ciarawinters

[ciarawinters]

[ciarawinters]

Ciara had her feet propped up on her desk, nose buried in her book, so enthralled she hadn't noticed when someone walked into the office.

@curreres

[ciarawinters]

[ciarawinters]

Ciara nodded slowly, her mind struggling to comprehend what her sister was telling her. Charlie.....was a contract killer. A murderer. "I-I need to sit," she said quietly. Without ceremony she flopped down to the ground, face pale as she stuck her head between her knees.

Charlie looked away, averting eye contact as embarrassment flooded her face. “A few…yeah,” she admitted quietly. “Dad’s contacts…wanted me to prove myself. I’m not proud of it, I know it doesn’t make it any better but they were assholes doing the same business,” she sighed.

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She held on to her sister just as tightly, until what exactly Charlie said clicked in her mind. Ciara pulled away, eyes wide. "W-wait, you killed people?" She felt lightheaded.

Charlie shook her head. “Not that part…I knew which prison he was in and how violent he was, so I just went wanting to learn more. Pretended I was the child who turned out like him so I could know how he kept people so afraid of him.” She teared up and squeezed her sister’s hand right back, then pulled her in for a hug she felt like she desperately needed. “I don’t know about that, but it did finally make me feel strong to take out my anger of bad people.”

[ciarawinters]

Ciara tried her best to do as Tiff said, taking deep but shaky breaths as she continued to hold on. They were still best friends. She hadn't royally fucked up everything. She pulled away with a sniff, wiping at her eyes as she glanced at the other. "A-are you sure? If you don't want to hang out right now I totally get it."

"Breathe...honey..." Tiffany cooed in her ear. She place a soft kiss to the side of Ciara's head. It was more for comfort than anything. Tiffany moved her hand in circles on her back "It's okay I'm right here I'm not going anywhere....I'm still your best friend." She said softly "why don't we get you into the bath...clean up I'll pop in a movie and we'll just chill out like we always do." It hurt a bit, Tiffany knew things would be different. Especially once Ciara started seeing who ever she did have feeling for. She knew how this would go. It would never end well for Tiffany because it never did.

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Ciara seethed because technically that was true, Art could decide for himself. "Yeah, because he can't see what kind of harpy bitch you are. But I see through all your bullshit."

"Oh I plan to not be around you period..." she shrugged "Art on the other hand well....he's a big boy I don't think either of us have a say in what he dose" She tilted her head at her.

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Ciara shook her head. "I did though," she insisted. "My brother and sister both went missing here and I....I didn't want to come alone so I posed it as a great idea for the show, because I'm a selfish bitch." She could feel herself tearing up. It really was all her fault Art and Violet were stuck here. Still, she could muster a small smile at the mention of the hot boss. "Guess that's a perk," she mumbled. Even if it seemed like Art grew more and more miserable the longer they stayed in this shithole.

"woah, hey!" violet reaches out to set her hands on ciara's shoulders. "look, you had no idea this was gonna happen and archie's a big ol' adult — and so am i. don't put that on yourself. and, i mean, if it makes you feel better, i did a pretty stupid thing before i got here and so being here kinda... works?" if she ignored all the bad stuff, which she did, of course. "no frowns, pretty girl. i get to see my brother and ogle my hot boss, so i'm happy."

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She honestly had no clue what to say. "Wait, so did you know? About the hitman thing?" Was she the only one that had been kept in the dark all these years? Still, Ciara remembered how destroyed Charlie had been after the incident, and so she reached out to take her sister's hand, squeezing it hard. "You're the strongest person I know," she said, meaning every word.

Charlie smiled sadly and nodded. “Yeah…you know me, I couldn’t even hold down a job cause I was drinking so much to forget…things,” she looked away. “I thought maybe if I got answers and learned how to protect myself from those people, no one could ever mess with me again, you know? It was stupid, but I was desperate.”

[ciarawinters]

As Aiko stared into her eyes Ciara's hands twitched to reach up and cup the other woman's face. At her words, however, Ciara started, glancing nervously at the lake. Things seemed to have calmed down, but that didn't meant it was over. Getting up, she held her hand out to Aiko. "Yeah, let's get the fuck outta here."

she's surprised to feel ciara's arms around her and aiko stills momentarily, trying to steady her breathing and calm down. she shifts so that she could hug ciara in return, her arms circling around ciara's torso, her body still shaking. they're safe. they had done it. she tries her best to focus on ciara's breathing, and eventually she calms down enough to stop shaking for the most part. "thank you," she says softly, pulling away enough to look at ciara — doing so distracts her, aiko's gaze roaming ciara's face before she shakes her head some to break the trance. "we should move further away from the water, i think."

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Ciara clumsily followed him to the couch, her fists bunched into his shirt so hard there was risk of tearing the fabric. "Stop pushing me out," she sobbed. "I just want my brother back. I want my stupid fucking muppet back. And not this fake one. The real you." Each word was punctuated with gasps for air, Art's shoulder beginning to soak with her tears and snot.

Art wrapped his arms around tight around her small frame, dragging them over to the couch so he could actually hug her properly. He let all the frustration pour out of him, things that had been trapped in his psyche for years. In her shoulder, he shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise. I’m not leaving you.” Ciara always cared. She depended on him. She needed him. Those were the kind of things to wake him up. “I’m sorry. I’m here.”

[ciarawinters]

She nodded slowly, swallowing down a heavy lump in her throat at Tiff's words. They lifted a weight off of her chest that had felt like it was suffocating her for far longer than Ciara wanted to admit. As her best friend pulled her in for a hug, the dam broke and tears fell down Ciara's cheeks as she held on to Tiffany like a life line. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry," she hiccupped between sobs. She wanted to be in love with her best friend. Wanted to make Tiffany as happy and cared for as she deserved. But her stupid fucking heart wouldn't cooperate, and it had eaten at Ciara for so long.

Tiffany snorted and nodded "good, even though I know that would never happen" She smiled but it faded when Ciara got serious again. she felt her heart began to beat nearly out of her chest and not for the right reasons. She had a feeling this was coming. It had been months since she had told Ciara how she felt and yet they some how could never seem to take that leap. Make it official, just never seemed right.

Tiffany felt her eyes water a bit and she shook her head "Hey...." She whispered once more. She brought her free hand up to Ciara's cheek bringing her gaze back to hers "I don't want us to be together if the feelings aren't mutual. That's the last thing I want you to do." shaking her head "I'm always going to love you as my best friend and that's more important to me than anything else." fuck did it hurt to hear those words 'I met someone' hit Tiffany bit harder than she would admit, she didn't want to cry. At least not right now, not in front of Ciara. She didn't want her to feel bad "then be with them....I'm always going to be here for you..." she pulled Ciara close and wrapped her in a hug mostly to hide that she was trying not to cry but to comfort her "I just want you to be happy..."

[ciarawinters]

Songs to Describe Ciara

Anthem - Superchick

Circus - Britney Spears

I Love It - Icona Pop (ft. Charlie XCX)

NO - Meghan Trainor

Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake

Songs Ciara Listens To

abcdefu - GAYLE (ft. Royal & the Serpent)

Boyfriend - Dove Cameron

Down - Marian Hill

Enemy - Imagine Dragons x JID

New Rules - Dua Lipa

[ciarawinters]

She bit back a sigh, the self loathing sinking further. "It's....my fault you're both stuck here. I was the one that suggested we come to this stupid fucking town knowing that people go missing in the area. I'm....I'm really sorry."

"oh. ciara. i've heard that name before," violet comments, flashing her a little smile — though when ciara seems to come to the realization and then almost seems to look guilty, violet frowns. "i mean, yeah. he's my brother. but i had my own reason for being here." she tilts her head some. "why the face?"

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Her eyes narrowed at the other woman. "You shouldn't have to deal with us, period. Stay the fuck away from him you god damn psycho bitch."

"Oh yes, I find this town quit interesting...." she nodded "Though...I'm not fond of the idea of Art dying because of a fucking monster in the water...or where ever the fuck this town has in store for us..." she shrugged "Congrats, all that hunting for the supernatural paid off..." she smirked "At least the drinks here are tolerable. Makes dealing with You and Arts wicked sister at lot more tolerable..."

[ciarawinters]

Guilt only further ate at Ciara as she reached for Tiff's hand, hating herself for wanting, needing the comfort for what she was about to do, say. She kept her gaze down at their hands, already feeling herself tear up. Ciara was sick and tired of crying so much the past few months. The joke actually did make her whip her head up to look Tiff in the eyes, her nose scrunched in disgust. "Ew, God no. Even if I was into dick, definitely not that one." She let out a long exhale, steeling herself.

"I...I just. I know you really like me Tiff, and I hoped that the longer we did this," she shook their hands for emphasis, "everything would just, I dunno, click into place. It would be right, falling in love with my best friend." Ciara had to drop her gaze again, feeling the tears threatening to fall now. "But it's not working. I'm trying; I've been trying so hard but I still feel the same. A-and I-" she cut herself off, feeling the phantom grip of Aiko's arms around her waist as they swam to safety. The look of fear and trust in her eyes that had been haunting Ciara for weeks now. "I think I met someone," she said quietly, wincing at how horrible it made her feel to say the words aloud.

Tiff could feel the tension, she could tel her best friend wasn't sleeping. but she hadn't brought it up since she knew how stressed Ciara was to begin with. She moved away from the counter and went to Ciara her self. Putting her hand out to the other. "Hey..." She whispered softly. "What is it..."

She nodded "Yeah..." shaking her head "There's nothing you could say that could make me upset with you Ciara....unless you like slept with Taurus or something." she huffed a laugh knowing how that would never happen.

[ciarawinters]

After the confrontation with Art the nightmares Ciara was plagued with eased up, and instead she spent most nights laying wide awake as she ruminated over her own personal issues she kept pushing deep into the recesses of her heart. She knew it was getting to the point where her exhaustion was noticeable, and she hated putting that kind of worry on Tiffany of all people. Even with the other's tease Ciara hung back in the kitchen, hand gripping her sleeve tightly as she swallowed a lump in her throat.

"I-in a moment. I just." Fuck she hated this. She hated herself, for not being able to fall in love with the person she was supposed to. Everything would have been so much easier that way. "We'll always be best friends, no matter what, right?" Ciara kept her gaze to the tiled floor, too afraid to look up at the other woman. It was harder that she hadn't had anyone to confide in before this.

Where: Ciara and Arts Place Who: Tiffany and Ciara (@ciarawinters)

she was eating from a to-go box on the counter. She could tell Ciara wasn't being herself. She knew Art was going through somethings and she could see how heavily it was weighing on Ciara she was trying her best to keep things light "Hey! I'm going to eat all this pie if you don't come over here and get some" she teased a little.