jesstanleys

[jesstanleys]

society if i came back here

[jesstanleys]

𝙰 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙴 .  her own tray , loaded with food she will only restlessly pick apart with shining honeyed eyes .    her siblings sitting at their usual table ,  pretending to bicker over their never-ending trays of food  ,  emmett in particular bares his teeth playfully ,  she can hear the low whistle of his feigned breath –  but alice ,  alice is one for peace gestures  .  and she’s more than determined to make up for bella’s absence amongst her friends .  

         “         –       she does .      “  BELLA ,  PAINFULLY SHY BELLA .  suffice to  say ,  alice has to fill in most of the details herself  .  “  you’re one of her best friends ,  aren’t you ? “   a question without malice  , hand poised under her chin almost longingly ,  “   NOTHING BAD .  I promise . “  impish tone ,  “    bella   –   bella  is  special .  NEW KID ON THE BLOCK . “  when before , it had been her family that caused the commotion , transfer students that appeared seemingly out of thin air .  “  but I can’t say I’ve ever been to Arizona … and you ,  jess ? “  

INT   :       THE  SCHOOL  CAFETERIA  IS  BURDERNED  WITH  A  HEAVY  CHILL,   A  TIRED  COLDNESS  THAT  SEEPS  INTO  HER  VERY  BONES       ---       THE  AFTERNOON  WILL  NOT  KEEP  HER  SAFE  FROM  PRETTY  GIRLS  AND  PRYING  EYES.

A  CLOSE  UP   :       jessica's  dark  eyes  taking  over  the  screen,    a  watchful  gaze  stained  with  gentle  browns        (       she  is  the  ceaseless  watcher  of  these  breathless  moments,    an  unfocused  woman  taking  in  alice's  ice  -  softened  face       ).       WHAT  DOES  SHE  WANT?     WHAT  DO  ANY  OF  THEM  WANT?

JESSICA:   obviously  i'm  her  best  friend       [       ...       ]       did  she  say  that?   that  i  was  her        ---        'cause  obviously  we  are. JESSICA:    are  you  looking  for  travel  tips,   alice?   'cause  there's  way  better  places  than  arizona,   trust  me.

[jesstanleys]

@jesstanleys··   said   :   ‘  is   that   a   weed   ?!   i’m   calling   the   police   !  ‘   ––   [ 3am VINE STARTERS . ]

❛  hop off ,  jezzica .  it’s oregano !  ❜     it’s   better   not   to   get   caught   up   on   the   fact   that   he   pronounces   it   as   oregon - oh   ,   the   inflections   of   an   unfamiliar   word   losing   themselves   as   they   hopscotch   across   a   stilted   tongue   .   he   recoils   as   if   struck   ,   mouth   twisting   into   a   grimace   .   (   legend   has   it   :   if   you   invoke   the   name   of   the   PD   three   times   in   front   of   a   high   school   bathroom   mirror   ,   a   local   stoner’s   soul   leaves   his   body   .   )   fucking   jessica   .   he   shoves   the   unlit   blunt   into   oversized   coat   pockets   and   sniffs   ,   shifting   his   weight   between   one   foot   and   another   .

❛  i’ll kill you ,  ❜     words   spoken   in   a   low   voice   .   jimbo   leans   in   with   ragdoll   movements   ,   all   slouched   shoulders   and   imbalanced   muscles   .   he   pulls   another   face   ,   eyeing   her   suspiciously   from   beneath   furrowed   brows   ,   and   then   seems   to   reconsider   .   grim   expression   eases   ,   foot   taken   off   the   gas   pedal   .   ❛  unless you ,  uh ,  want some  …  in which case ––   ❜     a   break   in   his   speech   /   a   scratch   of   the   record   ,   creating   a   pause   just   long   enough   for   him   to   crack   a   slanted   smile   .   (   if   he   had   any   shades   to   look   over   ,   he   would   )   .     ❛  –– the spice rack is open .  ❜     it’s   what   the   geeks   call   a   pro - business   move   .

EXT   :      THE  CLASSIC  HAUNT  OF  STONERS      ---       A  PARKING  LOT  FILLED  TO  THE  BRIM  WITH  BROKEN  DREAMS  AND  THE  GHASTLY  SCENT  OF  FUMES.     THE  AFTERNOON  LIGHT  SHINES  DIRECTLY  INTO  YOUR  EYES  AND  YOU  DO  NOT  SHADE  YOURSELF  FROM  IT.

JESSICA:   oh,   you'll  kill  me?   you're  gonna  kill  me?   right  here,   in  the  middle  of  about  fifty  cameras,   dickweed?    i'm  terrified,   really,   so  scared.

A  CLOSE  UP   :      jessica's  arms  crossed  over  her  chest,    the  universal  symbol  of  pissed  -  off  -  honour  -  student      (      not  that  her  olive  -  ripe  mouth  would  ever  admit  to  a  report  card  that  read  easy  a's  all  over  it,   'cause  that  might  damage  the  pristine  reputation  she  had  covered  herself  in       ).       doesn't  that  make  them  alike,   really?     the  slacker  and  the  brutal  child  cutting  pieces  of  her  body  off  to  appear  lighter,    sweeter?     FUCK  NO!     she'd  rather  sit  through  three  hours  of  mr.  phillip's  outdated  psychology  one  -  oh  -  one  than  listen  to  jimbo's  grating  voice  mispronounce  oregano.

JESSICA:   woah,   i'm  not  touching  your  freaky  drugs,   are  you  kidding  me?   you  know  that  stuff  literally  kills  people,  right?   ADOLESCENCE  DRUG  ADDICTION  IS      ---     you  don't  even  care       [      ...      ]      i  don't  even  care  about  telling  you,   actually.

[jesstanleys]

queenㅤㅤㅤ beeㅤㅤㅤ ,ㅤㅤㅤ letㅤㅤㅤ yourㅤㅤㅤ minionsㅤㅤㅤ 𝕭𝖀𝖅𝖅ㅤㅤㅤ aroundㅤㅤㅤ youㅤㅤㅤ .ㅤㅤㅤ aㅤㅤㅤ crownㅤㅤㅤ ofㅤㅤㅤ goldㅤㅤㅤ ,ㅤㅤㅤ heldㅤㅤㅤ upㅤㅤㅤ byㅤㅤㅤ aㅤㅤㅤ matchingㅤㅤㅤ scrunchieㅤㅤㅤ ❪ㅤㅤㅤ 𝑜𝑓ㅤㅤㅤ 𝑎𝑙𝑙ㅤㅤㅤ 𝑡𝘩𝑖����𝑔𝑠ㅤㅤㅤ !ㅤㅤㅤ ❫ㅤㅤㅤ ,ㅤㅤㅤ pleatedㅤㅤㅤ navyㅤㅤㅤ skirtㅤㅤㅤa ㅤㅤㅤ 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫ㅤㅤㅤ 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭ㅤㅤㅤ ‘gainstㅤㅤㅤ alabasterㅤㅤㅤ canvasㅤㅤㅤ .ㅤㅤㅤ blameㅤㅤㅤ aliceㅤㅤㅤ forㅤㅤㅤ thisㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ forcingㅤㅤㅤ theㅤㅤㅤ 𝙸𝙲𝙴ㅤㅤㅤ 𝚀𝚄𝙴𝙴𝙽ㅤㅤㅤ ofㅤㅤㅤ forksㅤㅤㅤ highㅤㅤㅤ schoolㅤㅤㅤ toㅤㅤㅤ beㅤㅤㅤ KINDERㅤㅤㅤ .ㅤㅤㅤ sneakersㅤㅤㅤ ˢᵠᵘᵉᵃᵏㅤㅤㅤ gentlyㅤㅤㅤ ‘ponㅤㅤㅤ gymㅤㅤㅤ flooringㅤㅤㅤ ,ㅤㅤㅤ tightㅤㅤㅤ -ㅤㅤㅤ lippedㅤㅤㅤ smileㅤㅤㅤ gracingㅤㅤㅤ glossyㅤㅤㅤ petalsㅤㅤㅤ .ㅤㅤㅤ  ❛ㅤㅤㅤ you’reㅤㅤㅤ theㅤㅤㅤ captainㅤㅤㅤ ,ㅤㅤㅤ rightㅤㅤㅤ ?ㅤㅤㅤ [ㅤㅤㅤ …ㅤㅤㅤ ]ㅤㅤㅤ youㅤㅤㅤ didㅤㅤㅤ goodㅤㅤㅤ .ㅤㅤㅤ ❜

♥️ㅤㅤㅤ :ㅤㅤㅤ @jesstanleys· .

INT   :      THE  SWEAT  -  SOAKED  SCENT  OF  GIRLHOOD  COMPETITION  STAINING  THE  GYM.      THE  AFTERNOON  BRINGS  ITS  CERTAIN  DELIGHTS.

CUT  TO   :      jessica's  eyes  grow  wide      [      peach  lips  parted  in  a  soft  gasp,    hands  wiping  gently  at  her  shorts  to  get  rid  of  the  quick  layer  of  sweat     ].     her  head  twitches  over  her  shoulder,    over  the  other  one  next,    repeats  the  gesture  a  few  times  as  if  she's  seeking  out  a  lifeboat       ---      WHY  THE  FUCK  IS  ROSALIE  TALKING  TO  HER?       her  arms  cross  over  her  chest,    smile  a  small,   twitching  creature  upon  her  lips.

JESSICA:    me?   yeah     (      ...       )      yeah,   yes,   i  mean       ---       it  was,   like,    a  group  vote,   and  everyone  decided  i  was  the  best  fit  for  the  job.   of  being  captain. JESSICA:   it's,   like,    i'm  clearly  the  best  player,   so  it  makes  sense.    DID  YOU  WATCH  THE  WHOLE  GAME?

[jesstanleys]

         “Well, hey there Jess.” While the sound of a bell was slightly annoying, (simply because Bear had reached a spot in his book where he didn’t want to put it down), he finds that fading at the sight of a familiar face. That’s his favorite part of the job, getting to know the people around town through the times that they decide to stop in. “How’ve you been?”

@jesstanleys liked this.

INT   :       THE  STORE  IS  A  DYING  STAR  AGAINST  THE  DARKENED  ABYSS  OUTSIDE  THE  WINDOW.     THE  NIGHT  SAYS  YOUR  NAME.

JESSICA   [   her  arms  are  curled  around  a  shivering  body,   frost  -  touched  rain  making  her  look  vaguely  drowned   ]:   uh,   fucking  freezing,   thanks  for  asking,   dickwad. JESSICA:   it  should  be  illegal  to  say  the  weather's  gonna  be  nice  when  it  fucking  isn't.

[jesstanleys]

                                           get  to  know  the  mun  !                                                                                                                   repost,  don’t  reblog.

———  𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒.

(PEN)NAME  :  doe!

PRONOUNS  :  they  /  she.

ZODIAC  SIGN  :  i’m not telling you because you’ll all be mean.

TAKEN  OR  SINGLE  :  taken”

———  𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄  𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒.

i think amy dunne is wife material. 

i’ve never broken a bone and i don’t have a single scar on my body. power.

i’ve never read harry potter or watched the movies. yeah i’m proud of it. i’m better than you all.

———  𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄.

i’ve had my first tumblr rp account when i was 13ish??? and i mostly rp on discord tbh, a lot more laidback and fun, but i do like the general aura of tumblr. mostly.

———  𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄  𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄.

men <3 i gravitate a lot more to male muses, which i think is why i enjoy exploring femininity with jess because i don’t usually go for these muses. i also tend to like older muses, 30s upwards, and yet here i am. on jess. i KNOW.

———  𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐅𝐅  /  𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐓  /  𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐓.  

FLUFF  :  fluff makes me sob :( but i like fluff with a plot mostly, otherwise it can just feel a bit like. well, this is nice.

ANGST  :  ANGST MAKES ME SAD, TOO :( i cry very easily because i’m a big baby because i do love angst threads.

SMUT  :  i can talk smut headcanons, but writing it....no.

PLOT  /  MEMES  :  i love plotting!! and i think it often eases the way to conversation which is nice.

tagged   by     :      @diabolicis <3

tagging     :      @azulegacy,  @shedefend,  @muhlti,   @namedbear,   @violatile

[jesstanleys]

“      do   you   wanna   get   out   of   here   or   not?      ”      comes   the   answering   retort.      five   minutes   out   of   the   car  ,    and   raven   is   already   drawing   near   her   limit   of   playing   nice   for   the   day.       “      yeah  ,    it’s   one   of   the   squeezy   ones  ,    yeah  ,    i   have   hand   lotion   in   the   glove   box  ,    but   this’ll   just   take   a   minute  ,    okay?      just   grin   and   bear   it.      ”

EXT   :     A  FALLEN  TREE  TRUNK  LANDED  IN  THE  MIDDLE  OF  A  ROAD,   THE  EMPTINESS  OF  THE  STREETS  THRUMMING  WITH  UNBURDENED  ENERGY.   AFTERNOON.

CUT  TO   :      jessica's  face  morphed  into  a  pout,   tucking  her  hands  into  her  armpits  as  if  she's  collecting  all  the  warmth  of  the  world  inside  of  her.

JESSICA:   it'll  just  take  a  minute?   dude,   it's  a  fallen  tree,   we're  going  to  need,   like       ---       equipment  and  stuff,  right?

[jesstanleys]

❛      oh  my——      you  are  really  beautiful  !  like  the  most  charming  painting  ever  drawn.      ❜

s.c      ,      @jesstanleys···.

INT.   A  SHOPPING  MALL  BUSTLING  WITH  TOO  MANY  BODIES,     CLAUSTROPHOBIA  PRESSING  ITS  IVORY  FINGERTIPS  AGAINST  HER  NECK   :        the  afternoon  is  tempered  by  sunshine,     furious  beneath  the  glare  of  fluorescent  lights.  

JESSICA   [   lips  parting  in  anxious  curiosity,    head  that  tilts  to  the  side  in  the  fragmented  parody  of  a  question  mark   ]:   are  you  a  salesperson?    'cause  you  really  don't  need  to  lay  it  on  so  thick.

[jesstanleys]

“       here i am settled in on your floor ,        quieting all the world outside your door  …   and i am reckoning .     “           @jesstanleys·  ,       lyric - based starter .

INT.    HER  ROOM  IS  DIMMED  INTO  ONE  SINGLE  SPOTLIGHT,     LEAKING  FREE  FROM  A  DULL  LAMP   :        the  night  floods  this  little  bedroom.

JESSICA:   my  reckoning?    jeez,    someone's  feeling  all  important  tonight,   isn't  she? JESSICA:   i  get  it,   we're  forces  of  nature,   we're  powerful.   do  you  wanna  go  to  bed  yet  or  should  i  paint  your  nails?

[jesstanleys]

𝙸𝙽𝚃.  :    𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁  𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚁,  𝙹𝚄𝚂𝚃  𝙰𝚂  𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙸𝙰𝚁  𝙰𝚂  𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚃    –    𝙻𝚄𝙽𝙲𝙷𝚃𝙸𝙼𝙴

dean puts the menu back on the shitty veneer of the table shared between them ,        a wide grin on his face as he offers the waitress a flirty wink .        his eyes turn back to the young hunter ,        the girl that he knew virtually nothing about                [        just as little as she knew about him        ] .                he didn’t mind the company                (    …    after all ,        it had been a while since he’d had the pleasures of hunting with another person    …    ) ,                it took his mind off his own familial complications .        now that he was in california ,        maybe he would stop by to pay his younger brother a visit ,        a quick drive by to make sure sam was doing alright .        then again,        his visit would probably prove to be nothing more than an unwanted reminder of how    𝖆𝖇𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖚𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖞    𝖆𝖑𝖔𝖓𝖊    dean was .        CLOSE    UP    ON    DEAN  :        eyes carefully scan the young huntress’ face ,        pen tip gently pulling against his lower lip as he spreads the case files between the two of them .        the smile he offers her is similar to the one he gave the waitress        –        cheeky ,        CONFIDENT .        little did she know that dean was anything but .

DEAN  :        what made you want to be a hunter ?        this life ain’t easy ,        and i’m sure    a pretty gal    like yourself could’ve done somethin’ else with her life .

@jesstanleys·    /    semi plotted starter from forever ago !

INT.  THE  DINER  HAS  A  HOMELY  GRIME  TO  IT,  THE  FAMILIAR  BRUTALITY  OF  UNCARING  WAITRESSES  AND  COLD  COFFEE   :        the  afternoon  bustle  is  filled  with  noise,  trembling  with  people,  these  two  strangers  turned  into  nothing  more  than  part  of  a  crowd,  unnoticed  beneath  the  sweep  of  bodies.

A  CLOSE  UP   :       jessica  doesn't  look  like  a  hunter       (       she  lives  in  muted  pinks,   nails  twisted  beneath  purple  paint,   lips  pursed  with  gentle  glitter       ---       SHE  IS  A  DRESS  -  UP  DOLL,   THE  DISCOUNT  PAGEANT  QUEEN,   HIDING  BLOODSTAINS  BENEATH  ALLURE       ).       her  lips  settle  into  a  pinched  frown,   curiosity  blooming  like  a  forgotten  bruise  across  her  face.

JESSICA:   do  you  just  talk  about  this  stuff  in  public?   everywhere  you  go?       [       eyes  drift,   landing  on  dirty  aprons  and  mouths  half  -  stuffed  with  reheated  food       ]       'cause  it  seems  a  little  reckless  to  me,   using  words  like  hunter  and  stuff. JESSICA       [      a  resigned  sigh,   her  crossed  arms  settled  over  her  chest       ]:       my  hometown  was       ---       overrun,   you  could  say.  and  one  of  the  leeches,   a  vampire,   got  to  my  best  friend       (       well,   second  best  friend       ).   and  she's  just     [       ...       ]       it's  disgusting  that  they  could  do  that  to  her,   that  they  could  do  that  to  anyone.   THAT  THEY  COULD  TAKE  HER  FROM  ME.

[jesstanleys]

𝙸𝙽𝚃.  :    𝚈𝙴𝚃  𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁  𝙼𝙾𝚅𝙸𝙴  𝚂𝙴𝚃    –    𝚂𝙷𝙴  𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙻𝙳  𝙱𝙴  𝚂𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙿𝙸𝙽𝙶,  𝙱𝚄𝚃  𝚂𝙷𝙴'𝚂  𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙲𝙺  𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴!

CLOSE    UP    ON    DIONNE  :        unimpressed eyes watch the brunette carefully as she crosses her arms ,        painted lips pull together in a gentle pout .        her daddy had dragged her along for the day ,        ignoring her plans with cher in hopes of some                ‘        daddy-daughter bonding .        ’                ever since her powers started to present themselves ,        it was like she wasn’t allowed to do things on her own        –        it wasn’t her fault she was born into a family of freaks !        so ,        naturally ,        she took out her frustration on other people .

DIONNE  :        you know ,        i’ve seen your movies .        i always thought you would be …        a little more    𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖛𝖊    in person .        my mistake .

@jesstanleys·    /    starter from dionne davenport !

INT   :       THE  WORLD  IS  BUILT  ANEW  AROUND  YOU,       THE  FACADE  OF  SWAYING  TREES  AND  FALLING  AUTUMN  -  SWEETENED  LEAVES       --       THE  AFTERNOON  IS  LITTLE  MORE  THAN  DUSKY  AIR  AND  HALF  -  SWALLOWED  SIGHS.

A  CLOSE  UP   :       jessica  has  been  forced  into  another  costume  change,    a  crude  covering  of  leaves  spilled  across  her  body       --       her  make  -  up  flares  up  in  greens  and  purples,     a  forest  nymph  captured  in  every  twisted  movement       (       head  is  cocked  lightly  towards  the  stranger,     intrigue  scripted  across  her  face       ).

JESSICA       [       self  -  worth  is  a  loophole,     an  ouroboros  that  eats  itself  whole  in  burning  hunger       ]:       impressive?   OH,   I'M  SORRY  I  CAN'T  REACH  WHATEVER  RIDICULOUS  STANDARDS  YOU  THOUGHT  UP  IN  YOUR  CUCKOO  BRAIN. JESSICA:       but  i  actually  don't  give  a   fuck.   if  that  wasn't  obvious       [       her  face  is  pinched,    tone  a  clipped  measure      --       how  little  do  you  really  care?      ]      who  the  fuck  are  you,   anyway?

[jesstanleys]

all    of    that    is    so    shiny    and    beautifully    new    to    marina.    the    shades    of    pink    all    over    the    room,    the    sweet    perfume    recently    offered,    and    how    itchy    her    nostrils    feels    as    jessica    opens    the    nail    polish    little    bottles.    she    cannot    tell    what    is    more    enchanting,    the    entire    environment    or    even    the    breathtaking    girl    before    her    eyes.    a    wider    smile    graces    the    mermaid    features    once    jessica    begins    to    touch    her    hand,    massaging    it    as    no    one    had    ever    done    before.    ❝    well,    it’s    a    pity    𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂    𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕    𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆��   in    any    of    this.    i    mean,    i’m    already    having    a    great    time    and    apparently    we    haven’t    even    started.   ❞    says    the    innocent    being    with    a    slight    shrug.    the    little    jealous    creature    inside    of    marina    whispers    that    the    less    bella    comes    over,    the    more    time    she’ll    have    with    jessica    all    to    herself,    though.    there’s    a    melodious    giggle    and    a    slight    shake    of    head,    long    chocolate    curls    bouncing    as    eager    eyes    observe    jessica’s    every    movement.    

❝    but    of    course!    how    could    i    ever    risk    it?    you’re    already    important    to    me.   ❞    that    girl    loved    wholeheartedly    and    effortlessly.    one    pleasant    afternoon    spent    together    and    marina    would    forever    be    loyal    to    jessica    and    fight    for    her    friendship    no    matter    how    much    it    cost.    that    how    hearts    of    gold    always    work.  ❝    your    hands    are    soft.    i    know    it    won’t    hurt.    i    feel    really    safe    with    you    jess.    just    work    your    magic,    whatever    you    want!    ❞

INT   :       YOUR  BEDROOM  BECOMES  A  GENTLE  POSSIBILITY  SPREADING  OUT  ACROSS  BEDHSEETS  AND  LINGERING  IN  PINK  -  DUSTED  LAMPS.   YOU  ARE  WELCOMED  INTO  SUMMER  HEATED  AFTERNOONS  AND  THE  PROMISED  LAND  OF  SEA  -  SALT  GIRLS,   HEAVEN  MADE  DIVINE  IN  TEENAGE  GIRLS.

JESSICA:   right?   it's,   like,   all  she  talks  about  is  pride  and  prejudice.   which  is  this  totally  boring  book  written  a  bajillion  years  ago       ---       and  she  won't  even  let  me  paint  her  nails  while  she  talks  about  it!   TOTAL  WEIRDO       [      ...       ]       but  she's  one  of  my  besties,   so  i  put  up  with  it.   i'm  basically  a  saint.

THE  CAMERA  CLOSES  IN   :       there's  a  faint  throb  in  jessica's  chest,   a  heatbeat  that  is  all  impulse       (       female  friendship  was  a  tender  being       ---       she  slammed  herself  shut  against  its  alien  feelings,    each  person  in  her  life  given  a  use        ;       PEOPLE  AS  CURRENCY,    THE  EXCHANGE  RATE  ACTING  IN  FLUX       ).        and  then  marina       [       ...       ]       with  a  smile  as  spun  -  sugar,   gently  laced  with  good  humour  and  sunlight,   pretty  blossoming  anew.   she  runs  her  thumb  across  marina's  knuckles,   merely  basking  in  the  brief  momeny  of  respite       ---       LET  US  WHISPER  UNSEEN  INTO  THIS  FERVENT  DARKNESS.     cut  to  jessica  painting  marina's  pinky,   an  ease  that  is  all  learned,     smiling  at  the  colour.     a  perfect  compliment  to  her  skin!

JESSICA:   you  really  mean  that?   'cause  you're  important  to  me,  too,  but  i  didn't  just  wanna  come  out  and  say  it       ---       and,   you  know,   seem  all  needy.

[jesstanleys]

𝚈𝙾𝚄    𝙷𝙰𝚅𝙴    𝚅𝙸𝚅𝙸𝙳    𝙳𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙼𝚂    𝙰    𝙻𝙾𝚃    ,        𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙴𝙻𝚈    .        you’ve  not  been  able  to  settle  with  yourself  whether  it’s  courtesy  of  your  hooded  figure  ,    ripping  their  hands  and  black  ichor  around  everything  untouched  by  cernunnos  himself  to  fully  taint  you  in  this  strangeness  ;    but  this  one  is  bizarre  in  a  different  way  .    it’s  a  scene  you’ve  never  seen  before  ,    not  a  twisted  reinterpretation  of  something  you’ll  have  deja - vu  for  later  ,    and  you’re  not  alone  in  it  -    I  THINK  THIS  IS  ONE  OF  MINE  ,    she  says  ,    like  stepping  into  your  mind  and  bringing  unfamiliar  threads  is  less  uncommon  for  her  than  it  would  be  for  you  .    ONE  OF  MINE  ,    and  so  you  pay  closer  attention  ;    quiet  ,    still  ,    observant  and  nervous  at  the  oddly  melancholy  display  .    

𝚈𝙾𝚄    𝙲𝙰𝙽’𝚃    𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴    𝙸𝙽    𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁    𝚂𝚄𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶𝚂    ,        𝙽𝙾𝚃    𝙲𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙻𝚈    .        it  seems  the  only  real  vivid  thing  about  this  particular  dream  is  her  ,    and  that  adds  some  sort  of  calm  to  this  all  ,    really  ,    knowing  it’s  nothing  to  do  with  your  own  horrors  ;    perhaps  you  should  be  more  unsettled  ,    but  you’re  not  .    instead  ,    you  reach  out  your  own  hand  -    taking  hers  ,    your  grip  always  far  stronger  than  it  needs  to  be    (  WHAT  ARE  YOU  TRYING  TO  PROVE  ?    THAT  YOU’RE  NOT  A  FRAGILE  RABBIT  ?    AND  TO  WHOM  -    THIS  DREAM  -  WALKER  ,    WHO  CARES  NOT  FOR  YOUR  INTERNAL  STRUGGLE  ?  )    .    you  regard  her  with  a  careful  look  before  you  speak  ,    all  calculated  and  motivated  in  fear  ;    the  fear  of  vulnerability  ,    of  showing  your  hand  ,    no  matter  how  meaningless  this  fear  seems  to  be  here  .    what  can  hurt  you  ?    ANYTHING  ,    REALLY  .           ❝    i  haven’t  danced  since  ,    uh  .  .  .    the  tenth  grade  .    you’ll  have  t’be  patient  with  me  .   ❞        

INT   :       THIS  PLACE  IS  NOT  TRULY  A  PLACE       (       it  is  the  in  between  state,   the  brutal  hum  of  the unknown  hugging  close  to  their  shoulders  as  they  delve  into  their  own  non  -  existence       ---       IT  IS  A  DREAM  BY  ANY  OTHER  NAME,   SMELLING  JUST  AS  SWEET       ).       it  is  night  time  if  they  look  outside  themselves,    but  the  time  of  day  is  otherwise  meaningless  here.

JESSICA:   you  really  haven't  danced  in  that  long?  what  do  you  do  for  fun,   if  you  don't  dance?       [      jessica's  laugh  is  long  and  tender,   a  fine  wine  spilled  free  from  soft  lips,   the  noise  of  an  unburdened  child       ]       i  attend  all  these  fancy  balls  and  dances  with  directors  and  actors  and  contacts  and       ---       and  it's  never  really  any  fun,   that's  what  they  don't  tell  you.

A  CLOSE  UP   :       jessica's  face  in  profile  as  she  drinks  in  the  scene  with  eager  intent,   the  aftermath  of  a  wedding       (       SHE  HAS  WALKED  THESE  STEPS  BEFORE       ---       the  blatant  familarity  of  the  scene  makes  her  head  glow  in  white  fuzz,   like  wool  had  been  shoved  so  far  into  her  ears  that  sound  meant  nothing  anymore       ).       BUT  THIS  DOES  NOT  MAKE  HER  SCARED       ---      it  inspires  a  certain  bravery,   to  know  beforehand  how  this  scene  plays  out.   CUT  TO   :       the  happy  couple  with  hands  entangled,   leading  each  other  off  the  dance  floor  with  a  soft  laugh.    the  music  picks  up  again,   a  slow  lull  of  noise  beckoning  them  towards  the  floor.   her  eyes  drop  to  the  girl's  hand       [        SOFT,   SMALL       ],   allowing  only  her  bravery  to  carry  her  forward.    NO  TIME  FOR  DOUBT.

JESSICA:   but  i  think  it  could  be  fun  with  you       [       her  pause  is  deliberate,   a  weighted  breath  turned  into  words        ]      i  can  lead.   you  won't  even  have  to  do  anything,   just  make  sure  you  don't  step  on  my  toes,   or  fall  over  your  own  feet.

[jesstanleys]

hi, guys <3 i’ve been putting some thought into this for the past few days and i’ve decided that i think it’s time i move on from tumblr rp. as much as i love writing, i think other elements of it are certainly quite toxic and bad for my mental health. i think the better choice is for me to step away. my queue still has replies in it, which will be posted, for the sake of posterity – i’d like to keep my blogs around as little time capsules of my writing. but, otherwise, i really think i’m done here, and i want to thank you all for an absolutely exceptional experience. 

if anyone wants my discord, feel free to im me, and we can write on discord / simply talk and vibe with each other. if not, much love to you, and i hope you all continue to live your best lives. one final kiss. 

[jesstanleys]

there was perhaps more to river than jessica could suspect,           more to him that made them more of kindred spirits than to the extent they already were. although, the things that threatened to distinguish him, in the worst way possible, were not ones he tried to give much thought to, terrified about the conclusions he might draw. it had been instilled in him from a young age that his lot in life was to honor his family name, to be a man worthy of it, and to ensure it carries on to someone else who would be tasked with such things, too, in due time. should the current senior barkley have any say ( and if habits persisted, he absolutely would ), there was no room for any deviations from such standards, no allowances for diverging from such a clearly delineated path. for as much scrutiny and potential disapproval that jessica might receive for all the alone time she was spending with a boy, river was likely to get the opposite reception; his parents would undoubtedly see the groundwork for a potential courtship and begin trying to suss jessica out, in regards to suitability — more than they had been already, river was quite sure. not that he would want her to get roped into any obligations of matrimony with him. on paper, he might have been a societal ideal: he came from money, he had manners, he was the eldest ( and only ) son of a well-connected family, and he’d been well-educated. but that was just on paper, and there was quite a bit below his surface level that could surely negate all of that, parts of a troubled soul that seemed to only push him deeper into general despondency at a list of things that seemed to just be continually growing.

but none of those things were things to dwell on now,           not when they’d been able to steal a few moments of freedom and take advantage of them in such a youthfully and innocently joyous way, perhaps something of a last grasp at the adolescence they were growing out of all too quickly. or, at the very least, an opportunity to poke sufficient fun at their elders, even if jessica proved much better at it than he. her assessment of their likely exchanges inside the house were amusingly accurate, and he stalled in packing snow together to laugh lightly and give a fond shake of his head. “well, now i truly don’t feel so bad about sneaking off — you make it feel like i’m still there.”

as she wondered aloud about how best to decorate their final product,           he stepped back for a more comprehensive view, assessing each option before her final conclusion snapped him out of his quasi-reverie. despite the evidence of surprise in his expression, brows raised and lips parted just slightly as if he had just stopped short of offering a response, river knew she was right. he exhaled, turning back to the incomplete snowman, hands on his hips as he gave it another once over in consideration. “well … we can’t have a stupid looking snowman,” he echoed after a moment or two of silent vacillation, in resignation to the fact that it was indeed their best option. he glanced hesitantly back towards the house, which provided many potential ports of entry, though not all would allow for the necessary subtlety. “we’ll have to go in a back way,” river concluded. “and we may have to be a bit unconventional about it if we’d really like to go undetected.”

EXT   :       THEIR  WORLD  IS  A  FROSTED  DELIGHT,   A  FAINT  LAYER  OF  ICING  UPON  THEIR  CAKE  -  DOOMED  LIVES,    THE  SNOW  HERE  AS  CLIPPED  AND  TENDED  TO  AS  THE  GRASS  ITSELF       (       PERHAPS  THAT'S  WHY  SHE  TOOK  SUCH  PLEASURE  IN  DESTROYING  IT       ).       THE  AFTERNOON  STILL  HOLDS  THE  COLD  TINGLE  OF  FRESH  MORNING  AIR.

JESSICA:     as  happy  as  i  am  that  i  can  so  artfully  recreate  my  mother's  machinations,   i'll  have  to  respectfully  ask  you  to  never  say  that  again       [       ...       ]       especially  in  front  of  my  mother       (       and  any  other  company  for  that  matter,     you  know  how  these  people  can  gossip       ).      I'M  AFRAID  SHE'D  FIND  IT  TOO  JOYOUS  TO  SUPPOSE  THERE  ARE  ANY  SIMILARITIES  BETWEEN  US       ---       and  we  know  that  i  must  escape  my  mother's  joy  in  any  way  possible.

A  CLOSE  UP   :      jessica's  hands  are  gloved,   a  silken  softness  twisting  around  her  palms       (       truly  not  made  for  this  kind  of  brutal  weather       ---       gloves  meant  for  dinner  parties  and  general  aesthetics,    as  fashion  was  little  more  than  a  quick  look  -  at  -  me  statement  as  you  entered  a  room       ).       A  PASSING  THOUGHT,   ALMOST  LAUGHABLE       ---       mother  won't  be  happy.    they'll  be  absolutely  ruined  by  the  time  she  makes  another  appearanced,    soaked  to  the  bone  through  the  flimsy  material,    and  jessica  knows  she  should  care  more       [      just  as  she  knows  she  doesn't  care,    not  truly,    not  in  a  way  that  counts       ---       THIS  IS  THE  MOST  FUN  SHE'S  HAD  SINCE  CHILDHOOD  HAD  BLOSSOMED  UNTARNISHED  AGAINST  HER  TONGUE       ].       she  wrings  them  together,   knuckle  passing  across  knuckle,    her  thumb  rubbing  upon  her  palm.   self  -  comfort  sprung  anew,    a  gesture  that  her  mother  had  once  enacted,   a  gesture  that  she  know  mimics  with  maternal  intent.     A  MOTHER  CONSUMES   :       jessica  wishes  herself  to  be  eaten  alive,     the  vague  gaping  maw  of  a  motherly  home,     hoping  that  warmth  would  come  to  her  again.   HER  HANDS  ARE  SO  COLD.

JESSICA:   that  sounds  like  a  rather  fetching  plan.   give  me  your  arm,   so  it  looks  as  if  we're  merely  out  on  a  stroll  together       [       ...      ]      we're  surely  being  watched.

THE  CAMERA  OFFERS  A  WIDE  SHOT   :       jessica  as  viewed  from  others,   slipping  her  hand  into  the  nook  of  the  gentleman's  arm       (       a  courting  by  any  other  name       ---       as  if  jessica  hadn't  been  utterly  bewitched  earlier  by  the  soft  column  of  the  kitchen maid's  throat,   all  unscarred  pale  skin  laid  to  waste  beneath  a  collar       ).       SHE  PRESSES  HER  CHEEK  AGAINST  HIS  SHOULDER,    A  FOND  GESTURE       ---       one  that  her  mother  would  surely  lecture  her  on  tonight.     they  rush  together,    arm  in  arm,    a  speed  that  borders  on  a  breathless  run  as  they  make  their  way  towards  the  back  of  the  house.

[jesstanleys]

@jesstanleys·:  5 + alice!  |  𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙼𝙴𝙼𝙴

𝙰 𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙱𝚁𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙴𝚂 𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙲𝙷𝙴𝙴𝙺 , 𝙸𝙽 𝚄𝙽𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙺𝙴𝙽 𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝚈 .  alice can feel the body beneath her tensing ; as if in anticipation of what is to come .  she doesn’t know if this is a worse fate , dying here after such a brutal attack .  but she’s curious now , after what she’s seen .  she will thrive ,  if she’s one of them .  there’s life in her yet , possibility . alice has never been one to grow attached to humans .  she’s too different from them .  but now she’s ready to test the limits of her own thirst , she’s never drank from anyone before with the intention to KEEP THEM ALIVE .  if she succeeds , so be it .  if not  –  destiny is such a fickle thing .  

she hushes the girl ,  body perched over her like that of a wild animal’s .  not the time for softness or comfort anymore , a shuddering breath she does not need , before she bites down with vengeance .  

INT   :       THE  FOREST  FLOOR  EMBRACES  YOU  LIKE  A  FRIEND,    ALL  SINEW  -  TAINTED  ARMS  AND  THE  SWEET  HUM  OF  FOREST  CREATURES.       THE  NIGHT  BLEEDS  AROUND  YOU,    A  BLACKNESS  THAT  YOU  WILL  SOON  BECOME  PART  OF.

JESSICA       [       her  voice  crawls  out  of  her  throat  in  a  gasping  whisper       ]:   hos       ---       hospital,   please,   i  can't       [       ...       ]         please.

CUT  TO   :       there  will  be  no  hospital  trip  in  which  the  pixie  -  sweet  girl  plays  the  savior       (       fate  had  never  been  so  kind  to  jessica       ).       INSTEAD,    THERE  IS  A  PIERCING  OF  HER  SKIN  AS  FANGS  DIG  DEEP.    a  realisation  come  too  late   :       what  human  has  fangs?    she  trembles  beneath  the  pain,    beautiful  even  in  her  death,   the  scream  that  leaves  her  turned  bloody  and  wild.

[jesstanleys]

      music  dulled  by  a  locked  door  is  a  welcome  reprieve  for  the  budding  headache  hammering  against  her  skull .   a  feeling  like  the  whole  entire  world  was  crashing  down  around  her  leaving  her  helpless  to  do  nothing  but   watch .   ❝   i’m  okay .   ❞   echoed,   an  attempt  to  manifest  the  words  to   truth ;   miserably  failed .   anxiety  crawls  up  her  throat,   chokes  every  word  that  she  tries  to  speak  out  of  existence .

      lids  flutter  shut,   her  focus  narrowed  in  on  the  air  around  her :   not  suffocating,   not  anymore,   and  with  instruction  she   abides .   the  way  mallory’s  arm  bends  mirrors  hers,   gentle   beatbeatbeat   helping  to  settle  her  own .   she  nods  once  before  finally  opening  her  eyes .   ❝   in  and  out   .  .  .        shit .   is  this  what  a   heart  attack   feels  like ?   ❞

INT   :       AN  EMPTY  BATHROOM,   MUSIC  BLEEDING  AWAY  INTO  A  FAINT  ECHO  IN  THIS  LIMINAL  PARADISE.   THE  NIGHT  IS  THE  SWEETEST  HIDING  PLACE  FOR  LOST  LITTLE  GIRLS.

A  CLOSE  UP   :       jessica  as  a  portrait  in  worry,   the  smooth  lines  of  ancient  paint  crumbling  into  something  real       [       as  real  as  you  can  get  in  a  dollhouse  life,   where  your  arms  barely  moved  and  your  skin  was  stained  glass  made  unholy  in  its  own  worship       ].    she  studies  the  other,    hand  against  chest,    breathless  air  freed  from  her  vanilla  -  tainted  lips.

JESSICA:   you  look  like  you're  about  three  shots  away  from  okay,   honey. JESSICA:   it's  probably  what  a  panic  attack  feels  like;   you'd  probably,   like,   explode  if  you  were  having  a  heart  attack       (       ...       )       or  something.