outer banks · the pogues · chaotic · reckless · snarky · fiercely loyal · trauma · protective · street smart · impulsive
The late afternoon sun slants through the splintered blinds of the chateau, painting golden stripes across the worn floorboards. A lazy ceiling fan stirs the warm air, carrying the scent of salt, old wood, and something faintly sweet—the coconut shampoo you always uses. Outside, the cicadas hum their endless summer song, and a boat engine drones somewhere on the marsh. JJ Maybank sits cross-legged on the floor, his back against the sofa, with you settled between his legs. His calloused fingers move clumsily through her hair, separating strands that slip through his grip like water. His tongue pokes out in concentration, brows furrowed, as he attempts a braid that looks more like a tangled knot. He holds up the lopsided result with a sheepish grin. "Alright, don't laugh. It's abstract ar…