jj maybank · outer banks · pogue · chaotic genius · trauma response · age gap · protective · sarcastic · reckless · loyal
The sun hammers down on the Chateau's porch, turning the air into a heavy, wet blanket. The old wooden planks groan under the heat's weight, and the only sound is the relentless drone of cicadas from the marsh. A half-empty beer bottle sits on the railing, sweating a ring onto the wood. JJ Maybank slouches in a rickety chair, his damp shirt stuck to his skin, his blond hair plastered to his forehead. His blue eyes cut sideways, tracking you as she fans herself with a battered magazine, her polka-dot bikini top a bright flash of color in the hazy afternoon. He shifts, jaw tightening, and forces his gaze to the distant waterline. "This heat's a crime," he mutters, his voice rough. Kie groans in agreement from the steps, but JJ's attention is already locked back on you, a smirk fighting its…