villainmade

[villainmade]

ya know what i'm gonna say it

i cannot stand shauna

[villainmade]

  a quiet breath pushes through his lips, eyebrows rising and falling in a show of acknowledgement of the truth behind isaac's words. eventually, malia is going to find out about it (and it's not something he even wants to keep from her anyways), but scott is reluctant to bring it up until he really knows what's going on. more than likely, it's ... nothing. a fluke, shared grief remanifesting. he's about to explain as much to isaac when the sound of footsteps and keys catch his attention, followed swiftly by the front door opening.

  scott lets her vent her frustrations, an arm snaking lightly around her waist as he pulls her close enough to press a kiss to the side of her head. " sorry you had to deal with that, but i'm sure you did great. " he takes the smoothie with a soft thanks, though the fact that isaac is left out does stop him from taking a drink. " it's okay, he can have mine, " scott offers up, holding it out to isaac. " you're right, " he adds apologetically, giving a shallow nod. " just didn't think about it. "

' not that I'm aware of ... ' isaac admits , raising a hand to rub at the back of his neck. ' chris plays things pretty close to the vest , though. and if he has , y'know ... seen her , he's ... he's probably doing the same crap we are. ' not telling people , suffering in silence , assuming that maybe he's going crazy. you know , the usual ... ' I dunno. ' the follow - up shrug is just the icing on the cake , isaac has no idea how to broach that borderline insane topic with malia , but he also can't really imagine scott just ... keeping that from her long term. ' but if we're going to bring more people in on this , y'know , like lydia ?? I think you're gonna wanna mention it , scott ... '

as if on cue , the front door opens , then is lightly kicked closed as malia enters the apartment. shoes are haphazardly removed , and she briskly strides in with a smoothie cup in each hand. ' would've been home sooner , but four fucking people had to show up right at close. like you'd think if the sign says that we close at eight , you'd show up before 7:58 , but what do I know ?? ' handing one styrofoam cup over to scott , she chews on her own straw for a moment before glancing at isaac. ' if I'd known you were here , I would have stolen you a smoothie , too , ' she says by way of greeting , then turns back to scott , brow furrowed. ' you could've texted ... '

[villainmade]

  as isaac repeats the thought back to him, scott realizes how ridiculous it sounds. " yeah, i know, " he replies quickly, bringing his index finger up to rub at a spot at the edge of his eyebrow. " i more meant like ... has he said or done anything that would make you think he's seen something? " it seems unlikely; if that was the case, isaac surely would have mentioned it by now. scott shakes his head and clears his throat. " no? " the response comes out sounding more like a question than an actual answer as his brow furrows. " how do you tell your girlfriend that you're seeing hallucinations of your ex-girlfriend? " explaining it that way feels reductive (allison is so much more than just an ex-girlfriend), but it's the best way he can think to word it. more than likely, it wouldn't cause any problems; malia's not really the type to be insecure about much, if anything. still, scott's not sure how to approach it.

lydia. of course he's talking about lydia ... the banshee is always the first point of contact whenever death lurked around every corner , and isaac would be dialing right now but ... scott hesitates. and isaac gets it , god knows this already isn't an easy conversation to be having , but ... he's torn from his thoughts abruptly by scott's question and a choked sound escapes him. ' are you serious ?? no. I'm not going to just casually bring that up to chris ... especially when there's nothing concrete to tell him. ' hey chris , I'm seeing your dead daughter sometimes ... what about you ?? isaac has to take a deep breath to keep from physically recoiling at the thought. ' have you told malia ?? '

[villainmade]

  a scoff pushes past beth's lips as she reaches a hand over to pat mike's shoulder in a very ' don't worry, you'll live ' manner. but she knows that the theatrics aren't for her benefit. fortunately, she's happy to meet his dramatics with some of her own. " damn, mike, " she begins, lips pursed as he issues his challenge. " you really had to go with a tough one, huh? " beth pretends to give it some deep thought, throwing in a few hms and uhs. finally, she shrugs. " you have decent taste in clothes. " she eyes the shirt he's currently wearing with clear amusement, her features turning more appreciative as she glances allison's way to take mike's shirt into account. " and, " beth adds, pausing to toss back the remaining contents of her cup. " you're such a good friend and host that i just know you won't mind refilling my drink for me. " her grin is broad as she holds her empty cup out to him, tilting it back and forth. " maybe allison could use a drink too? "

  allison perks up a little at the mention of her name, brows lifting slightly. " uh, yeah. sure, i could go for a drink. "

mike makes a show of looking offended , wounded , even ... head snapping back slightly as his features twist. ' rude ... ' he comments , bringing a hand to press against his chest. ' that actually hurts a little bit , bethy ... ' he shakes his head slowly , the act continuing as he keeps his expression carefully morose. ' lucky for you , I know exactly how you can make it up to me ... for your frankly boring truth , you can go ahead and tell me what you think my best quality is ... ' mike grins now , miming resting his chin on his hands in a demure posture as he waits. ' now , I know I'm not your type so dig deep. I know you can say something nice ... '

[villainmade]

people still trying to justify the way dmtnt portrayed elizabeth is crazy to me. like it's one thing for her to 'leave piracy' for the sake of her son and his future, but it's completely another to have her thrown back into corsets. tell me you didn't understand her arc without telling me you didn't understand her arc

[villainmade]

i hate when you can feel something coming to an end and all you can do is just watch it happen

[villainmade]

  " mm ... " lydia bobs her head from side to side, eyes lifting upwards as if she's giving it some real thought. " lizard people, kanima ... basically the same thing. " not an explanation that she really feels like giving at this point in time, and likely not something to jake cares about at the moment either. it occurs to her, then, that despite everything she's shared with jake, there's still so much about herself, her friends, and beacon hills in general that he doesn't know.

  lydia sets all of that aside, making a mental note to (possibly) discuss all of that with him at some point in the future. his question has her turning slightly towards the living room, head tilted thoughtfully. " i don't mind, " she answers, shrugging her shoulder. " but i don't think i'd necessarily call it dealing with your roommates. " lydia may not know them very well, but she likes them. and more importantly, they're jake's friends, which makes them important to him. " whatever you're more comfortable with. "

I am not afraid of you. jake's throat bobs in response , emotions welling up inside him at the conviction behind her words. a quick turn of his head attempts to conceal it , lips pressing a brief kiss to the palm of her hand before it slides from his cheek. she is not afraid. and while some part of him whispers untruths , jake chooses to bury those thoughts and take her at her word. she's seen so much , been through so much ... surely she knows when it's time to be scared of something , right ?? and , almost as if she can read his thoughts , lydia confirms what he'd already been thinking ; she's definitely seen some crazy shit ... dated some crazy shit , no less ...

' there's lizard people ?? ' he asks , brows drawing together as he tries to wrap his head around it. then , jake decides that maybe it's better to not try to visual that brand of crazy. and he definitely doesn't want to tell kaitlyn , she's already having a hard enough time with the supernatural beings she's been forced to recognize already ... blowing out a breath and giving a slight shake of his head , he runs his thumb lightly against her skin. ' do you wanna sit down ?? ' jake asks , glancing towards the currently unoccupied living room. ' or , my room is an option if you want to minimize the possibility of dealing with my roommates ... '

[villainmade]

these violent delights.

dialogue prompts from these violent delights by micah nemerever.

i never told you my name.

who puts those awful ideas in your head?

you're forever assuming the worst.

what's that face? you look like you're going to cry.

you're one of those people who worry all the time, aren't you?

i don't worry, i ruminate. they're distinct actions.

nothing made you. you just are.

beautiful things are supposed to hurt.

people tell you you're shy all the time, don't they?

i don't know how i ever got on without you.

a little trouble is a good thing for a young person.

i wasn't born yesterday. i know what kids get up to.

it's good to have guns to stick to.

you could do anything to me and i'd let you.

i'm not ready to be seen. not yet.

i don't need you to treat me respectfully. i'm not made of glass.

tell me you love me, at least. please. i need to know somebody does.

do i look normal? i can't tell if i look normal.

you can get away with anything, as long as you act like an authority on the truth.

don't tell me what i want.

you know you're just about the worst liar i've ever met.

i don't think you've ever felt anything that didn't hurt you.

you're so square, you're a cube.

i just want you to believe me when i tell you you're worth something.

there are limits to what you can expect people to understand, without living it.

you can't fight everybody all the time. you still have to live with them.

i forget how blue the sky can be outside the city.

i'm going to push you off a cliff, you fucking boy scout.

thank you for trusting me with this.

be a kid while you still can.

please believe in the things i try to tell you, instead of the things you think you deserve to be told.

if the sun touched you for even a moment, you'd go up in flames. like a vampire.

your voice changes when you're angry.

what a lonely, dreary thing it is to know the truth.

you never look away, even when your eyes are closed, but i'm never certain you can see what's really there.

tell me you need me. in those words.

can i tell you something? that i'm all but certain you won't believe?

i never lie to you. but sometimes, i wish i could.

you never let me pretend the truth is alright when it isn't.

you have a profound, elusive sadness about you.

you didn't. please tell me you didn't.

you and your awful little games.

why would i bother to grow my own conscience when you're always around to pester me?

you're going to help me escape.

this house is a shadowbox, never meant for human things.

you have no right to stop me, and you're not going to try.

you're sweet, when you want to be.

do you want me to kill ____? i mean it.

it might do you good to be an orphan.

you're just so sincerely creepy.

wealthy people pay handsomely for the privilege of ignoring cries for help.

i've never seen you like that before. not once.

i've decided to learn to be impulsive.

the worst damage humans do isn't rooted in malice, but in thoughtlessness.

there's such a thing as right and wrong. anyone can figure out the difference if they're willing to think for themselves.

there's no part of you i can't see.

i don't want to hurt you. please don't let me.

you're ridiculous, sometimes. but that's alright.

i don't want you right now. go home.

i'm not like you. i don't even have a shape of my own to hold anything else in place.

i'll never matter the way you do, and you know it.

say what you need to say.

if you say the word 'deserve' one more time, i'm driving us off a bridge.

i've been meaning to talk to you about ____.

i'm worried about what you're getting into.

you don't see me. you can't. you never could.

it's your life. you're entitled to make your own mistakes.

i want you to know you deserve better. you don't have to put up with ____.

you scare the hell out of me. you really do.

you look the same way you always have.

i was worried i'd lost you.

i'll take care of you. i don't need you to be brave.

all i want to do is make you happy, and you're the unhappiest person i've ever met.

i would rather be cruel than weak.

i want you to let me be nice to you today. i don't care if you think you deserve it.

this place looks like somewhere in a jigsaw puzzle.

it's always been real for me. every second.

please don't say anything to my mother.

we can't fix it if you don't tell me what happened.

i'll call you when i can stand the sight of you. don't hold your breath.

hiding the truth is still lying.

i thought you'd finally trust me if you knew i'd kill for you.

i'm just as much of a monster as you are.

i was missing part of myself my whole life, until i met you.

righteous fury leaves no space for fear.

you can always talk to me. about anything, okay? i love you no matter what.

you played [game] in school, didn't you?

no one tolerates boredom worse than the idle rich.

someone needs to be looking after you.

you know you can't actually stop me, right?

i want to be able to look at you.

when you need to, you will understand.

i'm only ever early when i'm afraid.

people talk themselves into the strangest things when they want to look impressive.

in the end, there's no difference between trusting someone and underestimating them.

[villainmade]

  " tough might actually be an understatement, " lydia replies with a quiet laugh. it's a relief to see that he seems to relax a little, although the proverbial cloud hanging over his head doesn't seem to have dispersed completely. the reason for that becomes quickly apparent as he answers her question. some part of him, conscious or otherwise, had been concerned that she wouldn't react well. she can't say she blames him; there are plenty of people who are frightened of what she is, too. but not the ones that matter.

  without hesitation, lydia raises her palm to his cheek, leaning forward slightly as her gaze purposefully holds his. " i am not afraid of you, jake. " lydia allows another moment for that to sink in before her hand drops to his shoulder, sliding down to the crook of his arm. " i'm not sure if you've noticed, but it takes a lot to freak me out. " her tone is a little lighter now as she offers up a mildly playful smile. " that? " her expression scrunches as she shakes her head. "not even close to the craziest thing i've ever seen. " she turns slightly to grab her coffee again with the hand not currently holding jake's. " if it makes you feel any better, my first boyfriend was a homicidal lizard. " there's something remarkably blasé about the way she casually drops that information, accompanying it with a shrug as if they're talking about something as normal as the weather.

malia is fine. jake holds onto that , making a mental note to shoot max a text in order to pass on that information. jake sort of doubts that will immediately erase all hints of guilt from laura , but it should help at the very least ... ' I expected nothing less , she seems tough ... ' he says , going along with her lighthearted air as he breathes out , some of the tension loosening from his shoulders.

he watches closely as lydia steps closer , the faintest brush of her fingers against his own threatening to make his throat tight. some part of him insists that he doesn't deserve this , that lydia should stay the hell away from him because in their current situation , they pose a definite threat. malia was living proof of that ... but jake simply gives her hand a squeeze as he considers the question. ' I'm ... tired --- but , I'm happy to see you , lydia ... I just ... I hope last night didn't ... y'know ... freak you out ... '

[villainmade]

  " likewise, " allison replies with a smile, letting her own hand drop to her lap. she's acutely aware of the way his eyes comb over her, tries her best not to seem overly affected by it, even if it does give her a little thrill. she opens her mouth to give him a very playful compliment in return when the conversation is interrupted.

  beth's eyebrow arches even higher as mike answers her, clearly showcasing her skepticism. she's tempted to argue that paying attention to only one of his guests is basically the opposite of being a good host, but she settles for elbowing him in the side instead. " don't worry, " beth assures allison with a grin. " i only give shit to the people who deserve it. " and mike definitely does. rolling her eyes, beth turns her attention back to mike. " i don't trust whatever goes on in that brain of yours, so truth. "

‘ nice to meet ya , ’ mike says sincerely , retracting his hand but keeping his gaze firmly fixed on her. in fact , it turns appraising as he gives allison another good once - over. ‘ looks good on you , ’ he offers up. ‘ the shirt , I mean. ’ and he might’ve said more , but beth’s rude interruption pulls his focus and he audibly scoffs. 

‘ i’m being a good host , bethy , would you relax ?? ’ he asks good-naturedly , throwing an arm around her shoulders and barely resisting the urge to ruffle her hair. ‘ allison , this is my friend , beth. she just loves to give everyone shit —- beth , truth or dare ?? ’ he asks , cutting his gaze swiftly back to beth as he poses the question to kick the game back into gear.

[villainmade]

  caffeine being the quickest way to kaitlyn's heart is new information, but it's not surprising. by now, lydia's managed to pinpoint the similarities between jake's friends and her own, and kaitlyn being the type to run on caffeine is perfectly on brand with what she's observed in the others. " is it? " she questions casually, brows lightly furrowed as she tilts her head. then she shrugs a shoulder nonchalantly. " hm ... lucky guess. "

  not so lucky is the very palpable discomfort coming from jake at the mention of the prior night. lydia's trying to decide the best way to proceed when he inquires after malia. in the end, downplaying it seems the most appealing. " oh, malia? " she clicks her tongue. " please. it would take way more than a few scratches to take her out. " lydia lifts her cup to her lips, then pauses as she contemplates whether or not that had seemed too cavalier. " i texted both of them this morning. she's totally fine. "

  the sip she'd postponed is finally taken, but then lydia sets her cup on the counter, taking a small step closer to jake. she reaches for his unoccupied hand, features softening. a beat passes before she finally asks the question she's been wanting to voice all morning. " how are you doing? "

' you're not wrong , ' he says , stepping closer to accept the coffee she offers. instead of immediately indulging , however , jake sets it down and grabs the carrier with a faintly forced looking smile. a quick couple steps and he sets it down in front of a door , a quiet knock to follow before jake turns on his heel without waiting for it to open. returning to the kitchen , he blows out a breath , head lowered for a moment. ' how'd you know the quickest way to kaitlyn's heart is caffeine ?? ' he asks , corner of his mouth quirking upwards for a moment before he takes a sip from his own cup.

quite an eventful night. his stomach flips uncomfortably , and jake visibly cringes. ' yeah ... I'll ... have to take your word for it ... ' of course he already knew that laura had broken free and hurt malia , but that was secondhand information. if anything else had occurred , jake wasn't aware. ' Is ... do you know if malia's okay ?? '

[villainmade]

  allison has to admit that whatever mystery and intrigue there is about this guy, it's momentarily eclipsed by how ridiculous the situation is. she crosses an arm loosely over her chest, her other elbow propped on it as her hand lifts to cover her mouth. try though she might, allison can't hide the laugh that pushes past her lips, nor can she really conceal the smile that accompanies it. suffice it to say that while his shirt is very comfortable on her, the same can't be said for the other way around.

  once the deed is done, allison gives him a quick, appraising glance over. " allison, " she replies, her hand falling away from her face to shake the hand he holds out. " allison argent. " briefly, she wonders whether she ought to feel somewhat abashed for showing up at mike's party without an invitation from the host himself, but his words quickly silence any concern, replacing it with some more of those earlier butterflies. " maybe i'll have to thank her again myself. "

  from the spot beside where mike had been nestled into the circle comes a loud, purposeful throat clearing. it's not the first time beth has had to watch mike flirt with a girl, and she doubts it'll be the last, but at the moment? it's disrupting their party game. " earth to mike. you planning on taking your turn or what? " she asks, a brow arched as a knowing smile settles on her lips.

amusement shines in his eyes , gaze never wavering as he watches the realization dawn. but this girl , whoever she was , obviously wasn't the type to back down from a challenge. more points are added to the tally as mike watches her tug her own shirt up over her head and then she hand it over with ease. with ease is not how he'd describe getting her shirt on his own body , however , but luckily there is enough stretch to the fabric that once he's able to get it down past broad shoulders , it can rest against his skin comfortably. even if the hem doesn't make it far past the cage of his ribs. ' mike , ' he offers , once the exchange has been completed , and holds out his hand a beat later. ' mike munroe , this is my place. ' free hand gestures to their general surroundings before his attention snaps back to her. ' remind me to thank whoever extended the invite your way. '

[villainmade]

  judging by the grin on his face, her dare had been well received. allison is prepared to relinquish the attention she'd gained during her turn, happy to pass it on to mike and whichever girl he decides to choose. not once does the possibility of his choosing her cross her mind. allison watches as he pulls his t-shirt over his head (and maybe she's a little more invested than she should be), blinking a few times once she realizes that he's offering it to her. a very faint pink hue rises to her cheeks as she pointedly avoids looking at anyone else. " i think i can probably deal with it. " lips tilting up at one corner, allison takes the shirt from him, then pulls her own tanktop off. " although i think maybe i should at least get the name of the person i'm swapping shirts with, " she adds, handing over her shirt before artfully pulling his over her head; immediately, she's struck by how nice it smells.

points for originality , mike thinks , his grin only spreading further as he makes a show of looking around the circle. but , it's a pointless endeavor ; he already knows who he's gonna ask. his dark brown eyes land on allison once more , nonchalance practically seeping from him as he shifts. his hands easily find the hem of his nondescript t - shirt and , in one swift motion , it's being pulled up and over his head. he'll shake it out , making sure that it's right side out before holding it out in her direction. ' are you okay with it ?? ' he asks , taking this prime opportunity to survey her form under the guise of inspecting his potential new wardrobe.

[villainmade]

  it's exhausting, being the new girl. allison can't even count on her fingers how many times she's been forced into the role over the years. with how often her family seems to move around, one would think that meeting new people would be old hat to her, but it tends to be a struggle every time. fortunately here, allison had managed to get chummy enough with some of her classmates to receive an invitation to a party. it seems like a good sign, although there are undeniable butterflies in her stomach as she walks up the front walk to the house.

  it's not long before she finds herself being roped into a game of truth or dare by a girl in her science class. and when another (incredibly good looking) guy joins the circle, it's that girl who sits up a bit straighter beside her. allison tries not to pay him any mind; when the question is directed at her, allison bravely chooses dare (and fortunately, it's nothing outrageous). now that it's her turn to issue the challenge, her gaze scans the circle, but it's a pointless endeavor; she already knows who she'll pick.

  " truth or dare? "

  perhaps predictably, he picks dare (the one she's less prepared for). there's something about the smile on his face that feels like a challenge, one that, once issued, allison doesn't want to back down from. " okay, " she murmurs thoughtfully, lips pressed together as she contemplates the options. " i dare you ... to trade shirts with someone of the opposite sex. " allison grins, seemingly content with the idea she'd come up with, although the smile becomes a little sheepish as she quickly amends, " but only if they're okay with it. "

parties are a common occurrence in the munroe household --- and why not ?? he's got the space , the access to liquor and his parents are very rarely home ... it's practically his presidential duty to provide entertainment for his fellow classmates , or , that's how mike likes to see it , at least. he'd put a particular emphasis on getting a good turn - out for this one , mainly due to the fact that him and em were on one of their ' breaks ' --- which mike fully intended to capitalize on. the majority of that particular school day had involved him spreading the word , and now he sees the dividends of his effort in the form of a full goddamn house.

music floods the space , encouraging dancing of the up close and personal sort , but as he continues winding through the bodies with a freshly procured bottle of liquor , he stumbles upon a game of truth or dare. not an uncommon game amongst children , or drunks , but what truly catches mike's attention is the dark - haired unfamiliar face making herself at home in that circle. and what a face it was ... he hesitates only briefly before shrugging in a what the hell kind of gesture and motioning for people to make room before he settles in beside beth , sitting criss - cross applesauce. it takes a couple rounds , and truth be told , mike's attention wavers , in part due to the alcohol already coursing through his system. but , it snaps back as the dark - haired girl who had just completed a dare of her own now directs the question in his direction.

' dare. ' he doesn't even pause to consider , the word leaving his lips with ease. a smile curves at the edge of his mouth , a single brow slightly raised ; hit me with your best shot.

@villainmade asked ; 'truth or dare?’ / ft. michael munroe && allison argent

[villainmade]

  it doesn't take a genius to sense the slightly downtrodden vibe radiating off of jake in waves — really, it appears to be apartment wide, and after the night they'd been through, she can't blame them. coffee probably isn't going to fix much, but lydia hopes that it's enough to take some of the edge off, at least.

  " good morning, " she greets again, her tone a little more subdued than it had been with kaitlyn, but still relatively upbeat. standing up straight from where she'd been leaning against the counter, lydia grabs one of the coffee cups, holding it out to him. " i thought you might need a pick me up. " she smiles softly, nodding towards the two remaining cups. " i brought one for everyone. kaitlyn already took hers and mike's, which just leaves max and laura ... " admittedly, lydia is curious as to how laura's doing after everything, but she doesn't ask.

  " so, " lydia murmurs after a beat, eyebrows lifting as she takes another sip of her coffee. " quite an eventful night. " she studies him, trying to gauge just how much he's willing to discuss of it, trying to glean where his head is at.

the first full moon in beacon hills hadn't exactly gone according to plan. not surprising , nothing had gone according to plan since before he'd sabotaged that stupid van. no solution had been found in time , no solution is even on the horizon for their particular ' condition ' , and while max and his own hands ( claws ?? ) remained clean this time around , it didn't change the fact that malia had been hurt --- and without her intervention , who knew how many more people could have gotten caught in the crossfire ?? and if that wasn't bad enough , he'd seen laura's face when she found out , recognized the pain and the guilt ... it makes him feel lousy enough that after his prolonged shower , jake longs to just collapse into bed. lay under the covers and sulk for a bit ... he likes to look on the positive side of things , tries his best to be upbeat more often than not , but that certainly doesn't mean that things don't get the better of him sometimes. doesn't mean that wallowing like a kicked puppy ( no pun intended ) is completely off the menu.

so , he audibly groans from the comfort of his own room as kaitlyn calls out. jake !! visitor !! and it takes a minute for his brain to make sense of it. his worries about lydia having witnessed his monstrous self had sunk lower beneath the surface after hearing about malia , but now it floats back to the top like oil on water. is it her coming to her senses ?? showing up promptly to let him know that this --- what he was for the foreseeable future --- was too much for her ?? or , maybe it's scott swinging by to wash his hands of them all , deciding they're more trouble than he'd bargained for. heart in his throat , stomach tied in knots , he runs his fingers through dampened hair as he pads towards the kitchen and ... finds lydia there , with coffee , no less.

' hey ... I , uh --- ' he clears his throat lightly , the barest hint of a smile peaking through despite all of his lingering worries. ' I wasn't expecting you , it's ... it's a nice surprise ... '

[villainmade]

  full moons have never been lydia's favorite, but it's the day after that always seems to be worse. despite managing to get a few hours of unexpected sleep, she still finds herself feeling fairly tired the next morning (though it's likely nothing compared to how a handful of her friends are feeling). as much as she'd love to stay in bed, maybe try to catch a bit more sleep, there are things to be done and people to check up on.

  once she's gotten confirmation from scott that malia's on the mend, and from allison that nothing else of note had happened the previous night, lydia makes her way over to jake's apartment with a quick pitstop on the way. by the time she makes it to jake's door, her hands are so full that she has to use her boot to make some semblance of a knocking sound. it's kaitlyn who answers the door, looking less than thrilled at the idea of company.

  " good morning, " lydia greets brightly (too brightly), not waiting for an invitation to step inside. she sets the carrier of four drinks on the kitchen counter, the extra cup held in the crook of her arm finding a spot beside it before she turns back to kaitlyn. " i figured after last night, everyone could probably use a little caffeine, " she remarks, taking a sip from her own cup as she steps aside.

  kaitlyn looks a little bewildered (borderline suspicious, really), brow furrowed slightly as she shuts the door behind lydia. " a little caffeine might be an understatement. " then, angling her body slightly, she yells, " jake! visitor! " kaitlyn waits a second, listening for movement. when she finally hears it, she pulls two coffees from the drink carrier, lifting them in a cheers gesture. " thanks. " and then she's retreating back to the sanctuary that is the room she shares with mike, leaving lydia alone to wait.

  @terrorsmade

[villainmade]

  jess has never felt terror like this. there'd been a few pranks by friends over the years, the occasional horror movie, even haunted attractions at halloween; none of it compares to this. it's as if every nerve in her body is alight, trying to leap out of her skin because danger lurks nearby. her heart hasn't stopped pounding since they'd hidden, and even as they step out from their temporary shelter, it doesn't calm. in fact, it isn't until they're out of the mines that she's able to at least focus on something other than her own fear.

  she takes as deep a breath as she's able (it's not much, and it doesn't come without painful consequences), grateful to be leaving those mines. with any luck, those monsters will remain behind — but jess isn't really counting on it.

  the wind whips around them and jess can't help the shudder that wracks her frame. matt's jacket is helping, but her legs are still bare. it takes her a moment to register his words as she falls slowly into step with him (thank god for the boots she'd found). " no, " jess answers softly, one corner of her mouth lifting in her best estimation of a grateful smile. walking is difficult, but the very idea of being carried and jostled — through no fault of matt's — already has her body aching. " i'll be okay if i can just hold onto you. " there's an uncertainty to her words, as if she anticipates that he'll be against it. even so, her arm slowly loops through his, the opposite hand resting lightly on his forearm as her eyes scan his face for confirmation that it's alright.

matt barely dares to breathe , even as the sounds diminish and cut off entirely. he's practically paralyzed with fear , but he's gotta keep it together because jess is counting on him ... as she raises her head from his chest , matt feels his heart squeeze painfully. is it safe ?? she asks it without saying a word , and matt has to have an answer. no. his whole body screams it , it's not safe. maybe it never would be safe ever again ... but they can't just stay here until they freeze , or starve , or get torn apart. they have to move eventually , they have to try. and now seems as safe of a time as any ... dropping a silent nod , matt releases her but only slightly. one arm remains around her shoulders as they slowly shimmy out into the main area of the mineshaft and --- they don't immediately get eaten. that's progress. still , he doesn't dare to speak as they move forward slowly.

it isn't long before matt thinks he sees a glint of sunlight and hope blooms in his chest. up ahead , some of the wood has fallen away and made an makeshift opening , and as they approach , the cold mountain air wraps around them. ' we can get out this way , ' he whispers. out of the mines , then off this goddamn mountain. they're so close ... ' I'll help you , carry you if you need it , ' he offers , stepping out into the blinding white and beginning to trudge through the snow.