#so its just all bottled up inside and thats where itll stay

[kumkaniudaku]

Our Thing

Happy Valentine’s Day, guys. Here’s one of the two things I plan on writing. I consider all of you my Valentine’s since I never have one, so here’s something before the clock strikes 12. 

Work Count: 2k

Warnings: Not yet proofread

“I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“What? Of course, it’s a good idea! I’m the king of good ideas!”

Voices bounced off of the walls of the Brooklyn apartment building as Chad and CoCo walked side by side to the apartment at the end of the hallway.

The snow lining the sidewalks outside were typical of mid-February, giving Tasha more of a reason to stay inside on the cold Friday. But her friend insisted she leave the dark cocoon she had created for herself in her apartment just across the water in New Jersey.

Valentine’s Day was the designated time of the year to celebrate love. Chadwick had a reason to celebrate, but CoCo could no longer say the same. After months of turmoil and emotional abuse, she was a single woman again and dreading the mere thought of loving someone else. So, she planned to avoid all mentions of love and relationships for the foreseeable future. Even if that meant neglecting tradition.

“Look, Chad, we can celebrate on the 15th! This feels so...weird.”

“We celebrate Valentine’s Day together every year. We can’t skip out this year.”

“I feel like having a girlfriend is the perfect reason to miss a year,” CoCo deadpanned as they reached their intended destination. She could practically feel the excitement buzzing from the other side of the door in the form of Toni Braxton’s greatest hits so far, and started to feel bad for the woman she’d come face to face with for the first time.

“Why miss a year when we can celebrate together? And you get to meet my lady for the first time. It’ll be fun.”

“Fun my ass,” Tasha mumbled into the thick scarf around her neck, earning a look from Chadwick.

“Wanna share that with the class, Miss Greene?”

“Knock on the damn door!”

A muffled feminine voice announced that she was gearing up to answer the door adding to the uneasiness in the pit of CoCo’s belly. She knew that if she was on the other side of this encounter, seeing a woman with her boyfriend on date night would insight a riot.

When the door opened to reveal the woman she only knew as Jay, she was more than shocked at what met her. Jay was beautiful. Her slim figure came with a few curves to compliment her height. She was graceful beyond compare and impeccably dressed, making Tasha feel incredibly bland in comparison.

“Hi, baby,” Jay sang as she wrapped her arms around Chadwick and went in for a kiss. If Tasha had rolled her eyes any harder, they would’ve fallen from her skull and rolled all the way back to New Jersey to beat her home. Catching wind of another presence, Jay offered a courteous smile.

“Oh, hi! Did he forget to give you a tip downstairs?”

“A tip,” CoCo asked, obviously offended and a bit confused.

“A tip for the cab ride. I know it was hell driving in this snow. Just let me grab my purse.”

Chadwick could see Tasha’s struggle to maintain her composure, her mouth opening and closing with words she couldn’t produce.

“You know what? I’m going home. Call me to let me know you got back to your place safely.”

“No, wait,” he exclaimed before grabbing Tasha’s elbow and pulling her back to her original spot despite her struggle to pull away. Noticing the commotion, Jay turned back to Chadwick and Tasha with her brows quirked in confusion.

“Am I missing something.”

“Nope. I’ll just take my tip and be on my w-”

“Jay, this is my best friend Tasha that I’ve been telling you about. Co, this is Jayme Dubois, my girlfriend.”

A brief and unpleasant stare off preceded a chipper energy shift as Jayme went in for a hug. “CoCo, how are you! I have heard so much about you.”

“Yeah well, don’t believe any of it,” CoCo forced out between fake laughter while she made faces at Chadwick over Jayme’s shoulder.

“I’ll keep that in mind. So, what brings you over? Do you have a date in this complex? I always knew white boy Rick liked Black women.”

“Actually, Muffin, I was thinking she could spend Valentine’s Day with us. It’s been tradition for us to spend the holiday together and we don’t wanna break it.”

“So you want Tasia -”

“It’s Tasha,” CoCo interrupted in the most obnoxious tone she could muster.

“Right...Tasha. You want Tasha to spend Valentine’s Day with us? Tonight? Even though this is a couple’s holiday? Couple as in two, mind you.”

“Yes, Jay. It would really mean a lot to me.”

Jayme looked between a visibly annoyed Tasha and the pleading eyes of her boyfriend before letting go of a long sigh and stepping aside to usher her companions for the night inside.

Tasha took in her surroundings and quietly marveled. Though small because what seemed to be standard in New York, Jayme’s dwelling was equal parts colorful and classic. Had she not started the interaction on such a bad note, Tasha would’ve complimented her on the statement couch that matched her ornate rug, but she kept it to herself out of spite.

“So since we have one more, what are our plans for the night, honey bear?”

Chadwick caught the slight scrunch in CoCo’s face and ignored it to refrain from explaining the embarrassing nickname. “Well, we can still go see Definitely, Maybe like you wanted, but instead of dinner in the park, Tasha got us a reservation at this really nice Italian spot in the city.”

“I called in a favor from work. It was no big deal.”

Jayme disregarded CoCo’s smile as she took a sip from her water bottle and sat on the arm of the chair Chadwick occupied. Her hands rubbed patronizing circles around his shoulders and back, forcing Tasha to look away to save the awkward moment.

“Well, it seems like you too already have this figured out, so I’ll just grab my coat. Do you have any more suggestions, CoCo?”

“Nooope.” Tasha sang the word through gritted teeth forced into a smile. Chadwick gave her a sympathetic look before helping Jayme into her coat and ushering each woman safely out of the building.

Tasha remained the front wheel of the tricycle, preferring to stay in front of the couple to refrain from looking like the unwanted third party. With every audible kiss and nauseatingly affectionate gesture, CoCo felt her heart tighten. It wasn’t seeing Chadwick with another woman that had her fighting back tears in the theatre. She needed the sight to push her feelings for him to the furthest corner of her mind. It was the pain of knowing that she had just detached from one of the worst situations in her life, yet wanted to be with him to cure the loneliness she felt.

If she had it her way, she’d cry it out until the work week resumed on Monday in the comfort of her own home, but continued to engage in the conversation when the moment presented itself to appease Chadwick.

In a restaurant full of couples, Jayme, Chadwick, and Tasha were the only threesome in the center of the establishment. Nervous energy characterized the silence left behind when Chadwick excused himself to the restroom, leaving the women in his life to avoid eye contact.

Relief came in the form of a stout waiter visiting the table to collect dinner orders. Without realizing that the order would be incomplete without the third member of the group, the women ordered traditional dishes and wine for the table.

“And the young man? What will he have?”

“Oh! Ummm, I’m not sure,” Jayme responded as she fumbled through the menu. “Maybe you could come back in a few minutes?”

“He’ll have the Parmigiana w/ Pasta, but please be light on the sauce. He gets heartburn from all the tomatoes.”

The waiter took heed of Tasha’s warning before walking away, leaving Jayme to burn a hole in the top of Tasha’s head while she sorted through emails on her cell phone.

“How long did you say you and Chadwick have been friends?”

“Since Fall 1996. So coming up on 13 years,” Tasha answered, looking up to find an indecipherable look on Jayme’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I just - you know him so well. His favorite candy, where he likes to sit in the theatre, what he eats at certain restaurants. I don’t know if I can keep up.”

The process of finding the right words to assure Jayme, Chadwick returned to the table and unknowingly ended the conversation before it could truly begin.

“Never in my life did I think I’d have to stand in line to use the men’s restroom. I applaud y’all for doing that,” he complained as he took his seat. “Has the waiter come back for orders yet?”

“He did actually. Tasha got you Parmigiana w/ Pasta.” Jayme secretly hoped that Chadwick would reject the choice and ask for a second go at the ordering process. She was met with the complete opposite.

“Hell yeah!” His fist met Tasha’s across the table in his childlike excitement. “I love that shit.”

“Language, honey bear.”

“Sorry, Muffin.”

“Wow,” Tasha whispered to herself, unaware that the others around the table could hear her.

“Did you want to say something, Tasha?”

“Noooope.”

The table fell silent to give way to the idle chatter in the area around them. Chadwick looked between his girlfriend and best friend trying to find a way to get them to interact with each other cordially.

“So, Co, Jayme has been trying to get into basketball lately.”

“Oh really.” Tasha was clearly uninterested as she continued to read emails on her phone from weeks ago. A subtle kick underneath her table made her look up and noticed Chadwick’s non-verbal urging for her to at least pretend to care. “Which team are you interested in, Jayme?”

“I really like the Nets! Trenton Hassell to be exact.”

“Do you? Because he averages less than two points a game. There’s not much to like.”

“Trenton is your friend’s boyfriend right, Jay?”

“Does it matter now? Tasha basically called him a bad player.”

“Not bad, per se. He’s terrible. That’s a better adjective.”

“Oh-kay,” Chadwick interjected to end the escalating conversation. “Jay, how’s work at the fashion house going?”

“Ugh, it is amazing! We got some new pieces last night and they are beautiful. Maybe you could come browse one day, Tasha. Style can always use an update.”

“I consider myself more Maxine than Regine. Thanks though. I’m sure the pieces are nice.”

Tasha successfully contained her laughter at Jayme’s expression, feeling her first surge of happiness for the day.

Chadwick felt helpless as the night continued and each attempt at joining two of his favorite women ended in a snarky comment or shady look. Dinner provided a welcome activity that didn’t require group conversation, giving him the opportunity to cater to each woman. The longer they sat and contemplated grabbing cheesecake inside the restaurant or settling for ice cream on the way home, the more he could feel Jayme disconnecting.

“Muffin, do you want the strawberry cheesecake for here or to go,” he asked as she slid her coat from the back of her chair and collected her purse.

“Actually, I don’t feel so well, honey bear. I’m gonna head home.”

“What? So soon? We didn’t even get to dessert.”

Tasha watched Jayme put on her best “sick” face and gagged internally at Chadwick falling for the charade. Jayme was far from physically sick. If she was feeling anything, it was annoyance at the fact that her boyfriend’s best friend had spent the most romantic night of the year taking the attention from her.

“Well, let me walk you outside and wait for the cab to come.”

“Thank you, honey bear.” Jayme accepted Chadwick’s help into her coat, purposely ignoring Tasha until the last second. “Good night, Tasha. Maybe we’ll see each other for another occasion. Hopefully in a less...crowded environment.”

Tasha released a short chuckle before plastering on a fake smile, “Right. I’ll pencil you into my calendar.”

Jayme offered another fake smile and nod before leading the way out of the restaurant into the Brooklyn streets.

“I’ll pencil you in and the erase that shit. Fuck her.”

Time started to drag as she sat at the table alone, looking more foolish with three plates crowding her space than playing seat warmer for the world’s cutest couple. A glance out of the window gave her access to the tail end of Jayme’s departure. Her inability to peel her eyes away from the private moment showed her two things: Chadwick was far more interested in Jayme than she was in him, and she was clearly upset despite the kiss and hug she provided before disappearing into the backseat of her taxi.

Moments later, Chadwick took the seat directly across from Tasha and sighed.

“Go ahead. Tell me that you told me so.”

“I’m not gonna say that friend,” Tasha smiled. “All I’ll say is you’re gonna need one of these cheesecakes to go because mama is PISSED.”

“You think so?”

“Oh, I know so. But, I’m here to help with gift ideas to make up for this dumbass idea. And I ordered us dessert.”

Chadwick’s ear perked at the sound of a sugar rush to end a night full of terrible decisions. “Did you get the cookie thing with the-”

“The vanilla bean ice cream on top? C’mon now! You know me!” Without hesitation, the pair completed their signature handshake before sitting back in their seats.  “Sorry for ruining your date, Aaron. I’ll pay the tab as a peace offering.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it. I’ll make it up to her. You know there’s a reason she calls me honey bear.”

“Gross. Please, don’t finish that sentence. And what the fuck is Muffin? Are you a white TV dad now?”

Chadwick’s deep belly laugh at CoCo’s expense continued until their shared dessert was placed between them. Instructing Tasha to pick up her spoon, Chadwick began a pseudo-toast.

“To another Valentine’s Day spend together and many more to come!”

Their spoons clinked together in solidarity before the argument of who would get which portion of the cookie began, ending the most romantic day of the year the only way they knew how: together.

                                  _______________

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[ktrsss1fics]

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Three.

Her first four days in Aruba were spent lounging around the beach and drinking alcohol from carved out fruit.

To say it had already been a successful vacation would be an understatement.

After her breakup with Marcus, Georgina Ferguson had become a stereotypical workaholic. She spent too much time at the office. She put in too much effort into her work. And worst of all, she was paid too little for it all.

When she moved to LA, it just got worse.

Georgina was on the verge of wearing herself thin and only two people took notice.

One lived across the pond and the other was currently sat across from her sloppily eating a bowl of oatmeal.

“Horan, you know your bowl isn’t going anywhere.” She said dryly.

His baby blue eyes flicked up at her. His lips turned up into a mischievous grin. He reached over and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. She rolled her eyes in disgust making him laugh.

“Thought they would’ve taught ya manners in Popstar 101.” Georgina teased.

Niall shook his head. “That’s not until the 300 level course.”

Georgina laughed before handing over a paper napkin. Niall took it graciously before cleaning up the mess he had made.

It was barely eight o'clock in the morning. Various types of breakfast were being consumed as the group decided what their plans were for the day.

The group consensus was swimming with sharks and Georgina was not having it.

“Fergie, why don’t you want to come?” Maggie asked grabbing a spoon from the drawer.

“Because I don’t want to die.” Georgina replied as if the answer was obvious.

“You’re more likely to get killed by a cow than a shark Fergs.” Keith mentioned between bites of his egg dish.

“I bet she’s probably on her lady business or summat.” David joked from the fridge.

“Can’t be attracting those beasts towards us then.” Jamie cackled causing all the women to roll their eyes.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come G?” Brittany asked sitting down beside her.

“Positive.” Georgina said. “Sorry”

“She doesn’t do live animals.” Niall spat mimicking her accent perfectly.

“Oh fuck off you.” She grumbled feeling her skin grow warm.

“What are you gonna do then?” Brittany asked putting pepper on her eggs.

“Stay around here. Maybe lounge by the pool. Read.” Georgina shrugged. “Nap.”

“Got me suncream and a novel. Alls I need is a pineapple of rum and m'set.” Niall said pretending to be her once more.

“Will you quit it!” She glared at him playfully.

“Or what?” He asked flirtatiously.

Before she could respond, Georgina was hit upside the head by her best friend. This only sent the boy in front of her into a fit of laughter.

She hated how much the sound of his laugh made her stomach flip.

She usually was good about hiding those types of things. She could push down her feelings and act like they didn’t exist. She could focus on other things, like work or finding the probability of a team winning the Champions League final. She could detach – especially when it came to Niall. However, after finding out how much effort he had put into getting her to Aruba, something inside her changed. Being mean seemed cruel.

Within the past few days, a switch was flipped. She was finding it more difficult to detach herself from the thought of him. He still was a pain the ass but there was something about him that was almost endearing.

Before she could get lost deeper in her own mind, Maggie’s voice rang in her ears.  She looked up to find everyone looking at her. A slight blush crept across her face.

“What’s up?” Georgina asked sheepishly.

“Just want to confirm, you’re a no to the shark adventure?” Maggie asked.

“Correct.” Georgina nodded.

“Okay. We’ll be even then.” Maggie said grabbing her phone to see if she could book a reservation on the boat.

“What are we gonna do after?” Georgina asked looking around. “Like tonight?”

“Cook dinner and go out to the bars?” Jamie suggested.

“They’ve got a cool water show at the animal reserve near by.” Keith suggested next.

“We can stay here and drink again.” David said with a smile on his face.

“I’m sick of doing that.” Jamie sighed. “We need to experience the nightlife here.”

“I’m in.” Maggie said glancing up from her phone.

A few of the other couples agreed to join.

“I don’t want to spend a lot though.” David whined.

“We can pregame before and you’ll be fine.” Brittany said looking at her boyfriend.

“Ni?” Jamie asked.

“I’m in.” He said crossing his arms over his chest.

“Fergie?” Jamie asked turning towards her.

Georgina shrugged. “Me too I guess.”

“It’s settled then.” Jamie said getting up from the table. “I say we try to leave here in an hour, yeah?”

Most of the others started to clean up their messes before heading up to their room. Georgina sat quietly and finished up the food she had made. She looked up to find Niall still sitting across from her.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?” She asked taking a bite of her toast.

“You’re not done yet.” Niall shrugged.

“So?” Georgina asked confused.

“It’s rude to leave if someone’s still eating Fergie.” He sighed playfully.

Her skin grew warm as she tried to fight the way he made her feel.

“I didn’t think you’d want to come with us today. When Jamie brought it up last night, I knew you’d say no.” He said trying to change the subject.

“Wanna look at the flamingos at the beach? I’m in. Wanna see the dolphin show at that aquarium thing we saw? I’ll  be there. Want to get into a tiny cage in the middle of the ocean and have man eating monsters come swim by you? That’s where I draw the line!” She exclaimed.

Niall laughed softly making her smile.

“I’m surprised you’re going.” Georgina said.

He furrowed his brow perplexed. “Why?”

“Don’t you hate confined spaces?” Georgina asked mid chew.

“Well yeah that’s true.” He said with a nod.

“Then why are you doing it?” She asked.

“For Davey. He said he’d buy me a pint if I went.” Niall said. He saw the confused look on his face so he continued to explain. “Britt’s scared of confined spaces too so we thought if she saw me go that it would help her do it.”

“Good luck with that one. You two can’t even get on the ferris wheel at California Adventure.” Georgina said.

“Hey! That shit is tiny.” Niall said defending their reason to avoid that ride. “I’m hoping this cage thing is a lot bigger.”

“Niall! That’s what’s you’re worried about?!” She asked in shock. “A fucking shark is going to be swimming at you!”

“I’ve dealt with worse.” He shrugged.

Georgina rolled her eyes. “Teenage girls don’t count.”

“When they come out in masses they do!” He shot back.

“I’ll be saying a prayer for you all.” Georgina said. “You lot are idiots.”

“Means a lot Fergie.” He joked throwing his used napkin at her.

She finished up her food and stood up to head to the sink. Niall grabbed her plate and stacked it beneath his own before heading to the fridge. She scanned the table and cleaned up the little messes everyone else left.

Once they were done, the pair headed down the hallway towards their rooms. When they reached her door, Niall stopped  and cautiously placed an arm on her shoulder to get her attention. Georgina looked up at him.

“If I die today, you can have the chair that you always fall asleep in when you drink too much wine at my place.” Niall said with a smile.

Her eyes lit up at the lightheartedness in his voice.

“You can also have the shitty wine bottle opener you always leave behind because you don’t want it at your house.” He teased.

“It’s not shitty.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You just don’t know how to use it.”

“I don’t drink wine so I don’t need one.” Niall said defending himself.

“Yeah but I do. And so does Britt. You should have one just for us.” She said with an innocent smile.

He shook his head trying to convince his body that it didn’t need to show how he was truly feeling.

“I’ll buy you a better one when we get back. I’ve had my eyes on a really sick electric one so you can have the nice one at my house.” She said making him laugh.

“I can get one if ya want.” Niall offered.

She reached out and poked him in the chest. “No. You aren’t the only one who makes money around here Horan.”

“You’re right.” He blushed.

“How long are you going to be shark bait for?” She asked changing the subject for him.

“Dunno. I imagine it’ll be a few hours.” He shrugged.

“Unless something goes wrong.” She joked.

Georgina nudged him playfully before grinning. “Then I’ll be one chair richer.”

Niall’s infectious laugh filled the hallway as they both retreated to their rooms to get ready for the day.

[kaminosoath]

BALDUR: -This is a bit of a sight, as it turns out. His door is wide open and there are some boxes outside of his room, with various labels written in very careful script. The sound of shuffling and scurrying inside can be heard-- quite a bit is left in his room to go through, and baldur MAY have had a bit of a hoarding tendency, now that he's left to examine his belonginsg in details, but the whole process has been strangely invigorating to him. A lot of old memories. A lot of good memories, too. Currently, he's looking inside of a big chest full of various trinkets he's collected-- some beach glass, bottlecaps, and rocks and bits of wires he found particularly interesting, and also probably thought were magical. He seems to be doing some digging, occasionally setting aside a few things in various little piles.-

STATIK: =There is a small skip to her step as she ambled down the hall, more cheerful than she has been in a while! What a week, honestly! She slowed once she was in sight of the boxes and approached them, bending over at the torso to read the labels. Poking her head into Baldur's room, she smacked a hand on the doorframe, leaning up against it.=

STATIK: yo baldy! are you spring Cleaning? ...autumn Cleaning?? whatCha doin?? ⚡

BALDUR: O-O -JUMP a little as he hears the smack on the doorframe, turning away from his tiny-pile building to face the door.-

BALDUR: oh

BALDUR: you

BALDUR: have definitely surprised me

BALDUR: hi

BALDUR: also

BALDUR: no

BALDUR: but maybe also incidentally yes

BALDUR: incidental to the other thing i am doing which is not cleaning o-o

BALDUR: but more of an

BALDUR: reorganization

BALDUR: and removal

BALDUR: ... to a different place

STATIK: =short wave of the hand as she pretty much invites herself in, squatting down in front of one of the piles he had laid out.=

STATIK: ohhhh i get it ⚡

STATIK: you got too muCh stuff so youre finally taKing the next step ⚡

STATIK: STORAGE! ⚡ ⚡

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: you could say that

BALDUR: and i am

BALDUR: also maybe storing myself

BALDUR: in a different house o-o

STATIK: ...

STATIK: liKe down the hall different? ⚡

STATIK: or dirt ground different? ⚡

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: dirt ground

BALDUR: i think

BALDUR: um

BALDUR: maybe sort of like

BALDUR: under the dirt ground different oxo

BALDUR: i am going to stay on avalon for a little while

STATIK: =Her brow rose= this isnt another one of those things, is it? where youre planning to bury yourself alive or something ⚡

BALDUR: O-O is that a thing people do

BALDUR: its more like a cave BALDUR: with amenities

BALDUR: and without bears

BALDUR: no bears in the cave

BALDUR: just me and my things and my amenities

STATIK: sometimes! ⚡

STATIK: people do funKy things if theyre dared-- ⚡

STATIK: so youre going ⚡

STATIK: with all your stuff ⚡

STATIK: and all yourself ⚡

STATIK: in a prepared destination from whiCh you do not intend to return? ⚡

BALDUR: well

BALDUR:

BALDUR: kind of yes oxo

STATIK: =why is there a churning in her belly? She's going to distract herself by picking up an item from one of his piles and turning it over in her hands=

STATIK: you Can baCK out of dares any time, oKay? ⚡

STATIK: it doesnt matter if people Call you ClucKbeast, if you dont wanna you dont have to ⚡

BALDUR: oh

BALDUR: its not like that

BALDUR: ouo

BALDUR: i mean

BALDUR: i do not mind it if people call me things like that

BALDUR: because i have been for most of my life

BALDUR: and likely will continue to be myself despite all efforts o-o

BALDUR: that is ok though

BALDUR: have you ever visited the forest

STATIK: BALDY no no no ⚡

STATIK: dont just taKe it, dude! ⚡

STATIK: even if its true it's still rude ⚡ KC

STATIK: =She's running her thumbs over the thing now, and eventually uses one hand to place it back in the pile.=

STATIK: onCe or twiCe ⚡

STATIK: oCCasion doesnt really Call for it ⚡

BALDUR: -it's smooth beach glass. Pretty, and probably came from some kind of brown bottle.-

BALDUR: there are many things out there

BALDUR: spirits and entities and things i have been searching for traces of since i was

BALDUR: able to see things o-o

BALDUR: it is amazing out there

STATIK: =absentmindedly begins putting the beach glass in rows, organizing them through the color spectrum.=

STATIK: oh so you see grim grinnin ghosts now? is this a new thing that happened when you were away? ⚡

BALDUR: yes

BALDUR: with a camera though O-O

BALDUR: do you want to see the pictures

STATIK: =she glances up and she looks....pretty skeptical.=

STATIK: ....sure..... ⚡

BALDUR: ouo -he GESTURES HER OVER as he pulls out his camera and begins excitedly bringing up the album of pictures he's taken.-

BALDUR: -there are definitely some strange images to be seen... shadowy, humanoid shapes. Glowing auras around unfamiliar-looking people and strange plants. Luminous balls of light that look a good deal like will-o'-wisps. A photograph of a human-looking woman with feline eyes and sharp fangs...-

STATIK: =squints as she peers closer. She was fairly sure at least most of these were photoshopped but the last one of the human-looking not-quite-human woman...=

STATIK: what the aCtual heCK ⚡

STATIK: =the last time statik swore around baldur, sirius scooped her up like a field mouse and bopped her on the head=

BALDUR: oh

BALDUR: do you like that one o-o

BALDUR: i think her name was lyra

BALDUR: she invited us to a dance

BALDUR: and when we awoke she was gone

STATIK: =she glanced back and forth from the photo to baldur=

STATIK: sure you werent short a few Caegars? ⚡

STATIK: or a Couple Kidneys? ⚡

BALDUR: o-o i dont think so

BALDUR: but if we were

BALDUR: then she left no scars or marks

STATIK: =runs her hands down her own face= youre luCKy you werent spirited away into the inner worKings of a blaCK marKet where youd never be heard from again!! human Christ, baldur! ⚡ ⚡

BALDUR: ouo

BALDUR: oh wait was that a bad thing

STATIK: DK

STATIK: YES! ⚡ ⚡

BALDUR: would

BALDUR: there be a black market in a forest oxo

STATIK: i have no Clue and i wouldnt Know beCause my faCe isn't on a milK Carton! ⚡

STATIK: but if there were, a deep darK spooKy forest is where i'd have my base of operations ⚡

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: its not that spo-oky

BALDUR: once you get to know it ouo

STATIK: =stares at him slightly slackjawed=

STATIK: nope, still spooKy ⚡

STATIK: AND it maKes you smell liKe outside ⚡

BALDUR: like pinewo-od and grass

BALDUR: isnt it nice ouo

STATIK: sure, if i were a woodland Critter ⚡

STATIK: =despite this, she's smiling=

STATIK: if i were a rabbit or a woodpeCKer, maybe ⚡

BALDUR: you would make a pretty go-od rabbit though o-o

STATIK: =wiggles her nose like said rabbit=

STATIK: i would? ⚡

STATIK: are you trying to entiCe me in order to lure the unsuspeCting into the deep darK foresty jungle where we Can meet all Kinds of people like your ghosts and my organ thieves? ⚡

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: well maybe a little bit

BALDUR: i would mostly just say that its an invitation to visit sometimes though ouo

STATIK: ...

STATIK: you really ARE leaving ⚡K'I

BALDUR: ...yes

BALDUR: i was

BALDUR: packing things

BALDUR: but then i found this and

BALDUR: i thought it would be nice to make all of these into something

BALDUR: for everyone else

BALDUR: since ill be gone a while o-o

STATIK: i Keep deCiding youre suCh a weirdo and then you do something sweet n thoughtful liKe this ⚡

STATIK: you told siri yet? ⚡

BALDUR: ... no

BALDUR: i was hoping maybe i would have something to give

BALDUR: when i do

STATIK: =She laughed, but it wasn't a mean one=

STATIK: you Know you Could give her a used napKin and she'd still Cherish it beCause it was from you ⚡

BALDUR: yes

BALDUR: but thats gross oco

STATIK: ehehehe ⚡

STATIK: just sayin! ⚡

STATIK: when you say youll be gone a while, that also means youll be baCK, right? ⚡=stares at him with her eyes=

BALDUR: yes o-o

BALDUR: the future is a mystery

BALDUR: but my intent has power

STATIK: upon your return are you gonna be an all powerful guru ⚡

STATIK: liKe that one historiCal human figure aChieving enlightenment to the highest degree? ⚡

BALDUR: um

BALDUR: that is a lot of pressure to put on myself i think o-o

STATIK: oh right ⚡

STATIK: =pats him heartily on the back=

STATIK: totally forget what i said there ⚡

BALDUR: i will come back with pictures though o-o

BALDUR: that seems appropriate

BALDUR: right

STATIK: but ⚡

STATIK: how Can you Charge your phone ⚡

STATIK: if youre in the woods? ⚡

BALDUR: oh um

BALDUR: im going to have a generator O-O

BALDUR: ...

BALDUR: i like the wo-ods but i do not think i would survive if i was completely isolated

STATIK: =pats his back again= yup.... ⚡

STATIK: good plan! ⚡

BALDUR: thank ou

BALDUR: and

BALDUR: i guess ill be returning quicker if it turns out to be miserable

BALDUR: but i dont think itll be like taht

STATIK: =people are LEAVING and she doesnt like it!=

STATIK: maybe! i guess youll have to see! ⚡ KD

STATIK: youre not staying all by yourself out there, are you? ⚡

BALDUR: sort of o-o

STATIK: .............................

STATIK: ghosts dont Count ⚡

BALDUR: there are other alive people in the forest

BALDUR: but i am not staying with them o-o

STATIK: you mean the Cat human who surprisingly didnt harvest your organs when she had the ChanCe? ⚡

BALDUR: no-o-o-o

BALDUR: i mean

BALDUR: other forest dwellers

STATIK: ....rabbits? ⚡

BALDUR: o_o

BALDUR: kikiyo and kougah

BALDUR: i am just not staying with them because

BALDUR: of stuff that happened

STATIK: =CHOKES????=

BALDUR: ok i guess you know about the stuff that happened

STATIK =KOFF WHEZEINHAAAALE= 8C

BALDUR: o_o

BALDUR: i understand your reaction

STATIK: 8C

BALDUR: the situation is

BALDUR: complicated

STATIK: you need to find a roomie who is not one half of them ⚡

BALDUR: oxo

BALDUR: yes

STATIK: YES ⚡

STATIK: 8I

BALDUR: .........

BALDUR: anyways

BALDUR: its just going to be me mostly for a while

STATIK: so is KiKi gonna be the one to CheCK in on you every so often? ⚡

BALDUR: yes ouo

STATIK: at least theres that ⚡ =glances over at the boxes=

STATIK: are orChid and aunt rose gonna help you with those? ⚡

BALDUR: yes

BALDUR: orchid is

STATIK: well ⚡

STATIK: youre gonna be missed by a bunCh of people ⚡ C8

STATIK: =trying not to be emotional=

STATIK: i bet your familys gonna miss you lots ⚡

BALDUR: i

BALDUR: yes i suppose

STATIK: DUH of Course you are! ⚡

BALDUR: ouo

BALDUR: i appreciate it

BALDUR: it is going to be a worthwhile experience though

BALDUR: i have already learned a lot o-o

STATIK: liKe what? ⚡

STATIK: some wilderness survival, i hope? ⚡

BALDUR: yes

BALDUR: which things to avoid

BALDUR: to not be consumed o-o

STATIK: what about building a fire? ⚡

STATIK: =deep voice= winter is Coming ⚡

BALDUR: O-O

BALDUR: now i just know youre being silly

STATIK: but it is! ⚡ KD

BALDUR: that is

BALDUR: actually accurate yes

BALDUR: ...

BALDUR: there will be a fireplace though o-o

STATIK: but what if you run out of matChes or your lighter breaKs? ⚡

BALDUR: um

BALDUR: ill have to go to town i guess

BALDUR: and get new ones o-o

STATIK: but what if the snow is too deep? ⚡

STATIK: or what if theres a blizzard? ⚡

BALDUR: ... o-o

BALDUR: gosh

BALDUR: um

BALDUR: i dont know

STATIK: friCtion ⚡

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: oh ok

BALDUR: so

BALDUR: i guess that oxo

STATIK: i thinK you'll be fine as long as you have emergenCy matChes ⚡

BALDUR: i will put that on the list o_o

STATIK: oh heCK dont looK at me like that ⚡ DK

STATIK: you Know what? ⚡

STATIK: =she pulled a thing from her sylladex and handed it to him=

STATIK: sparK igniter ⚡ KD

STATIK: i niCKed it from ruleus's lab and left an iou ⚡

STATIK: it's been about =glances up at the ceiling= two sweeps? ⚡

STATIK: but i have a feeling you need it more ⚡ C:

BALDUR: oh

BALDUR: oh my god

BALDUR: thank you O-O

STATIK: youre welCome! it would suCK if you suCCumbed to the elements, and i really dont wanna see that happen ⚡ 8D

BALDUR: i

BALDUR: yes i think we are in agreement

BALDUR: i do not want to succumb o-o

STATIK: great! im sure sirius will be pleased to hear that is not in your plans ⚡ C:

BALDUR: has she been ok

BALDUR: ive been kind of busy a while o-o

STATIK: well ⚡

STATIK: she freaKed out when you went missing and didnt answer anybody, but when it turned out you were oKay she freaKed out less ⚡

STATIK: and then more reCently she freaKed out when mom told her sillys got Knifed at a party ⚡

BALDUR: oh

BALDUR: yeah um

BALDUR: that was kinda dumb of me

BALDUR: and

BALDUR: uh

BALDUR: o-o

BALDUR: what

STATIK: hahahaha yeah it Kinda was! ⚡

STATIK: =she nodded= he totally landed himself in the hospital ⚡

BALDUR: O_O

BALDUR: thats

BALDUR: uh

BALDUR: is he ok

STATIK: well...no ⚡

STATIK: he got STABBED ⚡

STATIK: but from what i hear he's alive so theres that ⚡

BALDUR: maybe it was a

BALDUR: gentle stabbing

STATIK: it was an assassination stab ⚡

STATIK: silly just got in the way ⚡

BALDUR: ono

BALDUR: who was

BALDUR: assassinated

BALDUR: or

BALDUR: supposed to be

STATIK: oh some friend he met there ⚡

STATIK: shes important i guess? ⚡

STATIK: i dont Know muCh about her ⚡

BALDUR: do you know her name o-o

STATIK: 4 Chan? ⚡

STATIK: something like that ⚡

STATIK: i dont remember ⚡

BALDUR: thats

BALDUR: ok

BALDUR: thank you anyways oco

STATIK: youre welCome! ⚡ CK