Lacuna Rambles/Thoughts/Gif Reacts #1: Denial is a River in Egypt 🤪

[Alternate Text: A GIF of a river that is most certainly not the Nile River. It shows water swirling around some large rocks and tiny rapids disrupting the flow along with flanking trees. It's the Truckee river, which is located in California and Nevada. It seems to have been filmed in fall.] 

(I searched 'Nile River' on Giphy, but a lot of crocodile GIFs came up instead of pretty water, so I went with this instead. 😌)

I'm certain most of you have heard the: "Denial is a river in Egypt" audio byte in certain edits/things!

Specifically, this ramble is about the Denial Overlay to R. Verner's romance route and how its exclusive scenes can be fun to write. I don't believe there are many denial! R-mancers here? I know of some of you are. It's a unique twist on the route that influences the burn and a few other possibilities. Some former rivals of the Verner heir might have a hard time coming to terms with these new ~feelings~.  

One example is how denial! MCs won't take R's flowers into their room after the RO excursion; instead, they leave them sitting out on a side table. 🥀 There is also the difference of what can happen in the convertible (the seatbelt!) during the date.

Here's another taste of how scenes can and will differ that occurs further in Book Two's plot: 

Denial:

Reese

"Verner?" you say his last name softly before strengthening your voice. "I can operate a door without any assistance. It's very simple."

"I should hope so."

He's too close to you, resting one hand on the car door while his other braces on the roof line. Your heartbeat traitorously increasing must be because you're feeling caged in by Reese's presence—the confident way he is taking up your personal space. When his hand leaves the car's roof to trail lower, ghosting across your thighs, you should probably say something or smack him.

It would make sense!

A soft click comes from your seatbelt he just unlatched, smile turning attractively smug—no, annoyingly smug.

 "I trust you with doors, just not with these…"

Reese smoothly murmurs that before walking away, while you grip the armrests for a second and then get out of the SUV to follow him. You consider getting his attention with a calculated retort when you spy Beckett waving you over, possibly for a word in private. Reese, Silas, and Jane are on the front porch, waiting around and talking.

Ruby

"Verner?" you say her last name softly before strengthening your voice. "I can operate a door without any assistance. It's very simple."

"I should hope so."

She's too close to you, resting one hand on the car door while her other braces on the roof line. Your heartbeat traitorously increasing must be because you're feeling caged in by Ruby's presence—the confident way she is taking up your personal space. When her hand leaves the car's roof to trail lower, ghosting across your thighs, you should probably say something or smack her.

It would make sense!

A soft click comes from your seatbelt she just unlatched, smile turning attractively smug—no, annoyingly smug.

"I trust you with doors, just not with these…"

Ruby smoothly murmurs that before walking away, while you grip the armrests for a second and then get out of the SUV to follow her. You consider getting her attention with a calculated retort when you spy Beckett waving you over, possibly for a word in private. Ruby, Silas, and Jane are on the front porch, waiting around and talking.

Not Denial: 

Reese

He reaches for your hand, perceptive to if the contact is wanted or not before linking your fingers and elegantly guiding you out of the SUV. Reese smiles only after you're close to his side, walking together for the others to see, except they don't seem surprised. You consider saying more when you spy Beckett waving you over, possibly for a word in private.

Ruby

She reaches for your hand, perceptive to if the contact is wanted or not before linking your fingers and elegantly guiding you out of the SUV. Ruby smiles only after you're close to her side, walking together for the others to see, except they don't seem surprised. You consider saying more when you spy Beckett waving you over, possibly for a word in private.

Both scenes are longer than these glimpses, but you see how the mood differs! 😎 

R walks with the MC without the denial overlay; there is more openness about the developing relationship. 🖤 I didn't want to spoil things too much since Not Denial is the more common route. I hope this glimpse at the difference intrigues you all. 👀