ROLEPLAY HQ - thawed-hearts

Two Years Ago Behind the closed double doors, the roar of the crowd and the thunderous applause created a symphony of excitement that reverberated through Alice's very core. Her grip on Daniel's hand was an anchor in the tempest of anticipation, and a shared glance between them spoke volumes. Daniel's smirk, accompanied by a dimple on his cheek, stirred a profound warmth within her, a mixture of affection and the pulsating surge of adrenaline. Years of relentless training had led them to this precipice, the final frontier before clinching a coveted spot in the next Olympics. Every step closer to the ice was a step closer to their shared dream. Just as Alice poised herself to step forward, Daniel gently halted her, pulling her closer and cradling her chin with a tender warmth. A soft kiss passed between them, a prelude to the challenge and triumph that awaited. "Whatever happens today, we will have each other, okay?" Daniel's reassurance, delivered in a deep, comforting voice, enveloped Alice like a warm blanket. Her response was a bright smile, a testament to the unwavering trust that bound them together—resilient, even in the face of a world that might crumble around them. A subtle nod from Daniel to their ice coach, Lydmila, signaled the next chapter. Unbeknownst to Alice, Lydmila harbored a secret in her pocket—a ring box patiently waiting for the perfect moment. Daniel, nervously resolute, was determined to not only make Alice soar on the ice but also propose to the woman he loved dearly. As the double doors swung open, the world outside transformed into a sensory overload of deafening cheers and blinding lights. As they were skating onto the ice, the commentator joyfully announced their names, setting the stage for a performance that carried the weight of their lifelong aspirations. Before taking their position in the center, they glided in acknowledgment, a vibrant wave to the audience—a sea of familiar faces who had watched them grow, supported them, an

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d now waited for their triumph. The crescendo of emotions surged as they stood poised to reach new heights. The music, a soft symphony, ushered them into a dance that mirrored the grace of swans. Each movement was a testament to their unspoken connection, showcased in a waltz, a triple lutz, and synchronized jumps that elicited an unbridled eruption of applause from the crowd. Amidst the rhythm, a glance and a wink sealed their readiness for the most challenging element—a triple twist lift that held the promise of a gold medal. Trusting Daniel implicitly, Alice turned on her skates, bracing for the ascent into the air. Little did she know that this element, meant to be a crowning achievement, would become an unexpected turn in their story. As she spun into the air, time seemed to dilate. The world, once a whirlwind of sound and light, hushed into an unsettling silence. Eyes shut, she focused on the spins, oblivious to the growing void around her. It was only upon landing that the stark absence of Daniel's hands became evident. Her descent to the unforgiving ice was not the triumphant conclusion they had envisioned.

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In that moment, pain and confusion gripped her. As she sought Daniel, her hand reaching out in instinct, the reality of the mishap unfolded. Daniel, on his knees, wore an expression of horror. He, too, had fallen, unable to catch her as intended. The ice beneath her felt colder, and a single scream pierced the air, drowning out every other sound. The aftermath unfolded in a surreal haze. Alice felt as if she had broken through an icy layer, sinking into the abyss of an endless sea. Silence engulfed her, and breathing became a struggle. Darkness, relentless and cold, claimed her consciousness, leaving her suspended in the numbing void. — Alice awoke slowly to the rhythmic beeping, the harsh lights of the hospital room stinging her eyes. A sense of loss hung heavy in the air, and a moment of disorientation preceded the realization that something integral had been taken from her. Her gaze wandered the sterile white walls before finally settling on Daniel, seated in a chair nearby. The same look of horror that had gripped him on the ice now etched his face as he leaned forward to hold Alice's hand. "What happened?" Her voice, barely more than a whisper, betrayed the confusion and fear coursing through her. She clung tightly to Daniel's hand, seeking answers in the depths of his eyes. Time seemed to stretch on, and the silence between them deepened, leaving her with the unsettling certainty that the answers might never come. At last, Daniel summoned the courage to recount the details of her fall and the spinal cord damage that had demanded surgical intervention. The severity of the situation eluded Alice, but the weight of failing at a pivotal moment crashed down upon her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at Daniel in disbelief. The world around her trembled, and his attempts to comfort her felt futile. Her career, once soaring, now lay shattered, and though Daniel had promised they would always have each other, the weeks in the hospital revealed a stark

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reality. As the days passed, Daniel's presence dwindled until only his unanswered messages remained, haunting the silence of their fractured relationship. "Sorry, I couldn't come today. I had to have a training session." "Did you get the flowers I sent you?" "Alice, is everything alright?" "I have a new coach now, he says that I have to continue training if I want to ever win again." "Alice, I have a new ice skating partner." “...” Silence lingered, punctuating the void left by the absence of meaningful connection. Alice, confined to her hospital bed, felt used and discarded, left to face an endless loneliness. The hope that had once fueled her was replaced by the stark reality of her situation. No longer the graceful figure flying on skates, she was now bound to a wheelchair, her dreams of the future shattered, and the prospect of a new beginning leaking away like the melting ice beneath her former glides.

11:05 AM

Now Winter, once a beloved season, now cast a cold shadow over Alice's heart. The memory of snowflakes gently descending, creating a serene white landscape, had been replaced by the stark reality of her current view. Seated in her wheelchair, she stared out of the window at the frozen lake, its deep blue ice marred by gaping cracks. The beauty of winter had become a painful reminder of what she had lost. Her breath, once visible in the crisp air, now seemed trapped within the confines of her numb body. The desire to scream and unleash the fury building inside her clashed with the cruel reality that her legs were unresponsive. She was a captive within her own body, with the glimmer of hope for recovery diminishing with each passing day. Daniel, her once steadfast partner, had vanished from her life the moment it became apparent that she wouldn't regain her mobility. No explanation, no goodbye. His dream of becoming a world champion and heading to the Olympics took precedence over their shared aspirations. The only traces of him lingered in the digital realm, a constant reminder of the life he had moved on to without her. Each day found Alice at the window, gazing at the frozen lake for hours. As winter settled in, and the ice on the lake mirrored the thickening layer around her heart, she felt a growing detachment from the changing seasons. She had already lost everything, and with nothing left to lose, she became a spectral presence in front of the window. The world outside transformed with the changing seasons, but Alice's internal landscape remained frozen. The approaching Olympics, a once-shared dream, now loomed as a painful reminder of the divergent paths their lives had taken. Daniel had achieved his aspirations with a new partner, leaving Alice alone with the echoes of her shattered dreams. The relentless routine of rolling up to the window each day felt like an eternity. The passing seasons left their mark on the lake, but for Alice, time seemed to stand

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still. The ice on the lake mirrored the growing frost in her heart, a testament to the depth of her despair. She resigned herself to the ghostly existence she had become, sitting by the window, watching as the darkness threatened to consume her entirely, leaving nothing behind.

11:05 AM

@All time Jack

Growing up Richard never really thought that he would ever make it and become anything of note. He wasn’t all that smart or artistically gifted and it wasn’t like anyone really wanted to play sports with him. Not when an explosive temper could lead to him storming off and someone else on the ground. It was luck that he was scouted when he was nearing eighteen and on a botched date. Whose idea it was to have a first date at an ice-skating rink he still wasn’t sure. If he remembered right the girl, he was on a date with just said that she always wanted to learn to skate. He remembered being worse at staying on his feet then her and then a guy not looking where he was going knocked his date to the ground and didn’t even look back until he was called. Of course, it led to a fight he remembered putting the seasoned hockey player on the ground, a defender known for being able to bully others on the ice. Really it was a quick fight, even if it was not one without consequences. The player he ended up knocking out needing to take a break for his shoulder to heal. For him if he had just gotten out of it with bruised bloody knuckles, he would have been pretty happy but instead he was also left with a lawsuit that would have ruined him. If it weren’t for the coach standing up for his defence. Albeit there were strings attached, come to training and attend one game and if it weren’t for him, he could quit. Really, he’s made worse deals before where he lived was far from nice after all, and it wasn’t like he had any good role models.

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Now it felt kind of ironic. He got onto the team by getting in a fight and now he at risk of getting kicked out because of a fight he got into. The jackass had it coming, fouling one of the guys on his team. Were the refs stupid? How did they miss how his teammate was basically tripped with the stick on purpose. “I can see no signs of long-term damage in your hand it should be good as new with rest provided you don’t get in anymore fights.” Once the coach calmed down, he was sure that he’d be back on the team. It wasn’t like he hurt the other player that bad, he heard that when he woke up, he didn’t even have a concussion. “Mr Perry are you listening to me” a hand gently nudging his shoulder was what finally made him remember that he was being spoken to as his eyes quickly looked glanced around the room that he was sat in glancing at the hospital bed he was sat on before he looked up at the doctor dressed in an ugly purple and green sweater. “Oh yes of course.” He lied quickly nothing by the look on the woman’s face that she didn’t believe him if it wouldn’t be seen as unprofessional, he could imagine her rolling her eyes. “So, as I was saying before the scans have found no indication that there will be any longer-term damage in your hands. So long as you avoid getting into any fights you should be as good as new with rest in time provided you avoid getting into any more fights.” So, if he gets in another fight use his other hand was what Richard took from her words, but he nodded none the less. He was smart enough not to voice every bad idea he had after all. He was able to stay silent about maybe half of them it didn’t do him much good, however. Most of the bad decisions that he made usually weren’t planned they were acted out in the moment that he thought of them. Like the fight, not that he really regretted it that much, life was too short to deal with regrets after all. “So, you’re saying that I get to walk out of here with a clean bill of health?”

4:03 PM

“If you call bruised knuckles and damage tendons in your hand then yes. Give it a month or two and you will be fine.” She told him making him frown before he nodded. He was sure the couch would probably use this as an excuse to bench him but at least nothing was broken. His phone ringing reminded him that he had forgotten to switch it to silent making him wince looking back at the doctor, but she simply waved him off. “If you’ve got no more concerns or questions your free to go just remember what I told you and get some rest.” She told him making him smile slightly as he nodded. “Thank you.” he said softly as he left looking at his phone and when he saw that it was the coach he grinned. Speak of the devil. He thought to himself as he answered the call. “Hey, the doc has given me a clean bill of health so when is the next game?” He asked quickly bending the truth silently. “Yeah, that’s what I called to tell you about, they are really not liking what you did. The suits are saying you're giving us a bad image.” He could imagine the coach rolling his eyes on the other end of the phone and he did the same. “Bad image? It's fucking hockey fights happen most games it’s not figure skating.” He said annoyed. “Listen I’m trying to speak to them, it should be fine but it’s gonna take time. In the meantime, you know Alice Huxley, right?” “Am I supposed to?” “Yes, you know my wife’s student that got injured while skating. I've told you about it.” that did jog his memory and so he nodded with a sigh. “Okay yes I remember what you are bringing this up for?” It wasn’t like he ever really knew her. “Because she’s in the same hospital as you as we speak. I want you to go down there and help cheer her up. Take her out, just make sure she goes home smiling.” The coaches' words made him hesitate it was sweet of the couch to care but it was just. “Did you hit your head? I'm not the kind of person you come to for cheering someone up.” He was pretty good at cooking; he knew how to fight, and he was good at playing hockey. People skills weren’t one of his talents, didn’t the coach know this by now? “Yeah, but you’re stubborn and you don’t really know when to shut up. She’s been needing that. So go find her for me. It's not like she’s gonna be hard to miss she’ll be in a wheelchair.” “You know I’m in a hospital right there might be a couple people in wheelchairs.” “Just find her use your words if you’re not sure it’s her.” With that the couch hanged up leaving Richard sighing before he made his search.

@Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

Alice sat by the large windows, gazing out at the frozen lake. In the past few weeks, nothing substantial had changed in her surroundings. The only noticeable addition was the Christmas tree behind her, adorned with twinkling lights, and the ceiling rim decorated in a festive manner. Surprisingly, the onset of the Christmas spirit seemed to have little effect on Alice, who appeared indifferent to its presence. It would have been just another day, much like the preceding ones, if it weren't for the unexpected interruption— the deep voice of a woman well-known to Alice, laced with a thick Russian accent. "Why are you still not ready? You are late for your doctor’s appointment, моя дорогая," scolded her former coach, now more of a woman she used to know. She stood before Alice, arms crossed in disappointment, emanating a dominating aura. Wrapped in a gray fur coat, her red hair with traces of gray pulled into a voluminous bun, and intense brown eyes accentuated by black eyeliner, she defied the norms of aging. Despite being in her 60s, she remained attractive and embodied the concept of aging like fine wine. Lydmila still clung to the belief that Alice could return to the ice, convinced that a gentle push was all she needed to reignite the spark in her soul. She had known Alice since she was eight years old, witnessing her formidable fighting spirit. Alice used to dedicate countless hours working towards her dreams and goals, undeterred by the world's attempts to convince her otherwise. However, now only faint traces of that spirit remained, perilously close to being whisked away by a single gust of wind. Alice furrowed her brow as her view of the lake was obstructed, and she slowly lifted her gaze to meet Lydmila's eyes, a challenging expression on her face. Despite the importance of doctor appointments to ensure her muscles remained active, Alice remained indifferent. To her, being in a wheelchair equated to a living death. Regardless of her protests, she soon fou

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nd herself being rolled outside to a specially prepared van waiting for her. In the hospital, she was ensnared in the all-too-familiar routine of examinations. Like a doll, her joints were manipulated in different directions, and her limp legs, devoid of sensation, were pricked with a needle to ensure Alice's lack of feeling. She found herself nodding to the inquiries, maintaining silence. However, it felt as if she were underwater, suffocating in the sterile scent of the examination room. The doctor's hands on her skin felt cold and rough, a part of her wished to leap up and escape, but she remained confined by her disability. Despite screaming internally, an inert version of herself was projected externally. Alice persisted in a state of mental blackout, glimpsing flashing images of life unfolding before her but not truly delving into their substance. She yearned to return home, to sit by the window again, hoping the ice covering the lake might provide the answers she sought. Why did she have to be the one to endure this terrible accident? Many figure skaters face injuries during their careers, but only a select few end up in a wheelchair like Alice. It didn't feel fair that her life had been torn away from her at the age of 22. Previously, she had so much to discover about life, so many goals to achieve, and now she no longer knew what lay ahead.

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The doctor persisted in recommending physical therapy, holding onto the possibility that Alice could regain function in the lower part of her body. However, it all sounded like unattainable promises, and Alice suspected they were attempting to entice her into believing that her life might not be so dire, bound to a wheelchair and never stepping onto the ice again. Her only solace was being an adult and having the autonomy to decide on her treatment. Soon, Lydmila wheeled her back to the waiting room, where a few other people cast pitying glances in Alice's direction. She shot each one a cold glance, silently conveying that they should mind their own business. Pity from others was something she refused to accept, except from herself. Lydmila said something to her, which went unregistered, and suddenly, she found herself alone in the waiting room. The minutes dragged on, making Alice increasingly nervous as she clung to the armrests of her wheelchair. The hospital scent became even more suffocating, and she longed to return home. All she could do was hope that Lydmila would reappear soon…

7:23 AM

@All time Jack

He still didn’t get why the coach was hoping that he would be able to cheer the woman up, he didn’t even know her. He knew of her vaguely, but he didn’t know her, and he wasn’t the type that was good at cheering other people up. No, he sucked at dealing with people. He was told that he was too blunt, with other people but he knew how stubborn the coach was so he might as well get it over with. He sighed as he stretched, his hand aching dully before he started to walk looking for the woman. Maybe if he just hung around her constantly and annoyed her, no spoke to her enough she’d get so frustrated with him that she’d feel better about herself. He knew that sometimes when people we’re upset the best thing to do was to give them something else to think about, and that was something he was pretty good at. Now he just needed to find her. Walking through the hospital he hummed as he saw that the hospital didn't seem all that busy, they were pretty far away from the A&E at least so things didn't seem all that hectic right now at least. He would be able to recognise the woman he was looking for right? She was in a wheelchair, and he was sure that he had at least seen pictures of her. It didn’t take him long to spot who he assumed to be her. He couldn’t see anyone else in a wheelchair after all and she did look familiar. Either way if he was wrong, he would just apologise. It always was easier to ask for forgiveness then permission and his goal was to annoy her anyway. “Alice you really haven’t aged a day you’re as beautiful as I remember.” He called out to her with a grin his gaze holding zero pity and even if she glared at him his relaxed grin wouldn’t fade as he crouched down in front of her. He didn't really remember what she looked like much so what he said was technically true and she definitely was beautiful. Careful to make sure that he wouldn’t hurt her he stepped in close to the side of her before he leaned in close and wrapped his arms around her one of his arms hooking under her knees the other under her back before he gently pulled her body against his chest from their closeness she would be able to smell his pine and vanilla cologne, one strong enough to help over power the clinical hospital smell. “Come on I’ve been asked to take you for a walk I’m sure that Lydmila can grab your stuff for you, and she’ll call one of us once she works out what’s happened.” He said before he started to walk with her in his arms before he smirked. “Can you imagine what the look on her face will be like when she gets back and your gone?” He whispered to her playfully with a wink clearly finding humour in the idea.

8:23 AM

@Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

It became abundantly clear to Alice that Lydmila had no intention of returning anytime soon, actually leaving her alone in the waiting room. A tumultuous mix of anxiety and anger surged within her, and she sternly told herself she would never trust Lydmila again. The thought of screaming if anyone attempted to take her to the hospital again became a resolute promise. The routine of doctor's appointments felt utterly futile to Alice, where the repeated prognosis about her deteriorating legs offered little hope. The notion of trying physical therapy seemed like a feeble attempt to coax her out of the house, adding to the frustration that everyone around her seemed determined to do just that. The bitter taste in her mouth intensified, and she felt like dead weight, unwanted and unimportant, much like Lydmila had treated her. In a moment of recollection, Alice remembered her phone in the back pocket of her wheelchair. It should have been there, placed by her mother after charging, with the hope that Alice would use it if she ever needed assistance. However, Alice hadn't touched it in months, ever since a traumatic incident following a social media post from Daniel announcing his new partner. Attempting to retrieve it now, she grew increasingly frustrated, her hand exploring the pocket's contents with no success. A mix of textures teased her fingertips, but none resembled the cold metal casing of her phone. The frustration built, and she was on the verge of expressing every profanity in a pirate's vocabulary when a male figure suddenly appeared in her field of view. The stranger's grin and the ease with which he addressed her sent a shower of cold shivers down her spine. Despite not recognizing him, he acted as though they were intimately acquainted. Instantly, Alice's mind raced to the worst-case scenario — an eerie resemblance to a previous experience with a fan who had stalked her, convinced they were meant to be together. "Um, hello? Sorry, but do I know you?" Her

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voice trembled as she anxiously scanned the waiting room. Noticing that few people remained, and none seemed to care about the unsettling encounter unfolding, intensified her distress. This situation couldn't get any worse, Alice lacked her phone, Lydmila was nowhere to be seen, and she was still confined to her wheelchair with no means of escape. Alarm bells rang louder in Alice's mind when the stranger mentioned Lydmila instructing him to take her for a walk. Desperation for intervention or Lydmila's sudden reappearance surged as the stranger crouched down and, with unsettling ease, picked her up. Instinctively, Alice gripped his shoulders, feeling the weight of her vulnerability intensify. The scent of pine and vanilla enveloped her senses, making her nauseous. "Look, I don't know who you are, but I don't want any trouble. Put me back down!" Alice's voice rose in volume as she attempted to push away, still holding onto him out of fear of hitting the unforgiving floor. "Leave me alone!" Her heart pounded in her chest, and she continued to struggle against his embrace. His indifferent demeanor persisted, marked by a playful wink that only confirmed his malicious intentions. As she was carried further away from her wheelchair, her island of safety, Alice anxiously surveyed her surroundings, desperately hoping for someone to intervene. "If you don't put me down, I'm going to scream," she threatened, her grip on his shirt tightening, her nails digging into his skin. Her eyes, filled with fury, locked onto his. Disheveled curls framed a visage of determination — she wasn't going down without a fight.

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@All time Jack

When he picked her up, he was expecting her to get annoyed at him for just going up to her like he did. Surely, she at least of him, both of their coaches were married after all and with how much his couch was annoyed at him, he was sure that he would be speaking about him. He was pretty sure that the video of him knocking out the other player was still trending online. It was why it took him so long to realise the state he was putting her in, his arms gentle as he picked her up not noticing the way that her voice trembled earlier as she spoke. “We haven’t met before but we both know the Lydmila.” He told her casually as he picked her up but once he heard her raise her voice and try to push him away while she clung to him he quickly realised that she didn’t react in the way that he was hoping for. Worried about dropping her he hugged her body closer to his before he heard her threat and looked down to see the anger on her face, the way her nails dug into her skin was ignored as he nodded back at her quickly.

12:53 PM

“I’m sorry Alice I didn’t mean to scare you. I'll put you down in a second just stop trying to push me away I’m worried about dropping you.” He told her quickly his eyes looking into hers as he tried to placate her his grip on her body firm out of worry that she’d fall and get hurt. “I’m not here to hurt you I promise. Mr Felder asked me to come here to try and cheer you up. I'll show you proof that I know him in a second.” He promised her before he crouched and carefully put her back down before he reached for his phone and unlocked it. “I’m on the hockey team, I figured you would have recognised me. Especially with what happened during the last game.” He told her giving her a small smile while he ran through his gallery and when he found a picture of him with the rest of the team in their gear next to the couch he held his phone out for her to take. “it’s dumb I told the couch that I would be the worst person to try and cheer you up but he just wouldn’t listen to me. Is Lydmila that stubborn about these things too?” it would explain how they got married. @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

The farther she was carried from her wheelchair, the more anxious Alice became. Over the past few years, it had transformed into her safe space. Without it, she couldn't move around easily, and she used to keep necessary items in its pockets. Despite her hate for being confined to her wheelchair, she couldn't exist without it. The stranger holding her seemed oblivious to this, clearly unconcerned about her needs. As she surveyed the hall, still attempting to find an escape route from the stranger or a way to call for help, it seemed her plea reached him. He informed her he would put her down soon. Alice took a deep breath, trying to calm herself momentarily, her nails still digging into his skin as she remained unsure of his intentions. Yet, remaining calm was challenging after the stranger picked her up and took her away from her safe space without a second thought. Adding to her unease was the realization that he knew her name and her old coach's name, information readily available online even after her exit from competitive ice skating. Alice wished she had her phone in one of her pockets instead of stashing it in her wheelchair; that way, she could have called the police. Her anger and fear were quickly replaced by confusion as the stranger continued talking, explaining that Lydmila's husband had asked him to come and cheer Alice up. Frowning, Alice was slowly set down on one of the couches, immediately crossing her arms in an attempt to close herself off. Looking up at the stranger, the anger still burning in her eyes, it suddenly made sense – he was a hockey player from Mr. Felder’s team. Alice knew hockey players were often perceived as arrogant, feeling superior to others. He persisted in talking, shoving his phone with an image on it toward her. Glancing at it briefly, she saw Mr. Felder and, to the right, the stranger in his hockey gear. Annoyed by the situation, she directed her glare at the stranger standing above her. If looks could kill, Alice would'

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ve had one at that moment. “Are all hockey players like this? Taking away aid from a disabled person or… rather, taking the disabled person from their aid just to satisfy their ego?” Squinting at him, her curled hair sticking out in every direction, almost resembling Medusa, Alice didn't appreciate the way this situation was unfolding. It confirmed that Lydmila had a cruel plan all along to leave her in the hospital alone, only to be picked up by a… jerk. “Listen, I don’t even know you. Sorry to disappoint you, but the world doesn’t revolve around you, and not everyone knows who you are just because you're some hockey player,” her voice dripped with sweet poison, intentionally pushing his buttons to agitate him and hopefully make him leave her alone. She didn't want any company and would prefer to be back home, where she didn't have to engage with idiots. In the short time she'd already spoken more than she had in the last few months, and it was exhausting. “At least we can agree on one thing – you are the worst person. Take me back to my wheelchair,” Alice's voice rose as she continued, feeling uncomfortable being so far from her wheelchair, her ability to move dependent on the stranger in front of her. “Tell Mr. Felder you met me, cheered me up, I don't care. Just leave. me. alone.”

5:13 AM

@All time Jack

If he had known the effect, he would have on her earlier he wouldn’t have acted in the same way. He would have tried to annoy her still of course but he wouldn’t have picked her up and he’d have made sure to show her that he wasn’t just some crazy person. Maybe he should have just kept calling her by a different name. Or an annoying nickname. He was relieved to see her calm down at least it was clear that she was still upset but instead of being about to panic from fear she was angry, and boy was she hot when she was angry. The way that she glared at him clearly confident left him grinning back at her. He was just glad that she wasn’t like a fan girl. He didn’t expect her to be one not when she was famous in her own right, but he still felt the relief. Part of him still hated being popular it was so different to what he was used to. He remembered going from being an outcast that got into too many fights to becoming a celebrity that got into too many fights. He was used to being disliked to being avoided although it wasn’t like everyone disliked him back before. He wouldn’t get into fights without a reason and of course there were people that liked how he acted that even found it hot but still he was used to not getting a ton of attention but now things were dialled up to eleven. There were websites about him, people would sometimes try to tell him in the street and some people just took things way too far. It was why he stopped using social media. Her words made him raise a brow bac at her and if she was expecting him to take offence from her words she would be in for a surprise. “Okay I’m sorry I know I didn’t make the right call, but can you chill I'm already trying to apologise.” He told her softly before he raised his hand over to her face putting his middle finger under the tip of his thumb before he lightly flicked her temple careful not to hurt her as he spoke.

12:20 AM

“It’s a good thing your kind of cute when you’re angry” He let out bluntly with a grin before he continued to speak “And what’s so bad about hockey players? We're better then ice skaters at least you guys fall over once, and you milk it for all it’s worth.” He shot back at her quickly the smile never fading from his face making it clear that if she wanted to push his buttons, she’d need to work harder than that before he paused and realised what he said. “Sorry I didn’t really think that through.” He apologised to her softly before he carefully put her back down on hr wheelchair making sure that she was secure enough in her seat before the let go off her and crouched down enough until his head was level with hers. “Sorry I agreed to at least try and cheer you up and I keep my word. Besides so far, my plan has been wrong well even if there has been hiccups. “Let me take you out to dinner I know a pretty good Italian restaurant besides it’s not like you really have any plans, right? What would you be missing out on at home if you say yes? A TV dinner and a game of hide the cucumber?” @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

Alice's annoyance was escalating at dangerous speeds as she observed the unfolding performance of the unknown hockey player in front of her. It seemed he was adept at using charm as a weapon, but Alice considered herself to be made of steel, with added tungsten layers that shielded her against whatever sweet poison he was throwing at her. Despite his attempts at an apology, his voice only fueled her rage. Alice, with her arms still crossed, glared at him, determined not to chill for his convenience, especially after he recklessly snatched a disabled female from her wheelchair to achieve his goal. The moment his fingers flicked her forehead, all hell broke loose. Without hesitation, she slapped his hand with all the force she could muster, intending not only to hurt him physically but also to wound his feelings. “Are you insane!?” Her loud shriek echoed in the empty hospital hall. This man clearly had no regard for boundaries, a behavior Alice attributed to a supposed terminal illness—the Hockey Player Complex. The HPC, according to Alice, was incurable, and she had encountered many males suffering from this condition before. The ice complex she used to go to for her training was shared between the ice skating and hockey courses. The hockey players had the irritating habit of showing up 10 minutes early, mimicking the movements of ice skaters behind the glassed walls with various animal sounds. Allowing hockey players to be jerks was an important part of their enrichment, encouraging their development and creating new experiences. Alice despised every aspect of it. If given the chance, she would have scratched out his twinkling brown eyes just to put an end to his idiotic charming session. However, her rage quickly transformed into another feeling that sent a cold shiver down her spine. Her face relaxed, and she no longer crossed her arms as tightly. His words had hit the mark—reminding her of her immobile state. She avoided his gaze, silently enduring the remi

9:37 AM

nder. Alice had lost her fighting spirit; all she wanted now was to go home. Being put back into the wheelchair by him at least offered a chance to escape. She knew her phone was in the back pocket. If she could roll away far enough, she could call her mother to pick her up, ending this embarrassing encounter. In a short span of time, she had been humiliated and reminded of her disability by one person. Him kneeling down in front of her only worsened the situation. He felt too close, invading her private space even more. She didn’t want to look at him, staring at his hairline, pursing her lips, and waiting for him to finish whatever he had to say. Even in her hurt state, he managed to spark a bit of rage. She slowly looked down at his eyes, which held the hopeful gaze of a puppy. Alice still didn’t know his name, and deep inside, she wished never to find out. “You done?” She raised her eyebrow at him, waiting for an answer. Alice didn’t care anymore about what he had to say. Her hands were already on the wheels of her wheelchair. In one swift movement, she rolled the wheelchair back before turning it to the side. Bracing herself for a bumpy ride, she pushed her wheelchair forward, aiming at his feet. Determined to hurt him as much as she could, she felt the bump of his feet under her wheels as she rolled away. Despite the satisfaction being less than expected, she pushed her wheelchair backward, ramming the push handle into his body. “You should feel lucky we’re near an emergency room,” Alice muttered sarcastically, not bothering to look back at the hockey player she had just assaulted. “Maybe let them check your head also, you exhibit symptoms of lacking any brain cells. Bye.” With that, she propelled herself on the wheels, rolling her wheelchair down the hall as fast as possible. She hoped to capitalize on his brief distraction and escape from him with a bit of luck.

9:37 AM

@All time Jack

He still wasn’t sure if his attempt to annoy her so much that she would begin to cheer up and forget why she was upset in the first place was really working. It was clear from the start that he had went too far with picking her up, but he didn’t really know how else to cheer her up. He wasn’t good at comforting people far from it really so all that he could really think about doing was to distract her and give her something else to focus her annoyance on. He knew that helped him when he was upset, he knew that a lot of his fights when he was younger came from him needing an outlet to blow off steam. It was probably why he didn’t stop playing hockey when he first joined. He never saw himself as charming, someone charming wouldn’t need to take the measures that he was taking, they would just be able to cheer her up. What he was however was stubborn and he was reliable even if it was clear as he playfully flicked her temple that he didn’t really think things through. Proof of him not thinking things through was him using his bad hand to flick her forehead as when she slapped his hand he felt the sharp pain jolt into his hand, stinging as if he pressed his knuckles against hot coals forcing him to bite down on his lower lip. He didn’t complain though as he flexed his feelings reflexively feeling the sharp pain be replaced by dull pain before he slipped his hand into his pocket. He didn’t know if she’d feel guilty about smacking his hand, but he didn’t want to take that chance as he grinned back at her again quickly.

7:57 AM

It didn’t hurt that badly anyway. Was it bad that he was still finding it hot the way that she shrieked and glared at him. She was fiery and spirited he could only imagine what she’d be like when people upset the people she cared about. She looked practically murderous as he pissed her off. It was why when he noticed the way that her anger suddenly faded being replaced by something else, he felt his smile quickly fade as he sighed, he must have taken things too far again. He tilted his head back at her as he heard her words and stretched to his full height when she rolled backwards giving her some space before she pushed forward, and he didn't try to move away letting her ride her wheelchair over his feet. It stung a bit but really wasn’t too bad and when she rammed the handle into him, he simply crossed his legs to protect his crotch. He’s picked a couple fights growing up to vent off some steam after all, it’s hypocritical off him to complain about her bumping into him to do the same.

7:57 AM

“I’m okay I would rather not get checked up by the Dr’s again today they can’t be so annoying.” He answered back to her quickly as he followed after her unfussed by her hitting him with her wheelchair. “Do they speak to you like you’re an idiot too? I used to hate going there as a kid when they’d demand to get your parents to come.” He remembered how helpful it was to just give them a fake name then sneak out once he was treated. Shrugging as he seemed to switch the subject, he fell in pace with her and stretched the side of his head with his bandaged hands while the bandages started to slowly shift from white to red as his hand bled. Not that he really noticed or cared. “I’m sorry I’m not trying to upset you. I’m just trying to irritate you. To give you something to vent your frustrations at.” he admitted to her honestly deciding to admit what his intentions were to her. “Can I just take you to dinner? One dinner and then I’ll tell the coach that I tried my best, we’ll get anything you want including dessert. I know that I’m hungry.” He told her softly before he paused “My name is Richard by the way.” @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

It was exhausting for Alice to keep pushing the wheels in her attempt to escape from the stranger. With each push, fatigue set in, and a burning pain intensified in her upper back. No matter how hard or fast she propelled the wheels, her efforts were nullified by the stranger's long strides. The opponent appeared indifferent to her distress, casually walking by her side while she became increasingly red and sweaty from the excessive movements. Around her house, Alice's wheelchair movements were limited, mostly confined to her path from the bedroom to the large windows in the living room, the bathroom, and occasionally the kitchen if her mother refused to bring her food. Her escape had depleted all her energy, she moved more in the past few minutes than she had in the entire previous year. Feeling nauseous and breathing heavily, sweat dripped from her forehead. The stranger persisted in talking incessantly, at times walking faster than she could push her wheelchair. At one of his comments, she ceased pushing the wheels, letting the wheelchair roll forward until it came to a stop. Heavily breathing, with her curls sticking to her sweaty forehead and cheeks, she looked up at him with a glance of vengeance. "Did you never consider that they spoke to you like that because you do, in fact, act like an idiot?" she retorted, almost heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Alice felt defeated, there seemed to be no way for her to escape. "My only source of frustration is you, so you should rethink your tactics." Exhaustion engulfed Alice, and her desire to return home intensified. With her escape routes obliterated by the stranger in front of her, it seemed she had no choice but to play along. The thought of going out to dinner with him filled Alice with both fear and annoyance. Having been confined to her home and the hospital for the last two years, she feared being overwhelmed by people staring at her due to her disability—an uncomfortable feeling she had already e

8:51 AM

xperienced in the hospital waiting room. On the other hand, she was irritated that she had to dine with this stranger of all people. She could already envision the mhm's and aha's she would drop while he continued talking about hockey, making inappropriate jokes, and likely recounting childhood tales of being perceived as an idiot. Hearing his name nearly sent Alice into a fit of laughter, but she concealed it behind the twitching of the edge of her lips. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of making her laugh and was determined to maintain a cool and tough facade. "Alright… Dick," she conceded, the irony of his name not lost on her. "One dinner. That’s it," Alice sighed, her tone laced with resignation. Taking a deep breath, Alice resumed pushing her wheelchair forward at a slower pace than before, heading towards the exit. The burning pain in her upper back served as a constant reminder of the physical toll of her escape attempt, but she pretended everything was normal. She just had to endure a few hours with this peculiar hockey player she had never known before. As she rolled forward, Alice glanced over at Richard—or rather, "Dick"—rolling her eyes with a heavy sigh before looking toward the exit again. Hopefully, he was considerate enough to bring her somewhere wheelchair-accessible. She just had to survive the next few hours.

8:51 AM

@All time Jack

He always was did set a quick pace when he walked, if he was walking with someone else then he’d let them set the pace of course but when he was alone he was the type to walk quickly he liked to think that if he was walking to somewhere he wanted to be then by getting there early he’d get to spend more time there and if it was somewhere he didn’t want to be then he’d argue the sooner he got there the sooner he’d get to leave. Of course, he knew that things weren’t always that easy, but he could still hope and now he had the tendency to make the argument that it should be the case when he was forced to go somewhere he didn’t want to be. He didn’t miss the way that she exhausted herself as she rushed forward leaving herself panting and sweat, he was tempted to point it out to her and more importantly tease her over the state she was in but something told him that she wouldn’t appreciate it so he just settled for taking satisfaction in the look she gave him. “I mean it’s a possibility but it’s not really one that I like so I ignore it. You know did anyone tell you that you look great when you’re all riled up. It’s kind of cute the way you glare.” he told her playfully shrugging his shoulders. “Nope if that’s true then I think my tactics are fine. Let me be your source of frustration for today beautiful.” the words including the compliment were spoken freely and without thought as he stretched lazily.

7:17 PM

He wasn’t all that surprised when he heard her say the nickname that came with the name Richard. She really did waste no time in calling him a dick unluckily for her if she expected the jab to get to him, she’d be very surprised, but it didn’t feel like she said it with any real bite. At least not compared to the way she rammed into him just moments before. HIs smile grew a little softer as she agreed to going to dinner with him. “Perfect I’m gonna make sure you don’t regret this Lice.” He answered back to her with a wink slowing down his long strides while she slowed down. Once they reached the automatic doors to the hospital, he stepped behind her letting her leave first before they reached the ramp to get out onto the street. “Okay I know of a couple restaurants we can reach by foot, there’s an Italian place, a cafe and a place you can get stuff like pizzas and burgers? Do you want to go to one of them or do you want to take the car somewhere else?” He asked her softly wanting her to pick where they would go. “And do you want me to push you? Or is it wheel? Either way you don’t need to keep pushing yourself if you don’t want to, I’d be happy to push you. I’ve been meaning to get a bit of exercise done recently anyway.” @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

As they approached the exit doors, Alice drifted into her thoughts for a while. This entire situation felt like something out of a comedy film—a hockey player with no manners showing up and playing the superhero of the narrative. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, but deep inside, she knew she was exhausted and would prefer to go home. Alice couldn't believe that Lydmila would lure her out of the house for a doctor's appointment only to leave her to deal with the world, abandoned like a puppy on the side of the road. She couldn't fathom why her best idea was to get some stranger hockey player to cheer her up instead of bringing her home, for example. His playful comments about her appearance caught her off guard, and she responded with a skeptical eyebrow raise. "Cute when I glare? That's a new one," she retorted, maintaining her tough exterior, indicating that she wasn't entertained by his attempt to provoke a reaction. Alice wasn't entirely sure what he was trying to achieve with this kind of comment. As he continued with his casual banter and a compliment that she wasn't entirely sure how to interpret, Alice found herself mildly amused by the way Richard went out of his way to elicit a reaction from her. Her new nickname Lice didn't escape her attention, but she decided to refrain from reacting to it. She knew bullies had the habit of continuously repeating comments that provoked any reaction. Alice wasn't going to give him the satisfaction by telling him not to call her Lice. Just because she was smaller and thinner due to her muscle loss didn't mean Richard had the right to call her that. But she wouldn't let him off easy entirely. "You are going to make sure I won't regret this dinner? Good luck with that," Alice replied, a hint of a malicious smile breaking through her stoic expression as they finally reached the automatic doors, and she pushed herself outside. The sun was already setting, and the chill in the air grew more pronounced. Eve

5:41 AM

rywhere they looked, there was a layer of snow. Winter still held sway over the weather, and it would be a few more weeks until spring gradually made its presence known. A light shiver ran through Alice, but the cold was welcomed as it eased the pain in her upper back. Single snowflakes gently descended from the sky, a silent warning of a possible snowstorm coming soon. Alice stopped at the top of the ramp, considering Richard's restaurant suggestions. She looked down at the ramp, noting a glittering layer of ice. Once again, the staff had failed to provide wheelchair-accessible spaces, assuming a wheelchair's tire could grip onto the ice layer. It wasn't a car, where one would change between summer and winter tires to ensure stability on icy surfaces. Still by the edge of the ramp, she replied, "Let's go to the cafe… If they have ice cream there." She didn't really think when she added the last part, but despite the cold and snowy weather, ice cream was something that never failed to lift her mood. She also didn't want to go to a restaurant, the idea of the more casual setting of a cafe was more appealing to her. When he offered to push her wheelchair, Alice hesitated for a moment. She had grown accustomed to doing things on her own, but the fatigue from her earlier escape lingered, and she wasn't sure she would manage to get down the ramp herself without it turning into a rollercoaster ride, potentially flinging her into a parked car a few feet away. "Fine, you can help me with my wheelchair," she relented, realizing that a bit of help might not be so bad and would spare her a trip to the ER if she were to collide with a car or roll over in her wheelchair on the ice beneath the snow. "Just don't complain if it's not as easy as you think."

5:41 AM

"And we won't be reaching anything by foot. I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm still confined to a wheelchair," she threw him one of her sarcastic glances once again, pointing at her limp legs as if their state wasn't obvious before. "It's not a jeep with a four-wheel system built to master any terrain and to be all-weather capable." She looked at him with an impatient look, still standing by the edge of the ramp. She wondered what awaited her in this new, unfamiliar territory of going out as a wheelchair user. Alice wasn't entirely calm, still nervous she wouldn't be able to have a good time because of her limitations. What if she needed to go to the toilet? She had heard how few places cared about providing a disability-friendly restroom. These thoughts heightened her anxiety, and she felt the need to push Richard to hurry up. "C'mon, Dick, let's get this over quickly. I'm not planning on spending a lifetime with you..."

5:41 AM

@All time Jack

He smiled as he heard her reply as he enjoyed her tough exterior Is it really or are you being sarcastic?” He murmured the open curiosity clear in his words before he shrugged. “Either way you are, you’re all fiery, and passionate, it’s nice.” He admitted to her. They weren’t traits that everyone liked of course, different people liked different things and he knew what he liked. Her failing to react to his bait left him pouting lightly he wanted to hear her voice more he wanted to hear her argue with him and bite back it would be no fun if he was the only one being teasing. He was satisfied as he heard her reply to his lip curling as he looked back at her enjoying the smile on her face. “Luck’s gonna have nothing to do with it by the time dinner is over you’re gonna be begging me to take you out on another date Ice.” He replied back to her quickly with a wink. Once they were outside, he was reminded of how cold it was his gaze looking down at the ground as he saw how icy it was which wasn’t a big deal for him, but it left him worrying about her. How well could her wheels grip the ice? “So, you like ice cream?” He murmured more taking note of her words and committing them to memory then asking it as a question that he expected her to answer. “They do have ice cream though; they did last time I went at least so we’re in luck.” He hoped that she would allow him to push her, or at least he hoped that she’d help him to get her down the ramp, he didn’t want to see her get hurt after all why would he. Once she relented and agreed he smiled softly and went behind her to let his calloused hands firmly grip the handles of her wheelchair while the light pang of pain in his hurt hand was ignored. “Don’t worry Ice, I’m not really one for complaining just sit back and relax I’m happy to push you.” He told her from behind her before he tilted his head as he listened to her words seeing the clear sarcasm in her gaze as he raised his brow at her before he shrugged.

2:47 PM

“Does your chair at least come with a port to charge your phone with?” He asked her playfully “Sorry I wasn’t clear I meant that I would walk there and push you, but we can take the car if you’d prefer. Saves us from having to go back for it anyway.” He relented before he saw the impatient look, she gave him and playfully winked as he heard her words. “You know a lot of the time things really don’t go the way that you plan for them too.” he told her before he stepped forward and with his hands on her wheelchair carefully moved down the ramp taking each step slow as his boots crushed the ice under his feet with every step. If he was by himself, he wouldn’t have been nearly as careful, but holding onto her he was worried that she’d get hurt so he walked carefully until they were at the bottom of the ramp. Only once they were at the bottom did he let himself relax as he carefully turned her over to where his car was and pushed her over to it stopping with her to the side of the passenger door before he unlocked the car and pulled the door open, once the door was open he took a step closer to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m guessing you’re chair folds up like those carts parent’s put their children in. So, I can put it in the back of the car, but first do you want help getting in?” He asked her to crouch down as he leaned in so that his face was only a breath away from hers. @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅

Alice kept her gaze straight ahead, awaiting Richard's move to assist her down the icy ramp. Despite her initial instinct to close off, she found herself subtly amused by Richard's playful banter. There existed a peculiar energy between them, a blend of irritation and a faint spark of curiosity. Though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, she doubted Richard could have noticed it from his position behind her. "The only thing you'll find me begging for is for you to shut your mouth," she mused, rolling her eyes at his unabashed ego. Richard seemed to lack any shame when it came to complimenting himself. She couldn't help but think he might have hit his head on the ice a few times too many. Feeling his hands on the back handles of her wheelchair, a new wave of nervousness washed over Alice. The thought crossed her mind that his unpredictable behavior might lead to a reckless descent down the ramp. His comment about things not going her way only added to her distress. "Really? Out of all the things you could say, you chose to say that?" Her heated remark went unnoticed as she was already being pushed forward onto the ramp. Her heart raced as she gripped the armrests of her wheelchair, bracing herself for the worst. Surprisingly, Richard took cautious steps on the icy ramp, guiding them down slowly. It was a side of him she hadn't expected, and it clashed with her confused feelings about the whole situation. Yet, she found herself once again distracted by his silly comments. "What do you think this wheelchair is? A transformer? No, it's not as high-tech to have a charger port," she remarked, almost pulling on her hair in exasperation. Richard seemed oblivious to the simplicity of a normal wheelchair, which was just a chair with four wheels attached – no tech involved. "I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't come with rocket boosters either," she deadpanned, rolling her eyes at his ignorance. As they approached the car, she wasn’t expecting him to cr

3:49 AM

ouch down and suddenly appear so near to her face. His closeness was unexpected, and for a moment, she hesitated, caught off guard by the intensity in his gaze. She had only known him for less than half an hour, and she wasn’t entirely comfortable with him getting this close twice already. Her instincts told her to pull away, to maintain the distance she was more comfortable with. But there was no way she could have gotten into the car herself, and with a reluctant sigh, she gave up. "Alright, let's get this over with," she muttered, attempting to sound nonchalant despite the conflicting emotions. Shifting her weight, she gave him the space needed to assist her. As he helped her into the car, a nagging thought crossed her mind – a reminder of her mother's words about not getting into a car with a stranger. Once settled in the car, Alice focused on adjusting herself, her eyes avoiding his as she looked out of the window. The mix of irritation, amusement, and a subtle spark of curiosity lingered, creating an unpredictable atmosphere. As Richard closed the car door and prepared to stow away her wheelchair, she couldn't shake the concern that he might inadvertently break her only aid. Folding up a wheelchair wasn't rocket science, but it required care, especially since each one was made individually. Watching with a vigilant eye, she silently hoped he would handle the process with the caution it deserved. Alice pulled the seat belt over herself, clicking it into place. It's just a few hours, Alice…

3:49 AM

@All time Jack

They say that harder struggles lead to sweeter victories and for Alice Richard was starting to believe it. He wanted to break through her prickly exterior to make her smile and laugh. It was the stubborn part of him that wanted it. “It’s cute we just met and you're already talking about shutting my mouth. I usually like to be taken on a date before I’m flirted with.” He teased her playfully knowing that she wasn’t actually flirting with him, but she was fun to tease. He didn’t fully notice the nervousness that came upon her suddenly when he first gripped her wheelchair, his head tilting as he heard her words. “What do you think I’m gonna just run down the ramp with you or push you down and let go?” He asked her while he carefully brought her down and playfully rolled his eyes. “Come on I’m sure you think I’m stupid but really I’m not that bad.” He brought her down and watched the way she braced herself surely expecting the worst and he took great pleasure in both surprising her and proving her wrong as he took things carefully. He smirked as he heard her words enjoying how exasperated he made her. “Is it really so conceivable to give a chair a charging port? People have gone to the moon, and you can use your phone to message someone on the other side of the planet. You know I think you’re just being grumpy that your chair doesn’t have seat warmers.” He teased her winking at her as they reached his car, and his grin quickly grew wider as he caught her off guard by his sudden closeness.

2:40 PM

He smiled back at her as she agreed to accept his help. “You know you don’t have to make it sound it’s gonna be so bad.” He told her playfully watching as she shifted her weight to give him space allowing him to carefully scoop her up in his arms, one of his arms hooking under her knees, the other wrapping around her back under her shoulders as he hugged her body against his chest carrying her the way someone would carry a bride on their wedding night. Once he had her in the car, he was tempted to leave the door open to let him continue speaking with her while he fiddled with her chair but with how cold it was, he decided against it as he shut the car door and started to fiddle with her wheelchair. It took him a moment to figure out how to work the chair but once he figured out how to fold it all up, he had it folded up before he carefully stewed it away into the back seat. Once the wheel was carefully secured, he got into the driver's side and glanced at Alice noticing that she had put on her belt already before he did the same and turned to face her his pointy fingers sticking out and pressing together. “You should know I haven’t gone on a date in a while, sorry if I’m rusty.” He murmured to her playfully his eyes looking into hers as he winked before he turned on the car and started to drive to the car letting her decide the music. @Taiga On The Shelf 🐅