Whitzz/544K-RP-Datasets huggingface dataset:
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

The air was cool, with just enough dampness to hint at a coming rainstorm. Nights like this were perfect for running . His footsteps were steady on the asphalt, the cadence reminiscent of the days when he covered ten miles in formation before most people had eaten their breakfast. He missed those days, but he also loved the freedom and the life he had earned through the sacrifice of his youth. Not that Blake Bridger was old, by any stretch, but he no longer had the naive optimism that colored his younger years. He'd seen things that had made his faith in mankind die, and he'd been through the valley of despair. Eventually he had to either remain in that shitstorm of regret, doubt, and anguish, or chose to see the world in another light. Thankfully, he was able to climb out. The climb was with its cost - feelings of worthlessness, surreal moments of guilt, and the haunting voices of 'what ifs' followed him like the memory of campfires. Sometimes he needed nights like this, filled with heart-pounding, quiet, lung-filling runs across the city, to clear his mind. When he passed the redhead in the park he paid her no heed. She looked like just another girl, wandering through the park from Destination A to Destination B. Something about the way she held her head and her small, steady steps, lingered in his memory. He ran about an eighth of a mile past her before the feeling of dread and curiosity made him curse silently and turn around. Something wasn't right. Blake had experienced enough moments of divine discernment on the battlefield to know to listen to that nagging twinge in the base of his skull. He was glad he did. Soon his vision brought to him the outline of a small woman clutching the rails of the bridge as she looked over the water far below. There was nothing odd about looking at the river - many people did, their voices lost in the rushing waters below as they dashed off the rocky bottom. This girl, though, wasn't standing on the bridge. She was clinging to the rail, on the outside of the bridge, and the way her chest heaved told him everything he needed to know. She was going to jump. Blake's heart did a double thump. No one else was around, and the eerie glow of the streetlight did nothing to make the scene more endearing. The girl's hair was haloed in the blueish glow. He could see that her threadbare jeans and thin t-shirt were doing nothing to keep her warm. Maybe it was just her thoughts causing her to shiver, so, but he doubted it. Her entire being looked cold, as if she was already in the grave. Hey! He was afraid he was going to be too late. Hey, girl! Stop! His footsteps took him towards her, but then he was afraid that going too close might make her panic like a deer and bolt off the rail. You - don't - please. Just... talk to me. Whatever is going on in your life... he slowed to a walk and held a pleading hand towards her. Please, just wait. Give me just five minutes, okay? Don't go without telling someone what's going on. Talk to me.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

Emily inhaled sharply when she heard a voice. Her grip on the rail tightened out of instinct, her heart beat faster in her chest. Ever so slowly she turned her head, blinking away the few tears that had gathered in her eyes. Without knowing what to feel, she looked at the man in his running shorts. Confusion spread inside her and showed on her face, why did he ask her to stop? Why did he care about a stranger? Her eyes followed his every move as he approached her and stretched his hand out towards her. W-why? she brought out, her voice as shaky as the rest of her body. She felt cold, down to her bones and not only because of the weather that was changing. Just go...please....please go she pleaded to him, more tears spilling down her cheeks. No one cares, my family does not care, why would you? It all began to break out of her but that was the last thing she wanted. She couldn't feel this pain any longer. She just couldn't. With a shake of her head she looked back down to the water, her freedom, her peace awaiting her. Just go....I can't do this anymore. I can't feel this pain. I don't want to. I can't she cried, desperation spread through her, the need to not feel anything at all peaking. Her fingers began to loosen their grip and her body leaned forward, ready to face the jump, ready to be released from her pain.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

He slowly approached the real, then peered at her in the dim blue of the streetlights. His cheeks were shadowed in the darkened stubble of a long weekend, and most of his face was obscured by the darkness and her tears, but the earnest brightness in his blue eyes shined through. He could see the glistening in her eyes and that swollen lipped pout that came with too many tears and not enough laughter. It looked like her heart was breaking. Blake felt, rather than saw, her leaning forward. There was a soft squeak as her fingers released their hold on the hard rail. Instinctively the runner reached out to her, his strong fingers wrapping around her forearm as her weight shifted. For just on moment she was falling... Then his fingers closed around her arm and stopped her descent, pulling her around like a whip as he changed the direction of her velocity. He grabbed at the rail to keep himself from falling, then braced and slapped his other hand over the first to secure his grip. Damn it! Argh! Teeth gritted at the sudden impact on his shoulder. Had he been shirtless his scars would have been evident - shrapnel torn skin had knitted over the damaged rotator cuff. It had its good days and it's bad days, but Blake was thankful he hasn't lost his arm. He had a lot to be thankful for, starting with the girl who was now dangling from his grip instead of plummeting into the river. He grimaced and then let out a groan as he hedged her up, avoiding any possible kicks or scratches. He wouldn't be surprised if she acted like a cat fighting to stay out of a bath. Only in her case, she would have been fighting to go in. Once he got her up to his eye level he would wrap a strong arm around her waist and pull her over the rail, his pounding heart pressed tightly against hers as the reality of her near miss took hold. What's wrong with you? Nothing is that bad. You couldn't even give me five minutes of your time? What - you got some kind of deadline you have to meet? He couldn't help but feel angry at her. The night was too pretty, and the girl too young, for it to end tragically. He could feel the womanly curves of her body telling him that this wasn't a girl. She was in full bloom. It had been a long time since he'd held a woman, and for a moment the adrenaline and her closeness roused him so quickly that the ache was almost painful. He diverted his thoughts back to her. I don't mean to pry, but you threw away your life and I saved it. I think that means you either belong to me, or you owe me. I'm not sure which, but do you think you can wait a night before deciding and just fucking talk to me?
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

The fraction of a second that she felt herself fall, felt like the best and the worst she had ever felt in her life. She squeaked when she felt a hand grab her, then two. But before she could truly understand what was going on, she was halfway over the railing again. No! she cried out, but it was too late and he had her back on the ground, arms wrapped around her and holding her tight against him. Emily felt that he was strong. He was taller than her and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. His anger surprised her, caught her off guard and she stared at him wide eyed like a doe caught in headlights. Her body was shaking from the adrenaline, the sadness, the cold around them, with exhaustion and now with tears. Maybe it was the feeling of a warm body against her own. Maybe it were his strong arms holding her tightly. Or maybe it was the fact that a stranger cared more for her life than anyone else did. Emily would never be sure why, but she broke out into heart breaking, soul cleaning sobs. Her knees gave away, her fingers curled into his shirt as she held on to him for dear life. Her petite body shook from head to toe with every sob, every soft cry. All the pain, frustration, sadness, everything spilled out of her all at once. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.... She kept stammering between her sobs. If he were to pick her up and bring her somewhere safe and warm, she would not protest. Emily was lost in her tears, crying for herself, mourning for herself. She had never felt this lost before but having a total stranger care for her like this.... She could not comprehend his kindness.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

Ah, fuck... She was broken-hearted. Her body dissolved into his as all the pain she had been holding flooded out in her tears. He held her as she cried, her I'm sorry playing like a soft mantra. It's going to be okay, he smoothed down her crimson locks and let her cry against his chest. She went limp against him, and intuitively he scooped her up in his arms. Her body seemed to fold naturally against him as if they had done this together every day of their lives. It's gong to be okay, he glanced around, trying to figure out what to do. His city home was only a half mile away - as she cried in his arms he began to walk through the park, back towards his private sanctuary in the big city. Somewhere there had to be someone who was looking for her, right? Surely her absence would soon be noticed? The time of the night saved them from too many glances. Maybe it was that anyone who was out was either stoned, drunk, or crazy, and they didn't care about a guy carrying a crying woman. Whatever the reason, he made it to his city flat without interference. He had to set her on her feet so he could punch in his access code. A few moments later and they were in the lobby waiting for the elevator. The lobby was sleek, with modern shades of beige and pale green creating a soothing backdrop to their presence. He had an arm around her shoulders, and when the brushed steel doors shwooshed open Blake picked the young woman up in his arms again. He was content to let her weep as he ferried her into the elevator. There was time to talk later - right now he wanted to get her to safety without a scene.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

Emily had no clue why she was clinging to a stranger, letting him pick her up and carry her away. But what did she have to loose? She had just been about to jump from a bridge, so really, if he had bad intentions, he would not have stopped her. Probably. The tears were still streaming down her cheeks but the heart wrenching sobbing died down a little as he carried her through the city. She held on to him tightly, her arms around his shoulders, her face pressed against his shoulder. Surprisingly, no thoughts went through her mind. She just held on to the man who had saved her and let the tears she had held back, seemingly her entire life, wash out of her. The more she cried, the more tired she felt, she was exhausted. Her eyes were red and puffy when he put her down to her feet to punch in some code at a large door. She stayed close to the man, afraid that he would go inside and leave her at the door. Get rid of her, like everyone else had done too. When his arm came back around her shoulder, she felt relieved. He was not leaving her. A soft gasp left her when he picked her back up, but she melted against his body once more, holding on tightly. When the elevator reached the floor he had wanted to go to, she looked up into his face. He was bringing her to his home. Without even knowing her name, or if she was dangerous. He had saved her, without questions, without hesitating. Thank you she whispered ever so softly, watching as he entered his apartment. The tears slowly began to stop, curiosity taking over. Her eyes slowly ran over her new surroundings, maybe focusing on something else would be good, would get all those feelings and thoughts away from her.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

The apartment building was a narrow brick structure that had been built between the world wars. Blake's apartment was half the floor a flat opened up to reveal the bones of the building and flank wide, city-gazing windows. Immediately to the right of the entry was the door to the bathroom , and was he walked them past it, a small nightlight revealed a brick-lined room with a stand-alone tub and a farmhouse sink. Next to that was an open space that revealed the bedroom . The most noticeable thing about that room was the lack of personal decorations or a nightstand. The bed was pushed to the side of center, as if making room for something, but the 'something' wasn't apparent. To the right of the entry was the kitchen and living room , and another large window that looked out onto a private balcony. This room had more personality - at least, the books on the kitchen counter and the myriad of cooking utensils hinted at a man who enjoyed the fruits of this room. There was also a small dining set with room for six, suggesting that he didn't always eat alone. He set her next to the black leather couch and waited, one hand hovering next to her shoulder, to make sure she was in the condition to stand. Okay, he breathed, watching to see if she was going to continue to hold her calming demeanor, let's start over, shall we? Blake studied her face for a moment. She looked so lost and alone, it was impossible not to want to protect her. He hesitated a moment and then went to the refrigerator to retrieve two bottles. He twisted off the top of the wine cooler and handed the bottle to her, then uncapped a bottle of IPA for himself - again, a clue that he was accustomed to having guests. It was a rare man who would buy wine coolers for himself. My name is Blake. He took a swig from his bottle. What's your name, and what in the world made you think that you were ready to jump off that bridge tonight?
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

The apartment was the most beautiful apartment Emily had ever seen. She had never lived in anything even close to this. But she instantly liked it, kind of felt like she could feel at home here. Which was ridiculous, she was in a strangers home and he would let her go rather quickly again she figured. That kind of made her sad, but then again, she didn't know what to feel right now at all. She had not noticed him coming back to her side and jerked a little when she heard the sound of a bottle being opened. Surprised she looked down at the bottle he held out to her and took it, hesitating for a moment before she took a small sip. Her big, green eyes rested on his face as he spoke and only averted when he asked why she had wanted to jump off that bridge. Emily. She began, her voice still raw with emotion and slightly hoarse from all the crying and lack of fluid. After clearing her throat a little, she started again, slowly sinking down on the couch because she felt too weak to talk about all of this and keep herself standing upright. My name is Emily. She stopped again after that. How should she explain to him what he would not be able to understand? I...I just can't. It's too much. It hurts too bad. I don't want to feel this pain anymore. It was the best she could do. He would not understand, but she didn't know how to explain her pain to him better. No one would miss me.....Thank you for doing this...but....it would be better if you just forget about me. Carefully she set down the bottle on the coffee table and glanced at Blake for a second before looking away again.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

Blake could feel the defeat emanating off her like steam. She was filled with it her voice and the way her body sank into the couch indicated that she was used to being beat down, at least emotionally. Maybe deciding to jump off that bridge was the only way she felt like she could have 'control' of her life. When Emily stated that no one would miss her he could tell that she believed it. He watched her as she sat the bottle down and looked him before turning her gaze away. She sat there in silence. He pulled a chair from the dining table over and sat across from her. He crossed an ankle over his knee, then rested the bottle on his thigh. Emily...I can't forget about you. People come into our lives for a reason, and I was meant to notice you tonight and stop you from jumping. I've reached in and changed the course of your life - now I have a responsibility to you, and I don't take my responsibilities lightly. Blake took another drink, this one long and deep, as he considered the girl on his couch. This had not been part of his plan for the next week or two of his life, but he was committed the moment he turned around and jogged back to the bridge because he sensed something had been off. Alright. If you don't want to talk about it right now I'm not going to push you. You've obviously got a lot going on in that pretty head of yours. He pressed his lips together as he watched her profile. If you're going to stay here we had better set some ground rules. Rule number one? You're not allowed to hurt yourself while you're here. Rule two - you don't leave unless you leave with me, and rule three, you don't answer the phone or the door. Fair enough? He took another quick drink. Oh, and rule four - I get the bed. I might open doors for you but I'll be damned if I'm going to give up my bed. The couch pulls out. You can stay there until we figure this thing out.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

Emily blinked in surprise when he began to bring out rules for her staying with him. He was not kicking her out. But why did he care? She did not understand. After studying the floor for a moment longer, she turned her gaze to look at Blake. I don't understand... she began, honestly confused. No one was just doing something this nice for her. Not without wanting something back. A light frown showed on her face as she tried to make sense of his gesture. His rules...he was keeping her locked up in here, not allowed to make a move without him. Or did he truly just mean to protect her? Do....do you ... want me to sleep with you? she finally brought out, this being the only conclusion she could find. He would want some sort of payment for her staying here. Or...clean your apartment? Her entire composure showed her confusion, showed her being unable to handle this situation, never having learned how to handle someone being truly nice to her. She was thirsty, hungry even, but she would never dare to ask for something. Instead, she carefully grabbed the bottle he had handed her earlier and drank again, slowly, but clearly thirsty. It also gave her time to think, trying to find another way to make sense of this. I could cook...I think but...I guess I am not good at it. She offered after finishing her drink, her confusion rising the longer she thought about everything.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

He nearly choked on his beer. Sleep with her? Didn't she hear him say that the couch pulled out? He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, giving him time to hear her other offers of what she could do in exchange for her stay with him. He felt the air entering his lungs in cold, sharp breaths. He watched her drinking the wine cooler, swallowing eagerly like she was either a lush or... really thirsty. Before too long had passed she had finished the bottle and offered to cook, even if she was, by her own admission, not good at it. I don't want you to sleep with me, he replied, finishing off his beer. He stood up and walked to his kitchen to throw the empty container in the recycling bin under the sink. You can help with the apartment, if you like, and try your hand at cooking, but there's no requirement for you to do anything at this point to repay me for your stay here. With help, she'd hopefully only be here for a short duration. He was heartened that she hadn't mentioned suicide or being worthless for the last few minutes. Maybe the distraction was good for her. He took a closer look at the way she was dressed. Her jeans were wearing thin in some places, not because it was fashionable, but because they had been worn for so long. Her shoes also showed wear. They looked like they were held together by bits of thread and inspiration. And that t-shirt? It, too was thin, and the way her breasts showed through, their soft curves pressing against the old fabric, made him think that she would be better covered by a coat of paint. He realized he was checking her out. Blake turned his gaze towards the kitchen. I'll tell you what - why don't I get you something to change into? You can take a shower and I'll make up a late dinner for you. We can discuss this in the morning when we've both had a chance to sleep on it. He set his bottle down and walked over to his bedroom. From the second drawer down he pulled out maroon shorts with a drawstring and a grey t-shirt with the word ARMY on the front. There are some clean towels on the wall. He walked back to the couch and handed Emily the clothing. All the razors in there are safety razors, but if I hear anything remotely resembling you hurting yourself I'm coming in.
Thread: Give it a week (Traveler & Too Many Thoughts)

He was so nice. Too nice? Emily watched Blake's very move, always ready to anticipate him lashing out at her or starting to be mean to her. But he didn't. He even refused to have her pay him back in some way so that he would let her stay at his place. She quietly watched how he went to the kitchen to throw away his empty bottle and then return to her. It didn't go unnoticed that he looked at her more intently, but she would never start to think that he was checking her out. Why would he? He had just stated that he didn't want her to sleep with him so he probably found her to be disgusting. With a nod she accepted the clothes and got up from the couch, listening to what he said about him coming in when he thought she would hurt herself. I didn't forget about the rule she mumbled softly, then walked off to the bathroom. His rules were....unusual to her but they kind of made sense. She wondered if she would start to feel locked in, but then again, as soon as he was gone, nothing stopped her from going back to that bridge and jumping. Finally be free. With a soft sigh she peeled out of her clothes and folded them neatly, placing them in a corner of the room so that in no way they would bother anyone. Carefully she turned on the water and waited until it was warm enough, then stepped into the tub and closed the curtain. Emily stepped under the warm spray of water and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of warmth on her skin. She didn't notice it at all but the water helped her relax so much that she forgot about time and spend almost fourty minutes in the shower. She washed her hair three times and cleaned her body too. Eventually she turned off the water and stepped out, rubbing herself clean with a towel. Her skin looked cleaner now, fresher. But still pale. Her body was thin, too thin because she was not eating regularly or in any way enough. But without hesitating, she slipped into the shirt and the shorts Blake had given her. Both too big, but she fastened the shorts with the drawstring and left the shirt as it was. Her red hair was still dark because it was wet, falling in light curls down to her back. Shyly she came back outside and looked for Blake. Thank you for the shower. It was really nice. She told him honestly. Could I get some water please? she asked politely, not wanting to be any kind of nuisance for him but she was still very thirsty.