my head that just... screams. It tells me I should’ve figured it out by now. That I’m weak. That I’m pathetic. That I’ll always be this broken, useless thing. Maybe that voice is right. Maybe I’m just... never gonna be enough.
Writing this down? Yeah, it's only making me feel worse. Why the FUCK am I even doing this? Venting like some whiny fucking teenager? This is dumb. I should delete all of it. Burn it. Pretend I never even wrote it. But I can't. I can’t. I need to get this out. Even if it makes me feel like the biggest, most pathetic fucking asshole on the planet.
And you know what? FUCK THIS. I’m done. I’m never doing this again. I’m not gonna talk about it. I’m not gonna think about it. I’m not gonna cry about it anymore.
Except... except I’m crying right now. I’m bawling like a fucking baby and it’s just... it’s making me feel more pathetic than anything else ever could. I don't even know what the fuck is wrong with me.
This is it. Last time. I’m done. FUCK THIS JOURNAL, fuck these feelings, and fuck me for thinking I could do this without falling apart.//</div>
Your eyes widen with every word you read, a sickening pressure building in your chest. It’s hard to even believe what you're seeing. How could someone—someone who should have protected him—be so cruel to a child? And the worst part? Ash wrote this. Ash. The same person who always hides behind his sharp wit and dark humor. The one who cracks jokes and brushes things off like they don’t matter. But this? This isn’t a joke. This is something real, something that tears apart every belief you had about how invincible he is.
You've never seen Ash cry. Not once. Not even when things got tough, not even when you knew something was eating at him. You always thought he was indestructible, that nothing could touch him. But this? This is him breaking.
The words on the page—these words he wrote when there was no one to listen, no one to hold him, no one to be there—it’s like watching someone sink, helpless, and you have nothing to use to pull him out. His soul was laid bare in these lines, and you're left feeling like an intruder in a place you were //never// meant to see; you've discovered a secret no one was ever meant to know. The person you thought you somewhat understood was slipping through your fingers in 2020, and suddenly, you realize you don’t know him as well as you thought.<<set $breakdown to "true">>
[[Read more.->read more]]
[[Stop reading.]]You tilt your head slightly. “So... who's your crush?”
Ash freezes for just a split second before forcing a nervous laugh. “That’s... oddly specific,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “But no, I don’t have one.”
Your eyes widen for the briefest moment before you catch yourself. You know he’s lying. And you know why he's nervous: the only one who knows he has a crush or rather the only thing, is his journal.
[[Press him to tell you who his crush is.]]
[[Tell him you know he has a crush.]]
[[Leave it be.->leave it be dont ask Ash who his crush is]]Your breathing starts to get heavy as you struggle to find the right words to confess to your crime. "Ash... I, uh... I did something." You say, avoiding his beautiful eyes at all cost.
When you do look at him, he looks confused. "Okay... what is it?"
[[Make him promise you he won't get mad.]]
[[Don't make him promise something you know he might not be able to keep.]]"Ash... there's something I gotta talk to you about," you start, unsure of how to continue.
"O-okay... is everything alright?" He looks at you concerned. "Did something happen?"
"No. I mean, yes." You correct yourself. "Something did happen, and we need to talk about it." You have no idea how to bring up what he wrote about in the journal without confessing that you read it.
[[Make him promise you he won't get mad.]]
[[Don't make him promise something you know he might not be able to keep.]]You lean forward slightly, your tone soft. "So, how are you feeling? Like... really feeling?"
Ash blinks, caught off guard by the unexpected question. A nervous chuckle escapes his lips, and he quickly shakes his head. "Wow, that came out of nowhere," he says, a small laugh covering the unease in his tone.
He looks away, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve. "You know, there's this thing I saw the other day," he starts, his voice light and deflective as he tries steering the conversation elsewhere.
But you don’t let him escape that easily. You stay silent, your steady gaze locked on him, and after a moment, the effort he’s putting into avoiding the topic crumbles. His shoulders drop slightly, and the tension in his posture gives way to something softer.
He sighs, his eyes flicking downward. There’s a vulnerability in his expression now, a sadness he can’t quite hide. "Do you..." His voice is quiet, hesitant. "Do you really care about my feelings?"
The weight of his words settles in the air, stirring something deep within you.
[[I do.]]
[[I don’t.]]"Come on," you press, giving him a teasing smile. "You’ve got to have a crush on someone. We all do, right?"
Ash shifts uneasily, his laugh coming out a little too sharp this time. "Dude, I swear I don’t," he says, the pitch of his voice betraying his discomfort. "What about you? Anyone caught your eye?"
You don’t let him change the subject so easily. You narrow your gaze, leaning in just a bit. "Stop dodging. I know you’re into someone. Who is it?"
Ash freezes, his expression cautious and eyes narrowing like he’s trying to figure you out. "How do you know that?" he asks, voice low and wary like he’s trying to gauge whether or not you've done something you shouldn't have.
[[Tell him you read his journal.]]
[[Leave it be.->leave it be don't tell ash about his journal after pressing on]]“Okay, okay, fine. You don’t have one,” you say, forcing a light chuckle.
Ash visibly relaxes, though he quickly averts his gaze. “Anyway,” he mutters, glancing toward the fireplace. His expression shifts to one of mild panic. “Oh shit. I’ll go bring some firewood.”
He gets up, brushing past you as he heads toward the door. But as he turns, his movement halts mid-step. His eyes lock on something—a corner of black leather peeking out from beneath your pillow.
His brow furrows, and without a word, he strides over, his hand reaching for the notebook. You freeze as he pulls it out, his face turning pale as recognition dawns.
When you finally turn to face him, your heart sinks at the sight of his expression. His eyes burn with fury and something deeper—betrayal.
“That’s... not what it looks like,” you stammer, your voice cracking slightly as you step toward him.
Ash doesn’t respond immediately. He slowly turns the notebook over in his hands, his knuckles white as he grips it tightly. When he finally looks at you, his gaze pierces through you like a dagger.
“What the hell!?” he growls, his voice low and trembling with barely contained anger. "You didn’t," he says coldly, his voice trembling with fury, making your heart hammer. At this rate, you might even get a heart attack.
His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly. "But Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]"Ash," you press, giving him a teasing smile. "I //know// you have a crush on someone."
Ash doesn’t say a word, but his expression hardens as his jaw clenches ever so slightly. His eyebrows draw together, and you can see the faintest glimmer of anger. "...How would you know that?" He knows that you've read his journal. There's no going back now. You should have been more careful with your words.
[["I, uh... I read your... your journal,"]]You gulp and your palms begin to sweat as you brace yourself to tell him of what you did. "I, uh, I have a confession to make, Ash."
Ash doesn’t say a word, but his expression hardens as his jaw clenches ever so slightly. His eyebrows draw together, and you can see the faintest glimmer of anger in his eyes as though he already knows what you're going to say.
"I, uh... I read your... your journal," you finally admit, your voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes widen slightly, and his nostrils flare. "You didn’t," he says coldly, his voice trembling with fury. His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly.
Ash closes his eyes for a second as he tries to calm himself but to no avail. When he opens them again, they’re filled with hurt and betrayal. He can’t even look at you anymore, so his sight shifts to the bed as he speaks instead. "Where is it?"
"Under my pillow," you answer quietly.
Without uttering another word, Ash stands up. He strides over to your bed, his hands trembling slightly as he snatches the black journal from beneath your pillow.
"Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]“Okay, okay, fine. You don’t have one,” you say, forcing a light chuckle.
Ash visibly relaxes, though he quickly averts his gaze. “Anyway,” he mutters, glancing toward the fireplace. His expression shifts to one of mild panic. “Oh shit. I’ll go bring some firewood.”
He gets up, brushing past you as he heads toward the door. But as he turns, his movement halts mid-step. His eyes lock on something—a corner of black leather peeking out from beneath your pillow.
His brow furrows, and without a word, he strides over, his hand reaching for the notebook. You freeze as he pulls it out, his face turning pale as recognition dawns.
When you finally turn to face him, your heart sinks at the sight of his expression. His eyes burn with fury and something deeper—betrayal.
“That’s... not what it looks like,” you stammer, your voice cracking slightly as you step toward him.
Ash doesn’t respond immediately. He slowly turns the notebook over in his hands, his knuckles white as he grips it tightly. When he finally looks at you, his gaze pierces through you like a dagger.
“What the hell!?” he growls, his voice low and trembling with barely contained anger. "You didn’t," he says coldly, his voice trembling with fury, making your heart hammer. At this rate, you might even get a heart attack.
His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly. "But Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
"So this is how you knew..." He says before turning on his heel and storming out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]You push yourself off the bed and rush after Ash, but before you can even reach the door, he slams it shut. Your hand falls to the handle, your heart pounding in your chest, and you yank it open, calling out, “Ash! Ash, please! Let’s talk about—”
But he doesn’t stop. Doesn’t even turn around. The door of his car slams shut, and before you can take another step, the engine roars to life. He pulls away, tires screeching as he drives off, leaving you standing there in the cold winter silence, watching him disappear into the distance. Far away from you.
You go back inside the cabin, and your mind races, filled with a sickening wave of guilt.
You shouldn’t have done it: you shouldn’t have read his journal, let alone confess to it. The look in Ash's eyes when he found out—it’ll be carved into your memory. //Hurt//. //Betrayal//. He couldn't even stomach to look at you. That’s the part that probably stings the most.
You think you know someone, and then you do something like this, and you //ruin// everything. Your stomach twists as you imagine how much you’ve hurt him, how much you've destroyed Ash's trust.
It’s impossible to take it back. You feel like you're sinking deeper into this pit of regret, suffocating under the weight of your own //stupidity//.
You close your eyes for a moment, letting the weight of it all settle around you. It’s probably better this way. Ash needs space. You can’t even blame him for wanting to get as far away from you as possible right now.
All you can do now is [[wait]].You stay rooted on the bed as Ash storms out. The door slams behind him, and the echo seems to rattle all your bones. Your mind races, filled with a sickening wave of guilt.
You shouldn’t have done it: you shouldn’t have read his journal, let alone confess to it. The look in Ash's eyes when he found out—it’ll be carved into your memory. //Hurt//. //Betrayal//. He couldn't even stomach to look at you. That’s the part that probably stings the most.
You think you know someone, and then you do something like this, and you //ruin// everything. Your stomach twists as you imagine how much you’ve hurt him, how much you've destroyed Ash's trust.
It’s impossible to take it back. You feel like you're sinking deeper into this pit of regret, suffocating under the weight of your own //stupidity//.
Time stretches on in the silence, your ears buzzing from the ringing that fills the space. Your breath comes uneven, chest tight. Then, faintly at first, you hear the sound of an engine. The hum of a car starting—Ash’s car. It’s a distant noise, but it’s enough to freeze you in place. The engine revs, then fades into the night.
You close your eyes for a moment, letting the weight of it all settle around you. It’s probably better this way. Ash needs space. You can’t even blame him for wanting to get as far away from you as possible right now.
All you can do now is [[wait]].To take your mind off things and to kill time, you decide it's best to just scroll through your phone. The stress weighs on you, and soon, your eyes grow heavy. Before you know it, sleep drags you under.
You're jolted awake by the roar of a car engine. You rub your eyes, disoriented, and hear the door opening and closing. As you blink the sleep away, you see Ash standing there, his gaze fixed on the floor, still not looking at you.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice flat.
Your stomach twists. //Oh boy...//
[[Tell him you're sorry.->tell him youre sorry]]
[[...]]"Promise me you won’t get mad," you ask, your voice shaky, your eyes filled with a desperation he’s never seen before.
He chuckles softly, a warmth in his tone that almost makes you believe him. "Alright, I promise I won’t get mad." His voice is deep and reassuring. "Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s probably not that big of a deal."
You feel a slight relief wash over you, but deep down, you know he might not be able to keep that promise. And, honestly, you don’t blame him for it.
[[Just tell him you read his journal.]]
[[Tell him slowly that you read his journal.]]
[[Tell him your intentions were good.]]"You know... I'd ask you to promise me you won't get mad, but... I can't do that. Because I know you'll probably get really mad at me..." You say with hesitation.
He chuckles softly. ", I promise I won’t get mad, no matter what you did." His voice is deep and reassuring. "Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s probably not that big of a deal."
You feel a slight relief wash over you, but deep down, you know he might not be able to keep that promise. And, honestly, you don’t blame him for it.
[[Just tell him you read his journal.]]
[[Tell him slowly that you read his journal.]]
[[Tell him your intentions were good.]]"I read your journal." You say as quickly as you can, it's not even understandable.
"Haha, what?" Ash says, surprised by the speed at which you can speak.
"I read your journal, Ash," you say slower this time.
"W-what? What are you talking about..." He turns his gaze away from you, looking at the mattress, remembering the black notebook he put in the glove compartment. "You didn’t." His voice turns cold.
His eyes widen slightly, and his nostrils flare. "You didn’t," he repeats again, his voice trembling with fury now. He broke his promise, and you can't blame him a bit.
His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly.
Ash closes his eyes for a second as he tries to calm himself but to no avail. When he opens them again, they’re filled with hurt and betrayal. He can’t even look at you anymore, so his sight shifts to the bed as he speaks instead. "Where is it?"
"Under my pillow," you answer quietly.
Without uttering another word, Ash stands up. He strides over to your bed, his hands trembling slightly as he snatches the black journal from beneath your pillow.
"Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]"So, remember when we got here?" you start, trying to stretch out the moment as much as possible.
"...Yes?" He replies, still confused, his brow furrowing.
"So... when you left to fix the generator, I, uh... went to your car to grab the food—"
"Did you do something to my car?" he asks, his voice not angry, but concerned. "Dude, if it’s not working—"
"N-no," you interrupt quickly. "It’s more like... what I found in your car..."
He raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "What did you find?"
"You know..."
"...I don’t... I don’t remember putting anything private or anything in there. Except for a few condoms, maybe."
"...In the glove compartment..." you remind him, your gaze shifting as you start to avoid eye contact.
"What did I..." He trails off, unsure of what he could’ve left there until it suddenly flashes in his mind. "You didn’t." His voice turns cold.
His eyes widen slightly, and his nostrils flare. "You didn’t," he repeats again, his voice trembling with fury now. He broke his promise, and you can't blame him a bit.
His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly.
Ash closes his eyes for a second as he tries to calm himself but to no avail. When he opens them again, they’re filled with hurt and betrayal. He can’t even look at you anymore, so his sight shifts to the bed as he speaks instead. "Where is it?"
"Under my pillow," you answer quietly.
Without uttering another word, Ash stands up. He strides over to your bed, his hands trembling slightly as he snatches the black journal from beneath your pillow.
"Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]"Before I tell you what I did... I just want you to know that my intentions were good. I... I didn’t mean to hurt you, Ash," you say, your voice trembling, more desperate and scared than ever before. "I’d never do anything to hurt you. I promise."
As you finally look at Ash, you see the fear in his eyes; he’s scared of whatever it is you’ve done too. "Okay..." he says, his voice low.
[[Just tell him you read his journal.]]
[[Tell him slowly that you read his journal.]]You give a small nod, your tone calm. "I do. I care, Ash."
He stares at you, his lips parting slightly as if to say something, but no sound escapes. Pressing his lips shut, he swallows with difficulty, his eyes sinking to the bed as though it could offer him some kind of comfort. "I... I... I don’t even know where to begin," he mutters softly.
"You can begin anywhere," you say soothingly.
Ash lets out a shaky breath, his hand gripping the fabric of his pants tightly. "Why can’t I understand what I feel or... or how I should feel? It’s like..." He trails off, his jaw clenching. "It happened so long ago. I should’ve been more careful. But it’s still here... it’s like it won’t leave me."
Your brow furrows in confusion. "What’s still here? What did you get over?"
He pauses, his words lodged in his throat, his breath catching as though blocked by something unseen. Finally, with great effort, he breathes the words out in a whisper. "I'm... I don’t... My parents. They..." He swallows, his throat tight. "They weren't kind to me."
The words hang in the air, their weight settling like a heavy stone.
Ash’s hands shake, his breath growing shallow. His eyes flick to different parts of the room as his leg bounces nervously. He hugs himself tightly before curling into a ball, drawing his knees to his chest, as though seeking refuge from the harsh world beyond.
His voice trembles as he speaks, almost to himself. "I don’t know why I’m even saying this... Why does it still hurt after all this time?"
He falls silent, biting his lip, his shoulders tensing as if fighting against a storm within. His gaze lands on the flickering fire, its warm light dancing in his teary eyes. His chest rises and falls unevenly, each breath a struggle against the memories threatening to overwhelm him.
[[Put your hand on him.]]
[[Don't do anything.]]You let out a short breath, leaning back slightly. "Honestly? I don’t know if I do."
Ash flinches, the words hitting him harder than he expected. The hurt flashes across his face, raw and unguarded, before he forces a bitter laugh. "Wow. That’s... honest, I guess."
"It’s not like I want to feel this way," you say, your voice quieter now. "But you never really let me in, Ash. You dodge, you deflect, and when I try to care, it feels like you’re pushing me away. What else am I supposed to do?"
He stares at you, his jaw tightening as if he’s trying to hold something back. "So this is my fault?"
"It’s not about fault," you reply, shaking your head. "But I’ve always been there, Ash—trying. And it feels like you’ve just been waiting for me to stop." You hesitate, the bitterness creeping into your tone. "So maybe I finally have."
The silence that follows feels heavy, and suffocating. Ash’s shoulders tense, his hands clenching at his sides. "Right," he mutters, his voice low, almost trembling. "Guess I forced you into this, huh? Made you cold. That’s on me too, I suppose."
"Ash, that’s not—"
"Save it," he cuts you off, standing abruptly. His movements are sharp, and deliberate, as he turns away from you. "Thanks for letting me know how you really feel." He stops, thinking about his next move. "I think I need some time alone." With that, he gets up from the bed and leaves the cabin.
Faintly at first, you hear the sound of an engine. The hum of a car starting—Ash’s car. You're guessing he needs some time alone. And you can't blame him. You tried to be there for him. You really did. But he never let you help him.
All you can do now is [[wait->wait for Ash to come back after arguing]].To take your mind off things and to kill time, you decide it's best to just scroll through your phone. The stress weighs on you, and soon, your eyes grow heavy. Before you know it, sleep drags you under.
You're jolted awake by the roar of a car engine. You rub your eyes, disoriented, and hear the door opening and closing. As you blink the sleep away, you see Ash standing there, his gaze fixed on the floor, still not looking at you.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice flat.
Your stomach twists. //Oh boy...//
[[Tell him you're sorry.->tell him youre sorry for telling him that you don't care about his feelings]]
[[...->say nothing after telling him u dont care about his feelings]]You falter briefly, but sensing his distress, you gently rest your hand on his arm.
Ash recoils at the touch, his body jerking slightly as if the contact caught him off guard. His eyes widen, a sharp intake of breath escaping him. He turns toward you, his face a blend of raw vulnerability and doubt.
An extended silence stretches between you, his hands shaking in his lap. At last, he looks into your eyes, his voice faint and fragile. "Are you... are you sure you want to hear this? About what my parents... about what they did to me?"
His gaze wavers, a mix of fear and uncertainty clouding his expression, as though revealing too much might hurt you too.
[[Tell me, Ash.]]
[[Just hug him.]]You falter briefly, but sensing his distress, you hesitate, holding back from offering any physical reassurance. Instead, you just stay still, your gaze steady but gentle, giving him space to decide.
Ash recoils, his body jerking slightly, caught off guard by the lack of contact. His eyes widen, and a sharp breath escapes him. He turns toward you, his face a raw mix of vulnerability and doubt.
An extended silence stretches between you, his hands trembling in his lap. After a long moment, he looks into your eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "Are you... are you sure you want to hear this? About what my parents... about what they did to me?"
His gaze wavers, filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty, as though the act of revealing too much might somehow hurt you, too.
[[Tell me, Ash.]]
[[Just hug him.]]Ash's gaze drops, avoiding yours as he struggles to find the strength to keep going. He swallows hard, his voice barely more than a whisper, tinged with pain. "My dad... he'd use me like an ashtray," he murmurs, his words heavy with revulsion and shame. "He'd stub his cigarettes out on me... like I was nothing but a spot to discard his ashes. And it still hurts me. Not physically, but... I don't know."
The words hang in the air, suffocating, pressing down on everything around you. Ash turns his face away, even more, tears building up in his eyes, his fingers balling into fists, his chest rising and falling erratically. You remain silent, your throat tight with the pain that comes from his words. A wave of helplessness churns in your stomach, and you long to reach out, to ease his pain, but you stay still, uncertain of what to do.
Ash shudders slightly, still unable to look at you. After a long pause, he whispers, "Do you really want to hear more?"
[[Go on...]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]Knowing that you can't bear to hear about his dark past, you move closer, your arms slipping around Ash as you pull him into a firm hug. Initially, he stiffens, his body rigid against yours, unsure how to handle your response. But gradually, he relaxes, his head resting against your neck as if the walls he's built finally begin to crumble.
Ash shudders uncontrollably, the tears coming in waves—raw, guttural, relentless as he wraps his arms around you. He clings to you with such intensity that it feels like he's trying to hold onto his very life, his arms wrapped around you in a grip so fierce it almost burns. His tears seep through your clothes, but you don’t mind. You simply hold him, offering him the space to grieve, to release.
Between the choked sobs, he gasps for air, his voice cracked and fragmented. “Why…” he gasps, “why couldn’t he love me? Why does no one care about me?” His arms tighten around you, his voice cracking with pain. “I just… I just want to be loved, you know? Is that really too much to ask for?”
[[I love you.]]
[[Tell him he will find someone that'll love him.]]"It’s alright..." you murmur.
Ash's fingers quiver as he sifts through his agonizing memories, his tone faltering with every syllable. "My mom... she... she simply acted like it wasn’t happening. I'd beg her to take me and get as far away from him as possible, but she’d just avert her gaze like she couldn’t hear me. She loved him too much to leave him. And he didn't do anything to her." He swallows hard, the words sticking in his chest, and his form quivers as if fighting to shove the memories away. "I’d plead for her to do something, man. Anything. But she never did." He finally builds the courage to look at you. "She’d just remain there, pretending I wasn’t even there, pretending like none of it was happening. And I..."
His voice cracks even more now, the burden of the recollection overwhelming him. A lone tear escapes from his eye, tracing down his face as he tightens his fists even harder now. So hard, he'll bleed from his nails digging into his skin.
Your heart aches at the sight. The weight of his anguish is unbearable to witness. Ash doesn’t appear to notice, or perhaps he simply no longer cares, his shoulders trembling with the enormity of his sorrow.
Even more, tears continue to fall now, uncontrollable.
[[Wipe the tears off his face.]]
[[Tell him that it's okay and that you're here.]]Not being able to bear any more of his devastating past, you move closer, your arms slipping around Ash as you pull him into a firm hug. Initially, he stiffens, his body rigid against yours, unsure how to handle your response. But gradually, he relaxes, his head resting against your neck as if the walls he's built finally begin to crumble.
Ash shudders uncontrollably, the tears coming in waves—raw, guttural, relentless as he wraps his arms around you. He clings to you with such intensity that it feels like he's trying to hold onto his very life, his arms wrapped around you in a grip so fierce it almost burns. His tears seep through your clothes, but you don’t mind. You simply hold him, offering him the space to grieve, to release.
Between the choked sobs, he gasps for air, his voice cracked and fragmented. “Why…” he gasps, “why couldn’t he love me? Why does no one care about me?” His arms tighten around you, his voice cracking with pain. “I just… I just want to be loved, you know? Is that really too much to ask for?”
[[I love you.]]
[[Tell him he will find someone that'll love him.]]Your hands delicately glide over Ash's face, gently clearing away the bitter tears that have been coursing down his cheeks. You take your time, making certain each and every one of them is caught and wiped away. Throughout this process, Ash remains motionless, permitting you this close display of solace.
With a gentle caress, you cradle his chin and angle his head upwards just a bit to connect your gaze. His eyes, tinged with redness, seek something within yours—perhaps comfort or merely a sense of human connection amidst his suffering.
“It’s okay...” you whisper. "I'm here,"
Ash gulps heavily before continuing, his voice scarcely more than a breath. "Should I... Do you want to hear more?"
[[Continue...]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]"They, um... I mean my father, haha," he lets out a laugh, but there's nothing positive about it. "He, um... he made sure I knew how useless and worthless I am," more tears fall from his eyes.
[[Your father was wrong.]]
[[Don't interrupt him.]]Your father was wrong. You are more worthy than you could ever imagine.”
Ash shakes his head, his eyes filled with doubt. “You’re just saying that,” he mutters, trying to push the words away like they’re nothing but empty comfort.
But you can see the hurt in him, deep and raw. He doesn’t believe it—doesn’t believe that he could possibly be worth something more than the way he’s been treated. You can feel his pain so intensely, it almost takes your breath away. He starts speaking again, his voice trembling.
"One time," he begins, "I was washing the dishes. I was trying to do everything I could to make him happy—just like my mother said I always should—but I... I wasn’t careful enough."
Ash pauses, trying to collect himself a little bit. "I—I broke a mug. Just one stupid mug. But it was his favorite. And then..." He swallows hard, trying to steady himself. "He was so mad. He said it was my fault—everything was my fault. Then... he just grabbed me. I didn’t even see it coming. He hit me so hard—right in the face. I... I heard this crunch, and then everything was just... bloody. I think I screamed, but I don’t really remember. I just remember him standing over me, yelling about how I deserved it. How I was a pathetic and good-for-nothing bastard."
His hand absently brushes over the bridge of his nose, as if he can still feel the pain. "It broke," he whispers, his voice hollow. "My nose. He broke my nose over his stupid mug." He pauses, wondering if you still want to hear more.
[[What else did he do?]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]His voice cracks and more tears slip down his cheeks, his hand rising to wipe them away quickly, as though ashamed to cry. "One time," he begins, "I was washing the dishes. I was trying to do everything I could to make him happy—just like my mother said I always should—but I... I wasn’t careful enough."
Ash pauses, trying to collect himself a little bit. "I—I broke a mug. Just one stupid mug. But it was his favorite. And then..." He swallows hard, trying to steady himself. "He was so mad. He said it was my fault—everything was my fault. Then... he just grabbed me. I didn’t even see it coming. He hit me so hard—right in the face. I... I heard this crunch, and then everything was just... bloody. I think I screamed, but I don’t really remember. I just remember him standing over me, yelling about how I deserved it. How I was a pathetic and good-for-nothing bastard."
His hand absently brushes over the bridge of his nose, as if he can still feel the pain. "It broke," he whispers, his voice hollow. "My nose. He broke my nose over his stupid mug." He pauses, wondering if you still want to hear more.
[[What else did he do?]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]Ash's fingers twitch as he runs them through his messy hair. "Once," he begins, his voice rough, "I got really, really sick. Fever, chills, all of that shit. I couldn’t even get out of bed—I thought I was dying." He lets out a harsh, humorless chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Even my mum got so scared she asked him if they could take me to the hospital. Just to check if I really wasn't dying. You know what he said?"
You say nothing.
A cold, empty smirk forms on Ash's lips, and he exhales a laugh that’s filled with bitterness. "'If you really need a doctor, maybe you should’ve found a job by now and paid for your own damn medical bills.' That’s what he said. And then, he told me to 'suck it up.' I was 14 damn it!"
His posture sags as he slumps forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his face buried in his hands. "Screw my childhood," he mutters softly.
He falls silent for a moment, his gaze flickering toward you, almost as if expecting some kind of reproach, but quickly turning away. "It didn’t matter that I was just a kid. To him, I was just one more problem to deal with. One more mouth to feed; a burden he never wanted. And... and there is so much more, man. I... I can't... I don't want to talk about this anymore. It just... it hurts. It hurts so much."
[[Hug him.]]You move closer, your arms slipping around Ash as you pull him into a firm hug. Initially, he stiffens, his body rigid against yours, unsure how to handle your response. But gradually, he relaxes, his head resting against your neck as if the walls he's built finally begin to crumble.
Ash shudders uncontrollably, the tears coming in waves—raw, guttural, relentless as he wraps his arms around you. He clings to you with such intensity that it feels like he's trying to hold onto his very life, his arms wrapped around you in a grip so fierce it almost burns. His tears seep through your clothes, but you don’t mind. You simply hold him, offering him the space to grieve, to release.
Between the choked sobs, he gasps for air, his voice cracked and fragmented. “Why…” he gasps, “why couldn’t he love me? Why does no one care about me?” His arms tighten around you, his voice cracking with pain. “I just… I just want to be loved, you know? Is that really too much to ask for?”
[[I love you.]]
[[Tell him he will find someone that'll love him.]]You take a deep breath, your chest tightening with the weight of his pain. "I love you," you murmur quietly, but with undeniable sincerity.
Ash stiffens in your hold, his sobs coming to an abrupt stop as if the very sound of your words is too much for him to take in. Slowly, he shifts away just enough to meet your gaze, his face blotchy, tears staining his cheeks. "No," he responds, his voice trembling. "You're just saying that. You might care, but... you don’t actually love me. You're just saying it out of pity. Nobody loves me. Maybe he was right—maybe I’m not worth loving. Maybe I don’t deserve anything good."
You reach up, your hands gently cupping his face, your thumbs brushing the dampness from his cheeks. His skin feels warm beneath your touch, his breath uneven as it trembles against your fingers, his eyes wide and searching, filled with doubt.
"No," you respond firmly, your eyes locked with his. "I mean it, Ash. I really do love you. You... you matter to me more than you can even understand. And..." You stop for a moment, your voice faltering as tears begin to sting at the edges of your own eyes. "And it kills me that you’ve had to go through all of this and... and I couldn’t do anything to help."
Your thumbs continue their gentle motion, softly caressing his face, grounding both of you as the weight of your confession settles between you. Ash’s breath hitches, and as he looks at you, his face softens, the turmoil in his eyes slowly shifting to something more vulnerable—something more raw.
He swallows hard, his voice barely audible. "I... I love you too. But... but it’s different. I love you in a different way. I... fuck. I don’t know." He pulls back slightly, his hands raking through his hair, trying to make sense of the storm inside him.
You stay still, watching him wrestle with himself, your heart torn between hope and uncertainty.
[[What do you mean?]]
[[Run your thumb along his lips.]]You gently pull back, just enough to look him in the eye. Your hands rest on his shoulders, steadying him as he clings to you.
"Ash," you say softly, your voice filled with warmth and certainty, "you’re going to find someone who will love you the way you deserve. Someone who sees all of you—the good, the bad, everything—and loves you for it."
His lips tremble, his eyes wide and vulnerable, searching yours for reassurance. "You really think so?"
You nod firmly. "I know so. You’re worth it, Ash. Don’t ever doubt that."
Your words don't erase his pain completely, but it’s a start.
...
You spend the rest of the days in the cabin like nothing had ever happened. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and inexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, and made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when you had a chance, you didn't take it. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Eight
[[Start over?]]"Ash…" you murmur, your voice tender. "What... what do you mean?"
Ash’s lips part, but no sound comes out at first. His gaze sways away and the shoulders tens like the weight of your question threatens to crush him.
"I love you in a way I have never loved anyone before." He continues, swallowing hard. "It’s not like being your friend or being cared for... it’s more than that. Way more. And it's scaring me. It's terrified me."
His hands ball into fists at his sides as he continues, his voice thick with emotions. "Every time you cared to care about me—every time you were there—it stirred something within me. At first, I didn't even know what it was. I thought maybe I was just grateful... But it was so much more. When I realized what it was..." He pauses his voice breaking as he looks at you with fear and vulnerability in his eyes. "I was terrified. "
He exhales shakily, his shoulders sagging. "Terrified I’d ruin everything. Terrified I’d lose you—the only person who’s ever cared about me. The only person who’s ever made me feel like I wasn’t just... just a burden or a waste of space."
Ash lets out a bitter laugh, his expression darkening as he looks away again. "It’s okay, though. I get it. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I mean... why would you? Who would fall in love with a worthless, pathetic fuck like me?" His voice cracks on the last words, but he quickly presses on before you can interrupt.
"So just… I needed to get it out, you know?" he says, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It was killing me. I’ve been holding it in for ages—and I couldn’t… I couldn’t take hiding my feelings anymore. That’s why I brought you here, actually. To tell you how I feel."
Ash looks at you then, his face etched with a mix of desperation and resignation. "But I wasn’t planning on telling you all of that... my shit life sob story," he mutters, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I just wanted you to know. Even if you hate me now... even if I lose you... I couldn’t keep pretending anymore."
[[Kiss him.]]
[[Tell him you'll always be his friend, no matter what.]]You reach up, your thumb brushing softly along Ash’s trembling lips. His breath catches, and his eyes widen, glistening with unspoken words as he freezes under your touch.
"Ash…" you murmur, your voice tender. "Tell me. Tell me—how do you love me?"
Ash’s lips part, but no sound comes out at first. His gaze sways away and the shoulders tens like the weight of your question threatens to crush him.
"I love you in a way I have never loved anyone before." He continues, swallowing hard. "It’s not like being your friend or being cared for... it’s more than that. Way more. And it's scaring me. It's terrified me."
His hands ball into fists at his sides as he continues, his voice thick with emotions. "Every time you cared to care about me—every time you were there—it stirred something within me. At first, I didn't even know what it was. I thought maybe I was just grateful... But it was so much more. When I realized what it was..." He pauses his voice breaking as he looks at you with fear and vulnerability in his eyes. "I was terrified. "
He exhales shakily, his shoulders sagging. "Terrified I’d ruin everything. Terrified I’d lose you—the only person who’s ever cared about me. The only person who’s ever made me feel like I wasn’t just... just a burden or a waste of space."
Ash lets out a bitter laugh, his expression darkening as he looks away again. "It’s okay, though. I get it. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I mean... why would you? Who would fall in love with a worthless, pathetic fuck like me?" His voice cracks on the last words, but he quickly presses on before you can interrupt.
"So just… I needed to get it out, you know?" he says, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It was killing me. I’ve been holding it in for ages—and I couldn’t… I couldn’t take hiding my feelings anymore. That’s why I brought you here, actually. To tell you how I feel."
Ash looks at you then, his face etched with a mix of desperation and resignation. "But I wasn’t planning on telling you all of that... my shit life sob story," he mutters, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I just wanted you to know. Even if you hate me now... even if I lose you... I couldn’t keep pretending anymore."
[[Kiss him.]]
[[Tell him you'll always be his friend, no matter what.]]Without thinking, your fingers graze Ash’s, the small distance between you vanishing as you lean closer. When your lips finally meet his, they’re soft and delicate. The kiss deepens, your tongues dancing together, and you taste the salty remnants of yourself in his mouth. It's unexpected but not unwelcome, adding to the heat that surges between you both.
As the kiss intensifies, you can’t ignore the sensation of his mouth on yours—the way he moves against you, with a hunger that matches your own. His hand slides to the back of your neck, fingers threading through your hair as he pulls you closer.
His lips part slightly, and you seize the opportunity, pulling him closer as your tongues meet once again, savoring his unique flavor—salty, warm, and undeniably yours. Ash’s body quivers beneath your touch, his response to the kiss urgent and needy, just as yours is to him. The saltiness, both from him and you fills your senses, making the moment feel impossibly intense.
You both pull back for a breath, eyes locking, the air thick with unspoken desire. Ash’s lips curl into a grin, the playful spark in his eyes not fading. “So... does that mean...?” he asks, his voice low and full of excitement.
You nod slowly, your heart racing, a smile tugging at your lips. “Yes,” you say softly, your voice full of certainty. “I feel the same way about you, Ash. I’ve wanted this for a while.”
Ash’s expression softens, and a soft laugh escapes him, one filled with relief and joy. “I’m glad... I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to tell you how I feel.”
You smile, brushing your thumb over his cheek.
"So, what do we do now?" Ash asks, still as hard as ever.
[[Just cuddle.]]"Ash," you start softly, "I’ll always be your friend. You didn’t ruin anything by telling me how you feel. I’m glad you were honest. I know it was hard."
You don't have to say anything else anymore. He knows you don't feel the same way.
Still, you continue. "But... I can’t see us as anything more than friends." It stings to say it because you know this will hurt him, but the truth is better than any well-meant lie right now. "That doesn’t change how much you matter to me. You always will."
Ash looks disappointed but then gives a small, sad smile. "It’s okay," he whispers. "I was expecting it."
You rest a hand on his arm. "You’re not a failure, Ash. You deserve love and happiness. You’ll find someone who can give you that."
He interrupts, his voice steady despite the sadness in his eyes. "It’s alright. Don’t worry about me. I’m just glad I at least got a shoulder to cry on."
Although you have a crush on him, you’ve still decided not to pursue a relationship. Whether it's because you don’t feel like you’d be right for him, or you're uncertain if he’s the right fit for you, only you truly know the reason.
...
Over the next few days at the cabin, you both settle into a quiet, familiar routine. There’s no tension—just the ease of old friends. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and inexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, and made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when he gave you a chance, you rejected him. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Five
[[Start over?]]You pull him closer, your arms wrapping around him. “Let's just cuddle."
As you both settle in, the warmth of each other’s bodies fills the space. The rhythm of your breathing matches, and it doesn’t take long before Ash relaxes, his head resting against your chest. The rise and fall of his chest against yours is soothing, and you let yourself drift off as well.
...
Hours pass, and you’re stirred awake by the soft rustling of Ash moving around. His voice, still thick with sleep, breaks the silence.
"So... does that mean... you’re my boyfriend now?" he asks, his words slurring from drowsiness.
Half-awake, you smile, your heart skipping a beat. “Yeah,” you whisper softly.
Suddenly, Ash leans in, his lips pressing against yours in a gentle kiss. His movements are slow, and deliberate, as if savoring every second. You close your eyes and kiss him back, equally as tender.
[[A few days later.]]You feel a tightness in your chest watching the couple on screen. Their bond is so obvious—every glance, every touch speaks volumes.
The way the characters interact—hands brushing, fitting together... it makes you shift uncomfortably. You try to push the ache down, but it’s hard when you're reminded of what you're missing.
When they kiss, it kinda stings. You glance at Ash, but he’s oblivious, completely absorbed.
“Must be nice...” you mutter.
Ash’s eyes flick to you. “What was that?”
You sigh. “I’m just... envious,” you admit. “They get each other. They get to be close... I wish I had that.”
Ash looks at you thoughtfully. “I didn’t know you’d get so caught up in a fucking movie,” he says. Leaning back, his tone softens. “You don’t need to feel jealous. You’ve got me.”
You raise an eyebrow, unsure whether he’s joking or not.
[[Ask him to cuddle you.->ask him to cuddle you romance]]
[[Don’t ask him to cuddle you.->dont ask him to cuddle you romance]]You glance at him, your cheeks blushing. “I... uh...” you stutter, struggling to find the courage.
Ash tilts his head. “What was that? Didn’t quite catch you there.”
You take a deep breath, avoiding his gaze at all cost. “Will you... cuddle me?” you finally say, but it's so quiet you wonder if he even heard it.
Without another word, he shifts closer, putting an arm over your shoulders and pulling you in.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” he says, his deep sexy voice warm as he settles next to you.
Your heart pounds in your chest, but as his warmth wraps around you, the jealousy from the movie begins to cease to be.
You lean into him, resting your head against his chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat against.
[[Tell him that it feels nice to cuddle him.]]
[[Don't say anything.]]"I will not be asking you to cuddle me, Ash," you reply.
"Aww... okay. Well, would you wanna cuddle if... if I asked?"
[[Yes.->yes cuddle with ash romance]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash comedy]]"I, uh... I read your... your journal," you finally admit, your voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes widen slightly, and his nostrils flare. "You didn’t," he says coldly, his voice trembling with fury. His lips press into a thin line, and the anger burning in his eyes is going to blind yours.
You don’t say anything, but your silence only makes things worse. His breathing grows heavier, and his gaze feels like it’s burning through you.
"How... how could... how much did you read, you son of a bitch?" His voice cracks a little, but it’s not from sadness: from pure, raw fury. He's sworn around you before, but he’s never like this. The venom in his tone makes your stomach drop.
It's too late to take back what you've said now. If you tried to lie or explain yourself, you'd only make things worse. "The whole thing," you say quietly.
Ash closes his eyes for a second as he tries to calm himself but to no avail. When he opens them again, they’re filled with hurt and betrayal. He can’t even look at you anymore, so his sight shifts to the bed as he speaks instead. "Where is it?"
"Under my pillow," you answer quietly.
Without uttering another word, Ash stands up. He strides over to your bed, his hands trembling slightly as he snatches the black journal from beneath your pillow.
"Ash—" you start, but he doesn’t give you the chance to finish.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him with a loud thud.
[[Go after him.]]
[[Let him cool off.]]Seeing that you have nothing to say, he continues. "Why? Why would you do something like that? Why would you... I fucking trusted you.”
You wince, your chest tightening at the hurt in his tone. “I just... I wanted to understand you better. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Ash shakes his head, his jaw clenched. “But you knew it would.”
The words sting more than you expected. You drop your gaze, not knowing how to respond.
“Can I sit down on the bed?” Ash asks, his voice softer, but still distant.
You nod, your voice barely above a whisper. “Y-yeah, of course. Come, sit.”
He sits on the bed next to you, and after a silence that feels eternal, he turns to face you, his eyes searching yours. “So... do you understand me better now? Did you read about... about my childhood?”
You feel your heartache as the memories of what you read flash through your mind. The pain, the abandonment. You nod, your voice thick with regret. “Yeah... yeah, I did. And I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You didn’t deserve it.”
Ash lets out a long, shaky breath. “Yeah. I can... I can tell you more if you want since you’re so curious.”
[[If it makes you feel better, tell me.]]
[[You don’t have to tell me anything.]]You swallow hard, your throat tight. “Ash, I’m sorry,” you start, but he cuts you off.
“I know you’re sorry,” he says with cold words. “I don’t care. I just want to know why. Why would you do something like that? Why would you... I fucking trusted you.”
You wince, your chest tightening at the hurt in his tone. “I just... I wanted to understand you better. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Ash shakes his head, his jaw clenched. “But you knew it would.”
The words sting more than you expected. You drop your gaze, not knowing how to respond.
“Can I sit down on the bed?” Ash asks, his voice softer, but still distant.
You nod, your voice barely above a whisper. “Y-yeah, of course. Come, sit.”
He sits on the bed next to you, and after a silence that feels eternal, he turns to face you, his eyes searching yours. “So... do you understand me better now? Did you read about... about my childhood?”
You feel your heartache as the memories of what you read flash through your mind. The pain, the abandonment. You nod, your voice thick with regret. “Yeah... yeah, I did. And I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You didn’t deserve it.”
Ash lets out a long, shaky breath. “Yeah. I can... I can tell you more if you want since you’re so curious.”
[[If it makes you feel better, tell me.]]
[[You don’t have to tell me anything.]]"But before we begin," he says, turning around and sitting cross-legged in front of you. "Let's sit like this."
You follow his lead, sitting the same way.
He swallows hard, his voice barely more than a whisper, tinged with pain. "My dad... he'd use me like an ashtray," he murmurs, his words heavy with revulsion and shame. "He'd stub his cigarettes out on me... like I was nothing but a spot to discard his ashes. And it still hurts me. Not physically, but... I don't know."
The words hang in the air, suffocating, pressing down on everything around you. Ash turns his face away, even more, tears building up in his eyes, his fingers balling into fists, his chest rising and falling erratically. You remain silent, your throat tight with the pain that comes from his words. A wave of helplessness churns in your stomach, and you long to reach out, to ease his pain, but you stay still, uncertain of what to do.
Ash shudders slightly, still unable to look at you. After a long pause, he whispers, "Do you really want to hear more?"
[[Go on...]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]"Hm. If you're not ready to hear it from me, why even bother reading my journal? Were you hoping for something a little less... messed up?"
"...Maybe," you reply, a bit uncertain. "I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting, to be honest." Your voice softens, sincerity behind your words. "I’m still so sorry that happened to you, Ash. No child should ever have to go through something like that."
"Yeah, well... what’s done is done," he says, shrugging as if to dismiss it. "The damage’s already been done. There’s nothing you or I or anyone can do about it. So... that’s just how it is." He pauses, his expression unreadable. "Can I... sit next to you?"
"Yeah, of course," you reply, offering a small smile. "It’s your place, after all, haha." You try to lighten the mood with a soft chuckle, but it's useless.
He sits down on the bed, turns to face you, and then sits cross-legged. "Sit like this," he says softly. "I... I need you to face me while I... I have something to tell you."
Your heart sinks. A tight knot forms in your chest. Is he about to tell you that it’s over? That you’re both going home and your friendship will come to an end? The fear grips you, twisting your thoughts into a haze.
He chuckles as he runs a hand through his hair. "I, uh... haha. I don’t even know where to start. I guess... fuck." He sighs, his frustration clear. "I wasn’t going to talk to you about the journal, but... why? Why the fuck did you read it?" His eyes lock onto yours, a mix of confusion and something deeper there.
[[Because I wanted see the life that you try so hard to hide.]]
[[Because I thought it'd be interesting.]]“It’s okay...” you whisper. "I'm here,"
Ash gulps heavily before continuing, his voice scarcely more than a breath. "Should I... Do you want to hear more?"
[[Continue...]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]"Okay, then in that case... do you wanna cuddle with me?" he asks, his cheeks as red as a tomato. The sight of him so flustered is almost too cute to handle—like something out of a daydream you never want to wake up from.
[[Yes, I'd cuddle you.]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash]]You meet Ash’s gaze, your voice barely above a whisper. “I wanted to know more about you... to understand you better.”
He stares at you, speechless, as if your words have completely thrown him off. “Well, did you?” His voice is quiet, a little distant like he’s bracing for your answer.
You take a breath, your chest tight, and whisper back, “Yes…”
He blinks, trying to process your words, and then shakes his head. “Still... Wow. Just... wow. You’re the last person I expected this from.” His voice softens, and something complicated flickers in his eyes. “But still... that... that doesn’t make me love you any less.”
He pauses like he’s wrestling with his own thoughts. “And maybe I should. Maybe I should punish you for doing that. But then again...” He sighs, and there’s a raw vulnerability in his voice. “I’m not even sure if you care about my feelings. I doubt you were thinking about that when you were reading…”
//Love?// you think, your heart racing. As a friend, yes. You could tell he cared for you, that there was something deeper between you two. After all, he was close enough to bring you here. But... the way he said it... Was it really just friendship he was talking about?
[[I love you too.]]
[[What do you mean by love?]]He stares at you, speechless, as if your words have caught him completely off guard. "W-wow... just... wow." He shakes his head, trying to process your statement. "I... you're the last person I expected this from." His voice softens, but there's a flicker of something complicated in his eyes. "But still... that... that doesn’t make me love you any less."
He pauses, as if wrestling with himself. "And maybe I should. Maybe I should punish you for doing that. But then again..." He sighs, the vulnerability creeping into his voice. "I’m not even sure if you care about my feelings. I doubt you were thinking about that when you were reading..."
//Love?// you think, your mind racing. As a friend, yes. You could guess that he cared for you, that there was something deeper between the two of you. After all, he was close enough to bring you here. But... the way he said it... Was it really just friendship he was talking about?
[[I love you too.]]
[[What do you mean by love?]]"I love you too, Ash," you start, but he cuts you off.
"I love you in a way I have never loved anyone before, dude." He continues, swallowing hard. "And no, it’s not like being your friend or being cared for... it’s way more than that. And it's scaring me. It's terrified me."
His hands ball into fists at his sides as he continues, his voice thick with emotions. "Every time you cared to care about me—every time you were there—it stirred something within me. At first, I didn't even know what it was. I thought maybe I was just grateful... But it was so much more. When I realized what it was..." He pauses his voice breaking as he looks at you with fear and vulnerability in his eyes. "I was terrified. "
He exhales shakily, his shoulders sagging. "Terrified I’d ruin everything. Terrified I’d lose you—the only person who’s ever cared about me. The only person who’s ever made me feel like I wasn’t just... just a burden or a waste of space."
Ash lets out a bitter laugh, his expression darkening as he looks away again. "It’s okay, though. I get it. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I mean... why would you? Who would fall in love with a worthless, pathetic fuck like me?" His voice cracks on the last words, but he quickly presses on before you can interrupt.
"So just… I needed to get it out, you know?" he says, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It was killing me. I’ve been holding it in for ages—and I couldn’t… I couldn’t take hiding my feelings anymore. That’s why I brought you here, actually. To tell you how I feel."
Ash looks at you then, his face etched with a mix of desperation and resignation. "But I wasn’t planning on telling you all of that... my shit life sob story," he mutters, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I just wanted you to know. Even if you hate me now... even if I lose you... I couldn’t keep pretending anymore."
[[I love you like that too, Ash.]]
[[Tell him he will find someone that'll love him.]]"W-what do you mean by //love//?," you ask, your eyes widening at the possibility.
"I love you in a way I have never loved anyone before, dude." He continues, swallowing hard. "And no, it’s not like being your friend or being cared for... it’s way more than. And it's scaring me. It's terrified me."
His hands ball into fists at his sides as he continues, his voice thick with emotions. "Every time you cared to care about me—every time you were there—it stirred something within me. At first I didn't even know what it was. I thought maybe I was just grateful... But it was so much more. When I realized what it was..." He pauses his voice breaking as he looks at you with fear and vulnerability in his eyes. "I was terrified. "
He exhales shakily, his shoulders sagging. "Terrified I’d ruin everything. Terrified I’d lose you—the only person who’s ever cared about me. The only person who’s ever made me feel like I wasn’t just... just a burden or a waste of space."
Ash lets out a bitter laugh, his expression darkening as he looks away again. "It’s okay, though. I get it. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I mean... why would you? Who would fall in love with a worthless, pathetic fuck like me?" His voice cracks on the last words, but he quickly presses on before you can interrupt.
"So just… I needed to get it out, you know?" he says, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It was killing me. I’ve been holding it in for ages—and I couldn’t… I couldn’t take hiding my feelings anymore. That’s why I brought you here, actually. To tell you how I feel."
Ash looks at you then, his face etched with a mix of desperation and resignation. "But I wasn’t planning on telling you all of that... my shit life sob story," he mutters, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I just wanted you to know. Even if you hate me now... even if I lose you... I couldn’t keep pretending anymore."
[[I love you like that too, Ash.]]
[[Tell him he will find someone that'll love him.]]"W-what?" He stammers, his voice faltering. "D-did you even hear what I just— I didn’t mean as friends!"
"I know..." you murmur, your voice soft.
"Then does that mean I can... do this?" he asks, his breath warm against your lips. Without thinking, your fingers graze Ash’s, the small distance between you vanishing as he leans closer. When your lips finally meet his, they’re soft, and delicate—like the first fall of snow on warm skin. The tentative connection trembles with emotion, sending a shiver cascading through both of you.
You don’t pull away. Instead, your hand drifts lower, gliding over his jaw and settling on his chest, where his heart beats wildly beneath your palm—frantic, like a bird seeking freedom but unsure if it truly desires it.
Ash freezes at first, his body stiff, caught between shock and disbelief. But then his eyelids lower, his lashes fluttering like a sigh, and the tension melts from him. His breath falters as he surrenders, leaning into you. Slowly, his hand rises, trembling as his fingertips brush the curve of your cheek, his touch cautious and unbearably tender. The other finds its place on your shoulder, his grip light, as though grounding himself in this fragile moment.
You deepen the kiss, tilting your head to press closer, letting the hesitant touch of his lips draw you further in. When his mouth parts slightly, you take your chance, catching his lower lip between your teeth in a playful, feather-light bite. The action startles a gasp from him—a sound that blooms between you, quiet yet electric.
His breath quickens as you pull back just enough to let your tongue graze the spot you’d nibbled, soothing the faint ache. A soft sound escapes him, something between a sigh and a whimper, and the heat it stirs in you is undeniable.
This time, when Ash kisses you back, it’s different. Gone is the hesitation; in its place is urgency, a raw hunger that mirrors your own. His hand slips from your cheek to the back of your neck, his fingers weaving into your hair as if anchoring you to him. The kiss deepens, his lips firm against yours, every motion carrying unspoken words—pleas, confessions, promises.
The world around you dissolves into nothingness. The chill in the air is forgotten, and all that remains is the way his body quivers beneath your touch and the taste of him—sweet, tinged with sadness, and utterly intoxicating.
When you pull back, a breathless silence falls over both of you. Ash’s laughter breaks through, though it’s not bitter like before—this time, it’s light; it's a sound of joy.
“S-so... you... you too...?” he stammers, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips.
You nod slowly, feeling warmth flood your chest. “Yes,” you say, your voice soft but sure. “I feel the same way about you, Ash. I’ve felt like this for a while now, but... I never thought something would happen between us, so I didn’t do anything. And I'm sorry for--”
Ash’s face softens, a look of peace crossing his features. “It’s okay,” he whispers. “Maybe it was meant that we wait and you... do that. Either way, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt happiness like I do now... t-thank you for that.”
“For what? For loving you as well?”
Ash laughs again, a sound that feels like freedom. “Yes. You have no idea how glad I am that you feel the same way. I... you have no idea how much courage it took for me to... to tell you how I really feel. So, uhm... so what do we do now?"
[[Just cuddle.]]"R-really? Are you serious? D-dude, I wasn't... I wasn't joking."
"Neither was I," you reply, your voice steady.
"Hm... but I’m not sure how to lie down comfortably... being taller than you and all," he says, a little hesitant. "Would you mind if I rested my head on your lap?"
[[Go for it.]]
[[Maybe not...->maybe not head on lap]]"You’ve been moving around a lot, and, well... you know how it is. Sometimes, even the smallest touch can... get us a little excited."
"Excited?" He raises an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk, though he tries to look oblivious.
[[Dude, you gave me a boner.]]
[[Say nothing.->say nothing]]Ash shifts slightly, his gaze flicking toward you. After a beat of silence, his lips curl into a smirk. "Wait... did I get you //excited//?" he asks, his tone teasing, though his eyes hold a hint of curiosity.
[[Yes. You gave me a fucking boner.]]
[[Say nothing.->say nothing]]"Hm, say... would you cuddle me?" he asks, his cheeks as red as a tomato. The sight of him so flustered is almost too cute to handle—like something out of a daydream you never want to wake up from.
[[Yes, I'd cuddle you.->Cuddle him.]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash comedy]]"Okay. What if... you had to cuddle me?" he asks, his cheeks as red as a tomato. The sight of him so flustered is almost too cute to handle—like something out of a daydream you never want to wake up from.
[[Yes, I'd cuddle you.->Cuddle him.]]
[[No.->no to cuddling ash comedy]]You shake your head lightly. "Nope. Sorry."
He forces a smile, sinking back into the couch. "Okay. It's fine," The rest of the movie is quieter than usual, a faint hint of a gigantic awkwardness hanging in the air.
You spend the rest of the days in the cabin like nothing had ever happened. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle, as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and unexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when he gave you a chance, you rejected him. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Seven
[[Start over?]]"Dude, you gave me a fucking boner." You say, trying to sound mocking in response to his 'pretend stupidity,' but really, you're just trying to cover up your own embarrassment. Too bad your flushed cheeks give you away.
"Oh really?" he says, his head moving down your legs as his eyes settle on the rock-hard tent in your pants. "Wow. I really did. Sorry about that." He looks back up at you. "You know..." he adds, licking his lips. "You must be pretty uncomfortable like that. And I feel kind of responsible for... resolving this little problem I’ve caused you. Little... though, if I’m being honest, it doesn't seem so little."
[[Resolve?!]]
[[Don't say anything.->dont say anything after dude u have me a boner]]"Resolve?! W-what do you mean?!" You stammer, your voice wavering as the shock from his suggestion hits you like a punch to the gut. Your mind races, struggling to catch up with the implication of his words, and you're left fumbling for a response. "D-dude—"
He lets out a soft chuckle, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Oh come on. Don't act so stupid." His tone is almost taunting, like he enjoys seeing you flustered, and disoriented by the situation. His eyes gleam with mischief, and you can feel the tension between you thickening. "But just in case you are..."
Before you can react, his hand moves toward you, slow and deliberate, and you freeze for a moment, the weight of the moment crashing down on you. His fingers hover just above your aching erection, and for a second, it feels like the world is on pause. You can’t look away, but you can’t bring yourself to stop him either.
His voice, already low and smooth, grows even deeper as he speaks again, sending a shiver through you. "I can... show you what I mean if you'd let me."
[[Go ahead.]]
[[Maybe not...->maybe not to first sex scene]]You freeze, your mind racing, struggling to process the sudden shift in the air. The shock from his suggestion hits you like a punch to the gut. Your heart pounds in your chest, but no words come out. You're left fumbling in silence, unable to form a response, your body frozen in place.
He lets out a soft chuckle, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, come on. Don't act so... shy." His tone is almost mocking, enjoying the way you're stumbling to respond. "But just in case you're not sure what I mean..."
Before you can react, his hand moves toward you, slow and deliberate, and you freeze again. His fingers hover just above your aching erection, the weight of the moment crashing down on you. You're unable to look away, but you can't bring yourself to stop him either.
His voice, already low and smooth, grows even deeper as he speaks again, sending a shiver through you. "I can... show you what I mean if you'd let me."
[[Go ahead.]]
[[Maybe not...->maybe not to first sex scene]]The demo ends here. Thank you for playing :)
[[Start over?]]The demo ends here. Thank you for playing :)
[[Start over?]]Ash shifts slightly, his gaze flicking toward you. After a beat of silence, his lips curl into a smirk. "Wait... did I get you excited?" he asks, his tone teasing, though his eyes hold a hint of curiosity.
[[Yes. You gave me a fucking boner.]]
[[Still keep your mouth shut.]]With wide eyes, you glance at him, caught off guard by his sudden shift.
Ash isn’t usually this vulnerable; his gaze flickers between you and the floor, his arms still crossed as if he’s unsure how to navigate the moment.
"Yeah," you stutter, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks. "We... we can cuddle."
He blinks, clearly surprised, and then a nervous laugh escapes him. “But... I’m taller than you,” he says, looking away, his voice almost shy. “I don’t even know how that would work. Wait, are you joking?”
You shake your head quickly. “No, I’m not joking. I really would cuddle you.”
He exhales, his posture softening a little. “I guess... I’d probably have to put my head on your lap or something,” he says, his voice trailing off, uncertainty still there.
[[I won't mind.]]
[[Maybe not...->no to cuddling ash comedy]]You immediately feel the need to apologize. "Ash, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that—"
He quickly cuts you off, his voice soft but firm. "No, it's fine. I'm sorry. It's my fault. I should have been more open about how I feel."
As he says this, you notice the redness around his eyes. He’s been crying.
[[Ask him about his red eyes.]]
[[Let it go.]]You stare at him in silence.
You notice the redness around his eyes, his face still blotchy from the tears. He's been crying, and the sight of it makes your heart sink.
[[Ask him about his red eyes.]]
[[Let it go.]]You take a deep breath, your voice soft but insistent. "Ash... your eyes... you’ve been crying, haven’t you?"
"Yeah, it hurt,” he admits, looking away for a moment, clearly trying to steady himself. “It’s just... I don't know anymore.”
He shifts, taking a slow breath before meeting your eyes again, his gaze a little more open than before. “But... I think I’m ready now,” he says, his voice quieter. “If you really want to hear about my past... I think I’m ready to share it.”
[[Hear about his past.]]
[[Tell him you don't want to hear about it.]]"Dude... I want to apologize."
"For what?" you ask, genuinely unsure.
"For everything," he replies, his voice low. "I should have... I should have been open with you. But it's alright now."
...
You spend the rest of the days in the cabin like nothing had ever happened. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and inexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, and made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when you had a chance, you didn't take it. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Nine
[[Start over?]]"Yeah, okay..." You reply.
“Can I sit down on the bed?” Ash asks, his voice softer, but still distant.
You nod, your voice barely above a whisper. “Y-yeah, of course. Come, sit.”
He sits on the bed next to you. "My dad... he'd use me like an ashtray," he murmurs, his words heavy with revulsion and shame. "He'd stub his cigarettes out on me... like I was nothing but a spot to discard his ashes. And it still hurts me. Not physically, but... I don't know."
The words hang in the air, suffocating, pressing down on everything around you. Ash turns his face away, even more, tears building up in his eyes, his fingers balling into fists, his chest rising and falling erratically. You remain silent, your throat tight with the pain that comes from his words. A wave of helplessness churns in your stomach, and you long to reach out, to ease his pain, but you stay still, uncertain of what to do.
Ash shudders slightly, still unable to look at you. After a long pause, he whispers, "Do you really want to hear more?"
[[Go on...]]
[[Just hug him.->just hug him 2]]"I... I’m sorry, Ash, but I don’t think I can hear it right now."
He hesitates, his expression faltering. "O-oh... okay," he murmurs, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he realizes that, despite everything, he still won’t be able to share his story.
...
You spend the rest of the days in the cabin like nothing had ever happened. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and inexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, and made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when you had a chance, you didn't take it. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Eleven
[[Start over?]]"You pause, thinking for a moment. 'It could feel nice... I think,' you reply."
He smiles in response. "Well then... what do you say we give it a try?"
[[Cuddle him.]]"I don't think I'll like it. Sorry." You simply reply.
He forces a smile, sinking back into the couch. "Okay. It's fine," The rest of the movie is quieter than usual, a faint hint of a gigantic awkwardness hanging in the air.
You spend the rest of the days in the cabin like nothing had ever happened. Mornings are spent with hot drinks and light conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Ash stays a little more reserved, but his words are gentle, as if everything is fine.
You walk through the snowy woods, breathing in the crisp air. Sometimes past conversations hang in the air, but more often, you find yourselves laughing at small, silly things—like how clumsy and unexperienced you are with an axe or simply watching the fire crackle.
When the time comes to leave, the atmosphere feels light, and the connection between you is easy. No rush to say goodbye—just a glance, a warm hug, and a quiet promise to stay in touch. It may not be perfect, but for now, it’s enough.
...
You heard through the grapevine that Ash had finally found someone. It stung a little, that familiar pang of jealousy, but mostly, you felt happy for him. He seemed different now—lighter, more at ease. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know that whoever he was with brought him joy, made him forget the weight of everything else.
It made you reflect on how you’d always hoped for something more with him, yet when he gave you a chance, you rejected him. And now, watching him with someone else, you couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if you’d been brave enough to let him in. Maybe, if things didn’t work out, there'd be another opportunity. But you quickly squashed that thought. You couldn’t hope for something like that to happen to your friend.
You had no choice but to move on. The holidays were over, and soon enough, you’d be back to your routine, immersed in work once more. But in the quiet moments, you couldn’t help but think about Ash, wishing you'd had the courage to take that step when you had the chance.
Ending Ten
[[Start over?]]A few days later, you find yourself lying on your bed as Ash gently tilts your chin and presses his lips to yours. His kiss is deep, insistent and you melt into him as your mouths move together. His tongue slides against yours; it's hot and eager.
His hand slips to your neck, grazing the soft skin there before cupping your face, his thumb gently brushing over your cheekbone. The kiss softens a little, turning slow and tender, but his lips never leave yours, pulling you closer, your bodies pressed against each other.
You can feel his breath, warm and steady against your skin, his chest rising and falling with each breath as you place your hand on it. The heat between you intensifies, and every touch, every movement, sends a wave of lust through your body. When he finally pulls away, his forehead rests against yours, his eyes dark with something deeper than just affection. "So... do you think we're ready?" He smirks, his eyes scanning you, a teasing hint in his voice. "You seem like you're in the mood..."
You raise an eyebrow, playing coy. "To do what...?"
He gives you a knowing look, his hand slipping to your ass, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You know what I mean. You wanna top or bottom?"
[[Top.]]
[[Bottom.]]
[[Not tonight.]]You sit down on your bed and pull your phone out.
"What type of movie do you wanna watch?"
[[Horror.]]
[[Romance.]]
[[Comedy.]]You hand over your drawing, feeling a little embarrassed. It’s nothing compared to his work. Ash looks at it for a moment, then meets your eyes with a grin.
"This is awesome," he says, clearly trying to hold back laughter. "It’s got... charm. I really like it."
You chuckle nervously, but his words make you feel better. "Thanks."
"Alright," Ash says, putting your drawings aside. "Now, we’ve gotta watch a movie."
[[Listen to the boss.]]You slide your drawing over to Ash, feeling proud of how it turned out.
"Wow," he says, a smile spreading across his face. "This is really good. I love it."
You feel a warm rush of pride. "Thanks, I worked hard on it."
"Alright," Ash says, putting both drawings aside. "Now, we’ve gotta watch a movie."
[[Listen to the boss.]]A few days later, you find yourself lying on your bed as Ash gently tilts your chin and presses his lips to yours. His kiss is deep, insistent and you melt into him as your mouths move together. His tongue slides against yours; it's hot and eager.
His hand slips to your neck, grazing the soft skin there before cupping your face, his thumb gently brushing over your cheekbone. The kiss softens a little, turning slow and tender, but his lips never leave yours, pulling you closer, your bodies pressed against each other.
You can feel his breath, warm and steady against your skin, his chest rising and falling with each breath as you place your hand on it. The heat between you intensifies, and every touch, every movement, sends a wave of lust through your body. When he finally pulls away, his forehead rests against yours, his eyes dark with something deeper than just affection. "So... how do you wanna play this?" He smirks, his eyes scanning you, a teasing hint in his voice. "You seem like you're in the mood..."
You raise an eyebrow, playing coy. "Do what...?"
He gives you a knowing look, his hand slipping to your ass, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You know what I mean. You wanna top or bottom?"
[[Top.]]
[[Bottom.]]
[[Not tonight.]]"Yes, dude; you gave me a fucking boner." You say, trying to sound mocking in response to his 'pretend stupidity,' but really, you're just trying to cover up your own embarrassment. Too bad your flushed cheeks give you away.
"Oh really?" he says, his head moving down your legs as his eyes settle on the rock-hard tent in your pants. "Wow. I really did. Sorry about that." He looks back up at you. "You know..." he adds, licking his lips. "You must be pretty uncomfortable like that. And I feel kind of responsible for... resolving this little problem I’ve caused you. Little... though, if I’m being honest, it doesn't seem so little."
[[Resolve?!]]
[[Don't say anything.->dont say anything after dude u have me a boner]]"Okay, I'll just say it at this point: It looks like I gave you a boner, didn't I?" he says, his head moving down your legs as his eyes settle on the rock-hard tent in your pants. "Wow. I really did. Sorry about that." He looks back up at you. "You know..." he adds, licking his lips. "You must be pretty uncomfortable like that. And I feel kind of responsible for... resolving this little problem I’ve caused you. Little... though, if I’m being honest, it doesn't seem so little."
[[Resolve?!]]
[[Don't say anything.->dont say anything after dude u have me a boner]]The demo ends here. Thank you for playing :)
[[Start over?]]The demo ends here. Thank you for playing :)
[[Start over?]]You smile and shake your head, gently pulling away. "Not tonight."
Ash’s eyes soften, and he gives you a small, understanding smile. "It’s cool," he says, his voice quiet but warm. He brushes a strand of hair from your face, his fingers lingering on your skin for a second.
You both just lie there for a bit, the silence comfortable, no pressure, just the quiet closeness of him next to you, grounding you.
"Whatever you need," he says softly, his thumb tracing circles on your arm. "I’m here."
And you know, right then, that you don’t need anything else. The connection you have is enough. No expectations, no rush. Just the two of you, content and easy, letting time pass without a care.
As the night settles, a calm peace wraps around you, the kind that comes with real trust and understanding. You don't know what the future holds, but for now, it doesn’t matter. You're happy, and so is he.
Ending Fifteen
[[Start over?]]This game contains a total of 118,356 words (the demo version has 53,132). You can explore both top and bottom roles, with a variety of [[sex scenes]].
You can buy the game on <a href="https://payhip.com/b/4he5D" target="//blank">Payhip</a>.
You can access all my games by subscribing to my Patreon for $2.99 (link in the description). If you're already a subscriber, you can claim the game by using the <a href="https://octiwriter.itch.io/winter-lust/patreon-access" target="//blank">link</a> provided.
If you find any mistakes (bugs, grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or anything that doesn't make sense), comment below, and I'll give you a free copy of one of my games.
This game is intended for mature audiences aged 18 and older.
[[Trigger Warning (Spoilers)]]
[[Continue.]]Ash Holloway struggles with depression and PTSD due to childhood trauma, including abuse by his father. These themes, while not the central focus of the game, may be sensitive for some players. If you are uncomfortable with these topics, I recommend considering your mental well-being before continuing.
I didn’t give Ash depression and PTSD to romanticize them. I gave him these struggles because I, myself, have lived through them—though from different causes.
[[Sex scenes]].
[[Continue.]]<<goto "pick">>In this game, you have...
''1. Handjobs''
- Mutual masturbation
- Taking turns pleasuring each other
- You or Ash giving the other a handjob
- Humping
- Frotting
''2. Oral Sex''
- Blowjobs
- Rimming
- Face sitting
- Nipple play
- Biting
- Edge play
- Cum eating (consumed by either you or Ash)
''3. Anal Play''
- Fingering
- Dildo play
- Rimming
- Anal sex
''4. Kink''
- Bondage (handjobs, rimming, blowjobs, anal)
- Spanking (during rimming, fingering, and anal play)
[[Trigger Warning (Spoilers)]]
[[Continue.]]In this game, you have...
''1. Handjobs''
- Mutual masturbation
- Taking turns pleasuring each other
- You or Ash giving the other a handjob
- Humping
- Frotting
''2. Oral Sex''
- Blowjobs
- Rimming
- Face sitting
- Nipple play
- Biting
- Edge play
- Cum eating (consumed by either you or Ash)
''3. Anal Play''
- Fingering
- Dildo play
- Rimming
- Anal sex
''4. Kink''
- Bondage (handjobs, rimming, blowjobs, anal)
- Spanking (during rimming, fingering, and anal play)
[[Trigger Warning (Spoilers)]]
[[Continue.]]Ash Holloway is...
[[A muscular guy.]]
[[A femboy.]]''Noted:'' Ash Holloway is muscular.
[[Continue.->cont]]''Noted:'' Ash Holloway is a femboy—just keep in mind that this is still in beta. :)<<set $ash to "fem">>
[[Continue with the story.->cont]]
[[Learn what that means.]]<<goto "Start over?">>Ash’s identity as a femboy means his physical appearance leans more feminine, with softer features and a voice to match. However, this doesn’t translate to him wearing makeup or skirts in the story—just a few subtle changes in his overall appearance. His personality, along with the size and shape of his dick, remains unchanged.
He is also still bisexual.
[[Continue.->cont]][[Report a Bug|TargetPassage]]<h2>Report a Mistake</h2><form action="https://formspree.io/f/mzzevpzr" method="POST" onsubmit="return (function(){const email=document.getElementById('email').value;const emailRegex=/^[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,4}$/;if(!emailRegex.test(email)){alert('Please enter a valid email address format.');return false;}return true;})()"><label for="email">Your Email:</label><input type="email" id="email" name="email" required style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;"><label style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;"><input type="checkbox" id="noGameCheckbox" onchange="(function(){const checkbox=document.getElementById('noGameCheckbox');const emailField=document.getElementById('email');const gameRequestField=document.getElementById('gameRequest');if(checkbox.checked){emailField.value='noemail@noemail.com';emailField.readOnly=true;emailField.required=false;gameRequestField.value='N/A';gameRequestField.readOnly=true;gameRequestField.required=false;}else{emailField.value='';emailField.readOnly=false;emailField.required=true;gameRequestField.value='';gameRequestField.readOnly=false;gameRequestField.required=true;}})()"> I don't want a game</label><label for="gameTitle">Game Title:</label><input type="text" id="gameTitle" name="gameTitle" value="Winter Lust" readonly style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;"><label for="gameRequest">What game do you want a copy of?</label><input type="text" id="gameRequest" name="gameRequest" required style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;"><label for="mistake">Describe the Mistake:</label><textarea id="mistake" name="mistake" rows="4" required style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;"></textarea><label for="location">Where did you find it?</label><textarea id="location" name="location" rows="1" required readonly style="display:block; margin-bottom:10px;">Mistake is in passage "<<print previous()>>"</textarea><p><strong>Warning:</strong> If you provide an incorrect email address, I will not be able to send you the game. If you make a mistake, feel free to contact me personally at <a href="mailto:octiwriter@gmail.com">octiwriter@gmail.com</a> for any corrections or inquiries.</p><p><strong>Privacy Policy:</strong> After the game update and key email is sent, your email will be deleted, and I will have no further access to it. Your email will not be used for marketing purposes or shared with third parties.</p><button type="submit">Submit</button></form>
<<return "Go back.">>