𝖠 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒
chapter seven
October 3rd
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It was around 10 in the morning. Still a little cloudy out but sunnier. Saul quietly opened the door to the guest room where Luna had been sleeping. His firm gaze met her soft body lying on the bed with her plushie beside her. She looked so peaceful... so sweet. He figured it was time to wake her for the breakfast he made. He gently walked over, looking at her vulnerable body, how innocent she looked lying there. Her glasses off and nightgown riding up a little, bunched around her soft thighs. He walked over to the side of the bed, his larger calloused but oh-so-gentle hand softly on her smooth thigh. He almost groaned at the feel of her skin, his hand rubbing her thigh gently, sliding to her inner thigh. She whimpered softly and quietly in her sleep, shifting a little. His eyes darkening. His hand softly rubbing her inner thigh. He slowly withdrew his hand before walking quietly out. Waiting for her to awake and come downstairs. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly regained consciousness, her surroundings coming into focus.
Luna blinked a few times, her vision adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, she felt a pang of confusion, struggling to remember where she was and why she was there. Then, the events of the previous night came rushing back, and she sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Reaching to put her glasses on again. her mind still a bit foggy. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, noticing that her nightgown was slightly wrinkled and very faintly damp from the rain. She smoothed it down, trying to regain some semblance of composure. Luna took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
After a few minutes, she felt a bit more awake and presentable. She picked up her teddy bear, giving it a comforting squeeze, laying it on the bed, before heading downstairs to see Saul. As she descended the staircase, she noticed the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air, making her stomach rumble with hunger. The dining area was just as cozy as the rest of the house, with a dark wooden table set for two. A plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon awaited her. a warm smile on his face as he gestured for her to sit down. Her gaze was soft and appreciative. She hadn’t had this good of a meal in forever.
"Good morning, Luna," he said, his tone gentle and welcoming. "I hope you like pancakes."
Luna smiled so sweetly and happily. "I love pancakes!" she replied, taking a seat across from him. "t-thank you so much Mr hudson- I- I don’t know what to say" she was rambling a bit. It always happened when she was happy or anxious.
"It's my pleasure," Saul said, his eyes twinkling with a hint of something she couldn't quite place.
They began eating, the clinking of cutlery the only sound for a few moments. Luna savored the food, realizing just how hungry she was.
"So, Luna," Saul began after a while, his tone casual yet inquisitive. "Tell me some more about yourself. What do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies besides drawing?” Luna hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit shy. But Saul's genuine interest made her feel more comfortable. "Well, I love animals.." she said, her eyes lighting up slightly at the mention of her favorite pastime. "I-I care so very much for animals..” she said gently.
Saul nodded, interested. "That's very sweet." Luna smiled softly, feeling a sense of warmth from his words. "Anything else you enjoy doing?" Luna thought for a moment, feeling a bit more at ease with the conversation. "I also like reading," she said. Saul's eyes gleamed with interest. but something else as well."That's fascinating, Luna. You must have a vivid imagination."
Luna blushed slightly at the compliment. "yea.."
“anything else?”
Luna hesitated for a moment. She didn’t wanna bore him with all the stuff so she kept it short. “I- I like flowers.. and plants as well.” She said softly. Taking a sip of orange juice in the glass cup next to her.
He grinned. “how fascinating..”
They continued talking, the conversation flowing naturally as they shared more about themselves. Despite her initial wariness, Luna found herself feeling more comfortable with Saul. His kindness and genuine interest in her life made her feel seen and valued, something she hadn't experienced in a long time. it was around 11 now. Her and Saul just finished talking, “well.. thank you for everything Mr Hudson.. but I should probably go now.. I don’t wanna bother you or anything.. plus I need to find my way back home.” Luna said softly. Looking at him as he sat across the table for her. Saul’s eyes darkened, she couldn’t go. Not now.. not ever. Plus.. the sweet girl had nothing to go back for. What would she go back for? Her mom? Her mom was just gonna be mean again. Never gonna Change.
Saul's smile faded, replaced with an almost dark look. "Luna, you don't have to go back to that," he said firmly. "You can stay here as long as you need. I have plenty of space, and I don’t mind the company.” Luna hesitated, her eyes searching his for sincerity. "I... I don't want to be a burden," she said softly, feeling torn between her gratitude and her desire to not impose.
Saul reached across the table and placed his larger calloused reassuring hand over her smaller soft one. "You're not a burden, Luna. Far from it. I enjoy having you here." Luna's heart softened at his words, and she found herself considering his offer more seriously. The idea of returning to her mother's house, where she faced constant neglect and disdain, filled her with dread. Here, with Saul, she felt a glimmer of hope—something she hadn't felt in a long time. Still, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she didn't fully understand about him.
"Are you sure, Mr Hudson?" she asked tentatively. “Saul.” He corrected sternly. “S-Saul sorry.” "I mean, I don't want to disrupt your life or anything."
Saul's eyes met hers, filled with a mix of warmth and something deeper, something she couldn't quite place. "I'm sure. I want to help you, I want to make sure you're happy." Luna smiled softly, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Saul. I can't tell you how much this means to me."
Saul's smirk grew, satisfied with her response. "It's no trouble at all, Luna. Now, how about we spend the day doing something fun? Maybe we could go out and get you a new sketchbook and some art supplies. What do you think?" He said. Luna thought it was an act of kindness, but what the poor girl didn’t know was that he was trying to bribe her. Make her see he’s kind, and stay with him.
Luna's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That sounds wonderful! I've been wanting to draw again, but I didn't have the chance to get my things from home."
Saul nodded, pleased with her enthusiasm. "Wonderful. There's a nice little art supply store in town that I think you'll love." He said with a grin. She smiled softly. About to get up and get freshened up before he stopped her. “Hm.. maybe a bit later. I just want to show you around the house a little since I couldn’t yesterday.” He said with a gentle smile. He didn’t care about the house.. he just couldn’t go out till night or evening. It would risk his identity. One that she just couldn’t resist. Her soft lips making the shape of a gentle “oh.” “Okay.” She said gently. Sitting back down. He wanted to show her the house.. he wanted her to get used to it. Cause she was gonna be living there.. he was gonna make her.
Saul stood up, extending his hand to help Luna. "Let's start with the living room," he said, leading her towards the cozy space where they had spent the previous evening. Saul making small talk, talking about the furniture and all.. As they were talking, the TV had been on. Lunas eyes drifted to the television, watching as they talked about another brutal murder in the small town of oak falls just last night. Slash still hadn’t been spotted.. “oh my…” she whispered softly. Watching as the news lady spoke.
“Police say they still can’t find the person who’s behind all of this. But some reports and people near by, say he seems to go by the name… “slash.””
Saul's eyes flickered to the TV for a brief moment, his expression unreadable. "It's terrible, isn't it?" he said, his voice tinged with false concern. "This town has been on edge ever since those murders started happening."
Luna nodded, her unease growing. "Yeah, it's really scary," she replied softly. "I hope they catch whoever is responsible soon."
Saul placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, the touch both comforting and oddly unsettling.
"Don't worry, Luna. You're safe here with me," he said, his tone soothing. "Let's continue the tour. I think you'll like the library."
Lunas eyes lit up, she glanced at the TV one last time before following Saul down a hallway that led to a wooden door. He opened it with a flourish, revealing a cozy, dimly lit room lined with bookshelves that reached the ceiling. The scent of old paper and polished wood filled the air, creating an atmosphere of quiet intellectualism.
Luna's eyes widened as she stepped inside, taking in the sheer volume of books. "Wow, this is amazing," she said, her voice filled with awe. "I've never seen so many books in one place outside of a library."
Saul smriked, pleased with her reaction. "I'm glad you like it. Do you see anything you like?" She walked along the shelves, her fingers lightly grazing the spines of various books. "I see a lot that like," she admitted. Saul grinned, watching her closely. Watching the way her small body stood there, god he just wanted to grab her and..
Luna paused, pulling out a worn copy of a classic adventure novel. "This one looks interesting," she said, showing it to him.
"Ah, a great choice," Saul said approvingly. "Feel free to borrow it."
"Thank you, Saul," Luna said with a shy smile. "I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he replied, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Now, cmon.."
They left the library and walked back down the hallway, entering a spacious, modern dark kitchen. Stainless steel appliances gleamed under the soft lighting, and a large island stood in the center, adorned with a bowl of fresh fruit. Luna saw the kitchen last night. but she hadn’t gotten a good look due to the dim lighting.
Luna looked around, impressed. "This is beautiful," she said. "Do you cook a lot?"
"I do," Saul said, leaning against the island. "Cooking is another one of my passions.”
Luna nodded, feeling a pang of longing. "I used to cook a little with my mom, but it was never anything fancy."
"Well, maybe we can cook together sometime," Saul suggested, his tone inviting. "I'd love to show you some recipes."
"I'd like that," Luna replied, feeling a bit more at ease. "It sounds fun."
"Great," Saul said, his smile widening. "Now, let’s go to the backyard hm? Pretty sure you’ll like it."
He led her to the back door. the small garden he had in the back was a riot of colors, with blooming flowers and lush greenery. It was so neat, and beautiful.
"It's gorgeous," Luna said, her eyes lighting up. "I-i love these flowers so much! They’re so pretty" Luna exclaimed sweetly and excitedly. Looking down at the light pink peony flowers.
"Yes, they are," Saul agreed, watching her closely. Luna wandered down the garden, stopping to admire a bed of vibrant roses. turning to look at him. "You've been so kind to me. I don't know how to repay you." "Your happiness is all the thanks I need," Saul said smoothly. "I'm just glad I can provide you with a safe place to stay." He said, his dark eyes looking at her. Her gaze softened, stay.. Luna did really wanna stay. But I mean.. she barely knew the man. But from what she knew he was so sweet to her.
Luna smiled softly, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. "I really appreciate it," she said. "It means a lot to me."
Saul walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. " you're not alone anymore. You have me now.. I can be your friend.” He said gently, but a hint to something she couldn’t quite place, persuasion.. and it was working. Luna smiled sweetly. “Okay!” She said softly, Luna always wanted a friend..
As they stood in the garden, the clouds began to part, allowing a few rays of sunlight to filter through.
Luna looked up, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things would get better. But as she glanced back at Saul, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she still didn't understand about him.
"Shall we head back inside?" Saul suggested. "We can plan our trip to the art store in a bit."
"Alright," Luna agreed, following him back into the house. As they walked through the door, she took one last look at the garden, hoping that she could find some semblance of peace in this new chapter of her life.
As they re-entered the house, Saul closed the door behind them, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. Everything was falling into place, just as he had planned. And Luna, blissfully unaware, was right where he wanted her.
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Bracket G Round 1
Poll 8
Vin - Sentinel-General Vincent 'Nate' Hudson & RJ MacCready (@theartofblossoming) vs. Musicbox (@mxdragonica)
399. Vin - Sentinel-General Vincent 'Nate' Hudson & RJ MacCready (@theartofblossoming)
He/him and he/him
Because together, they are the best Cap-'Stache you will ever find.
Vin is 6'2", auburn hair, kind green eyes, muscular; he has a vertical scar down from his hairline, over his eye (lucky he still has it) and down to his thick horseshoe moustache. Eagle tattoo on his neck, others on his arms and back. Mac is 5'11" (in the morning) and, well, you know what he looks like.
400. Musicbox (@mxdragonica)
it/its/itself
A fancily dressed and well spoken warforged (magic robot from D&D), Musicbox is a friendly face found at many noble parties and diplomatic functions in the name of its Lady, a high profile noble of mysterious identity. Previously a scout in a war some 60 years ago, it has since found passion in the musical arts, its skill with a violin rivaled only by its ability to perform emotions to a degree comparable with the born living, even if it cannot feel them on such a level.
Hindered mainly by an inability to properly portray fear in much of any capacity (often opting for another emotion when needed), and a monotone voice. Musicbox takes great pride in its skill as a bard, and most certainly does *not* believe its coworker, The Lady's personal entertainer, is a hack who cannot have been hired for his musical skill, don't worry about it.
A well dressed and polished silver robot with blue glass eyes, often wearing a hat with a yellow feather in it. It always has a rapier on its hip, and a violin ready to play strapped to its back, accompanied, of course, by a bow.
Usually wears a white suit top accompanied by a matching skirt, at meetings or performances. Also often wears a dark blue and black suit with matching jacket and pants, and occasionally and more dull, if better for long travel, brown leather outfit.
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A knock away.
𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾
———————————————————————
September 30th 2010
-
Luna had been sitting in the small but comfy space of her room for what felt like hours. The room was filled with a sense of familiarity and comfort, especially with her soft light brown teddy by her side. Laying in bed, she let her eyes wander to the window, watching the gentle rain tapping against the glass. The soft, rhythmic sound was almost soothing, even though it was gloomy out. This kind of weather was not surprising since it was quite normal around there. She was home alone again, a situation that had become all too familiar. Her mom had gone out, claiming she was "getting groceries," but Luna wasn't stupid. She knew what her mom was really doing—out with another guy. It was a pattern she had come to recognize. Not surprising, but still disappointing. The realization left her feeling even more alone in her room, confined not just by the walls but also by her thoughts.
The room seemed to echo with silence, amplifying her sense of isolation. The soft rain outside was the only companion she had, a constant backdrop to her inner monologue. She sighed, hugging her teddy bear closer, wishing for the comfort and security that seemed to elude her. The world outside might be gloomy, but the storm inside her mind felt even more intense, swirling with feelings of abandonment and loneliness.
As the minutes ticked by, Luna found herself lost in thought, wondering how different her life could be if things were more stable at home. She often fantasized about escaping to a place where she felt truly safe and loved, away from the uncertainty that clouded her daily life. In her mind, she pictured a cozy little cottage nestled in the countryside, surrounded by fields of wildflowers and the gentle hum of nature. There, she imagined herself waking up to the warm embrace of sunlight streaming through the windows, greeted each morning by the cheerful chirping of birds. And maybe somebody by her side.
In this dream world, Luna was never alone. She had friends who truly cared for her, a community that supported and uplifted one another. Her days were filled with laughter, adventure, and the kind of joy that seemed so elusive in her current reality. She would spend her afternoons exploring the nearby woods, collecting interesting rocks and leaves, and creating little art projects with her findings. she already did that here. But maybe it'd be more appealing in her fantasy world. As her thoughts drifted, Luna's gaze returned to the window. The rain had picked up, the droplets now racing down the glass in a hurried dance. She sighed once more, feeling the weight of her solitude settle more heavily upon her shoulders. The dream of the cottage was a comforting escape, but she knew it was just that—a dream. The reality was that she was still here, in this room, waiting for her mom to return from yet another night out.
Determined not to let the gloom consume her entirely, Luna decided to distract herself. She got up from her bed, clutching her teddy bear in her gentle small hand. As she walked down the narrow hall that led to the kitchen, she could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. She continued her journey into the living room, where she was greeted by the gentle rustling from the cage in the corner. Inside the black-barred cage was a soft, fluffy white rabbit. Luna smiled softly, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her.
Luna had always loved animals and tried her best to take care of them, but it was quite hard since she barely had any money to get the right things for them. Her bunny, nestled in a cozy blanket at the bottom of her cage, looked up at her with curious eyes. "Hi, Sprinkle," she said softly, her voice filled with affection. Kneeling down, she placed her teddy bear next to her and carefully opened the cage door to let the bunny come out. She always took Sprinkle out when her mom wasn't home because if her mom was around, she'd get mad. Luna wished she could keep the bunny in her room, but there was barely any space left in her small, cluttered room. As Sprinkle hopped out of the cage and onto the living room floor, Luna felt a sense of joy and companionship. She watched him explore the room, his little nose twitching as he sniffed around. Luna knew that these moments with Sprinkle were precious, offering her a brief escape from her worries. The bond she shared with her bunny was special, and she cherished every second of their time together. With Sprinkle by her side, Luna decided to make the most of the evening. She gathered a few art supplies from the cupboard and sat down at the small table in the living room, ready to create something beautiful. The rhythmic sound of the rain outside blended with the soft rustling of Sprinkle's movements, creating a serene atmosphere that allowed Luna to momentarily forget her troubles.
She began by sketching a simple outline on a piece of paper, her pencil gliding smoothly across the surface. As she worked, she could feel her mind unwinding, each stroke of the pencil helping to ease the tension that had built up throughout the day. Sprinkle hopped around the room, occasionally nudging her foot with his nose as if to remind her that he was there, sharing this peaceful moment with her. Minutes turned into hours as Luna lost herself in her artwork. She added layers of detail and color, bringing her imagination to life on the page. Her drawing depicted a scene from her fantasy world: a cozy little cottage surrounded by fields of wildflowers, with a bright blue sky overhead and birds soaring freely. In this world, everything was perfect, just as she had always dreamed. As she worked, Luna found herself humming a soft tune, a melody that seemed to flow naturally from her heart. The music mingled with the sound of the rain and the occasional thump of Sprinkle's hops, creating a symphony of calm and contentment. She felt a sense of accomplishment as her drawing took shape, a tangible representation of the dreams that kept her going.
Eventually, Luna leaned back in her chair, admiring her finished piece. A sweet smile spread across her face as she took in the vibrant colors and intricate details. She felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that she had created something beautiful from her own imagination. It was a small victory, but one that brought her immense joy. With her artwork complete, Luna carefully set it aside to dry. She then turned her attention back to Sprinkle, who had settled down on the floor, contentedly nibbling on a piece of hay. Luna reached out and gently stroked his soft fur, feeling a deep sense of connection to the little bunny. In that moment, she knew that no matter how tough things got, she would always have these precious moments of peace and creativity to hold onto. As the evening turned into night, Luna decided to prepare a small meal for herself. She headed to the kitchen, rummaging through the sparse contents of the fridge and pantry. She managed to put together a small simple dinner of pasta and vegetables for sprinkle, which she brought back to the living room to eat.
Sitting on the couch with Sprinkle beside her, Luna savored each bite of her meal. The warmth of the food filled her with a sense of comfort, trying not to think about how she just used the last of the ingredients in the home. But a small but meaningful respite from the challenges she faced. After finishing her dinner, she cleaned up and returned to the living room, where she spent the rest of the evening reading a book and enjoying the company of her beloved bunny. As the night drew to a close, Luna felt a sense of calm wash over her. She knew that the challenges of her life would still be there when she woke up the next morning, but for now, she allowed herself to simply be in the moment. She put Sprinkle back in his cage, making sure he was snug and comfortable, and then retired to her room, clutching her teddy bear close.
After brushing her teeth, Luna climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and letting out a contented sigh. The rain had slowed to a gentle drizzle, and the soft patter of droplets against the window was like a lullaby, lulling her into a peaceful slumber. As she drifted off to sleep, she held onto the hope that one day, her dreams of a better life would come true.
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