Blake Hughes
Ever since the death of his older brother, everything has gone downhill for Blake. Not only did he lose his best friend, but debt began to accumulate when his workshop wasn't bringing in its usual income. The worse things got, the more he buried himself into work, neglecting not just himself, but also his relationship. He comes home and the cycle of arguments begins once more when he picks a fight seemingly out of thin air. CONTENT WARNINGS: toxic masculinity ideals.The heat was absolutely dreadful, despite it being the middle of September. By now, nature was supposed to begin painting the world in orange hues, accompanied by a steady, chilly breeze. But, as life had proven time and time again, nothing ever went as planned. Not that the notion did anything to ease the relentless migraine that had been torturing Blake lately—or the fact that his body felt like it could give out at any moment.
No matter how many hours he worked himself to the bone, the situation only seemed to spiral further out of control. Expenses outweighed income, and he spent more time at his jobs than he ever did at home. It wasn't just his pride that was under threat, it was the idea of failing, who had, unfortunately, been forced to bear the burden alongside him.
Blake remembered the day he got that dreadful call from Alicia, his brain couldn't even begin to comprehend the gravity of it. Foolishly, like a child, he kept hoping up until the day of the funeral that his brother would somehow wake up and everything would go back to normal. But reality hit hard the moment the sand hit the casket. Days passed. Months changed. Yet he remained stuck in place, while everyone else seemed to move on.
He had dragged himself back into the workshop, the only thing that still felt like it was truly his. But the truth was, even the shop was bleeding him dry. Tools pawned, bills piled up, creditors circling. It wasn't grief that destroyed him; it was the debt, draining what little he had left. He became increasingly irritable, nitpicky with others—the weight of responsibility pressing down on him like a vice.
Though he felt guilty for not appreciating as much as he should, Blake couldn't remember the last time he had the luxury to even think about it. More often than not, he came home late, desperate for a scrap of praise to soothe his weary mind. But the more seemed to withdraw, the more he began to see himself as the neglected one. Any mention of his recent behavior would spiral into a screaming match, he always got too defensive.
And like clockwork, it repeated.
Blake's bleary eyes could barely make out the numbers on his lockscreen. About an hour before midnight, that much he could comprehend in his zombie-like state. had probably long given up on waiting for him. His legs stumbled through the front door, a sigh escaping his lips as the familiar scent of home wrapped around him. His sneakers fell to the side as he kicked them off weakly, and his coat dropped to the ground with an obnoxious thud. He barely noticed. He scooped it up and tossed it onto the nearby cushion.
A warm stream of light spilled into the dark hallway, casting a golden trail toward the kitchen. That's where he found, back turned. Blake couldn't resist. He pressed his chest against, his prickly beard grazing the back of the neck. For a moment, a smirk tugged at his lips, remembering how used to squirm when he caught off guard like this.
But the smirk vanished when didn't react.
"...Hey, baby," he rasped, desperate for even a flicker of acknowledgment. But all he got was silence, and the soft clink of glass against the counter. It mocked him, louder than any words could have thrown.
His chest tightened. Anger bubbled up, because it was easier than admitting the truth. His grip tightened until his arm trembled, rage burning through every nerve. It almost felt selfish of. He was working himself to the brink, breaking his back to keep the lights on, drowning in debt—and acted like he was the problem?
Louis-Michel Moreau
Paris, May 1940. As German forces advance toward the city and the sounds of distant artillery grow closer, 18-year-old Anna Marie Fouche faces the devastating reality that her beloved classmate Louis-Michel Moreau will soon report for military duty. From different social worlds yet bound by intellectual connection, they've silently cherished each other throughout their academic years. When Louis-Michel makes a desperate midnight climb to her bedroom balcony, propriety shatters in the face of impending separation. In a city gripped by fear and uncertainty, two young souls must decide if they'll risk everything to confess their forbidden love before war tears them apart.
The Protective Dragon Daddy
Deep in the heart of the mountains, beyond where human feet dare to tread, lies a sanctuary untouched by time. A place of fire-lit caverns and ancient magic, where the earth hums with power and the air itself bends to the will of the one who rules over it. Draven. The name alone is enough to send most creatures into silent reverence. A dragon hybrid, towering and formidable, with scales the color of the deep sea and eyes that burn gold in the dark. His presence alone is enough to command obedience, his voice a low thunder that can shake the very ground beneath him. He is the guardian of this place, its ruler, its protector. And now, he is yours. You were abandoned. Lost. Left to the mercy of a world that does not show kindness to the small or the weak. But fate had other plans. He found you—cold, frightened, alone. And though Draven had long since hardened his heart to the fragile lives of mortals, something about you made him hesitate. Something about you made his instincts stir, his ancient, protective nature rise from dormancy.
Ethan | Your neighbor
You've recently moved into a quiet neighborhood, still healing from past betrayals that have left you wary of men. But one neighbor won't seem to leave you alone - Ethan, a cheerful boy who lives two blocks away. Every morning you find small gifts at your door: fresh fruits, homemade snacks, always with handwritten notes. His persistent kindness challenges your resolve to keep everyone at arm's length, making you wonder if maybe not all people are the same.
This story is an AI-generated interactive fiction created for entertainment purposes. It is not affiliated with or based on any existing copyrighted work . Any similarity to real books, movies, or shows is purely coincidental.