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Neutral
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Finding ski gear had been an adventure of its own - while the boys fought over ski gear, Dallas was also running around throwing pants, poles, and skis at Adelaide in an effort to find some that worked with her considerably shorter stature. In the end, the poles were a bit tall but otherwise fine, and she had a pair of pants and skis that worked quite well against her build. She couldn't help but huff throughout the ordeal about the lack of snowboards - skiing was never her strongest point, she had always preferred one board to two skis. The mountain air chaffed her skin, but as the four rode to the base of the hill, Adelaide felt a thrill of excitement. She stood next to Dallas, arms tucked tightly under her as Callum explained the rules. It seemed relatively straightforward, and as she eyed the slope underneath the lift, she felt a twinge of confidence. Of course, she expected the boys to know the slope as well as they did their own house, but her eyes picked out at least three potential trails without much difficulty, and she was sure there would be more to spot on the lift. It was just a matter of how much distance she was given before the race began. Once again, Beaudan asked her a question without expecting an answer, and she felt her hand curl instinctively as she fought to keep her temper in check. Dallas was friendly, and even Callum had started to warm up to her, although she knew she had a ways to go with him. Beaudan simply refused to give her any leeway, and it was getting on her nerves. He knew she didn't want to be here, knew she understood they didn't want her. Why couldn't he just let her breathe? Her eyes narrowed at his back as he and Callum made their way to the lift, and she nearly stuck her tongue out at his back. She was saved by Dallas throwing an arm over her shoulders, loosely pulling her in the opposite direction. "He's a bit of a jerk, isn't he?" Adelaide looked up at him, brow furrowing at his smile. "What do you mean?" "Beau," he began, watching her expression and nodding when he saw her grimace. "Don't blame him. Well, not entirely, anyways. He's going through a lot, and between you and me: he doesn't do too well with girls." At that she laughed, throwing her head back. "I hardly believe Beaudan has any issue with girls. He just doesn't like me, nor does he want me to be here. Which is fine, because I'd rather not be here either - no offense." Dallas just smiled back, dropping his arm from her shoulders. The two had walked a ways off from the snow mobiles, and he turned to watch as the lift carried the older Morcant boys up the slope. They made it nearly three quarters of the way up before one yelled and the other dropped off the lift. True to the rules, fifteen seconds passed, and then the other jumped off to follow. "Give him some time," Dallas said, watching as the two flew down the slope and out of sight. "He'll warm up eventually, I think." Adelaide nodded, casting him one last glance before turning to watch the boys as well. Within seconds, they had disappeared down the slope and under the tree cover. With a sigh, she turned back to Dallas and gestured towards the hill before the. "Let's go up a bit, yeah? I need to practice if I stand a chance at beating any of you." With a laugh, the two made their way back to the snow mobiles and grabbed their gear before she hopped onto the back of his, gripping his shoulders as they made their way about halfway up the slope. Adelaide stayed on while he put his skis on, and she waved at him as his goggles were lowered. "I'll meet you at the bottom so you can bring me up next!" Dallas gave her a quick thumbs up, before he began carving his way down, slowly twisting left and right as he picked up momentum. After a bit, he hit a decent slope in the hillside, and he was off, racing down the mountain. She gave him a bit of a head start before she kicked the snow mobile on and followed him down, keeping a healthy distance in case he bailed. She reached the base of the hill a few seconds after he did, and her cheeks were flushed from laughter. He had attempted a few tricks on his way down, and had nearly fallen as many times as he tried. With a cheeky grin, he shrugged, bending down to unclasp his skiis. As Adelaide was getting ready to comment on his performance, the sound of Beaudan and Callum talking grew closer quickly, and she chose to shut her mouth instead, turning to face the boys with a quirked brow and a grin. |
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Darkseeker
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Beau was in a serious amount of pain, though he'd never admit it out loud. When Callum had lazily called, *"Splat,"* locking eyes with that infuriating smirk of his, Beau hadn’t hesitated. He wasn’t a coward. He jumped. The fall hadn’t been the nastiest he’d ever taken, but it was awkward enough to leave him limping slightly and cursing under his breath. He was pretty sure nothing was broken, though he’d be wearing some impressive bruises for a while. His hip throbbed where he’d clipped a tree on the way down, and he’d already spotted a particularly large purple mark blossoming across his ribs. But hey—he’d *won*, and that was what mattered. The race had been close, but Callum never knew the hill as well as Beau and Dallas did. Home turf gave Beau just enough of an edge to outmaneuver his older brother in the final stretch. They hadn’t been too far up the hill when Callum had called it, which was unusual. Normally, the game dragged out until their legs dangled over the highest points, daring gravity to do its worst. But this time, Callum had looked at Beau with a glint in his eyes and dropped the word as casually as if he were ordering breakfast. Beau hadn’t hesitated, but the look had left him wondering. Shrugging off his blue coat, Beau tossed it onto the slope. He’d permanently lost one mitten during the jump—it was probably halfway to the lodge by now—but the coat was too valuable to risk. A groundskeeper was already collecting it, like clockwork, ensuring it would be waiting for him later. Beau tugged up the hem of his black turtleneck, squinting at his tan skin under the biting wind. Bruises were already forming, blotchy and vivid across his chest and torso. A particularly nasty scratch ran down his cheek, though the cold dulled the sting to the point he barely felt it. The trek to find Dallas and Adelaide was long enough that Beau decided to spice things up. A provocative topic was just the thing to ruffle Callum’s feathers—and Beau always loved ruffling feathers. “So,” Beau began, his tone as lazy as Cal’s earlier challenge, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. “How’s the lack of the full inheritance treating you?” Callum’s expression darkened immediately, his jaw tightening. For a moment, Beau thought he might ignore the bait entirely, but then the familiar storm rolled in. “The old man never made things easy,” Callum snapped, adjusting his poles as his boots crunched through the snow. “You know that damn well. But this? Leaving half the estate to some random girl? There *has* to be a connection. There’s no way he’d do something so... so reckless without a reason.” Beau hummed in noncommittal agreement, more interested in the way Callum’s frustration simmered than the words themselves. “And I don’t like how keen she is to be everywhere by herself,” Callum continued, voice rising slightly. “You offered to take her to Montclair, and she wouldn’t go with you. But she still wanted to come. If she really didn’t care about the inheritance, she’d go home. Let us play our twisted games alone. But no. She’s here, and she’s *watching.*” Beau half-listened, distracted by the breathtaking scenery around them. The light sparkled off the fresh snow, and the bare trees framed the horizon in sharp relief. Callum’s rant filled the air for a few more minutes before trailing off into silence. As they neared the slope where Dallas and Adelaide waited, Beau decided to toss one last conversational grenade. “Any lovely ladies at Harvard?” he asked smoothly, knowing the topic would deflect Callum’s irritation. Callum shrugged, his skis resting lazily against his shoulder. “More hookups than anything else,” he said, glancing sideways at Beau. “And don’t try to call me out for that. I *know* you’re the same.” Beau laughed, his voice warm and full of mischief. “Right, cause you know all about my—” He cut himself off as they stepped through a small grove of trees and into the clearing at the bottom of another slope. The sight of Dallas and Adelaide waiting for them brought his competitive energy roaring back. Dallas grinned widely, clearly amused by Beau’s slightly disheveled state. Beau, ever the charmer, smacked Dallas on the shoulder as he strode over. “I’m afraid Cal has been *thoroughly* stomped,” Beau declared, his tone sugary sweet, laced with mockery. “Maybe you two can entertain yourselves on the bunny hill.” Dallas rolled his eyes, but the grin stayed firmly in place. “Right. Bunny hill. I’ll keep that in mind while I’m *destroying* you later.” Beau turned his attention to Adelaide, his grin widening. She was bundled in her lilac coat, her nose pink from the cold, but her eyes sparkled with determination. “And *you*, Princess,” Beau said, his voice dropping into a playful challenge, “had better buckle up. It’s you and me next. Hope you’re ready, because I don’t play nice.” |
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Neutral
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Adelaide took in Beaudan's limp with a frown, brow creasing as she studied him. Clearly his ski had done some damage, but other than the hobbled stride, he seemed to be in relatively good spirits. She caught only the tail end of their conversation as they approached, and her frown deepened as she cast a glance towards Dallas, recalling their earlier conversation. Doesn't do too well with girls. Adelaide scoffed to herself. She couldn't stop her mouth from twisting into a feral grin, eyes lighting up at Beaudan's tone as he talked to her. Finally, he was playing with her - not just speaking to fill a void, or to condescend her. She brought her hands up in playful surrender as she responded, "Oh, I didn't even get to practice. I'm sure you've got nothing to fear, darling." To her left, Callum huffed a laugh, and she barely caught her brows from flickering in surprise. She met his eyes briefly, and the two shared a knowing look before breaking away. Clearing her throat, Addie gestured to Dallas and Beaudan before shooing them. "Alright, get to it. I've got winner, so Dallas, I sincerely hope you win. That first trail was absolutely terrible." Dallas laughed, patting his chest in a show of betrayal, before he turned to Beaudan and the two began to bicker - competitive talk that could only be exchanged between brothers. When Adelaide turned to head to the slope, however, Cal caught her arm. There was a glint in his eye that she couldn't quite place, and it threw her off a bit, but she stopped regardless. "I was thinking we could ride up with them." His voice was even, no trace of emotion found within its cadence, and Adelaide narrowed her eyes as she studied him. He offered her nothing aside from a pleasant smile, taking his hand from her arm to gesture for her to follow the two boys who were now making their way to the lift while shouldering one another out of the way. She took a moment to deliberate, the cold air biting her throat as she sucked in a sharp breath. "That would be nice," she stated cooly. "I'd like to see the scenery from that height before I'm too focused to ignore it." Callum held his arm out, and she folded her own hand through the loop it created. The two walked in amicable silence, the picture of wealth and elegeance as they carefully picked their way across the snowy terrain. The lift was only a short distance away, much less than she'd assumed it would be, and within minutes, the four were seated two and two, with Dallas and Beaudan in the row in front of her and Callum. She watched as Dallas kicked his feet playfully, noted the tense way Beaudan surveyed the ground below, and felt the rigidity with which Callum sat next to her. "Are you going to push me off?" Her question was blunt, the words sharp despite the laughter in her tone. Callum slowly turned to her, eyes wide and a small frown upon his face. "What?" "Well, you're sitting like a statue, and you've yet to warm up to me, and I'm some random girl doing who-knows-what at your estate. Which, by the way, I have no idea why I'm here still. I've decided that I don't care until tomorrow. But. Are you going to push me off? Save yourself from having to deal with me for the duration of our stay?" As she spoke, her tone lightened into something playful, following the fading frown on Callum's face. Slowly, a smile started to play at the corners of his lips, and his shoulders shook with silent laughter. "No, Adelaide. I don't plan on pushing you off the lift. That's something more up my brother's alley." Adelaide laughed then, turning her head forward to watch the two boys ahead. Both were switching between eyeing the landscape and each other, backs tense and feet kicking. She took the moment of silence to look out at the mountains around them. Snowy peaks clouded her vision, speckled clusters of trees growing as far as she could see. The sun was high, and the clouds few - it was nearly too bright, but just enough that everything was visible without the shaded goggles. "Careful, Beau," Callum called, causing her to shift forward again. "Don't embarrass yourself in front of Adelaide. I'm sure she'd love to have something to hold against you." |
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Darkseeker
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Beau, feeling magnanimous after his earlier victory, did something rare—he let Dallas sit on the left side of the chairlift. Ordinarily, that spot was non-negotiable, always his by right of personality and stubbornness, but he was in high spirits. Winning the first round of *Splat* had bolstered his mood, and with Dallas looking a bit uneasy, Beau figured he could afford to be generous. The chairlift climbed steadily, the chill in the air growing sharper as they rose higher above the snow-laden slope. Beau half-turned to exchange a few words with Callum, who was seated behind him with Adelaide. But his focus quickly returned to Dallas. He needed to stay sharp—if his younger brother called out unexpectedly, he had to be ready to act. Callum’s early call had thrown him off earlier, and he wouldn’t let himself be caught off guard again. As the lift carried them higher, the tension rose. Beau’s fingers drummed idly on the edge of his skis, his focus darting between Dallas and the increasingly steep slope below. The landscape stretched out beneath them in a glittering expanse of untouched snow, the kind of perfect scenery that made the Morcant boys feel invincible. It was Callum’s voice that broke through the mounting silence. “No, Adelaide,” Callum said, his tone dry. “I don’t plan on pushing you off the lift. That’s more up my brother’s alley.” The comment had Beau snapping his head around. His reputation for cunning and sly maneuvers preceded him, but hearing it called out so openly still caught him off guard. And from Callum, no less—who wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue himself. Beau opened his mouth, prepared to shoot back something sharp, but Callum wasn’t done. “Careful, Beau,” Callum added with a smirk. “Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Adelaide. I’m sure she’d love to have something to hold against you.” Beau froze for a fraction of a second. His instincts screamed to respond with something wildly inappropriate—perhaps about just *what* Adelaide might like to hold against him—but he reined himself in. Instead, he plastered on a sugary-sweet smile, tilting his head in mock innocence as he turned to face Callum. “Really, Cal?” Beau said, his voice dripping with faux politeness. “I think *you’re* the one who should be watching your tone.” Before Callum could retort, Beau turned back to Dallas, giving him a light nudge with his elbow. “And you,” he said smoothly, “Splat, kiddo.” The word hung in the air for a split second before Dallas moved. Without hesitation, he jumped. Beau immediately stiffened, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched his younger brother fall through the air and land with an audible thud in the snow below. His eyes flicked to his watch, its polished gold face gleaming in the pale sunlight. He started counting. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. At fifteen, Beau pushed off, slipping from the chairlift into the icy air. The wind tore through him, tugging at his jacket and hair as he braced for the impact. He landed with a satisfying crunch in the snow, the drop far smoother than his first round. He took a moment to steady himself, then launched into motion, the cold biting at his cheeks as he picked up speed. The race was on. Beau’s skis cut through the snow with precision, carving an elegant path down the slope. Dallas’s fifteen-second head start had given him an initial advantage, but Beau’s landing had been strategically placed. His brother had jumped into a thick grove of trees—tricky terrain for anyone less familiar with the hill. Beau, meanwhile, had aimed for the straight shot: an open path he’d known would give him the upper hand. His muscles burned with exertion, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins drowned out everything else. The slope blurred past him, trees and snow whipping by in a rush of white and green. He could see Dallas ahead, weaving through the trees, but the gap was closing fast. Beau grinned, feeling the thrill of the chase build in his chest. The finish line was just ahead. All he needed was a little more speed, a little more precision, and— He flew past Dallas in a burst of momentum, his brother’s frustrated shout trailing behind him. Beau laughed, the sound carried away by the wind as he crossed the bottom of the slope with a triumphant spray of snow. Another victory. Breathing hard, Beau turned, his grin as wide as the horizon. Dallas skidded to a halt behind him, panting and shaking his head. “Better luck next time, kiddo,” Beau teased, his voice light with mockery. Then he looked up, scanning the slope for Callum and Adelaide, who were just preparing to ski back down. Normally they only played one or two rounds of Splat in a day, it was hard on the ankles and the body in general, but now he was determined to win. Bruised ribs could be soothed in the hot tub later, bruised egos could not. |
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Neutral
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Adelaide watched as Dallas dropped a good twenty feet, skis hitting the ground with a thud that made her wince. He immediately disappeared into a cosp of trees, and she struggled to keep watch of him as the lift continued to climb upward. Fifteen seconds later, in a much nicer location, Beaudan dropped as well. His drop looked to be a bit higher, though she couldn't be certain, and she found herself sucking in a breath of worry as he bent his knees upon impact before tearing down the slope. At her side, Callum laughed, watching the quickly receeding figures with mirth. The reached the top not long after the boys had disappeared - Beaudan had waited quite some time before calling Splat, and they had only been a short distance from the hilltop. Adelaide waited, feet kicking nervously, as she watched the ground fast approach. "What do you say we have a little competition?" Cal's voice was smooth, raised over the growing winds. "First to make it down is off breakfast duty for the rest of our stay? It's always such a tedious task with four people." Adelaide smiled at him, turning to meet his eye then. In truth, she liked making breakfast - and she noticed the dangerous glint in his eye. Callum was trying to get her to wear herself out, to give Beaudan an easy win when she was too exhausted to fly down the mountain. "Sure," she said, nodding quickly and flipping her goggles down. Her feet stilled, and when they reached the peak of the hill, she dropped down without warning, building a good pace as she coasted down the slope. She kept track of the lift above her, keeping it directly over her head the entire time as she scouted the landscape. The trails that the boys had made were still fresh, and she tracked them down, looking for the best options. Somehow, she caught the beginning of Beau's trail, and followed that carefully for a moment. To her left, Dallas' trail was chaotic, swerving in and out of the trees, but Beaudan's seemed sharp, precise as it kept straight before twisting away from a trunk, only to resume its path. Adelaide picked up speed as Callum flew past her, laughing. She may be willing to lose, but she wouldn't allow it to be by much. She pushed her arms tighter to her body, picking up speed and slowly closing the gap between them before she twisted a bit and kept a consistent distance. Still, her eyes scanned the hill for the best option, and she found herself giddy as they approached the bottom, Dallas and Beaudan waiting. As she cut to a stop, she schooled her expression into one of loss, unclasping her skis with a bit of anger. She allowed her feet to stop slightly as she pouted up to the boys. Callum clasped a hand on her shoulder, still laughing, before he turned ro Beaudan and inclined his head. The two stepped a few feet away, and Dallas leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I lost. Hope you know what you're doing. Team Us needs a win." Adelaide turned her back to Callum and Beaudan before flashing Dallas a conspiritorial grin that bordered unhinged. His face flashed shocked for a moment, before he returned the smile. Angling her face back in front of the boys, she dropped the grin, once again pouting. "I'm just not sure how I'll manage to beat someone who knows the hills. Callum was so much better than I was, and even he was beat by Beaudan." She had said the last bit loud enough for the other two to hear, but only if they were listening. Let them think her incapable. The real fun was just beginning. - After a few moments of private deliberation, Adelaide and Beau made their way to the lift. Neither of the other siblings had any desire to ski the slope again, so they would be waiting at the bottom to declare winner. She pulled her goggles down and mask up to hide her grin as Dallas gave her a thumbs up, sitting on the lift with practiced tension as she nervously cast a glance towards Beau. They were soon in the air, rising quickly as the lift brought them towards the peak. "So," she drawled, keeping her head straight as she scanned the ground below. "Are you going to talk to me anytime soon? Other than to throw your absolutely lovely remarks, of course - I do adore the sting of those." She gave him a moment to respond, huffing slightly in preparation for what she was sure would be yet another scathing remark. A tense silence fell over her again, and before she knew it, they were over halfway up the hill. Adelaide twisted to the side just slightly, pretending to look at Beaudan. Instead she checked the space behind them. The drop was a good twenty-five feet, if not more, for a good stretch. If she timed it just right, though, she would be able to reach a much smaller drop herself. "Well, this has been rather fun, Beaudan, but alas, I've a competition to win. Splat." |
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Darkseeker
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Beau balanced his skis on one shoulder, his other hand tugging his shirt up to check for new bruises. The ache in his ribs was a persistent reminder of earlier falls, but he was relieved to find only a few additional marks blooming against his tan skin. Still, the stakes for this final round of *Splat* felt higher than ever. Losing to Adelaide was simply not an option. The mere thought of Dallas’s smug grin or Callum’s patronizing pity upon his return was infuriating enough, but there was also the bruising shame of losing to someone who wasn’t even a Morcant—and someone vying for a slice of their inheritance, no less. He squared his shoulders and tried to focus, steeling himself as he climbed onto the lift. Adelaide settled beside him with an infuriating air of ease, her skis resting neatly across her lap. Beau could feel her watching him, though he resolutely avoided meeting her gaze, his eyes fixed on the snowy trails stretching out beneath them. “So,” she began lightly, her tone just this side of teasing, “are you going to talk to me anytime soon? Or do I only get your absolutely charming remarks? I do *adore* the sting of those.” Beau tipped his head back, inhaling deeply. The crisp, icy air filled his lungs, sharpening his focus. “Mmm.” He exhaled slowly, letting the faintest smirk touch his lips. “I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves, Princess. You’ll get a lovely view of my back, though.” Adelaide fell silent after that, and Beau welcomed the quiet. He let himself sink into the rhythm of the lift’s ascent, his bright eyes scanning the trails below for the perfect moment. He knew she would call *Splat* eventually—it was just a matter of waiting. Beau rarely initiated the challenge; letting his opponent make the first move always gave him the advantage. And then, with a tone so casual it bordered on dismissive, Adelaide’s voice broke the stillness. “Well, this has been rather fun, Beaudan,” she said, her words laced with a competitive edge. “But alas, I have a competition to win. *Splat.*” His grin spread wide, all teeth and mischief. “Fifteen seconds, love. Don’t forget.” Adelaide leaped, disappearing into the frosty air, and Beau counted down the seconds on his watch. When the time hit fifteen, he followed. The fall was smooth, the snow breaking his descent as he landed in a generous drift. A sharp branch scraped across his cheek, but he barely felt it, his adrenaline surging as he pushed off with his poles. Beau moved with precision, every twist and turn through the trees calculated. He didn’t bother looking back—he could hear her skis slicing through the powder behind him. But he wasn’t worried. Beau had played *Splat* far too many times to leave anything to chance, and this path was his ace in the hole. With a final, effortless push, he emerged into the clearing at the bottom of the slope, where his brothers stood waiting. A few seconds later, Adelaide appeared, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the effort. Beau’s smirk deepened. “Ah, darling,” he drawled, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “All that big talk, and for what? Looks like I still have my title of *Splat* Champion.” --- Back at the lodge, Beau wasted no time slipping into a pair of dark swim trunks. The hot tub was calling his name, and his body felt like one massive bruise. The steaming water enveloped him as he sank into it with a sigh, the heat soothing his aching muscles. The mist rose lazily into the chilly air, curling around his shoulders as he stretched out, arms draped along the edge of the tub. Dallas had gone off to sulk in the showers, licking his wounds after his earlier loss, and Callum had decided to drive into town to stock up on food. That left Beau blissfully alone—until he saw Adelaide making her way toward him. She looked more put-together than she had any right to after their race, her steps unhurried as she approached. Beau tipped his head back, his smirk returning as his eyes traveled lazily up to meet hers. “Hey, pretty girl,” he drawled, his voice low and teasing. He shifted slightly, the movement causing water to ripple around him. “Wanna come sit on my lap?” |
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Neutral
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Adelaide had taken her loss in stride - with a huff and a roll of her eyes before she playfully shoved Beaudan in the shoulder and made her way back to her snow mobile. It had been a close race, mere seconds between her and her defeat, and she was too proud of her ability to keep up in the nesrly foreign terrain to let it get to her too much. The drop had been heftier than she expected, and she sported a nice limp as she mounted her vehicle, as well as a bruise she could feel forming across her collar bone from an errant branch. The ride back was quiet, the drone of the snow mobiles the only sound as they drove back to the lodge. Before she had dismounted, Dallas was off, head hung as he sulked away to the house. Callum made a comment about running to town before disappearing, and Adelaide found herself walking the hall to her room alone. She took a brief shower, scrubbing the smell of sweat off her skin, and walked leisurely into her room, pondering what she would do with the rest of the day. The back door shutting caught her attention, and she recalled the hot tub behind it. She smiled blissfully to herself as she rummaged through a drawer for her bathing suit, always packed in case she took an impromtu dip. A light green one-piece, with slits at her sides to give the illusion of a more snatched figure. She put it on, careful not to disturb her bruises, and threw a robe over it while she found a towel. Her steps were slow and unhurried as she made her way to the back patio, opening it to find Beaudan already submerged in the steaming water. Her eyes widened briefly - she had heard the door close, but it hadn't occured to her that the hot tub might be occupied already. She took him in, then - the languid tilt of his head, the inviting column of his neck, the warm gleam of his skin as it disappeared below the ripples. "Hey pretty girl. Wanna come sit on my lap?" His tone had been low, playful even, so at odds to what she normally heard from him that she stopped in her tracks, momentarily stunned. Her jaw dropped as she stared at him for a moment before she regained her composure. She was good at this game, well-versed in it. A feline smile spread lazily across her lips as she set her towel down and began to undo the tie on her robe. Slowly, methodically, she pulled the fabric from her shoulders and allowed it to drop, catching on the backs of her arms before she pulled it off entirely. Her eyes narrowed on him then, watching his reaction as she stalked forward. She sat on the edge of the hot tub before swinging her legs over and gently dipping them into the water. "Silly boy," she purred, dropping herself into the water across from him with ease. "You aren't supposed to ask strangers to touch you." Across from him, she allowed her feet to stretch, narrowly missing his own as she relaxed into the water. The bruise above her collar bone stung, but she ignored it, instead spreading her arms across the wall of the hot tub behind her. "Maybe if you were nicer to me," she drawled, voice matching his previous inflection. She brought one of her legs back to her, sure that it brushed against his knee before tucking it under herself. "Maybe if you stopped calling me princess." The word was thrown with a bit of venom, at odds with her saccharine smile. She allowed herself to look over the man before her, eyes trailing across his shoulders, the cords of muscle at his chest, before she moved again and the water rippled. She tsked, shaking her head before resting it against the edge behind her. "It's such a shame that we can't just get along, darling. Our stay would be much more pleasant, don't you think?" |
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Darkseeker
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Beau leaned back in the hot tub, the steam curling lazily around his shoulders as he stretched his arms along the edge. The cold night air bit at his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the water lapping at his chest. He looked utterly at ease, the picture of smug satisfaction, as if the world itself had bent to his will. His hum was low and rich, a sound that seemed to resonate more in the space between them than in the air itself. When Adelaide offered her inevitable retort, he responded with a flick of warm water, droplets splashing her arm with just enough mischief to be playful, but not annoying. His grin widened, teeth flashing like a predator who had all the time in the world to play with its prey. “We’re hardly strangers anymore, little one,” he said, his voice dropping into a silky coo. The words lingered, carried by the heat and the cold, dancing somewhere between a tease and a challenge. “And it’s so cold at night. Wouldn’t you like to be all cuddled up with someone? Someone warm, maybe even... *me*?” He let the suggestion hang in the air before his grin grew sharper, his tone dipping into playful condescension. “Or is Cal more your type? He *is* devilishly handsome with his scar. Maybe if you ask nicely, he’d even tell you how he got it.” He tossed his damp hair out of his eyes with an effortless flick of his head, the motion both careless and precise. Every inch of him was performing for her attention, from the casual sprawl of his body to the glimmer in his sharp blue eyes. “Maybe if I were nicer to you, hmm?” he mused, his voice laced with honeyed mockery. “Well, lucky for you, I’m feeling generous tonight. Doesn’t that count for something?” His grin deepened, the corners of his mouth curling in a way that blurred the line between charm and threat, his confidence as intoxicating as it was infuriating. “After all, I *did* win *Splat.* Doesn’t the champion deserve a prize?” Beau shifted forward, the motion subtle but deliberate, sending a ripple across the water. More of his toned torso emerged, droplets clinging to his skin and catching the soft glow of the lodge lights. It was a move designed to hold her gaze, and he knew it. His hand floated to the surface of the water, close enough to hers that the heat of his skin seemed to radiate through the space between them. The proximity was deliberate, tantalizing, the suggestion of a touch without actually taking the step. “Go on,” he murmured, his voice low and insistent, laced with the faintest edge of a dare. “Guess what I’m thinking about, Princess.” The silence that followed wasn’t empty; it was charged, electric, his words lingering in the air like the steam rising around them. His gaze didn’t waver, the intensity in his eyes balanced by the lazy ease of his posture. Every ounce of him was a challenge, a test, waiting to see how she’d rise to meet it. |
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Neutral
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As much as she loved this game, it was dangerous. A fine line, razor sharp. Callum was attractive, she wasn't able to deny that. The entire family seemed to be honed to perfection, flawless gods walking the earth. Even Dallas, with his boyish charm, was sure to draw attention. Yet, for some reason unbeknownst to her, she found herself drawn to the charmingly aristocratic, arrogant, prideful boy before her. The water seemed to cling to his skin as he moved, drawing her gaze as it fell in rivulets down the expanse of golden muscle. She licked her lips, heat rising to her face as she debated between rising to meet him or shrinking back. He was so close now, hand cemtimeters from her own, and she felt its presence like prey feels a predator. Beaudan's gaze was sharp, ravening as it traced her face, her skin, seemed to pierce her soul. "Careful, Beaudan," she whispered, voice laced with blatant desire. She lifted her hand, brushing his as she flicked a spray of water droplets onto his chest. "What if I get it right?" She met his eyes then, her own blazing with curiosity for the man before her. He was an enigma, personality shifting like the tide, and she couldn't help her desire to understand. Without thought, she moved forward, her hand coming to rest in the crook between his shoulder and neck. They were mere inches apart, so close that she could feel his breath fanning across her face, could see the wide array of colors bursting within his eyes. She saw his gaze flicker to her lips, and allowed her own to do the same. "I think-" Her words were cut off by the slamming of the back door, and she whipped around to face the intruder. Her hand dropped from him like she had been burned, and she shrunk away from the scrutinizing glare of the missing brothers, mouths open and towels slung across their necks. Her face heated as Dallas' mouth curved into a wicked grin, his eyes lighting up as he pointed between her and Beaudan. Callum stood, arms crossed, simply looking between the two with a raised eyebrow. The water was suddenly scalding hot, Adelaide thought, as she felt her skin flush. It was too hot, and she was too close to Beaudan, and the two brothers in front of her were looking at her with far too much curiosity. She wanted to run, wanted to leave the hot tub and lock herself in her room until they stopped looking at her like that. Instead, she took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall once more. She had backed herself into the far corner, and was relieved to find the protection. "Dallas, Callum. Lovely to see you both. Please, come join us." She refused to look at Beaudan as he moved to make space for the two boys, instead opting to play with her fingers under the surface of the water. Dallas coughed, Beaudan groaned, Callum snickered, and before she managed to look up to see why, Beaudan was sat next to her in the increasingly cramped space, their arms pressed together as he made room. Nobody spoke, and she felt them staring at her, so she cleared her throat, still fiddling with her fingers and mumbled, "Well. This is fun." |
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Darkseeker
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Beau couldn’t believe it. The night had been going so perfectly—right on the edge of something that could’ve made him forget, even briefly, the gnawing void he constantly carried. And then, as always, his brothers had to swoop in and ruin it. He muttered something sharp and cutting under his breath, a choice word aimed at the two figures approaching the hot tub. “Really, Cal?” he snapped, his tone as icy as the mountain air, but Cal’s smirk only widened, impervious to Beau’s scorn. Beau moved away from the stairs as if their very presence contaminated the small sanctuary he’d claimed. When Dallas cannonballed into the water with reckless energy, Beau shifted again, retreating further until the only space left was beside Adelaide. The proximity should have been satisfying, but the mood was gone, and the subtle charge between them fizzled under his growing frustration. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe through the waves of irritation. He wanted to snap at them both, to drive them away with the kind of scathing remark he was so good at. But he stayed quiet, biting his tongue until it nearly bled. Cal had made his usual jibes about Beau’s supposed womanizing tendencies, but they didn’t sting—they struck a deeper chord, one rooted in loneliness. It had been far too long since he’d had a satisfying connection with anyone, much less someone who could match him, push him, or hold their own against him. The fact that the chance had been so rudely snatched away infuriated him. He stared at the frothy surface of the water, trying to drown his thoughts in its rhythmic churn, but the soft hum of conversation around him was too much to bear. Finally, he stood abruptly, water sloshing over the sides as he moved. “See you all at dinner,” he muttered darkly, his voice low and tense. He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t look back. Draping a black towel over his shoulders, he stalked toward the house, his dripping steps echoing in the cold night air. --- The room was too quiet, too neat, too suffocating. Beau paced the small space, the towel slung low on his hips and his damp hair clinging to his neck. His frustration simmered, barely contained, until it boiled over in an instant. He slammed his hands down onto the table, the sharp crack of impact reverberating in the stillness. The lamp wobbled precariously before tumbling to the floor, shattering into jagged shards. Beau barely noticed. A growl of frustration escaped his lips, raw and unrestrained. His hands itched to destroy, to let the chaos inside him spill outward and consume everything in its path. The bed was the first victim, the neatly tucked sheets ripped away in a frenzy. Pillows flew across the room, one knocking over a chair, the other landing in a heap by the closet. The closet itself was next. He flung open the doors and yanked down hangers, tossing clothes without rhyme or reason. The pristine order dissolved into a storm of fabric, shoes, and accessories scattered across the floor like debris after a hurricane. The sound of his ragged breathing filled the space, broken only by the occasional crash of furniture as he upended a chair and sent it sprawling. The room became a mirror of his mind—chaotic, untethered, broken. Finally, he stopped, standing in the center of the destruction he’d wrought. His chest heaved, sweat mixing with the remnants of water on his skin. For a moment, he stared at the mess, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. He felt no satisfaction, no relief—only the same hollow ache that always lingered beneath the surface. Beau sank onto the edge of the disheveled bed, elbows resting on his knees as he buried his face in his hands. His fingers raked through his damp hair, pulling at it in frustration. He hated this—hated how easily he unraveled, hated how much he cared about Adelaide’s opinion, hated that he couldn’t just let go of the sting of losing even a sliver of control. |
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Fall 
Night 
Hurricane Moon: 
