#⠀⠀・⠀⠀𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 ‎ 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 ⠀ ⠀ ∶ ⠀ ⠀ rowan ⠀ ﹢ ⠀ sunset ‎ .

[thvndrstorm]

               the only thing in her mind was getting out of there,   anything else was pushed to the furthest corners of her blank brain.   the grip on her arm kept her grounded,   knowing sunset was still with her spurred her further,   made her feel strong and somehow unbeatable  (  we need to get out,   just get out,   the voice in her head whispered,   soothing,   encouraging  ),   until it didn’t,   until it disappeared along with the warmth that had wrapped it.     " sunset ! "     desperation laced their call,   eyes frantically searching for the blonde.   they found her among the sea of terrified folks for an instant and tried to reach for her,   yet they kept pushing them away,   kept twirling them around,   making them feel dizzy and lost,   and for a split second,   the fraction of one,   they lost their wits.     " sunset ! "     she turned around in every direction,   hopelessly looking for the girl,   stopping at every blonde head she spotted,   but her efforts were in vain.     " fuck,   fuck,   fuck, "     the curse vibrated angry and frustrated and slightly panicked from her throat   —   she had lost her,   she couldn’t see her,   and people kept moving her to the exit,   to a safety she didn’t wanna reach without her.

FINISHED .

sunset felt no use with how rowan kept making sure she stayed close as they took them to safety that she just loses grip. she couldn't help but look back many times, searching for ekin-su and belkis, wondering if they were seeking for safety as they are, too. but knowing them, how this all hits to home, she knew in her gut they'd be doing the opposite, and that worried her even more. she stared at the bonfire again, which was becoming smaller and smaller in her vision the more distance they make, making sure not one of the twins get a little too close to the fire and get hurt. once more, sunset was getting lost in her own thought again, losing the strength to hold on to rowan. though they manage to pull her out of her thoughts again, staring into their eyes, blinking a couple of times to make sure she has all her attention to their words. she then nods in response, taking a deep breath as she now takes steps forward, all eyes on rowan, until another scream of one of the masked people breaks her attention, another one running into the fire. whilst more people swarmed to the exit now, the blonde's feet were now glued to the ground as she swiftly and ultimately lost grip of rowan, now joining along the tide of the people to the direction of safety, away from the hell of this all.

[thvndrstorm]

               a world of disaster and heartbreak and disappointment later,   rowan had finally found her.   terrified out of her mind,   shaking like a leaf,   and alone walking god knows where.   but they had made it,   with their heart shattered in pieces after the ugly revelations from the friend group they once upon a time considered their family,   rowan had found sunset,   and the sight,   despite the harshness of it,   was such a comforting one she couldn’t make anything but grab her trembling hand and guide her home.   you’re gonna stay with me,   you’ll be safe there,   had been the words muttered as she dragged her along,   as her fingers threaded with sunset’s.   they had lied her on the bed carefully once in their apartment,   tucked her in carefully,   and had planned to let her rest there when sunset’s hand grabbed theirs again in a silent plea.   it had been a quick decision to stay there after that,   to discard the idea of taking the couch   —   both of them needed the comfort,   the company,   and rowan was too exhausted and too broken to deny her and themself this.                 the peace she felt when morning came was one rare for what had transpired the night before,   and it took her a moment to realize it was the warmth between her arms,   the body tucked safely against her side what was giving her the sensation.   half asleep,   they smiled,   even through the bitterness that the memories slowly coming back put on the back of her tongue.   she inhaled deeply,   recently baked cookies and popcorn,   and her arms instinctively tightened around the soft frame they were surrounding.     "  hey…  "     they greeted,   realizing sunset was stirring as much as them,   and suddenly,   as warm air hit their neck,   their body stiffened.   that was dangerous territory.     "  hey,   good morning…  "     the words were a soft murmur as she put a little distance between them,   nothing too excessive,   just enough to drive sunset’s lips away from her skin.     "  did you sleep okay,   love ?  "

LOCATION: rowan's place, hours after summer solstice FOR: rowan baker @thvndrstorm

the next hour sunset has spent in that people that reminded her of a not so distant past, all she did was try to leave it, attempting to take belkis and ekin-su with her, even though she knew it was something they would want to stay for...something that reminded them of home. what she has kept thinking about, eventually when she was helped to get the hell out of the bonfire by scarlett, where masked people ran towards their demise is that...she wasn't meant to kept alive by the twins. it was just that she was special to them, that their whole lives, they had a bond that she was spared by them.

her mind was running a thousand miles per hour when rowan eventually found her and took her back to their place, as it was the closest, and sunset didn't want to remain outside any longer, struggling to put to words on hour she was feeling, mostly giving the bookbinder only short responses, nodding or shaking her head at their questions. eventually she has passed out on their bed, exhaustion taking over, and somehow the sleep she had that night was just...full of peace and quiet. her mind itself has given up overanalyzing the situation back then, whether she was supposed to be dead or not. all she could focus on as she was slowly waking up, was the coziness of rowan's bed, how safe she felt compared to most of her life. how warm and safe she is in *their arms*, and unconsciously, with the need to feel it more, sunset turns around to face the brunette, clinging as close as she could as her face gets closer to their neck, breathing out a sigh before she was about to slip back deep in slumber once more.

[thvndrstorm]

               the disaster unfolding before her eyes was terrifying,   rowan knew this,   she knew people throwing themselves into the fire was horrid,   yet she couldn’t feel a thing aside from her survival instinct taking over,   seizing her and keeping her mind clear and focused.   it was often like this in moments of terror,   the fear instilled by this town’s judgement and confrontations had hardened her,   and the risks she had faced traveling the word prepared her for the worst in every scenario.   she heard the girl by her side calling her name,   squeezing her hand back,   and her eyes moved away from the wretched show they’ve been glued to to gently but guardedly fall on her.     "  it’s okay,   we’re gonna get out of here.   i just need you to stay with me,   okay ?  "     without letting go of sunset’s hand,   she stood up and started moving,   dragging the girl with her,   looking over her shoulder every once in a while to make sure she was still there,   panic reflected in her lovely eyes.   regardless,   despite the efforts,   despite the strong grip on the other’s hand,   she felt her slip between her fingers a couple of times in the chaos of it all.   the last time she turned and found her amidst people running all over the place,   screaming their fear to the skies.     "  hey,   don’t let go of me,   sunset.   grab my entire arm if you need to,   but don’t let go.  "     she commanded,   voice firm and softness soaking her gaze.   she spotted an exit a few feet away and decided to ignore the masked figures running toward the fire to make their way there,   it was her only goal,   that,   not losing sunset,   and find her friends.   they all needed to get the fuck out of this hell.

all sunset could hear was the ringing in her ears that what rowan was saying next was muffled, words she could barely understand. she could still hear her screams, their screams in her head, the now chaos around them while she weakly held on to their hand, she tried her best, but it felt like she couldn't move at all. it seemed like sunset was back to where she once came from, and it followed her here, maybe it hasn't stopped following her, maybe it's just...inescapable. sunset is just meant in the prison she has been put in forever ago. sunset turns to look at them to speak. "rowan." their name barely heard with how almost voiceless she sounds. she squeezes their hand back, her sense of safety, eyes pleading to the other for help, but she couldn't let a sound of of her, as the colors drained from what were once her raspberry-stained cheeks. the warmth from the bonfire at a distance instead only gave her chills.

and they proceeded to move, or in sunset's point of view, she tried to, she tries to follow rowan's lead, eyes still on the flower crown she's just made on their head before the chaos ensued. safe. she thinks to herself. safe. safe. safe. but even though she kept repeating the word to herself, the disorder around them seemed getting louder, and sunset was stuck in her own thoughts, the memories of the only things she knew her whole life, and it has followed her to what she thought was a place where she could finally have her freedom.

[thvndrstorm]

               it was calm,   all of a sudden,   both of them sitting on the grass,   surrounded by flowers and the slow,   satisfying crackling of the bonfire.   somehow,   for rowan,   it was too calm,   and she couldn’t avoid the dreading feeling nagging within at such an ambiance.   yet sunset,   since meeting her,   had always been a good source of distraction   —   her innocent approaches,   her constant blushings,   and the bits and pieces of her life she often shared seemed to put them,   usually,   out of her reveries.   it worked this time too,   as the girl crowned them with flowers,   rearranging their always immaculate hair in the process,   and the smile widening on their face would have blown any other expression if it weren’t for the interruption orchestrated by a voice that made a chill run down rowan’s spine.

               "  what the f—  "     the whisper came choked,   eyes wide at the act unfolding in front of them.   she had said several times how strange,   borderline freak all of this was,   yet she never imagined it would reach this level of weirdness.   blindly searching for sunset’s hand,   she grasped it and squeezed firmly,   reassuringly,   and her body moved closer by instinct.     "  it’s okay,   just—   just be ready,   okay ?   whatever—  "     she exhaled,   shakily,   yet everything else about her and her demeanor was in control.   rowan clutched the hand between hers once again.     "  whatever the fuck this is you’re gonna be fine,   i’m here.  "     she soothed,   this time verbally,   and if you asked her,   she could quite explain what prompted her to talk to sunset like she did,   it was simply born out of her   —   the absolute need to make her feel protected the moment she saw her struggling with what was happening.

it was an action sunset has done beyond thought, even she had surprised herself at the sight of her hand painfully close, so close to touching rowan's cheek. she bites her lower lip for a moment, before slowly pulling her hand away from her face. sunset finds herself taking a deep breath, warmth now spreading through her chest like a wildfire, and it was only making her feel like she was coming to life. now they were sat on the ground and sunset kept looking up at the brunette whilst she was making the crown solely just for them. "i love crafting, and this is one of the things i love making the most." and she wouldn't be bragging if she ever tells them she can do this with her eyes closed, not for rowan though, she wanted to make this one just perfect for them. once the crown was now filled with enough chamomiles, the blonde looks up at them with a shy smile on her face. she slowly moves close to the other, now on her knees whilst she puts the crown on their forehead, warmth crept up on her cheeks. "this is my best one yet..." sunset takes a moment to look at rowan, fixing their hair so it wasn't ruined by the crown. "there y--" her words were interrupted by the sight before them.

her suspicions were right all along, the worry in the back of her mind the second she stepped into this...why it felt so close to where she once was before, most of her life. the bonfire, the woman with her voice bellowing around them, the chorus of prayers...all were enough to have sunset freeze in her place, knuckles white as she gripped on the ground, tugging on the grass between her fingers, her ears now ringing as she stares at the sight before them, as much as she wanted to look away, she just couldn't. she was able to run before, why couldn't she now?

[thvndrstorm]

               the way their name rolled off sunset’s tongue made rowan wet their lips   —   they loved how the girl always added it to her sentences,   how it made them feel as if her attention was undividedly theirs,   as if nothing else but them mattered—   something rowan didn’t often felt with people,   much less people in this town.   when the blonde’s returning words reached her ears,   she could feel her smile widening helplessly,   making her eyes sparkle with a fondness reserved only for those she cared for…   and that gave her pause.   did she care like that for sunset ?   her brow furrowed,   heart spiking at the realization.   still,   she didn’t have the time to dive into the question further,   since suddenly they were at the flower crowns station,  and sunset’s hand was reaching out to put a loose strand of her hair behind her ear,   making every coherent thought disappear from her mind for an instant.     "  i—   i,   uhm—   okay,  "     they exhaled,  voice somewhat tremulous,   chest aching at the softness of a touch that painfully reminded them how starved they were for it.     "  i think that’s an awesome plan,   i’m ready.  "     all of a sudden,   as soon as she recovered,   they were sitting on the floor,   surrounded by the flowers sunset had so carefully picked,   and rowan observed her intently,   her curiosity creating a boiling excitement within.     "  have you made many of these ?  "     they questioned then,   her smile soft,   completely endeared by the girl by her side.

"and i trust you, if it comes to the point of me truly wanting to try it, rowan." trust is a heavily important word for sunset. not that she hasn't had it before, she had, a few times, out of secretly rebelling before one day she had a chance to leave from what has trapped her most of her life. sunset's getting to know the world she's missed out on just now, and somehow, for reasons she cannot point out yet, she trusts rowan to be one of the few to help her through it. at their next words, the blonde had to look away in attempt to hide her cheeks almost replicating the shade of a raspberry, something rowan has effortlessly done to her many times now. i'll even stop drinking to take care of you. "well...in return, i'll be here to take care of you, too." she gives them a genuine smile. upon their arrival at the station, sunset takes a quick look between the flowers that's been laid out before them and rowan. an idea immediately comes to mind, but sunset pauses at rowan's statement, reaching for her, tucking some loose curls behind her ear. "you're already pretty..." sunset murmurs, once more making herself blush and snapping out of her own trance "and i--i promise to make sure you are with this idea i have!" she grabs a couple of chamomile flowers, some wires, tape and scissors. "how about...i'll show you how i do it, then when it's your turn, i'll guide you." sunset gulps, those eyes, it was one of many things about rowan that brings such an effect on her. "you ready?"

[thvndrstorm]

               a slow,   knowing nod accompanied by a soft ' it is not ' was the answer to sunset’s uncertainty,   because truthfully,   it wasn’t a bad thing—   her often bumping into them,   startling them a little,   making them smile and chuckle as they so rarely did when encounters like those happened.   it was a truly endearing sight,   as much as the hesitance in her rejection,   something that made rowan put for an instant.     "  nah,   it’s okay,   if you’re not sure,   then don’t.   but if you eventually wanna try…  "     they paused a second,   adding tension to her proposal.     "  me and my gorgeous vodka will be here.   i’ll even stop drinking to take care of you.  "     the words came out jokingly,   yet the sentiment behind them was honest.   rowan knew,   from the scarce bits sunset had let her see,  that that would probably be what she’d need,   and even if she didn’t know why,   she knew she was willing to sacrifice her venom for her.   at the giddy smile on the blonde’s face after her proposal,   the spark in rowan’s eyes came back to life,   and a mirthful,   loud laugh fell from her lips the moment she felt the girl dragging her to the station.     "  amazing,   i won’t expect less from you,   you have to make me look pretty.  "     they teased,   winking at them boldly.     "  although i don’t know how good i’ll be at it,   i’ve never done it,   so…  "     suddenly,   her expression shifted,   her eyes getting slightly wider under her eyelashes as she looked  at sunset through them,   a pleading picture of innocence,     "  you’ll have to help me,   okay ?  "

"i hope that's not a bad thing." and sunset certainly hoped that there's still no way that rowan notices the hint of pink on her cheeks, some kind of warmth, not feverish, but just enough to make her feel livelier than usual. perhaps it was the way rowan looks at her, or hints of either smoky coffee or grapes...or lemons sunset could smell whenever they get close due to her always bumping into the other, it was just few of those things she gets to gather from everything interaction they have that makes her wonder, which could be something she's doing while she glances between the other's eyes and lips while they were talking. "it is...weird." she couldn't say it felt like where she used to live, she wasn't ready to open that can of worms with them, not during this celebration, not in front of rowan. she almost bit her tongue to stop herself from saying it. "oh i--i don't think i'll like it, rowan." she admits sheepishly. "but i don't know...i haven't really tried." she wanted to, there's a lot of things she has been wanting to try, but sunset was still...hesitant, not used to the fact that she can decide on things like this now. she gets to decide now. "that, i wouldn't say no to." sunset's expression changes to a giddy smile, of course, this was something she had loved doing back then, it was this tiny, humane part that she loved back then, still loves to this day. without any thought, she gently grabs rowan's free hand to take them to the area where some people were already busy sorting through flowers, other already putting sat on the ground making them. "i'll make you a pretty one, i promise."

[thvndrstorm]

               the roll of her eyes at sunset’s apology is subtle and playful,   reinforced by a cheeky grin that makes her brown orbs sparkle with mischief.   she,   of course,   remembers their first encounter,   and a few more after that one that went more or less the same way.     "  it is becoming quite a thing,   apparently,   i’m not gonna lie,  "     they agree,   leaving out how much she’s liking the pattern they’re falling into,   wetting their lips at the endearing picture in front of them,   at the babbling mess sunset starts to become,   at the nervousness in her demeanor.   rowan can’t help but feel how the initial warmth she felt spreads through her body as fast as the alcohol does through her bloostream.   with smile,   soft and understanding,   she nods at the girl’s explanation,   slightly furrowing her brows when she hears the dismissive tone in her words.   still,   she doesn’t pressure.     "  that’s okay,   i get it.   this place is getting fucking weird,  "     they couldn’t explain why,   but not even the booze making her dizzy and giddy could take her away from the feeling.   at sunset’s question,   she shrugs,   nonchalantly,   and sighs before taking a sip from her bottle   —   at this pace,   she would need to go back to her bike to retrieve another one.     "  i mean…   enjoying it,   enjoying it…   not particularly,   but you know what makes everything better ?  "     the inquiry is not there for sunset to answer,   so she continues almost immediately.     "  alcohol,   lots and lots of alcohol.   would you like some ?  "     the bottle in her hands gets extended along with her words,   and then,   for a moment,   rowan looks around,   eyes landing on a stand that lights up the bulb above her head.     "  hey,   would you like to make flower crowns for each other ?  "

it didn't take long for sunset to notice who it was she bumped into, and she didn't have to look up who it was the second she heard their voice. "it uh..." sunset pauses, scratching the back of her head as she finally looked at the brunette. "this is starting to become a thing--i still apologize about the first time." the younger girl chuckles nervously, glancing between her fingers and the other. it somehow takes a miniscule of effort from rowan to make her babble without even knowing it, though she has the tendency to be like that, with some people she don't know, or others who just intimidate her. at rowan's question, sunset lets out a sigh before she gets to put her thoughts to words. "it's just...strange, seeing all these." she explains, gesturing at the surrounding. "these--i mean, things that remind of places or...circumstances of the past, i don't know....i--i'm not great at explaining." she lets a deep breath out of frustration. it was hard, to talk about the place she left behind without really talking about it, and it wasn't helping that rowan seemed to have this effect on sunset that she's yet to really figure out. "but...you don't--it's not worth more of a thought. are you erm...at least enjoying this?"

[thvndrstorm]

               a gasp falls from her lips at the impact,   quickly followed by a chortle when she realizes who’s been responsible for it.  the bottle,   firm in her hand,   had barely moved,   and the fact it was already half-empty saved her from the liquid spilling all over her hand.     "  oh,   babe,   don’t worry at all,  "     they reassure,   a soft smile plastered on their face at the sight of sunset.   she’s such a lovely face,   such a refreshing breeze in a fog of unwanted people,   rowan can’t help the warmth that fills the void in the middle of their chest just by being in her presence.     "  nothing happened,  nothing was lost,   see ?  "     she opens her arms to show she’s clean,  that not a single drop of her vodka had fallen from its transparent container.     "  it’s okay.   you’re quite distracted,   though,   what’s on your mind ?  "

LOCATION: summer solstice FOR: everyone @helltownhqstarters

"i apologize, my eyes were on the ground the entire time i--" sunset stops herself from eventually ending on a yap-fest in front of the person she accidentally just bumped into, hoping she hasn't spilled their food or drink, if they were holding any. the blonde tends to wander, not just in her head from time to time. she had been taking everything in around her, her surroundings, the music, the feeling of freedom, she wasn't used to it very much, still. "i'll, i'll get you whatever i've knocked out of your hands." sunset finally takes the moment to look at the other.