Multimuse blog

Indie Rp Blog, Multimuse. Ailbe, She/Her, 21+. No smut threads. Selective romance.

[parracosms]

Closed starter for @all-the-muses!

-----

Alys stops just before the threshold, her heart thudding in her chest as she takes in the sight of the Titan's Tower. If anyone had asked her even a week ago if she ever thought she would stand at its base, she would have rolled her eyes. Of course not! What did she have to do with a bunch of people in suits playing at judge, jury, and executioner? Even despite her strange gift, she was just a girl. She was a performer who had lost her stage. She was a barista at her small dead-end job that barely paid for rent and groceries. She wasn't a superhero.

But then, seven days ago, someone killed her parents. Six days ago, she summoned the disc that held the security footage. Four days ago, she saw him on the streets and chased him down, a scarf around her face to hide her identity. She lost him, but not before she got a taste for what she could do. Three days ago, she researched all those men in suits. Batman. Wonder Woman. Robin.

Robin, who was featured in video perfectly executing the Flying Grayson Quadruple Flip. Robin, who utilized a nickname she hadn't heard in so long. Robin, who looked vaguely familiar under that mask.

Three days ago, she found out that Bruce Wayne lived in Gotham, where Robin seemed to haunt until recently. Three days ago, she found out that Robin disappeared around the same time that Dick Grayson rented an apartment in Jump City and started a new job with their police department. Two days ago, she began her trip overseas. Today, she stood here.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.

[all-the-muses-a]

Dick's whole body tensed, quickly running through all possible senarios in his mind. He could admit defeat now and maybe even convince her to stay and become part of their little team he has inadvertedly started. It'd be nice to have another person around his age, and one who actually doesn't hate him for once, around to help reign in the kids. Or he could keep denying it so that when Bruce does come to kill him, because there is no world in which Dick even has the illusion of privacy when it comes to his former guardian, he could at least say he tried.

It barely took a second before he made up his mind, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her inside the apartment. Quickly steering her to his room with a "no questions" tossed out to the others when their mouth opened to do just that as he passed, making a show of locking the door behind him before removing his mask. "So, how did you know?"

[parracosms]

Closed starter for @all-the-muses!

-----

Alys stops just before the threshold, her heart thudding in her chest as she takes in the sight of the Titan's Tower. If anyone had asked her even a week ago if she ever thought she would stand at its base, she would have rolled her eyes. Of course not! What did she have to do with a bunch of people in suits playing at judge, jury, and executioner? Even despite her strange gift, she was just a girl. She was a performer who had lost her stage. She was a barista at her small dead-end job that barely paid for rent and groceries. She wasn't a superhero.

But then, seven days ago, someone killed her parents. Six days ago, she summoned the disc that held the security footage. Four days ago, she saw him on the streets and chased him down, a scarf around her face to hide her identity. She lost him, but not before she got a taste for what she could do. Three days ago, she researched all those men in suits. Batman. Wonder Woman. Robin.

Robin, who was featured in video perfectly executing the Flying Grayson Quadruple Flip. Robin, who utilized a nickname she hadn't heard in so long. Robin, who looked vaguely familiar under that mask.

Three days ago, she found out that Bruce Wayne lived in Gotham, where Robin seemed to haunt until recently. Three days ago, she found out that Robin disappeared around the same time that Dick Grayson rented an apartment in Jump City and started a new job with their police department. Two days ago, she began her trip overseas. Today, she stood here.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.

[all-the-muses-a]

Nightwing tensed, swallowing hard before replying. "And, who might this "friend" be?"

[parracosms]

Closed starter for @all-the-muses!

-----

Alys stops just before the threshold, her heart thudding in her chest as she takes in the sight of the Titan's Tower. If anyone had asked her even a week ago if she ever thought she would stand at its base, she would have rolled her eyes. Of course not! What did she have to do with a bunch of people in suits playing at judge, jury, and executioner? Even despite her strange gift, she was just a girl. She was a performer who had lost her stage. She was a barista at her small dead-end job that barely paid for rent and groceries. She wasn't a superhero.

But then, seven days ago, someone killed her parents. Six days ago, she summoned the disc that held the security footage. Four days ago, she saw him on the streets and chased him down, a scarf around her face to hide her identity. She lost him, but not before she got a taste for what she could do. Three days ago, she researched all those men in suits. Batman. Wonder Woman. Robin.

Robin, who was featured in video perfectly executing the Flying Grayson Quadruple Flip. Robin, who utilized a nickname she hadn't heard in so long. Robin, who looked vaguely familiar under that mask.

Three days ago, she found out that Bruce Wayne lived in Gotham, where Robin seemed to haunt until recently. Three days ago, she found out that Robin disappeared around the same time that Dick Grayson rented an apartment in Jump City and started a new job with their police department. Two days ago, she began her trip overseas. Today, she stood here.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.

[all-the-muses-a]

Dick snorted, pushing himself off the door frame to stand over her. "Nah, not a supervillain." He stated confidently. "And I don't think this is a fan call either considering your expectation of a butler." He joked to hide how anxious he felt not only at finally seeing his childhood best friend after so many years but also her unknowing jab at a pseudo-grandfather he left behind a few years back.

Even after he was fired and kicked out, Alfred always looked out for him and made sure he was alright and not living in a cardboard box in an alleyway somewhere. After being taken in by Bruce, Dick had quickly grown to think of Alfred as a grandfather and still does despite his... aversion to visiting him at the manor due to a certain other person's presence. "So, mind telling me why you are looking for the Titans?"

He took a moment to look her over, making sure she was uninjured. Last he heard she was supposed to be in New Jersey with Mr. Sosa's Circus Wonderland. She didn't look injured but that hardly meant anything if she was standing here now. "And why it must have been so urgent you came knocking on our door?"

[parracosms]

Closed starter for @all-the-muses!

-----

Alys stops just before the threshold, her heart thudding in her chest as she takes in the sight of the Titan's Tower. If anyone had asked her even a week ago if she ever thought she would stand at its base, she would have rolled her eyes. Of course not! What did she have to do with a bunch of people in suits playing at judge, jury, and executioner? Even despite her strange gift, she was just a girl. She was a performer who had lost her stage. She was a barista at her small dead-end job that barely paid for rent and groceries. She wasn't a superhero.

But then, seven days ago, someone killed her parents. Six days ago, she summoned the disc that held the security footage. Four days ago, she saw him on the streets and chased him down, a scarf around her face to hide her identity. She lost him, but not before she got a taste for what she could do. Three days ago, she researched all those men in suits. Batman. Wonder Woman. Robin.

Robin, who was featured in video perfectly executing the Flying Grayson Quadruple Flip. Robin, who utilized a nickname she hadn't heard in so long. Robin, who looked vaguely familiar under that mask.

Three days ago, she found out that Bruce Wayne lived in Gotham, where Robin seemed to haunt until recently. Three days ago, she found out that Robin disappeared around the same time that Dick Grayson rented an apartment in Jump City and started a new job with their police department. Two days ago, she began her trip overseas. Today, she stood here.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.

[all-the-muses-a]

Dick walked up to the panel on the wall, checking the screen with a lazy glance at first, expecting Donna or Hank and Dawn, who had gone off for a few days on their own, but were expected to be back at any moment.

His whole body tensed however when he realized that it wasn't in fact any of the three outside the front door of the tower, but an old friend he had kept tabs on but never found it in himself to reach out for the past decade. He knew she and her family were back in town with the circus they joined after Haley's went out of business, but didn't expect to actually run into her, and definitely didn't expect her to come to the Tower, a place that was housing Nightwing and not Dick Grayson, who, to the media at least, was last seen joining the police force in another city after Bruce Wayne kicked him out, an article that took no one by surprise considering they said since the day he was taken in, it was only a matter of time.

So what was she doing here? Was she here for the Titans? Was she here for him? And if she was here for him then, how did she find him? The Titans Tower wasn't necessarily a secret, it's almost impossible to hide their daily growing team of super misfits from the eyes of the public, especially with how many of said misfits were never taught the importance of secret identities, but he at least had always managed to creep in and out without anyone knowing. Only Nightwing has ever been seen entering and leaving, never Dick Grayson and he made sure of that. Even with his... rocky relationship with Bruce, he couldn't risk their identities being revealed. So why was she here? What did she want? What does she know?

He snapped out of his spiraling thoughts as Kori sauntered up to his side, resting her chin on his shoulder to look at the panel. "Who's here?"

Dick gently moved away so that he could look at her. "No on-" He cut himself off at her raised eyebrow, remembering his promise to be more open. "Just a uh- old friend. Don't know why she's here though."

Kori didn't seem necessarily pleased at this but acknowledged with a nod. "But you wanna talk with her alone, I assume."

"Yeah"

"Then, stop staring at the screen and go talk to her."

"Right." He replied, heading towards the door, before pausing and turning back around. "Just gotta uh-" Kori snorted. "Hurry and change, Dick, it's rude to leave a lady waiting."

--

Now dressed in his Nightwing uniform, he opened the door, stepping out and closing it before she could see in or any of his teammates could see out. "Hello, what brings you here?" He asked, expertly hiding how uncomfortable he was by lazily leaning against the door frame.

[all-the-muses-a]

starter for @pages-and-words

[all-the-muses-a]

Larkin barely dodged an alien’s horridly spindly knife-like protrusion, throwing his own knives at the enemy before ducking behind a nearby rock. “We need some help here!” He called out, hoping the rest of the team was nearby. This mission was quickly becoming the most difficult one they’d had to face. Were the scientists actually trying to get them killed off this time?

A cold chill traveled up his spine knowing if his… birth giver had a say, the answer would undoubtedly be “yes.” Surely, she wouldn’t do anything to put Lyle’s life at risk though, right? She stepped down and seemed to stop meddling in his life ever since Lyle stood up for him, but maybe this was the long-awaited revenge. To kill him off even if it was in front of the son she actually tolerated. He wished he could say he wouldn’t think she would be so cruel, but she’s been far crueler to him before.

He and Lyle had separated from the group earlier on, everyone agreeing that divide and conquer would be the best approach for this particular mission; a simple search and destroy. Yet, it quickly went south after Young-jun rushed in and set off a bomb, which summoned what seemed to be a never-ending array of creatures. Luckily the kid wasn’t hurt too bad from the explosion and was healed in a few seconds, but now they had no option but to fight wave after wave of monsters.

Larkin snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a distant and familiar shout of pain. “Shit! Lyle!” He threw a few more daggers, barely making a dent in the wave that just seemed to keep coming, before running over to his twin, sliding quickly into the same rocky cover that the other currently sat behind, clutching his leg with a pained face.

Larkin winced as he took in the heavily bleeding gash, why did the simulation have to be so realistic, couldn’t they have made the blood a happier color? Like pink? Why so red? Why so much? “Fuck. O-okay, um, can you still move? Can you teleport somewhere?” He asked frantically as his panicked brain tried to assess the injury. “I don’t have enough mana left to heal you here, but if you can teleport somewhere safe l-like the spawn point, I can meet you there once I shake these guys and by then it should be recharged!”

[all-the-muses-a]

starter for @pages-and-words

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

“I can control them as long as I want,” Audrey answers, “but if I hold them one way more than a second or two, they’ll definitely notice. I can’t turn them off or anything either. I just move them. I know the pattern though. I think I can get us out.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae nodded. "Okay, that'll be long enough. I also have something that will help us." He moved back over to his bed. "You remember a few days back when the guards did a frantic search of all our rooms?" He asked as he dug his nails into the grout of one of the bleached bricks that made up the walls, one of them moving slowly as he wiggled it back and forth, trying to pull it out.

"Well, that might have been my fault. I knew something was wrong when suddenly Dr. Jayce started acting strange, shortly after you arrived down here. So, I started watching and planning... and maybe a bit of stealing." He finished almost sheepishly, pulling out a key card and a phone.

[parracosms]

Audrey’s brown eyes light with curiosity and anticipation, her steps hurried as she closes the space left between them to peer at the newly revealed objects. A key card and a phone. Her heart thunders in her chest. They’re getting out of here!

“That was you?” she laughs. “You didn’t even tell me!”

She lifts both objects from his outstretched palms, looking them over as if concerned they might be some trick.

“Between me and the cameras, you and the guards, and these…this plan is practically foolproof, Tae.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae beamed at her praise. "I couldn't risk anyone overhearing." He explained apologetically, handing her the phone. "I don't know how to use this thing, but the newer guards are always looking at it like it has all the answers, so I assumed it could help us. We just have to wait until the next rotation in a few minutes and we can leave."

[parracosms]

"I know how to use it," Audrey hurriedly assures him, pocketing the phone. The screen stays black even as she turns it, which is slightly concerning, but she doesn't dare to try turning it on within these walls for fear it will illicit some small chime as alert the guards to their contraband. "I'll show you when we get out. You're gonna like what it can do; just wait."

[all-the-muses-a]

He nodded, a wide, hopeful smile adorning his face. "I can't wait to see actual nature. It's been so many years I can even remember what outside smells like." He finished with a wistful sigh.

He quickly quieted down as footsteps approached the doors before passing by, the monotonous steps a typical sign of the guards. Tae had crouched low even though he knew standing up or crouching wouldn't change whether they were caught or not it's not like anyone could see behind the heavy metal doors unless they opened the small window panel at the top. Once the guard's footsteps fully receded down the hall and out of hearing range, he turned to Audrey. "It's time."

[parracosms]

Audrey nods, thin lips sealing shut as she turns her attention to the single door separating them from the rest of the hall. She pries it open, peeking around the corner to catch a hint of a purplish aura as the figure rounds the far corner, but it disappears before she can even bring it fully into focus. Either way, they were going in the opposite direction. By the time their guard noticed they were missing, they would be long gone.

Waving Tae forward, Audrey ducks from the room and pads silently down the hallway. She wasn’t exactly dressed for an escape, barefoot and in the standard issue pajamas, but that didn’t matter either. Her clothes would be waiting for her when she got home along with her own bed, her shelf of her favorite books, and her beloved stuffed bunny. There would be stuff for Tae, too, of course. He could borrow whatever she had until they could get him his own stuff but as soon as she told her parents what was really going on here, they wouldn’t mind keeping Tae too. They would surely welcome them both with open arms. Surely.

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae followed behind her, making sure to warn her when the guard's thoughts became too close around a corner so she could focus on controlling the cameras. It was only a few moments later that he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder when a door around the corner suddenly opened and a guard stepped out, motioning to a storage room to hide until they passed.

"We're almost there." He whispered with barely contained excitement. "The exit's just right around the corner." He waited for her nod of acknowledgment, before ducking back out of the room and heading toward the door at the end of the hallway. It took him a second to locate the card reader next to the door before he pulled out the key card. It took a few anxious, experimental swipes before the light flashed green and the door opened with an unexpectedly loud woosh that made him wince.

Looking through the now-open door, he let out a breath of relief and turned toward Audrey. "To freedom?" He offered, holding a hand out for her.

[all-the-muses-a]

Perfect Imperfections

starter for @withinkandquill

[all-the-muses-a]

“The Emperor has ordered all citizens seen as imperfect to be destroyed. In a recent interview, he had given a statement regarding his reasoning behind this drastic decision” Do-yun watched in shock, biting his nails subconsciously as the newscaster was replaced with a recording from the earlier press conference.

“I have not failed to notice how our beautiful nation has been looked down upon by the other nations. I have been looking into the source of this issue for many years and have come to only one clear conclusion, we have been too accepting of those who are… lesser than others and that has made us weak. I have decided that the only way to regain our once strong nation is to remove those who do not fall into that image. So, with this new decree, everyone who has been deemed imperfect are to be promptly removed.” The recording of the press conference switches off as the newscaster reappears, her face smiling but her eyes hollow and dilated with fear.

“In the new legislation that will be set in place tomorrow morning, it states that those deemed imperfect include those who are disabled or disfigured, as well as those who fall below the average intelligence. It is not clarified how these people will be removed, but the citizens have already begun to evacuate and protest this new legislation. The information we currently have is minimal and we will do our best to continue to keep the public updated on any additions or changes. We will now go to the weather-”

He stopped listening, who cared if it would rain tomorrow even news about a 100-foot-wide fissure opening up and spewing lava through the city would be less bone-chillingly dreadful. How was this possible? This shouldn’t be possible. Such a law should never have made it this far.

He turned to Ji-an, eyes widened with terror. “What are we going to do?” He signed, almost sloppily with how his hands shook.

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

“I can control them as long as I want,” Audrey answers, “but if I hold them one way more than a second or two, they’ll definitely notice. I can’t turn them off or anything either. I just move them. I know the pattern though. I think I can get us out.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae nodded. "Okay, that'll be long enough. I also have something that will help us." He moved back over to his bed. "You remember a few days back when the guards did a frantic search of all our rooms?" He asked as he dug his nails into the grout of one of the bleached bricks that made up the walls, one of them moving slowly as he wiggled it back and forth, trying to pull it out.

"Well, that might have been my fault. I knew something was wrong when suddenly Dr. Jayce started acting strange, shortly after you arrived down here. So, I started watching and planning... and maybe a bit of stealing." He finished almost sheepishly, pulling out a key card and a phone.

[parracosms]

Audrey’s brown eyes light with curiosity and anticipation, her steps hurried as she closes the space left between them to peer at the newly revealed objects. A key card and a phone. Her heart thunders in her chest. They’re getting out of here!

“That was you?” she laughs. “You didn’t even tell me!”

She lifts both objects from his outstretched palms, looking them over as if concerned they might be some trick.

“Between me and the cameras, you and the guards, and these…this plan is practically foolproof, Tae.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae beamed at her praise. "I couldn't risk anyone overhearing." He explained apologetically, handing her the phone. "I don't know how to use this thing, but the newer guards are always looking at it like it has all the answers, so I assumed it could help us. We just have to wait until the next rotation in a few minutes and we can leave."

[parracosms]

"I know how to use it," Audrey hurriedly assures him, pocketing the phone. The screen stays black even as she turns it, which is slightly concerning, but she doesn't dare to try turning it on within these walls for fear it will illicit some small chime as alert the guards to their contraband. "I'll show you when we get out. You're gonna like what it can do; just wait."

[all-the-muses-a]

He nodded, a wide, hopeful smile adorning his face. "I can't wait to see actual nature. It's been so many years I can even remember what outside smells like." He finished with a wistful sigh.

He quickly quieted down as footsteps approached the doors before passing by, the monotonous steps a typical sign of the guards. Tae had crouched low even though he knew standing up or crouching wouldn't change whether they were caught or not it's not like anyone could see behind the heavy metal doors unless they opened the small window panel at the top. Once the guard's footsteps fully receded down the hall and out of hearing range, he turned to Audrey. "It's time."

[all-the-muses-a]

Perfect Imperfections

starter for @withinkandquill

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

“I can control them as long as I want,” Audrey answers, “but if I hold them one way more than a second or two, they’ll definitely notice. I can’t turn them off or anything either. I just move them. I know the pattern though. I think I can get us out.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae nodded. "Okay, that'll be long enough. I also have something that will help us." He moved back over to his bed. "You remember a few days back when the guards did a frantic search of all our rooms?" He asked as he dug his nails into the grout of one of the bleached bricks that made up the walls, one of them moving slowly as he wiggled it back and forth, trying to pull it out.

"Well, that might have been my fault. I knew something was wrong when suddenly Dr. Jayce started acting strange, shortly after you arrived down here. So, I started watching and planning... and maybe a bit of stealing." He finished almost sheepishly, pulling out a key card and a phone.

[parracosms]

Audrey’s brown eyes light with curiosity and anticipation, her steps hurried as she closes the space left between them to peer at the newly revealed objects. A key card and a phone. Her heart thunders in her chest. They’re getting out of here!

“That was you?” she laughs. “You didn’t even tell me!”

She lifts both objects from his outstretched palms, looking them over as if concerned they might be some trick.

“Between me and the cameras, you and the guards, and these…this plan is practically foolproof, Tae.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae beamed at her praise. "I couldn't risk anyone overhearing." He explained apologetically, handing her the phone. "I don't know how to use this thing, but the newer guards are always looking at it like it has all the answers, so I assumed it could help us. We just have to wait until the next rotation in a few minutes and we can leave."

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

“I can control them as long as I want,” Audrey answers, “but if I hold them one way more than a second or two, they’ll definitely notice. I can’t turn them off or anything either. I just move them. I know the pattern though. I think I can get us out.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae nodded. "Okay, that'll be long enough. I also have something that will help us." He moved back over to his bed. "You remember a few days back when the guards did a frantic search of all our rooms?" He asked as he dug his nails into the grout of one of the bleached bricks that made up the walls, one of them moving slowly as he wiggled it back and forth, trying to pull it out.

"Well, that might have been my fault. I knew something was wrong when suddenly Dr. Jayce started acting strange, shortly after you arrived down here. So, I started watching and planning... and maybe a bit of stealing." He finished almost sheepishly, pulling out a key card and a phone.

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

Audrey blinks rapidly at the sudden appearance of her friend, his firm grasp on his shoulder, and the onslaught of a swirling colorful aura awash in so many warring emotions. She sees fear most of all - pitch black like the shadows where monsters hide. Fake monsters, anyway. They both knew real monsters walked amongst everyone else, just as awash in bright sunlight, almost indistinguishable.

“What?” she gasps. “Why? How?”

@all-the-muses-private

[all-the-muses-a]

"I-" He paused. How would they get out of this place? It was heavily guarded, and no one has ever been known to successfully escape before. Any who even so much as mentioned it disappeared. "I don't know how but we have to go, Drey. Please, if we stay here, you'll be in danger. I saw it in my dream. Please, we need to leave. Now."

[parracosms]

Audrey had learned a long time ago to trust Tae and his dreams, so she doesn’t doubt him. She just doubts their ability to escape. They were just kids and there were so many things standing in their way. Though, she supposes she gets around the halls easily enough. Maybe the front gate won’t be that much different.

“Okay,” she says with a few brisk nods. “Okay. We’ll go.”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae sagged slightly in relief. He was so used to everyone disregarding his dreams and warnings, that sometimes he forgets how nice it is to have someone who always believed him.

"How long are you able to mess with the cameras? If we can get past those, and keep out of the guard's sight, we can make it. I can read the guards minds to see if anyone's nearby and how to sneak around them."

[parracosms]

Continued from x; @all-the-muses-private

[parracosms]

Audrey blinks rapidly at the sudden appearance of her friend, his firm grasp on his shoulder, and the onslaught of a swirling colorful aura awash in so many warring emotions. She sees fear most of all - pitch black like the shadows where monsters hide. Fake monsters, anyway. They both knew real monsters walked amongst everyone else, just as awash in bright sunlight, almost indistinguishable.

“What?” she gasps. “Why? How?”

@all-the-muses-private

[all-the-muses-a]

"I-" He paused. How would they get out of this place? It was heavily guarded, and no one has ever been known to successfully escape before. Any who even so much as mentioned it disappeared. "I don't know how but we have to go, Drey. Please, if we stay here, you'll be in danger. I saw it in my dream. Please, we need to leave. Now."

[all-the-muses-a]

Bloodlines

Starter for @pages-and-words @withinkandquill and @xxunknown-storiesxx

[all-the-muses-a]

“Okay, it’s right up ahead, the really big house with a huge outside bathtub.” Tae explained, scanning each house as they drove through the neighborhood.

“She’s the last one I saw, so after this we can find somewhere to lay low for a while until we can figure out what to do next.”

[xxunknown-storiesxx]

“Do you mean a pool?” Aerin asked from back seat as she looked for correct house given the information she was given by Tae.

[parracosms]

Audrey wasn’t sure how she ended up driving two strangers halfway across the country but it honestly wasn’t the most insane thing she had done either. Her parents weren’t going to like it when they found out but hey, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them, right? As far as they had to know, she was still in dorm preparing for next week’s midterms.

Tae was proving to be quite the odd one but she was mostly chalking that up to a lingering language barrier, ignoring how subtle his accent actually was. Ignorance was bliss, honestly, and she would much rather give him the benefit of the doubt.

Aerin was okay too. She was a lot less odd than Tae but everything right now was bound to be awkward either way.

“I think he does,” Audrey said, a smile creeping onto her lips. She pushes her glasses further up her nose as she looks for the place that matches his description. “Is it that one? It looks like they might have a pool back there.”

[words-of-solitude]

Quinn shivered as the light breeze rustled the hair on the back of her neck, head bent over the book propped up against her bent knees.

She’d been finding herself outside more and more now that she had a break from school. At least, that’s the reason that she gave to people when they expressed surprise at her sudden interest in something outside of her room or a lab. That’s the reason she keeps telling herself, even though the truth is burning in the back of her mind - it never stops burning.

It’s not unusual for her to distance herself from people, especially during the school year, but it is unusual for her to avoid even her family on her days off. But to Quinn, the less time she spends with them, the less chance of there being a sudden change in the weather.

Just the thought of that day back in the lab was enough to make her fingers tremble even now as she turned to the next page. Distantly, the sound of tires on asphalt reached her ears, but it wasn’t until the sound grew louder that it drew her eyes away. Squinting her eyes against the sunlight, she watched as a car began the trek down their driveway.

She only watched for a moment, though, before turning back to her book. It was probably just more of her parents’ friends. They were always having some gathering or another once the weather got warm enough.

@all-the-muses-private @secretswriitteninink @xxunknown-storiesxx

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae looked over to the mansion Audrey pointed out, his face brightening slightly in relief when he recognized it. “That’s the one.” He stated with a smile. “Nice, now we just need to let her know that if she doesn’t come with us, she’ll die, and we’ll have everyone.” He said, somehow both innocently and with a dark tone.

@secretswriitteninink​ @xxunknown-storiesxx​

[parracosms]

Plotted starter for: @all-the-muses-private

———

Audrey and Tae have a nightly routine. A secret one too, beyond the one adults in pressed white coats set for them all. Lights out was at eight o’clock exactly. At approximately nine o’clock, Audrey sneaks out of her dormitory.

Her timing can vary. Sometimes, she leaves early if she senses any unease coming from her friend. Less frequently, on really bad nights, she does not leave at all, exhaustion or illness taking hold of her before she can. Tonight is an early night.

It’s only eight-twenty when Audrey focuses her attention on the hidden mechanisms with the door, twisting the lock with a quiet click. Then, she peeks out just enough to turn the camera so it looks in the opposite direction, turning it back when she stands in the blind spot just beneath it. She has to do this to three more camera and one more lock before she finally stands just beyond the doorway of Tae’s room.

She blinks rapidly in the wake of the full force of a violent aura, grays and blacks swirling madly in a silhouette of terror.

“Tae?” Audrey asks in a whisper, stepping forward. “What’s wrong? Did they hurt you?”

[all-the-muses-a]

Tae was pacing his room as he waited for Audrey, knowing she was on her way long before she opened the door. Her worried thoughts, while almost being drowned by his own louder ones, were still so familiar to him, they were like his own.

The moment she opened the door he ran up to her, putting his hands firmly but gently on her shoulders. “We have to leave.” He stated urgently.

[all-the-muses-a]

Ghost

thread for @pages-and-words

[all-the-muses-a]

Bo-seong groaned. “Back from where? Hell?” He blinked a few more times and glanced around the best he could, his vision was still very blurry from the concussion so there wasn’t much he could actually see but vague shapes and Jae, but that was mainly the lack of much distance the other man was to his face.

“Where am I anyway? What happened? I feel like I was run over by a truck.” He practically whined out.