murdcrofcrows

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @folliesofmiceandmen ( damien ) where: the rush house

the first thing she did when she walked in was take off her shoes, proving she wasn't always a heathen. second, she set the bottle of mead down she'd gotten from the beekeeper. then and only then did frankie find her way to the living room, and roll over the back of the couch to haphazardly land on the cushions, face down. this was behavior seen only by a select few, damien being the main one. he was her best friend, he chose that role ( actually, she's not entirely convinced she didn't force him to be her friend and now he's too tired to go find a new one ), now he had to live the consequences.

"i don't want to be an adult anymore." the words were slightly muffled in one of the cushions. after a few moments, she turned her head to look over at damien. "there's mead in your entryway." a good thing to add before she decided to whine some more. "seriously though, when did we grow up and how do we make it stop?" needless to say, she was over the last few weeks and that day was exceptionally long. she'd go try to track down dmitri but she was fairly certain he was busy chasing someone and she was not trying to get in between any of that. not her business.

[murdcrofcrows]

more often than not, frankie was in the ' lab ' if she wasn't out in the tasting room/bar area of the mad scientist. a lot of times she found it was better to stick with her creations and playing around with flavors than go out and talk to people. not that frankie didn't like to socialize, she definitely had her moments, but more often than not she was a bit more on the volatile and crass side for some of her patrons. so she hid if it was before the sun went down. however, that day she was simply doing inventory and with that she almost always welcomed disruptions so when dmitri's voice could be heard faintly in the distance she a smile spread across her face.

frankie didn't yell back right away, not until he got closer and she knew he could hear her. "dmitri desta, the apple of my eye, i'm right here." she looked up expectantly at the she playfully swiped at her son with the clipboard she'd been holding to jot down notes. "attention you say?" she put the clipboard and immediately moved to pinch both his cheeks. "look at how adorable you are," she cooed at him before releasing his cheeks and giving him a quick hug. "what kind of attention do you need? maybe the type i can give you while you help me count bottles?"

location: the mad scientist

closed starter for: @murdcrofcrows (frankie)

there's a moronic confidence surging through dmitri as he makes his way through the mad scientist. he's on a mission to find his mother, and despite the friendly greetings of the alchemists, he doesn't have time to stop and say hello to them. truth be told he'd ducked into the establishment because someone had been trailing after him, the direct consequence of wreaking havoc outside of the mothman ranch and unfortunately getting caught in the process. who knew people didn't like it when you set off homemade fireworks and incidentally caused a fire because of it? technically he did, but that was just semantics.

"mom!" he called out, eyebrows knitting together in distress and confusion. "mother, i swear to god." in his rush of stupidity and impatience, dmitri scrambled across the bartop, avoiding a few smacks by cole as he slid across it and to the other side. he was on a mission to find frankie, and he wouldn't stop until he did. it was the downfall of having a son with mommy issues. "frankie desta," dmitri sing-songed now, pushing his way into the back room, still in pursuit. "your pride and joy needs attention. where the heck are you?" and then there she was, in all her glory, and dima's features twisted into a grin. "there you are! my favorite lady to ever walk this planet!"

[murdcrofcrows]

jesus christ

[murdcrofcrows]

SWARM S01E04

[murdcrofcrows]

Sohan Pague

[murdcrofcrows]

"ach, yeah. there's a beekeeper out in them woods, he comes and trades me honey or services or mead for my special batches of irish whiskey." frankie answered even though her eyes rolled at the mad scientist comment. she waited to see him take a drink and see what he thought of it before moving on to the living room. listening about his siblings made her exhausted just thinking about running all around like that. granted she had been guilty of working too much plenty of times, but that was selfish work. she made liqour because she enjoyed it and to make a profit, it wasn't necessarily helping people.

her parents had hoped she'd go into pharmacology or something else that would serve purpose, use her vast chemistry skills to fix the environment or help people. but she knew damn well all she'd end up doing is helping afterglow keep people alive just to serve them further. if she wouldn't be forced to test on people and gods only know what else. no, her work didn't do anything to help people like the muñoz's did. "good lord, you ever get tired just hearin' about their days? i don't think i could do it. i'm too damn bitter for hero work." she chuckled and took a drink from her glass.

"more power to them, i respect the effort for sure." which she did, someone has to keep pressure on those people. attempt to hold them accountable because everyone else is in their stupid pockets. didn't matter, she was trying to enjoy a visit from a friend and not worry about the many other things lurking in the depths of her mind to be drug up. "oh you're so on," she reached into the inn table by the couch and pulled out her cards. "get over here you cocky ass, let's do this. i'm going to kick your ass so hard you'll never want to play cards again." she adjusted the coffee table and started to deal the cards out for both of them.

"Well they sure as hell wouldn't believe that. If I even had that, I sure as hell wouldn't be giving it all away." He snorts at the whole idea of it, a smile playing across his lips. She thought too highly of him, clearly. "That's a terrible example. They might be more likely to believe you if you were to tell them I were making a drunken fool of myself in the middle of the Central Market." He pauses, tipping his head slightly as he considers. "Well. Maybe not right now given that the place is overrun with acidic creepy crawlies."

He nods a thanks as she hands him a glass of her latest concoction, taking a sip. "You got your hands on some fresh honey, then? It's good - as is only to be expected from a mad scientist like yourself." Sweet wasn't usually Javier's go to, but practically anything Frankie was able to concoct was well received by the youngest Muñoz brother. As long as it involved liquor he was typically satisfied.

Following her into the living room, Javi continues the commentary on his heroic siblings. "I doubt Lia has left Afterglow since all this started. Fi's been running back and forth like she could turn anywhere she stands into an emergency medical establishment with just a little elbow grease. Santi and Lindsay have been trading off posts outside the facility to make sure all the protesters don't go getting themselves killed...And surely Benny and Connie are doing something productive, as well." Something more worthwhile than hiding out in the Fishery, anyway. But that was neither here nor there.

"Yeah. I don't really get how standing outside the place is going to yield some sort of magical change to the place that has been around since before the world even went to shit." He casts her a thoughtful glance, considering. Then his head tips a little and a sly smile crosses his lips. "I'm not half bad at cards if you need an opponent. But no whining when you lose." Distraction was typically how he dealt with his own shit, so maybe that was exactly what Frankie needed right about now.

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @folliesofmiceandmen ( damocles ) where: house party somewhere in devils elbow

he was doing his damnedest to be social and not pick up any more overtime or go following up on leads when off duty. being invited to this party reminded him exactly of why he became a workaholic in the first place. everything felt different. there were now two big holes where the life of the party in him used to be. why couldn't he just have fun with the rest of them like they did when they were younger? why was it so hard to just relax? he sighed and poured another drink, promising himself out loud that he would go out there and try again after one more drink.

"just one more, emil, then you're going out there," he stopped pouring the soda over the rum and turned around to lean on the counter, completely startled to find someone off to the side of the room. "holy buttcheeks, dude. you scared the shit out of me." emil got a better look at him, squinting his eyes better so he could see clearer from a distance. he definitely needed to start wearing his glasses more often. "oh hey, you look familiar, are you hiding out too?" not that he could place why. "did you go to school with these guys or do you work somewhere in burnington?"

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @strcinedhecrts ( scarlett ) where: hell's gate

now it's not as if anything technically changed between rio and scarlett during the many days and nights they'd spent in and out of her house while she was recovering. then even more time over the last few weeks just popping up wherever she happened to be to check in, be ready, in case anything should happen. that was the excuse they'd use, at least, if scarlett asked them why they were there. honestly, rio had been working up the nerve to talk to her, about that first night. the night they'd found her finally and experienced the only fear they'd ever had where scarlett was concerned, that they'd lose her. the feelings in that room were palpable, rio could almost taste them. at least, they were for them, and they needed to know if it was the same for her but every time they tried to open their mouth around her, something else came out.

that's what brought them into hell's gate. tonight rio was going to ask her and they were just going to air everything out, no more weird vibes between them. now, normally they didn't spend a lot of time at hell's gate upper floors on the account that angel danced there and they just didn't need to be watching their baby sibster dancing like that for people. but that didn't mean that would stop them from walking onto the lust floor with purpose. she paused at the bar and asked if they'd seen scarlett and they told her the private room number they saw her walk into. now, rio didn't know the difference in these rooms, she didn't use them. if she'd known they could be used for all sorts of activities, well, rio may have waited by the bar. it would've saved them a whole lot of drama and they could've been off doing their own thing.

but they did open the door and they saw what they saw, and when they moved in to grab scar's wrist to confirm it was actually her, she got her answer. "what the fuck, scar?" their face twisted and they couldn't help the hurt that was shown plain on their face from the surprise of it all and by the time they were able to fix it, it was too late. "my bad, yo, sorry, you all enjoy yourselves." rio backed out of the room with her hands up, unable to keep back the sardonic tone, and made a beeline for the stairs, sucking in the fresh air when it hit her lungs and immediately lighting a cigarette. she looked around and exhaled, trying to process whatever the fuck she was feeling in that moment.

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @sunstaiined ( jo ) where: jackal's clubhouse, sunday night

they'd all taken their turns welcoming scarlett back and rio, for one, was glad things were getting back to normal. hopefully not having to lead another meeting for a good long time. but now that they weren't having to play president while scarlett was laid up, it freed up their time to pay attention to other things. like looking up from the table and noticing their treasurer in place, catching their gaze for a split second and immediately looking away. they'd walked this road before, the two of them. looking for a distraction, liking that distraction a little too much and opting for an extended stay. then one of them is gone one morning and they try to avoid each other as much as possible until one of them breaks the ice and they forget about it, occasionally argue, or wait for it to happen again.

you would think they would've learned their lessons by now but they were both on the stubborn side. rio didn't know a jackal who wasn't a little hard-headed. this time it'd be rio who never showed back up, the last few weeks spent at scarlett's side. and while they knew they could make an excuse that they were busy, everyone knew they weren't too busy to pick up a phone. when church was over and people started to leave, rio hung back, calling out to a couple of the members to order her a drink she'd be there soon. they slowly approached where the blonde stood.

"uh, hey," they laced their fingers of their hands in and out while they approached. "how are you?" a lame opening, it wasn't like rio to beat around the bush. "look i'm sorry i didn't hit you up, i got caught up in things and i figured, you know, it's us so it wasn't like it was anything serious, right?" rio let out a nervous chuckle, not sure how this is going to go.

[murdcrofcrows]

she wasn't about to agree with Scarlett even if she knew full well that was exactly why rio was going to have it out with that loudmouthed mechanic because he's the one person that didn't have to listen. judah wasn't a member he doesn't have a cut, he could've refused. sure he would have gotten a lot of hell for it later but maybe it could mean the difference between life and death for the person they love. rio had yet to meet another jackal that didn't love scarlett, associate or otherwise. rio also knows this was her decision and despite having to swallow down a mountain of protest it, they respected that decision. that didn't make it any easier to look at her in that moment, though. if those last two words hadn't fallen from her mouth, rio probably would've spent the better part of their time though looking at her with stolen glances.

i'm sorry...

rio's big brown eyes shot up so fast while it simultaneously felt like they'd been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer. it was all they could do to shake their head and manage the words they did get out. "you don't bother me," rio interjected once scar started talking, because they don't want scarlett ever thinking she is bothering them. if they were bothered they would fucking say so and she should know that by now. there were tears on their cheeks when scarlett finished. "yeah, yeah," they let out in a hoarse voice and leaned in to press their lips against her palm. rio sat back and sniffed. "just rest, okay? i'll be here when you wake up." they made themselves comfortable on the chair and looked scarlett in the eyes. love you. they couldn't say those words, but it was there, on the tip of their tongue.

" WHAT, FOR LISTENIN' TO what i asked of him? sounds like some kinda fucked up reverse psychology. " scarlett tries to make light of the situation, having made a decision that is perhaps less than favorable in rio's eyes. the look they're giving her right now is enough for her to wish that the floor would open up beneath her and swallow her whole. somehow, it manages to hurt even more than the blisters. more than the searing pain she remembers all too well as she clung to judah for dear life. it nearly felt like it was cutting her in half. but the softness in rio's eyes? somehow, so much worse. teeth bit into the flesh of her bottom lip as she tries her hardest to rip her gaze away. somehow, she finds it impossible. she did this. her decision, her pride. perhaps her subconscious believes that she must behold it -- for it's what she deserves. for hurting them. and yet, this choice finds itself tangled with something else -- affection. it swirls in her stomach, crawls up her throat, until it finds its place on her tounge. it better stay there. " i'm not gonna be their test subject. i'm just not. " she shakes her head, her eyes a reflection enough that she's as serious as can be. " i -- " she finds herself nearly choking on the words she wants to say. if i'm going to go out, at least i'll go out with my dignity. and yet, she can't say it. " i'm sorry.... "

frankly, she can't remember the last time she's sounded so weak. nor when she apologized. for anything. she means it. despite how it sounds.

there had never been a world where scarlett didn't have rio's back. ever. the same could be said if the roles were reversed. but now, the way they look at her -- it feels like they're in completely different universes. they stopped just looking at each other as president and vice president a long time ago, hadn't they? she knows rio's words are a lie the second they fall from her lips. they never lie to each other. not since they had met all those years ago. and yet, scarlett remains silent. doesn't make a quip ( frankly, she doesn't even know if she has the energy for it ). i can't lose you. first came the touch, that had nearly set her on fire -- and then those words. it's enough to make tears spring to her eyes, fingers curling around rio's hand. " rio... " she whispers, and god, it's so quiet -- perhaps it wouldn't even be heard if there was nothing else around to make a sound. " i'm... i'm like a cat, remember? " perhaps the first smile in days peaks through. nine lives. but then again, with the shit she had been known to get herself into... there was a chance it had dwindled down to two. three, if she was lucky. " i can fight this. i'll be up and bothering you again in no time. " her usual confidence doesn't sound so confident anymore. had there ever been a moment like this, where they just sat together, fingers intertwined? a tear soon falls, a free hand reaching up to quickly wipe it away. maybe if scarlett hopes hard enough, rio won't have seen it. " you think i'd leave you? just like that? "

[murdcrofcrows]

"ha. ha. yeah, good one." rio deadpanned. this guy was a dork, they'd forgotten that since the last time they'd interacted which was only briefly, so they hardly had the evidence to prove it. it was just the sense rio got. but then he had to confuse her by dropping an f-bomb immediately afterwards. maybe hell's gate was rubbing off on him. "yeah rio, that's right." she didn't know his name so she wouldn't be able to return the favor. what she did know is that he worked with angel and could've seen her around. if she could remember everyone that came into the laundromat, well, they'd be a lot more talented that's for certain.

"i've noticed. it's bullshit." rio wiped the screen of their phone then checked if there were any new messages, as if there would be any. there weren't, big surprise. "of course i tried home, that's the first place i checked." they looked the man over, talking like the market was easily scanned for people, especially in that kind of situation but then again how did they know he didn't look? "no," they sighed. "listen if they come around will you tell them i'm looking for them? they'll no where to find me. i'll get you your next few loads of laundry, on me."

Ashton had been running around helping a group of militia get supplies to the shelters that had set themselves up across the town. The chaos continued at a constant simmer after the initial outburst of the swarm, it wasn't too much of a surprise as people continued running about looking for their loved ones and for safety. But he was surprised to hear someone call out to him, not by name really but there was familiarity to the voice. He turned at the call out and blinked for a second, "..me?" hesitantly pointing to himself as he looked around at anyone else who could've been the blondie they were seeking out.

He placed down the pack of water for his team to load up as he made is way over to the motorbike. "Hmm never really noticed actually but thanks for the heads up," Ash couldn't help the chuckle, the jokes the only way to get through some of these terrible times in their world. "Rio, right? I've been to the laundromat before." He paused to confirm the striking familiarity that only solidified once Angel was asked for, she's mentioned Rio more than a few times as they shared a drink post shift at the bar. "Signal's been patchy as fuck, texts sometimes get through but not much calls," he sighed, taking a second to think when was it he last saw Angel, "have you tried home? Hell's Gate is closed so unless she's there helping out. At least I don't remember Angel being at the market when it all happened." The one good news he hoped he could provide that she wasn't part of the initial wave of casualties or fatalities. "Need help looking?"

[murdcrofcrows]

DINNER IN AMERICA 2020, dir. Adam Rehmeier

[murdcrofcrows]

not all meals were silent in the muñoz-o'halloran home but if you had to pick the most quiet meal on average it would be breakfast. contrary to popular belief and decades served in the military, santiago is not a morning person. it's why he often gets in a full pot of coffee before food is even started. see he made his food with love and tenderness, something you simply cannot do if you are dreading each second your eyelids are open. he also didn't mean to look so startled when maisie started rambling out of seemingly, nowhere. "okay mije, we're all ears." he encouraged them.

and dios mio, santiago wishes he would've thought that encouragement through a little better. he couldn't get a word on edgewise and maisie wasn't leaving room for any kind of processing before jumping from night terrors to mia to, wait did they just say they slept with mia in the clinic? is that the insinuation? when their arm was burning with unbearably painful cicada acid? that was something he wasn't sure he was ready to unpack but at the same time his brain didn't agree with him. human behavior was extremely fascinating but this one was disturbing, like a beacon of red light energy. and when did he miss the two of them getting so close? and mentioning their mother? he immediately looked over to lindsay with that one, analyzing micro expressions to see how the forever stoic scot was taking this all in.

he was just about to step in and tell maisie to lower their volume when they conceded their ranting and say down again. for a few moments he sat there, setting down the sausage link he was just about to start on when the rant started and now couldn't bring himself to eat. he processed their words, formulated responses and key points he wanted to address, then arranged it in his head.

"first off, si, lindsay did mention the incident that night and i know we've discussed that they may never go away, but they definitely won't without you seeing a professional therapist and honestly working with them, hard." something he couldn't do for them because of his bias. how he was able to work with them so far, and lindsay for that matter is still a shock to him. "no offense and this is not a decision, but i don't think mia is a professional therapist or psychologist, right?" but he did believe it would help for a short time, it normally does as he could attest to even with lindsay who sleeps like a mountain.

"second off, and i need you to listen to this clearly, if you want us to easily trust and believe you can help people and make decisions on your own, you have to give us reason to." he glanced at lindsay in a brief pause in case he wished to interject. "you just told us, well insinuated, that you and mia were intimate in the clinic. first of all you were being treated for a flesh eating rash that there was little to no information about. you could've gotten her severely ill or she could've made your injury worse and that's not even mentioning how unsanitary and inconsiderate that was for people who needed treatment and were far worse off than you. what if it had been one of your tias or tios or abuela out there needing a room? that's extremely irresponsible of both of you." his voice was stern but the tone was even, not raising in volume and he personally thought he ought to get some kudos from the universe because he was tired enough to justify a snap or two.

"you were trained to protect yourself, to survive in many environments, but that's different than other people. you're making a lot of reckless and somewhat dangerous decisions right now and i for one am quite concerned you're in a spiral." something resembling mania but could also be hormone shifts that tend to reappear in your twenties. at the end of the day, santiago was also soft to give in to them quickly, both maisie and mia. "if you are in that state it would be unfair to introduce another person into that environment, do you see what i'm saying?"

@eatabug

located : muñoz-o'halloran household ・ @murdcrofcrows ( santi ) & @eatabug ( linds )

Maisie has been sitting with this thought, the idea, for months now, but it hasn't really come to an impulsive head since last week. Even then, it has taken them a week to actually sit down with their guardians about this because of the context with which it all crystallised and how every time Maisie thought back to it, their heart would start beating fast, their mouth would go dry, and all they could think about is the sounds she made that Maisie doesn't know how the fuck they survived in the moment.

It's morning now, and Burnington has settled back into whatever version of normal it could attain after the cicada incident and all the people whom had been injured, people whom had been killed—Maisie's bandage had come off a few days ago, and without the cure Afterglow had so generously provided (off the back of a lot of people suffering, no doubt), their arm had scarred and the neuropathy had set in solidly; if they close their eyes and run fingers along their forearm, there'd be a whole swathe of it that's simply a deadzone where the only thing they'd still feel is significant pressure. Remedy Roots is still undergoing repairs for the damage it sustained, so Maisie isn't sure when they would go back to work again, and it has left them with a lot of time to ponder and... reminisce.

Sitting down at the breakfast table in a house that has finally gone back to just being theirs now, Maisie shifts in their chair as they glance from Santi to Linds, then back at their food in front of them, figuring out how to broach the topic in the first place. "So," they start, clearing their throat, "I like... I gotta like talk to you guys." They rub their thumb and index finger into their eyes before letting out a deep breath. "I've, um... You know—I know Uncle Linds told you 'bout, um... what.. happened. I..." The sheer instinct to avoid and ignore is overwhelming. "Gimme a sec, hold on."

They stare ahead of themself, trying to steel themself mentally, both against the disquieting feeling of vulnerability, but also the memory Mia writhing under their touch that absolutely isn't helpful, goddammit! "I'm tryin' to... be better, be okay, but I need help with that, um... I just... I don't, with the protests still on-going, I don't want that to fall on you guys. But I can't like... do it alone, so." They clear their throat again.

"Mia needs help too. She can't... stay there with her parents. We— we, um... Like a week ago, we... had.. in the clinic. If her parents found out, I don't know what they'd do to her. I, I, I really think that if she could move in, like live with us, she could... help me be okay? I guess. I don't know if that makes sense, but like, like I can help her too, like I can keep her safe, you know I can, and I want to, I lo— She's important to me, and mum would w— I m— I mean, all, all my life, like even before you, I, I was trained to protect people and like, if I didn't even try now with my best friend then who the fuck would I even be?"

Maisie hadn't realised they'd stood up, that they'd raised their voice almost to the point of yelling, until they take a moment, realisation washing over them as they look between their uncles with wide eyes. "Sorry," they mumble as they slowly sink down into their chair again, fidgeting idly with the undone button on the end of their flannel shirt sleeve, chewing on their bottom lip. "Could you guys at least consider it?"

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @eatabug ( beau ) where: the farm, front porch

there had been something on the back of ziggy's mind for a few months that didn't come to the surface, they kept delaying it at first with doubts and stupid spirals of overthinking about things like proper times and proper places. then, it festered and when they'd started to take the motions to act on it, other things got in the way. first it was the whole mess with the vision dust, and talking through that. then there was the cicada's who almost took beau away forever, then the recovery from that. even the influx of news and reporting after the antidote came out. they decided it couldn't be put off any longer and they didn't want it to happen on his birthday ( in which they'd already worked with dixie to plan a surprise party for ) so they chose the day they woke up at five am and looked over to him and had a panic attack.

the panic attack had nothing to do with beau, no it had been happening everyday between the early hours before the sun was up and when they arrived at their daily burn work desk since beau had gone back to manning his stall at the market. there was no telling when it would happen or when it would stop. the only thing that was certain was why they were happening. ziggy was afraid they were going to lose him, that something else would happen and this time he wouldn't get better. and just like any other day, they quietly excused themselves to the bathroom, another room, or walked outside till it passed. except that day, that day they moved down into the living room and made a plan.

they stayed home from work while beau took kisses and their current stock to the market. they spent all day running around from place to place getting what they could to make a perfect night for the two of them. that way when beau got home they were able to send him upstairs to shower while they finished their best interpretation of a good southern food, including dessert. ( honestly they knew the quickest way into their partner's heart was their stomach only seconded by his mama, it's why he got so many recipes from dixie. ) beau walked down to a spread of buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, fried green tomatoes, grits, and of course some barbecue ribs, topped off with a bourbon pecan pie.

"come on, let's take our pie out to the porch, i-i, let's enjoy the evening in some fresh air," their stutter quickly ignored by taking one of beau's calloused hands and tugging him towards the door. truth be told, that damn porch swing was ziggy's third favorite place to spend time with their partner. they took their spot and held the swing still with long legs so he could easily join them. "did you have a good day?" they started, unable to talk much during dinner as they watched beau eat and anxiously gauging his reaction to every dish.

[murdcrofcrows]

if you asked draven he would say he doesn't enjoy solitude, he craves it. in reality, there could be nothing further from the truth. he fed off his fans and admirers for years, and now he cherishes his moments with people close to him, especially someone as close to him as duri is. he was certain he could survive without those who idolize him and his frequent bedroom flyers, if it meant keeping duri nearby. but lately they have felt her drifting away, not just when she was working or away, but when they were together small windows of distance glimpsed through her perfectly crafted mask.

she wasn't being honest with them, and they weren't exactly sure why. you have no right to say anything about complete honesty. oh, fuck off. but no, he didn't, that voice rang in front of maniacal laughter in his head. he frowned because he knew it was right. but he'd taken it out on her anyways, hers was worse right? she was drifting away he'd just spent the past however many years slowly chasing numbness again, adding new substances and excuses alongside them, until he was likely worse off than where he started.

she left. he didn't blame her, not really and now that lingering fear in the back of his head reminded him that she may never come back. it burned red hot with his rage behind his icy demeanor.

"where were you?" draven turned at the sound of her voice to see her in the music room's door. he'd been trying to distract himself with the guitar, which he set down to move closer and cross his arms over his chest. "if you don't know what you're apologizing for it's pretty fuckin' point less, don't you think?" the words were harsh, delivered cold as so many in the past, but there was a slight quirk of his brow and twitch in the corner of his lips. a good tell that he was, at least partially, kidding.

where: mothman ranch with: @murdcrofcrows (draven)

hesitation is dangerous. hesitation kills. the difference between life and death is a single moment in time, lingering, waiting too long or not being sure. duri knows this. every bit of her training relies on this principle, this knowledge, this reality.

but duri hesitates.

for nearly a minute in real time, she stands outside the door with her fist raised, hovering somewhere in a nebula of doubt and uncertainty, eyes still itchy and puffy from where they'd sprung a leak and she'd had to take a few moments alone. there's a stiffness to her, rigid and sore as she attempts to collect the last pieces of herself and force herself to make the move and take the plunge that feels like icy dread in the pit of her stomach.

feelings are hard.

the light rapping of knuckles against the door is only a warning, she opens it after a brief second and peeks inside, eyes searching the room, shoulders already stiff. she's not sure what she's anticipating, what she'll find. she isn't sure if she'll be forced to feel more today.

"are you still angry with me?" there's something rough about her voice, that pent up emotion from earlier slipping out under the cold and flat affect that has seemingly become her signature. "i came to apologize. for whatever i did."

[murdcrofcrows]

Andy Biersack on Instagram, 18/10/2023.

A little Priest 📷 @shawnbrandonmedia

[murdcrofcrows]

dot giggled at the idea of someone thinking odd would ever let go of them. so many people disliked having it around, there was no way it would tell someone to go away unless they were brain demons or people who weren't actually there. it hated when they tried to trick dot. "ollie can stay forever in that case because odd will never not want to keep them." it reached to press the tip of ollie's nose and grinned bejeweled grin their way.

odd nods in understanding. "sometimes odd chases things, too. sometimes they are there and sometimes they aren't. it's the ones that aren't there that make it mad." probably what ripped their shirt. those pesky not theres and their audacity. "maybe fate just thought ollie needed to come spend time with odd." it seemed like that was the best scenario. odd waited for them to pick out the patch and got excited at their choice. "it's excellent! come let's go put it on!" it moved back to her station and started sewing it together for her friend.

"ollie oxenfree likes odd just as much, so as long as it'll have me, i'll be around the keep it company." ollie's words were genuine as they got comfortable in their chair, brown eyes focused on their friend as she flitted around the space. being around odd made them feel more relaxed, more comfortable, and it made ollie wonder if they had been putting their trust in the wrong people for their entire lives. maybe there was someway that they could mend their past and move onto to better things. no matter what that was, ollie hoped to always have odd in their life.

"i thought i had seen something, and i wanted to try and get to it. turns out that my brain was just trying to play tricks on me, and it left me with a ripped shirt and questioning everything i've ever done. silly ollie, am i right?" their laugh came out in an embarrassing snort, but they never felt as if odd was judging them. if anything, it got ollie to giggle far more than anyone had ever been capable of in the past. the thought made ollie sit up straight, fingers picking through the patches before finding one with a silly pattern on it. "what about this? i know it doesn't match, but i feel like it could be fun?"