#&& you are HOME ( anna. )

[asukiess]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUTUMN!!!! from me and your normalest intern <3

anna I think.... anna I think you killed me.... anna I think you won our game of attrition..... every time I try to form words about this I cover my mouth and make a little noise. THIS IS SO SWEET!!!! I am in complete and utter awe and thank you thank you thank you for this gift!!!

EVERYTHING about this is making my heart beat so so fast.... I feel like I'm falling in love.

her googling about interns, such a studious and curious mind of emilie's but with her own innate sense mingled in. the fact she's trying SO HARD. that feeling of being a child and learning your first failures and how is she feeling failure when, unbeknownst to her, she was built to be Emilie 😭 she, unknowingly, is programmed to be as cunning😭 what's that feel like 😭😭 I'M SICK!!!! I AM ON MY DEATHBED!!

she reads that other interns struggle with this, but why.... why does it feel so different!!! what, or who, is she waiting for!! she's trying so hard and---and for what, she asks herself...!!! the frustration!!!

emmy seeing this happy family and this happy ADRIEN with emilie KILLS ME!!! she thinks he's soooo precious. why does she understand the smile on emilie's face....?

thank you thank you THANK YOU UGH!!!! this was wholly unexpected!!!

[julesdap]

rest energy

I love you, and that means you rule me, Anna, and I will make you pay for it, even just in this. / Allow your belief in me to override the doubt you have in yourself. / We are going to hurt each other. Remember? The leash, pulling both ways?

[jester-rat]

EPIC RAP BATTLES OF ALTERNIA!!!

This is inspired by @articulately-composed 's SAHCon panel this year!! You should check it out!! As well as the other amazing panels SAHCon had!!! I had such a blast!!! I already miss it, lol.

[pocketgalaxies]

thinking about when all of vm was yelling into the ether assuming ripley was scrying on them and they all started calling her ugly and keyleth went "you're not THAT ugly"

[vickyt-mv]

S-rank summoner supports 👍

[enobariasdistrict2]

hello sorry for just randomly dropping in but i'm thinking about the treemina-haysilee-clato pipeline since you posted about it but i'm a book treemina person so i'm thinking about how cato and haymitch both had to watch clove and maysilee die but treech got there too late and only came across lamina's body so he had to live knowing he didn't get there in time to hold her hand when she was dying and. i had to share. ok bye

i saw the content of this ask and i was immediately like "okay new thg friend 🧡 ". no you're so right!! i don't remember what happened with book treemina which is why i went by the movie instead. but ahhhh, both extremes are awful its literally a which foot do you want to shoot yourself in dilemma

because like, do you want to watch the girl you've grown to care about, the one who's your favorite person in this hellhole and your partner and ally and the person you trust, the one who reminds you of home, die in front of your eyes and all you can do is comfort them? or even worse you don't have to watch the death happen but you come across the body later and you get this sense of everything is too late now, you didn't get there in time and none of it matters and your regret doesn't matter because it's too late to take anything back.

anyways glad to see my tragic district partner's pipeline agenda is spreading!!

[ridiasfangirlings]

Kusanagi doesn't want to leave the bar under the care of Saru and Yata anymore because they will fuck in the balcony again. 😞

Can you blame him, like come on guys people eat here. Normally Kusanagi is hesitant to leave them in charge of the bar anyway, like he’s not so worried about Fushimi but Fushimi and Yata together seems like a recipe for disaster. One day though he needs to go out somewhere and the other Homra guys who he would usually ask first are busy. Kusanagi’s wondering if maybe he should just close the bar for the day and Yata’s like wait I’m here, I can help. Kusanagi just looks at him and Yata’s all what, I can handle the bar. Fushimi came by for drinks and starts snickering, Kusanagi says it isn’t that he doesn’t trust Yata but there’s a lot that goes into running a bar. He wonders if Fushimi would mind helping out if he’s free, Yata’s all wait why is Saruhiko trustworthy but not me. Kusanagi says consider it just that he doesn’t feel this is a one-person thing, he’d feel better if they handled it together. Fushimi is off for the day so he agrees, probably smirking the whole time about how Kusanagi trusts him with the bar more than Yata.

Anna is also gone on a class trip for the day so they have the bar to themselves, business is pretty slow and Yata’s starting to get bored after a while. Maybe he decides to start practicing his own bartender skills, Kusanagi has a book on how to make drinks for whenever someone else is watching the bar and Yata figures he could learn. Fushimi clicks his tongue and thinks it’s a waste of time but then Yata ropes him in to testing some of the drinks and soon they’re both a little tipsy. Fushimi starts teasing Yata with different drinks, like Misaki why don’t you try Sex on the Beach next and Yata gets bright red, Fushimi laughs like but we’re not on the beach I guess. Yata’s all I could give you…I mean make you…Sex on the Beach, leaning in all close. Fushimi smirks and leans up for a kiss, saying maybe we should try something else, like a Screaming Orgasm. 

Eventually Kusanagi returns to the bar, pleased to see it’s in one piece. There’s no one at the counter though and he wonders where Yata and Fushimi wandered off to. That’s when he hears a crash above him and looks up into the balcony to see Yata desperately trying to put his clothes on while stuttering out that he didn’t hear Kusanagi walk in. Kusanagi’s mouth drops open and then Fushimi’s head pops up from between Yata’s legs, looking for once actually vaguely sheepish as he reaches for his discarded shirt. Yata’s already apologizing and Kusanagi just facepalms all ‘Yata-chan…don’t.’ After this they’re never asked to watch the bar alone again, imagine of the Homra alphabet wondering why Yata never has to watch the bar and Yata just laughs nervously while Kusanagi is like he knows why and we’re not talking about it.

[kristannafever]

Mountain Man - Eight

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 2750

Collab with @lukin08

Chapter Index

-----------------------------------

“My head hurts.” Anna’s muffled voice came from somewhere under the covers.

“Mine too,” Kristoff muttered, keeping his eyes shut to the light coming in from the window.  While he had half a mind to disappear under his blankets with Anna, he worried that would be too presumptions despite what happened between them the night before. 

“I have painkillers in the first Aid kit in my plane,” she muttered.

“And you don’t want to go get them?”

“Hell no.”

Kristoff smiled and steadied himself to move.  He got up slowly, wincing as his head pounded and the room spun around.  While he had some pain killers in his own first aid kit, he rarely took them and they were a decade old.  Likely not as effective anymore, and if her head hurt as much as his, they would need all the help they could get.

“You’re going to get it for me, aren’t you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Oh my god you are the best.”

Kristoff shook his head, smiling wider and took to his feet slowly.  He dressed in his coat and boots and opened the door.  The snow was somehow still falling.  He breathed in the cold mountain air deep into his lungs, instantly making him feel a touch better and clearing his head a little.

He trudged through the deep snow to where Anna’s plane was and retrieved her first aid kit.  He brought back in the cabin and poured them both a glass of water from what was left in the cold kettle before shaking the pills into his hand.

He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Anna to slowly emerge from the covers.  She did so with her eyes pinched shut, wincing as she sat up. 

“Here.” He offered her the cup and his open palm.

She took the pills and the water with shaky hands and popped them in her mouth, draining the cup with a greedy gulp.  She handed the cup back to Kristoff and laid back down.

He took his own pills and set the empty cups on the floor and crawled back in beside her.  No sooner was he settled on his back and Anna was curling up to him, throwing her hand over his stomach and nestling her head on his shoulder.  He could feel her breath on his neck and he suppressed a delighted moan. 

“As shitty as I feel right now, that was a lot of fun last night,” she said.

He could hear the smile on her voice.  “It was,” he mused, thinking about just how much fun it was.  He hadn’t laughed so much in his entire life.  His smile faded to remember that the storm wasn’t going to last forever and Anna would be leaving soon. 

“Hey Anna?” he started before he knew what he was doing.

“Hmmm?” 

He panicked.  What was he about to say anyway?  Was he actually going to tell her that last night was the most fun he had ever had in his entire life?  Was he going to admit that he never wanted the storm to end?  That he wanted her to stay there with him forever.  Was he going to tell her that she had taken his heart and he was madly in love with her?

No.  He couldn’t do that.  He couldn’t drag her into this life of isolation.   He couldn’t crush her spirit like that.  Likely couldn’t even have the chance anyway.  She had mentioned how many times she would be unable to live this life.

He thought quickly.  “I’ll give you another opportunity to beat me at crib again tonight,” he said, hoping that it didn’t sound as sad as it made him feel.

Anna giggled, obviously not picking up on his distress.  “You’re on, mountain man.”

*****

They got out of bed in the late morning, too hungry to ignore their growling stomachs.  Kristoff made them oatmeal and opened a can of peaches that he told her he saved for special occasions.  Anna watched him as he made them their breakfast, chatting idly with her like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be doing.  She could not stop staring.  His handsomeness was so much more apparent with the short beard.  She could see his magnificent jaw line, and she imagined what he’d look like if he’d let her cut his hair shorter too.  Never before in her life had she been more attracted to a man.

She thought back to that wonderful kiss.   More than anything she wanted to have him kiss her again.  She wanted a whole hell of a lot more than that actually.  Then she realized that she would be leaving soon.  She couldn’t stay, couldn’t even entertain the idea.  She had family and too much back in Nome to just throw it all away. 

Yet as she remembered it again, that beautiful soft and tender first kiss he had placed on her lips, she longed to be able to say fuck it and stay with Kristoff.

She pushed the thought from her mind immediately, knowing that it would only lead to heartache.  Why it hurt so much she wasn’t sure.   She managed to forget about the future and focus on the bowl that Kristoff had placed in front of her with a smile.

After their breakfast they both cleaned up, and Anna asked what she’d asked him so many times in the past couple of days.  “So, now what?”

Kristoff looked around his cabin.  “Uh, to be honest I am not feeling up to doing a lot of manual labour today.  I haven’t been that drunk in my entire life.”

Anna cocked her head to the side.  Did that mean he didn’t even remember the kiss?  While it was seared into her mind, maybe he was one of those people that blacked out and didn’t remember anything.  “Yeah, we drank a lot,” she said, not wanting to bring it up in case he really didn’t remember.

“I have some wobbly shelves in the cellar I need to fix.  Some clothes that need mending.  I have to deal with a couple of hides, but that will only take me about an hour.  Uh, what else?” 

He looked around in thought again, so innocent and pure, and Anna’s heart lurched in her chest thinking about that kiss.  How utterly desperate his lips had become, like he’d been under water for a dangerously long time and was finally able to gasp for air.  How it must have felt to him.  And he probably didn’t even remember being so vulnerable with her.

“… tidy my shed up a bit too.  Been putting that off.”

Anna realized she zoned out.  “Oh yeah, sure.  Put me to work.”

His head tilted to the side and he regarded her for a moment.  “Where should we get started?”

“Give me your clothes and I’ll mend them while you deal with the hides.  Then we can do whatever you figure next.”

He nodded, his bloodshot eyes looking at her carefully again.  “Alright.  Thank you.”

-------

Anna picked up the first shirt and looked at it.  A plain black henley that was tattered and getting holes along the shoulders.  He’d told her all the clothes needing mending were clean except for that black henley.  Anna had assured him that she didn’t mind.  And truly she didn’t.  She imagined it on him then looked up quickly to make sure Kristoff hadn’t somehow slipped back into the cabin without her noticing.  Once confirming she was indeed alone, she pulled the shirt up to her face and inhaled.

An involuntary shiver ran up her spine to smell him on the clothing.  It aroused her in a way she was not at all expecting, and she set the shirt back down on the table and shook her head.  Get a grip on yourself, Anna!

She threaded the needle with black thread and began mending.  It was quick work and she moved onto the next shirt, and then the next.  When they were all done, she started on the socks, switching the black thread for the only other colour; white. 

Anna mended his socks, cringing a little at how much it would drive her crazy to step on the mending all day long.  She’d tried it before.  There was only one solution to socks with holes on the bottom; buy new ones.  Something that Kristoff could not do whenever he wanted. 

That made her sad all over again, thinking about his life as she finished the socks.  Next, she moved onto his work pants, two pairs of jeans with holes in the knees and some Carhart’s.  Every pair had holes in all the pockets. 

After the pants the only item left was a hooded sweatshirt with the front pocket ripped on one side.  It was grey, so Anna switched back to the black thread for it to be less noticeable. 

When that was done, she folded all the clothes neatly and placed them back in his chest and put the henley in a small laundry basket he had sitting beside it.  She turned around and surveyed the one at the end of the bed again, thinking about those photos and wanting to look at them once more.  She was just about to, when the front door opened and Kristoff stepped in.  His face was drained of colour.

“Kristoff!  Are you okay?”

He nodded and wobbled a little as he used his feet to take off his boots.  Anna rushed over and grabbed his shoulder just as he leaned far enough over that he was going to lose his balance if she wasn’t there.  She braced herself as his weight fell into her.

“I need to sit down,” he mumbled. 

Anna helped him over to his chair and sat him in it.  Kristoff turned and placed his head in his arms on the table, taking a few slow breaths like he was going to be sick. 

“Are you okay?” she asked again.

“Dizzy,” he murmured from his arms.  “I think I need some water.”

“Of course.”  Anna turned and grabbed a cup from the shelves above his kitchen cupboard and the cold water from the kettle on the stove, then took it over to him. 

Slowly, he pulled his head up, his eyes closed.  After two more deep breaths he opened them, took the glass and drank with a shaky hand.   As soon as he was done, Anna took it from him and filled it again.  With that downed, she filled it once more with all that was left in the kettle.  After giving him back his glass, she took the kettle outside and filled it with water from the well.  She filled his empty up again, then grabbed one to fill for herself. 

“Thank you,” he said quietly as she took a seat on the log across from him. 

“You okay?”

He nodded slowly.  “Just dehydrated from all the booze,” he said, his eyes lifting to finally meet hers.   “Like I said, that was the drunkest I have ever been.  I’ve never been this hungover.”

“I’m sorry,” Anna said, wondering again if he really didn’t remember that kiss. 

“Don’t be sorry,” he said, eyes going back down to the table.  “I just need a minute.  I’m pretty sure when we got up, I was still drunk, and I’m just hitting the wall now.”

“Why don’t you go lie down for a minute?”

His eyes met hers again.  “How are you feeling?  Are you okay?”

Anna smiled.  “I feel kind of like you.  Clearly not as severe.  I’m okay, just sucking at life today, you know?”

He gave her a slight smile.  “I could use a nap.  How about you?”

She thought about being in that comfortable bed with him again and was not about to miss out on the opportunity to be close to him again.  “Definitely.”

They went over to the bed and settled into it, Anna thinking again to that kiss.  “How many games of crib did we even play last night?” she asked, thinking it might give some insight into if he remembered it. 

“I have no idea,” he said, brining up his forearm and settling it against his eyes.  “I can’t remember.”

Anna frowned, and pushed the thought of that kiss from her mind.  It would do no good to keep thinking on it if she was the only one who remembered it happening.

A moment later Kristoff was snoring.  As much as Anna wanted to snuggle up to him, she could not bring herself to do so.  Her heart was heavy with thoughts she had no business having.  Eventually she drifted off and fell into a fitful sleep.

*****

Kristoff woke slowly, blinking into the light of the cabin.  His eyes hurt.  Like his head.  The painkillers had worn off.  He looked over to where Anna was sleeping.  She was facing him, as far away as she could get.  He studied her face, every inch of it, every freckle, every gorgeous feature. 

That kiss…

He pushed it from his mind for the hundredth time since waking up that morning.  He would not, could not, hang onto that.  It was like a taste of things that could be.  Things that would never be.  He needed to let it go for good.  It was far too dangerous not to.

To his relief, Anna was completely fine not talking about it.  Maybe she didn’t even remember it.  Either way, they could move on as if it never happened, which was more than fine with him.

Kristoff got up slowly, getting a little dizzy again.  He put his feet on the floor and hung his head between his shoulders.  He felt the bed shift under him a moment later.

“You feeling any better?”

“A little yeah.”  He sighed.  “How about you?”

“Like a new woman.”  She laughed.

-----

Anna spent the rest of the afternoon following him around and helping him here and there, talking his ear off.  It was amazing how her hands worked, knowing exactly what to do without having to ask.  Her independence and skill were never more apparent to him.  If she ever had the desire, he had no doubt she’d be able to make this life work for her too.  She had all the same instincts as him.

They had just finished with the unstable shelves in the cellar.  While it was the last task that he had wanted to accomplish that day, it still didn’t feel like he’d done enough.  He was feeling better and itching to get more shit done.  This was the first day since he’d been living like this that he’d been lazy, and it was starting to bother him.

As soon as he had the tools back in his toolbox, he brushed the dirt off his hands and looked at Anna.  She was looking down at her own hand, surveying her fingernails with a frown.

“You okay?” he asked, worried she’d injured herself somehow.

She looked up at him, quickly putting her hand back down at her side.  “Oh yeah, fine.  Just have to wash the dirt out from under my fingernails.”

A thought suddenly occurred to him and he was a little embarrassed it hadn’t come to him sooner.  “Did you want to have a bath?”

Her eyes brightened.  “A bath?  That actually sounds wonderful.”  Then her brows furrowed in question.  “Wait, how do you even do that?”

He chuckled.  “What do you think that little building by the well is?”

Anna shrugged.  “Another shed.”

He laughed again.  “It’s the bathhouse, silly.  Despite what you may think I do wash my clothes and bathe.”

“Really?  How often?”  Her smirk was all play.

Shrugging one shoulder he said, “Once a week.”

She playfully scrunched up her nose.  “Ew.”

“Well, to be fair it is a lot of work.”

Her light mood shifted to a touch of annoyance and she rolled her eyes.  “Of course it is.”

Anger prickled him.  These reminders that she thought his life was ridiculous were starting to really get under his skin.  He went for the cellar ladder and ascended without a word or backwards glance in her direction. 

“I’m sorry,” she called after him as soon as he stepped onto the floor.

“Nothing to be sorry about,” he said, his teeth clenched.  “Just going to go get you a bath started.”  He threw on his boots and slammed the door behind him.

--

Previous Chapter

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[hypnotisedfireflies]

Suffering through the front end of the Logies, Torvspotting, and desperately hoping she stayed home in bed.

[pennyserenade]

i got high to write but now i’m listening to 70s dad music and feeling it intertwine with the very fabric of my being, like god intended

[astranauticus]

finally put together a sheet for (some of) my ocs..... skjfahksjhfk

anyway please send me asks about them (and penny's work partner i don't have a design for yet) and i will try my best to answer 👍

[jewishcissiekj]

First, hope you are doing good

Second, did you watched the episode? If yes is it just me or does Asajj looks like Elsa in the scene with the vrathean?

I did watch the episode I just really don't want to spoil it to people that don't want that but yeah. it's not just you. I was wondering what it reminded me of and I'm not sure if it's good or bad but I, 100%, see it. (the wet hair was very much Elsa on that beach in Frozen 2 lol)

[not-equippedforthis]

6, 10 & 29? :)

HELLOOO

6 - 3 nice things about myself, non-physical and physical. i'll do three each! since i'm trying to be nicer to myself!

physical:

- i got glasses the other day and i think they look adorable, i love how they look on me

- i think my eyes are my prettiest facial feature, they're blue and quite round and i like how i do my eye makeup too (rose pink eyeshadow + small black eyeliner makes them stand out nicely and that's usually what people compliment :])

- i generally like my body shape. i'm working out more too and seeing myself become more flexible and toned is actually really satisfying

non-physical:

- i always try and include everyone in conversation or ask them what they were going to say if they were cut off since i know what it feels like to be excluded/feel like youre the tag-along in a friend group, or be nervous to join in

- i'm good at a range of subjects and tasks and i'm good at picking new things up quickly: new hobby every week core

- i'm a pessimist at heart but i try and make light of situations, since i know that also picks other people up (my mum always makes the worst out of things and it drags my mood down a lot so i try and be as forgiving and optimistic as possible - honestly, a lot of bad situations can be made funny with the right people and mindset. obviously sometimes frustration is warranted and unavoidable, but there's almost always a way out! having it start raining and immediately hear someone complaining for 10 minutes is kinda unecessary imo. enjoy yourself!! its fine!!)

10 - something i'm excited for

well, my friend and i are planning to go on a road trip up to scotland or somewhere similar once we get our drivers licenses and go sight-seeing! we were thinking february next year but we're still deciding

im also gonna try and bake some bread, so im happy for that :] i already bake a lot so i figured id try. also watching stuff rise is fun

29 - morning, afternoon or night

this depends heavily, but for me i stay up at night cause i want to avoid the next day and its the one of the only times its quiet, and the afternoon is a weird spot for me. i'm not really a morning person but i appreciate the morning? the sun's rising and there's still time and everything's peaceful for a little while. so i think morning.

thank you for the ask!! <33

[fiendishartist2]

everybody knows that, nobody knows that, everybody's in on everybody's business- petscop

Paul adjusted his position on the floor, leaning back in his chair. It creaked under his weight, a high whine that showed its age. His back was aching, but he resolved himself to just put up with it. Anna had set up the room before he got here and Paul really didn't want to talk to her any more than he had to; so now he's stuck, sitting on a wooden chair in the dark, in the guest bedroom of his childhood home. He relaxed as much as he could and sighed, tired of hours of mindless exploration. Looking at his spread of half-written questions and hastily scribbled drawings, Paul couldn't help but feel like he was running in place, getting nowhere while tiring himself out.

"Paul!"

Paul jumped from his seat, heart racing at the unexpected shout. Anna was yelling for him– Anna never raised her voice if she could help it. The sound made Paul want to flee.

Paul hurried to the living room, heart in his throat despite himself. His constricted lungs wheezed with shallow breaths as he padded around in search of Anna. He spotted her dirty blond hair, lifeless against the black-painted walls, before he realised it was her. She stood over the kitchen table, setting down three sets of plates and cutlery. She smiled as Paul approached her, eyes crinkling.

Through the haze, the tinny sound of Petscop's demo theme reached Paul's ears.

He rubbed a hand down his face, skewing his glasses,"Jeez, calm down..."

"Would you answer the door, dear?" Anna asked sweetly, drawing out the last word. Paul grimaced openly at her misplaced care, but obliged. There was no reason to start a fight with Anna and ruin the fragile relationship she thought they had. He trudged towards the front door, swinging it open carelessly.

Out of the darkness, a pair of arms wrapped around Paul tightly, holding him to the chest of the intruder. Paul let out a scream, his earlier fear realised. He struggled against their grip, pushing against his unknown attacker. He felt rabid, consumed by the instinct to kick and scratch at any opening he saw– to scream and cry and beg to be let go. Eventually, he shoved them off, stumbling back into the house.

The figure guffawed in the doorway. They stepped into the hallway light, revealing a tall, broad woman with limp brown curls resting on the shoulders of her worn wool coat. Her big smile and laugh lined face were mocking in their mirth. The woman removed her blue mittens and wiped her eyes.

"Oh-oh you should have seen your face!" She shouted, "Fifteen years and you're still just as funny, Carrie."

Paul startled as Anna touched his shoulder lightly. She sidled next to him and pulled the other woman into a hug.

Anna squeezed his shoulder when they separated, "You remember your auntie Jill, right?"

Paul wrung his hands.

"Um-"

Jill loudly cut him off, "Look at how you've grown! Last I saw you, you were barely 3 feet tall!" She moved forward and attempted to ruffle Paul's unruly hair, easily brushing off how he jerked away from her. Jill elbowed Anna.

"Our little girl's back home, eh Annie?" Anna laughed lightly. Across from them, Paul's stomach lurched, a wave of nausea hitting him suddenly.

"Oh- uh- I'm not, um, who you think I am." Paul's monotone voice cut through their banter. Stiffly, he raised his hand in a meek wave, "I'm Paul."

Paul sighed and joined Anna and Jill in the kitchen. He sat at the table, choosing to sit alone across from them. Anna had obviously planned for this dinner; in the middle of the table sat a stained cast-iron pot, potatoes and chicken floating around in a deep orange sauce, chunks of onion and garlic stuck to the bottom. A bottle of name-brand sparkling water stood next to it, an assortment of mismatched mugs huddled around.

"Huh. Well Ca-" she stopped, letting out a short cough, "Paul, it's nice to see you again."

The two women walked into the kitchen, leaving Paul alone at the door. He ran a hand through his hair, catching on a knot at the back– of course the family had to come visit and of course none of them knew he was actually a man. It wasn't like he ever actually wanted to talk to any of them. Although he barely remembers an "aunt Jill", he understands who she must have been to him when he was still Anna's kid– irritating and abrasive.

Paul’s gaze drifted to the empty air next to him. Something was missing. In four general areas, the table sported white burn rings where too-hot bowls and plates had sat carelessly. Two on one side and two on the other. But for whatever reason, one of the chairs was missing. He stared into the void it left behind, flooded by vague memories of full tables. Someone sat there, he's sure of it, but now the space was only occupied by their absence. It made his heart race just looking at it.

"Paul?"

Broken from his stupor, Paul blinked wildly to reorient himself in the present. Anna frowned and got up to stand Paul's side, rubbing his back with her bony hand. The skin under her hand crawled.

"Are you okay?" Anna cooed. He nudged her arm away and forced a smile on his lips, refusing the urge to scratch at his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I'm- I'm fine."

Paul had the feeling they knew he was lying.

Anna served them all without a word.

After a few minutes of eating in silence, Jill spoke up, "How's- how've you been? Y'know since- since you went to live with uh... y'know." Her loud voice was awkward and cautious, speaking around the toothy grimace that had fixed itself to her face. Anna frowned at her food.

Paul wasn't really sure what she wanted him to say– how could he condense fifteen years into one sentence?

Jill nodded, "That's right, Belle's college aged now, isn't she?" She paused for a second, sneaking a look at Anna, "How about you? Are ya' in school for anything?" Anna's excited grin emerged from her staring contest with her plate and she looked hopefully at Paul.

"Um. Fine, I guess." He winced, that sounded even worse than Jill's attempt. He wracked his jumbled brain for something else to say. Pride bloomed in his chest as he thought about his family.

"B-Belle's in school for- uh- to be a chemist." Paul took a long sip of sparkling water in lieu of replying further. It tasted bitter.

Under her joyful gaze, he squirmed; of course she was only interested in hearing about Paul– a fact that both made him deeply uncomfortable and indignant on Belle's behalf. He stabbed a potato, swirling it around on his plate. Eventually, he offered up a monotone, "No."

Anna leaned forward onto the table, her smile dripping with pity, "Aw, honey, why not? Don't you want to get a good job? You were so smart when you were little. Have a little faith in yourself!" Paul curled in on himself.

"I don't do well in school. Mom thinks I should take my time instead of feeling pressured into going." Paul replied shortly.

Anna's face scrunched like she had been punched square in the nose. Red hot embarrassment flooded her face in a vicious flush.

Jill suddenly clapped her hands and everyone at the table flinched, "Well! That was great." She picked up their empty dishes and stood abruptly from the table, "Thank you, Anna, for the meal. It was delicious." She placed the dishes into the sink and they clashed with the sharp sound of ceramic. Paul jumped violently at the noise.

"It was nice to see you again, Paul." With that, Jill hoisted Anna out of her seat and pulled her into the living room, patting her back and drying her tears with her sweater.

Paul watched Anna weep into Jill's shoulder and couldn’t make himself feel sympathetic. Of course, he felt weird that she was upset, the sight of her crying face sparking that familiar twisting fear in his gut. But those crocodile tears always reared their ugly head when she wanted to push and pull his emotions. Anna said she would never want to hurt him, ignoring just how well she had guilted Paul into handing over the channel and subsequently moving back in with her.

He placed his full plate gently on top of the others, shuddering at the way the delicate plates scraped with the threat of shattering. He crept back upstairs.

It had barely been one whole day and Paul could already feel himself getting sick of this family.

[curlytemple]

do you guys want to come over and play i spy with my trinkets

[petitmortes]

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