#☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ queue ] » you don’t ease pain; you overcome it.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@starlcved said : “  i've  been  meaning  to  tell  you  i  think  your  house  is  haunted.  ” from bessie // folklore starters.

brows raise at the offhanded comment from the fellow hunter. " my HOUSE? " she repeats, blinking at her for a moment. after processing the statement, her brows furrow. from any other hunter, she'd assume they were just harassing her, but bessie had been known to have... well, a sense for this sort of thing. she'd seen it herself on jobs before. " could you elaborate on that a little bit? and maybe explain why you're only JUST NOW mentioning it? " frowning, she crosses her arms. " do you have any idea what you think it's being haunted by? or --- who, i guess? "

[pyrrhicmessiah]

she hates how he seems to know that she can't resist a challenge, narrowed blue eyes lifting from the cards to his smarmy expression. " trivia? that hardly helps me prepare for my exam. " she's quick to hold a hand up though, before he can respond. " that's not to say i'm saying no. " the last thing she wants to hear come out of his mouth is how she's chickening out. a perhaps over-confident smile now lights up her features as she scans him one more time. " that's assuming i get enough wrong for it to start affecting me. " pushing her chair back, she gathers up everything other than the cards and rises to go, though she does spare a moment before leaving to point at the cards and then him. " ruin those before tonight, and it's your head. "

*    ⟢    CONTINUED FROM HERE. ❮ @pyrrhicmessiah  ❯

grin only widens at her muttered jibe, deciding against gratifying her with a reply, focusing only on her reaction to his excellent suggestion. humming at her counterpoints, leaning back in his seat once more, fingers grazing his chin in thought. " alright. two shots for the easy pile, one for the difficult ! " eyes roll at her confidence, a smile of his own pulling across his lips. " we'll mix in some general knowledge. a little trivia. make it a little fairer for your competition ! besides, the more you get wrong, the less you'll be able to remember, griffin ! " a challenge is clear in his tone, brows lifting as he leans in once more, resting his forearms against the desk. " so ? what do you say ? you gonna turn down such an easy challenge ? "

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@myhiraeth​ said :   “  i  can  go  anywhere  i  want,  just  not  home.  ”   from fox   //   folklore starters.

gaze lifts to the sky instinctively before settling back on the other girl.   “   none of us can go back,   ”   she agrees honestly,   but kindly.   wishes and dreams will do them no good right now.   “   but home is not just a place,   ”   she adds,   voice lilting hopefully,   “   it can be people,   too.   it can be where we make it.   ”   offering a smile and her hand out to the other,   she finishes:   “   it can be here,   with us.   ”

[pyrrhicmessiah]

for @starlcved cont from here.

she hadn't meant to insult the archivist's knowledge in making a joke of her own frustrations, wings shifting uncomfortably when she catches floyd's disapproving glare. grimacing, she turns back to the fae female, trying to determine how best to explain, only to be caught off guard when she apologizes to her instead. there's a pit now steadily sinking in her stomach that demands to be resolved, a feeling to which she's not accustomed. " i --- uh, sorry. " the phrase almost sticks in her mouth, so uncommonly heard from her. " there are other malakh that visit the city at times, it's not out of the question that i could be with another unit. i am, however, with the thirty third. " hoping acknowledging the validity of her question will make up for her comment, she's all too grateful when the fae does continue on. intrigued by the juxtaposition in this healer's demeanor between revealing she did not grow up in lunathion and this passion for history, the malakh offers a small smile as they follow through the doorway. in the artifact's room, she falls silent for some time, studying the fae female while her partner asks the appropriate questions. only once their case's pursuits have been addressed does she add, " so, if you aren't from lunathion, where did you grow up? " she can't help wondering where such a rare power had come from.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

for @gracefallen cont from here.

his confirmation doesn't provide any relief, but there's a grim sort of satisfaction that comes from making him say it, from reminding him of what she'd done, of why he should regret meeting her. if he'd never met her, he would never have been subjected to the drill. he's stuck in that bed because of her. he'll be better off, safer, when she's gone. her eyes open, gaze remaining unfocused on the far wall for a moment, a hollow feeling expanding in her chest. " yeah, i know, " she murmurs, her attention still vague and unfocused.

taking in a steadying breath, she summons what energy she has left to turn towards him and give a small, hopefully comforting smile. she's not going to be able to get out of here until he's resting again, and clearly this conversation isn't helping. so she can be fine for a little while longer, for him. rising to her feet at his side, she nudges her pack with a foot out of his line of sight, a palm pressing his shoulder back down on the cot. " ben, please, you have to rest. " as gently as she can, she perches on the edge of the bed, taking his hand in hers for his benefit now, offering him what strength she has left. " i need you to be alright, " she whispers, fighting to keep that soft smile, which wavers at the corners, for him now as her voice grows rough, " i need you to rest and heal. " and even though she's trying to help him relax so she can still leave tonight, this is the truth that she shares with him now. it has to have all been for something.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

for @starlcved cont from here.

when he pushes against her grip, she pushes back, forcing his wrists to remain braced against the wall. at least having burned off the worst of her temper already, she can recognize now that he's just trying to provoke her again. it's easier to just scoff, rolling her eyes. " oh, i'm tired, party boy --- " she grits out, glaring at him, " i'm absolutely tired of your bullshit. " blue eyes narrow at that smile, barely restraining the impulse to make another attempt to wipe it off his face entirely. it's an effort to convince herself to take a deep breath and step back from him instead, irritation already mounting again despite their first round. her words are cold as one hand comes to brace against her hip. " i think you've had enough fun tonight, " she counters, " the car is out front. " her gaze flicks between him and the door expectantly, though she's surely not lucky enough for it to be so simple.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@starlcved said : “  i  swear  i'll  love  you  until  my  dying  day.  ” from floyd // folklore starters.

the smile on her lips wavers with the wave of emotion that threatens to pull her under. love and heartbreak in equal measure. his promise is undoubtedly true, and that's exactly why her heart is breaking --- it breaks for the pain loving her is going to cause him when she's gone. she tugs him closer, their foreheads resting against each other. " i'm sorry, " she can't help whispering in the little space between them. they'd danced around this for so long, but she'd been too damn selfish to resist it forever. and once they'd started down this path, wasting anymore time had seemed so stupid. " i love you, too, floyd. always. forever. " it could never be forever, they both know that, but she still utters the words with a determined ferocity that makes them almost believable in spite of everything. as though by sheer force of will she could preserve some part of her here with him. that same fierceness is poured into the kiss she pulls him into, holding to him until her lungs demand a breath.

shifting back in her seat at the counter so she can properly look at him, her hands lift to cup his face. " but floyd, i want you to be happy. even when i'm gone. " her thumb trails over his cheek, pressing on before he can argue with her. " we will never have enough time together to satisfy either of us, but please, floyd, promise me you won't stop living after. and i mean every aspect of life. if you find someone that makes you smile... " her thumb runs over his lip with the words, a sad smile curving her own lips in turn. " that makes you happy... just don't turn it away on my account, okay? i... i want that for you. i don't want you to be alone. "

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@myhiraeth​ said :   i’ve been by myself this whole time.   everybody knows that lone wolves,   they don’t make it on their own.   from mbege   //   idk tbh but it’s a vibe.

though the wounds at his throat had healed,   his vocal chords hadn’t recovered.   thankfully,   learning sign language had been part of their education on the ark.   she watches him carefully,   moving to sit by him when he finishes.   her knee bumps his gently,   offering a small smile.   her response is simple:   you are not alone.   murphy might be gone,   but there are still so many of them here,   and mbege is one of them.   she signs as much after a beat:   you are one of us.   we will not abandon you.   the sincerity of her promise is in her eyes as she studies him.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@waldenborn​ said :   “  i've  been  having  a  hard  time  adjusting.  ”   //   folklore starters.

surveying the quiet peace of the valley at night from her spot leaned against a tree on the outskirts,   she had to agree with him.   it’s only the constant work in the med bay or other odd jobs that keep her from drowning in her own fears.   it feels too calm.   like the other shoe might drop at any moment.   but from all she’s seen,   the rest of the settlement didn’t share the sentiment.   these last remnants of humanity,   the survivors of praimfiya and a narrowly avoided second nuclear war...   they were ready for peace.   she’s thought she would be,   too;   she’d had a taste of it for six years.   yet at the first sign of danger,   she’d fallen right back into her old patterns.   perhaps her feeling so on edge has less to do with waiting for the people who now populated the valley to do something terrible and more to do with a broken trust in herself.   standing down to let madi take charge had been a step towards avoiding those patterns,   but the tension in her has yet to fade.   eyes drift from scanning the resting valley to helo.   “   yeah,   ”   she mutters,   gaze then lifting to the stars,   “   you’re not alone there.   ”   a quiet sigh,   then:   “   what’s the worst of it for you?   ”   maybe she can’t solve her own problems,   but she could at least try to help with his.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@starlcved​ said :  “  who  did  this  to  you  ?  ”   from silver   //   for the sender to find the receiver injured and demand to know who hurt them.

she can’t help the small smile that pulls at her lips at the concern,   ignoring the throbbing from the split in her lower lip and the bruise in full bloom on her cheek from the motion.   “   i’m hunter born,   ”   she reminds the angel,   glad for the dark fabric of her gear that hides the rest of it from her sight.   “   this isn’t remotely the worst shape i’ve ever left a job in.   ”   gentle reminder aside,   she tries to offer a more reassuring smile,   “   don’t worry,   they’ve already been returned to conclude their contract,   and i’m sure they have something unconscionably horrific in store for trying to dip out early in the first place.   ”   some angels did also take into consideration a hunter’s condition upon the conclusion of the hunt,   as well.   difficult to say if that had been the case this time,   though.   “   anyways,   i’m fine.   it’ll fade in a few days.   ”

[pyrrhicmessiah]

replacing the space between them helps clear her head, but the reprieve is short lived. when he makes his gesture, her gaze naturally follows, only to quickly jump back up to his face, that roaring in her ears returns with a vengeance, heat steadily creeping up her neck again. teeth dig into the inside of her lower lip hard enough to almost draw blood, released along with a dry laugh in response. " in your dreams, weatherford, " she sighs, fingers beginning to tap a rhythm on the desk. " i'd assume that spies would be literate, but you can let me know if you need help with any of those multisyllabic words. " scoffing under her breath, she shakes her head, gaze turning to the ceiling, but now there's an edge of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. " and yet, who is it that was begging to see said file not even a minute ago? "

*    ⟢    CONTINUED FROM HERE. ❮ @pyrrhicmessiah  ❯

the shift in her scent brings the smug smile back to his lips, knowing he already has his answer, no matter how much she may attempt to deny it. the smile widens to a grin at her reliance on aggression to shift the attention, allowing himself to fall back into his seat with a laugh. " hm. are you planning on joining me over here then ? " he teases, one hand gesturing to his lap. " perhaps you could read it to me ? " leaning forward, slipping the file from the desk, shifting in his seat, knees falling apart slightly as he makes himself comfortable. " i came plenty prepared, actually. not everything can be found in this little file, you know ? " lifting his gaze only enough to study her face for a moment before returning to reading through the information in front of him.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@myhiraeth​ said :   “  don’t  make  me  cuss  you  out.  ”   from lou   //   emails i can’t send lyrics.

chapped lips press into a firm line and brows raise as blue eyes scan him from head to toe and back up again.   her arms cross over her chest when she replies,   tone absolutely unyielding,   “   you can cuss all you fucking like,   lou.   it’s just not going to get you very far.   ”    though her tone and stance are calm right now,   it’s the deceptive calm before the storm;   there’s a tension behind her every word,   a barely restrained energy that could snap at a moment’s notice.   perhaps a part of her even WANTS him to go for it,    itching for a way to blow off a bit of steam in light of everything.   they’ve always been good at providing that to each other.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@shesdaylight​ said :   “  and  all  of  this  for  what  ?  ”   //   emails i can’t send lyrics.

“   i’m doing what i’ve ALWAYS done,   punz.   i’m just trying to prevent this shit from blowing up in our faces!   if octavia doesn’t back down and try to find a peaceful solution,   we’re going to go to WAR again.   we worked too hard,   sacrificed too much,   to let that happen.   ”   the question remains,   as it always does,   just how far she’s willing to go to ensure things shake out the way she wants them to.   complicating matters is the fact that some of them see madi as the solution to this.   “   madi is a CHILD.   i won’t let them put that fucking flame in her head and dump this all on her.   i don’t care what she has to say about it either,   we shouldn’t be putting her in a position to decide because she’s too fucking young to know any better.   ”   just like it shouldn’t have been on the lot of them all those years ago.   all those stories she’d told madi about heroes conquering all...   she’s starting to regret them now.   “   please,   punz,   i’m just doing what i have to to keep everyone safe,   including madi.   ”

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@fulcrcm​ said :   😴 -  a  starter  where  my  muse  is  comforting  your  muse  after  a  nightmare.   //   trope starters.

hands cup the steaming mug of tea before her,    arms resting gently on the table as she studies his profile quietly.   the rec area just outside their rooms in the barracks is blessedly quiet at this time of night,   their unit all well and truly asleep by now apart from the two of them.   she’d been avoiding sleep,   the book she’d tried to lose herself in now sitting abandoned on the table,   when their unit leader had come out of his room looking haggard and haunted.   he doesn’t have to explain,   not to her;   she’d been avoiding sleep for much the same reasons.   so she’d made them both a mug of tea and sat down beside him on the bench,   finding it comforting herself to at least be near another solid person after waking from a nightmare.   she frowns into her mug,   though,   hating that the most she can do is make a cup of tea;    it leaves her feeling useless.   it’s times like these that she wishes her magic could heal the other wounds,   the kind that don’t leave a physical scar behind.   “   do you want to talk about it?   ”   she asks softly before taking a sip of the liquid.

[pyrrhicmessiah]

@sansfilter​ liked for a starter.

brows raise as she lifts the first spoonful of caramel swirl to her lips,   peering around the girl to where there seems to be a bit of commotion coming from the back room of the ice cream shop.   curiosity strikes and she can’t help asking after she’s had her first bite of the treat.   “   what have you got going on back there?   ”   maybe it’s a bit prying,   but in truth she also might just want an excuse to linger for a minute longer and talk to the other girl.   they run in different circles at school,   but she can’t help finding her endearing whenever they bump into one another in the halls and such,    the usual rambling apologies are just so entertaining.   perhaps on a couple of occasions it hadn’t been a complete accident that they’d had a small collision.  

[pyrrhicmessiah]

tag drop 04.

☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ queue ] »  queue don’t ease pain;  queue overcome it.

☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ v. modern ] »  there is something moon soaked and dawn flavored about her.

☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ v. hp ] »  wit beyond measure.

☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ v. star wars ] »  the strongest hearts are made of kyber.

☢︎ * ✴︎ ˖ ･ ˚ ‣ [ wishlist ] »  can you wish on this kind of shooting star?