ROLEPLAY HQ - strings-attached

Neil sat in the passenger side of the car, as his wife drove. Snow slolwy fell from the sky collecting on the grown as they drove by. His wife had one hand on his thigh, and the other held the staring wheel tightly as she maneuvered the car down the snow covered road. Trying to get them to their destination safely. It was currently 8 pm and they were late to a mutual friend's party, due to a small disagreement before they even got into the car. The argument was over his outfit again, he wasn't dress correctly, he needed to dress to empress their friends, not dress to look like a single dad who doesn't care about his looks, he had picked our a pair of jeans with a christmas sweater he loved. After a hour long argument, he dressed herself in a slimming black suit and black dress shoes, something he wasn't comfortable in. he leaned back in her seat, listening to his service dog Jack whine softly, wanting to be in the front seat, to comfort his daddy. Which made him sad to hear him winning, he just wanted to be back at home, in his bed holding Jack, drinking wine and watching his favorite Christmas movies . But he also wanted to be there at the party to support his wife. "Neil, I only nag because I love you. And I want you to look good ." His wife Said softly moving her hand from his thigh, to take his hand into hers. "We will be here for only a few hours, then we can go home and watch that one sappy movie you like. You know the one with the husband and wife and they are hiking ?" "The Christmas lodge ?" he asked turning his head towards his wife. "I know Martha, I just...this is the first party I've been to for a while." he said softly giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But for you I'll try my best ." Martha smiled gently kissing the back of his hand. "That's my boy." She smiled pulling into the driveway of the friends house. Carefully parking the car behind another vehicle. Once the car was parked she got out of the car, going to the passenger side o

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pening the door, holding a hand out for Neil to take. Neil smiled softly taking her hand as he got out ofthe car, gently leading Jack out of the back holding his leash tightly taking his wife's hand, mentally preparing himself for the overwhelming feeling. Together they all walked into the house, greeting the host thanking them for inviting them to the party. What he didn't expect was his wife to leave him alone as soon as they walked in. Leaving him sitting in the living room alone. With jack laying on his lap. Together they waited for Martha to finish mingling, and waiting for her to tell him it was time to go home.

@gweniee

The house was buzzing with music and people dancing around with friends and loved ones. Carol was invited by her friend to this party and she couldn't say no. Carol did try to convince her husband to come with her to the party so that she doesn't fell left out but as usual he was tired and wanted to rest after a long day instead of going to a lame ass party. Carol kept on this fake smile for everyone who greeted her and tried to strike a small talk, but those who know her the best also knows the fact that she hated those small talk. It was never really her thing. She made her way towards the hall where the beer cans were kept, because there was no way she could actually survive this party without some booze in her system. "Ahh, there you are" She said as she spotted few cans of beer lying just like that and quickly helped herself with one taking a sip of it. "Uh, such a relief. Just what I wanted" She said as she gulped down a few sips of chilled beer while she made her way to the living room from the hallway finding a place to just sit for sometime. She quickly glanced over looking for a place to just sit and let her legs rest for a bit she came across a familiar face. For a moment there she actually couldn't believe what she saw. "Is...he? No, that can't be" She said to herself trying to shrug it off thinking it's the alcohol fading her thinking but then she didn't drink that much. She walked over to the person who was probably as bored as she was just sitting there ideally looking around rather awkwardly with a dog in his lap. As soon as she reached around his back, she tapped on his shoulder. "Excuse me, Neil?" She said tapping on his shoulder with a hint of doubt in her voice. @Cupid Ken

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(( Dress reference))

Neil was just sitting in the livingroom, one of his wife's friends had given him a bottle of water, before going back to the party, leaving the man alone again. He hummed softly gently running his fingers threw his fur as he sighed. "Dont worry bud, mom will be back soon, then we can have some guy time in our room. We can watch some movies." He wasn't a fan of his wife's recent aggrangment of him having his own room, he missed being able to hold her at night, to wake up eith her next to him. But since the incident, she had kicked him out into his own room. So he and Jack spend most of his days, working online, staying hidden in their tiny bedroom, gets chores and dinner done for his wife. It wasn't much of a marriage now, but at least she still loved him. He hummed softly looking up when someone tapping his shoulder he looked up a bit confused "yes? That's me, um." He looked at her confused. But his confusion turned to curiosity "oh my gosh, Carol! Hey!" He smiled widely "what brings you here?" He asked @gweniee

It was him. NEIL. It wasn't alcohol it was reality. It had been god know how many years since they both last saw each other. "What are the odds, huh?" She said tucking her hair back behind her ears and taking a sip of from her drink. "Actually, a friend of mine is throwing this party and Me and my husband were invited" She said with a brief pause as she takes another sip of her drink. "But, my husband was too tired for the party so he decided to rather stay at home and rest. What brings you here?" Carol asked with a wide smile on her face as if she wants to convey Neil somehow that she is so surprised and excited at the same time.

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@Cupid Ken

Neil couldn't believe it, it was Carol! The same Carol from college. He had a wide smiled as he gently moved to face her better. He listened to her talk about why she was at the party, feeling bad that her husband didn't come. "My wife's coworker is throwing the party, im..I'm not too sure where she is. But I'm sure she's around here somewhere. " He said looking at the ocean of people with a slight frown. He gently moved jack closed to him, running his fingers threw his hair. "If I'm being honest, I wanted to stay home. But it's going to be a late one, so I have to be here to drive home." He sighed shaking his head. He looked back ro Carol and smiled "how have you been? Married you say, how exciting. How are you liking it? Is it how you expected it to be years ago?" He asked her couriously. @gweniee

Listening to Neil brought back all the sweet memories they shared with each other. Those playful glances, those abrupt sneaking out of lectures and going on long walks where no one would bother them. Snapping back to reality and the buzzing surrounding Carol noded along as Neil explained about his reason to be around the party. "Well, it's a mixed feeling" Carol said rubbing the back of her neck. "There are days I love him with all I have and times when I actually want to~" Carol paused before she uttered another word out of her mouth. Her eyes getting wider as she thinks to herself as to how could she probably think about saying such a thing. She quickly tried to just spin the story around yo Neil instead. "Well, let's not ruin the party mode" She said with a chuckle. " How have you been? And who is this fur friend of yours?" Says Carol as she kneels down setting her drink aside as she runs her fingers through Jack's fur. "Also, I can keep you company till your wife finds her way back to you. Ofcourse if you don't mind" She said as she runs Jack's belly who was very clearly enjoying that attention he was getting from Carol. @Cupid Ken

Neil nodded slowly, he had a feeling she wasn't really happy in her marriage, but he didn't want to push. Last time he did, they ended up breaking up in college. He offered her a small smile. "I'd appreciate you sitting with me, thank you." He said kindly watching her for a moment. He watched Jack with a smile, watching him move closer to Carol, so he coukd get the pets. He chuckled "this is Jack, I brought him just incase I panicked." He explained softly. "My wife wouldn't let me bring his 'im worrking' jacket, but it's fine, he normally very good about working with no vest, expecally in big crowds." He explained looking at her with a soft smile. Gently moving jack closer so he wasn't getting hair on Carol's dress. "I shouldn't say that, she's very kind, just wanting us to look our best tonight is all." He sighed "it took alot of convincing to even bring him, but it's fine." He replied softly "so...what do you do for work?" @gweniee

"I...work for a magazine as a content writer. You know how I used to work for our college magazine back then" She said almost involuntarily referring to the past again. "Jack is sweet, I'd take him home if he weren't yours" Carol said as she stands up again running her hands over the dress to dust of some hair. "Umm, do you mind if I sit there?" She said pointing to empty spot on the left of where Neil was sitting and goes there if Neil says yes. "What a party right? Tell me something" Carol said almost jumping a little as she turns to her right to face Neil. "As far as I remember you dread such parties, how come you couldn't convince your wife not to come along? Because back when we dated you used to convince me easily" Carol said with a soft smile on her face almost reminiscing those days when Neil used to bring flowers and all the shenanigans when he wanted to convince Carol about something. @Cupid Ken

"Oh woah! Congratulations, I bet you the best of the best in your company!" He praised with a wide smiking. "You were always the best at getting the story, and explaining it in a way that was easy to understand, ans entertaining to read." He chuckled softly. He laughed "I bet, he's very spoiled. Sleeps on the bed with me all the time, will only eat if I give him food. Not to mention the bubble baths he gets weekly." He teased chuckling ad Jack looked at him "yes I'm talking about you spoiled boy." He smiled softly looking at her "of course yeah you can sit here." He agreed carefully moving so she had more room to sit. He listened to her talk about the party, he has a small sad look. "I admit I tried, but she said it would look bad to her boss if I didn't come alone. It seems I had lost my touch on convincing people to do anything ." He sighed running a hand threw his hair with a small hum. "Ever since she became the one supporting us, she's made sure I am reminded, daily. Not like I could of stopped what happened when I got laid off, but it's my fault" He shook his head. The only reason he was laid off, was because he had a break down. He couldn't remember why it had happened, he was there teaching class, then the next thing he remembered, he was on the ground, with paramedics standing over him. He shivered at the memory looking back to Carol with a small smile. "What about you? Couldn't convince your husband to join you? Last I remembered you were the queen of convincing people to do things." He chuckled @gweniee

Carol's smile slowly started to fade away as Neil took Carol through the pain he is going through and how his wife is not able to actually understand him without actually saying it directly. This was the chemistry they had back in college days. Carol and Neil were the couple others wanted to be like. One would always complete the sentences of the other, that was the level of understanding they had amidst them. Carol gently rubbed Neil's shoulder as she was totally able to see the pain in his eyes. She was also able to sense some sort of guilt in him. She wasn't really sure what it could be. "Hey, you need to stop blaming yourself for anything bad that happens around you" She said consoling him while Jack helped by rubbing his paws on his pants. "See, even Jack agrees with me here" Carol chuckled as she bent down a little to run her hand over Jacks head petting him for being a good boy. "Well, even I'm a little out of my convincing game it seems. Nothing worked. I tried everything." She sighed as she pulls her hair back behind her neck as she ties them into a clean bun. "Do you mind if I ask why were you laid off? I don't mean to pry really" She asked with a bit of hesitation in her voice which made her realise how different the space between them is today then it was way back. This hesitation kind of snapped her back to reality. @Cupid Ken

Neil blinked slightly, he looked at her hand on his arm and smiled, he couldn't remember the last time he had a soft touch like that. It felt nice even nicer coming from a past lover. He gently reached up patting her hand gently, showing he appropriated the guester. He chuckled softly giving Jack the much deserved pets as the big dog cohkd get. "Its a hard lesson to remeber, but I'm glad I am slowly learning to stop blaming myself. And I hope you don't blame yourself for things either, I remeber in college you where always hard on yourself." He said a bit sad, remembering the night he would hold her, while she cried about any wrong doings she thought about. It had always broke his heart when she did it. Because she didn't deserve it. When she asks why he was let go from his job, he actually looked worried. He looked around making sure his wife didn't see him. "Mary doesn't want anyone to know, she just tells everyone I was awful at my job." He admitted softly. He looked at her "if I tell please don't tell anyone else, I don't want Mary to feel as if I betrayed her." He explained softly. If she agreed he took a deep breath. "I ended up having a break down, a pretry bad one. I remember teaching class, and having this overwhelming sense of panic wash over me." He explained "the next thing I remeber, paramedics were putting me on a stretcher and my students whete in tears. The college let me go, due to the request of my thearipist. The stress became crippling, so I tutor now, it isn't much, maybe one to three students a day but that's all my brain can handle at the moment I'm afraid ." He sighed @gweniee

Carol was surprised on seeing Neil like that. Something was different about him. When he told about the incident which led to his resignation he looked and sounded different than usual. Carol had never seen him panicking or having sort of an anxiety attack even in the most difficult of situation they had been together. Carol couldn't stop herself and slid a little closer to him and just wrapped her arms around him gently rubbing his back. They had their own differences but they never lost respect for each other. "You.. you should've talked to your friends from college about this~ you know, sometimes talking about these things helps a lot" She said as she rests her head on this shoulder for a while not caring about what if his wife sees her like that. "Even, my mobile number hasn't changed" She said looking upto him with those big round eyes of her. "I'm just..saying if you need a friend to talk to I'm there. I know somethings are just difficult to talk with your partner because you have to think a lot before what you speak or what can offend them" Carol said as she let go of her hands around Neil and scooted aside a bit leaving some space between them after that brief hug. @Cupid Ken

Neil relaxed softly when she gently rubbed her back, he missed this feeling. The one if someone being thwre for comfort him. He gave her a soft sad smile as to show her he was okay, and she didn't need to worry. He gently hugged her, giving her a soft pat on the back, as he promised her he was okay. He didn't want her to worry about him, because he was fine. He was starting to get better and was starting to, slowly get back to his normal self. It was a slow process but it was happening. "Im alright now Carol, I wasn't then, but now I am starting to get better. Yes I admit I should of gotten into contact with all of you, but I have to admit it is hard. " He admitted softly. "Its hard admitted you need help, expecally to friends you hadn't seen in over a few years. " He watched her gently Scoot away, he couldn't help but loss the feeling of her being next to him, the hug they had. But he pushed that thought away, they were married, it would be unprofessional and not appropriate to ask to hold her, like that had in college. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. I do still have your number. But I'm afraid mine has changed again. I-is it okay if I give you mine? I'd love to keep in contact ? O-or a social media?" He asked carefully pulling out his phone from his pocket so he could give her his new contact information. @gweniee

still doing this?

@Cupid Ken @gweniee )

still doing this?

@Cupid Ken @gweniee )

@Lots of Loni 💘 - jump ((LOL I hope so! Just waiting for Gwen I don't want to rush lol