made of shipwrecks

Mercer. 23. So, this is freedom? I've carved a wooden heart & put it in this sinking ship; hoping it would help me float for just a few more weeks. I am made out of shipwrecks - every twisted beam.

[penelopetennell]

It's a pity that the town is so quiet.

[penelopetennell]

I missed you too, Mr. Brightside. Merc, I have told you already that I would never regret that kiss. [She bit her lower lip, the right corner of her mouth tugging upwards into a smile.] Or the others to come. I mean if there are going to be others to come. Because I was hoping that, I-I, um, ugh. [Penelope feels her cheeks becoming warm from her coy behavior.] Dang it,I’m acting weird again. Well, weirder than usual, I guess.

[buckhart]

Mr. Brightside, hm? I like it. Ah, just makin' sure ya haven't changed your mind. [With a small smirk, Mercer slides his hand through her hair to cup the back of her head, holding her close.] There will be plenty t'come, Ms. Penny. Only if y'want. [Kissing her nose gently, he laughs again, stomach in knots. It's weird, kissing someone because he likes them, because he wants to. It would take some getting used to- he'd have to keep reminding himself this wasn't a job, Penelope wasn't a client- but God, it was nice.] You're not actin' weird. It's cute. I like it when y'get all flustered.

[penelopetennell]

It's a pity that the town is so quiet.

[penelopetennell]

[Penelope squeaks at the sound of the familiar voice, looking where it came from. She somewhat jumps up and down with excitement overwhelming her before quickly crashing her lips with the man’s. She breaks away with a bright smile but then realizes what she just did. ] Uh, I, uh, am really sorry for doing that, but I haven’t seen you in almost forever and I am super happy to see you and all! [She explains, looking down at the ground as she rubbed her hand against her arm.]

[buckhart]

[Mercer laughs, smiling against her lips. He quirks a brow with a playful grin as Penelope stumbles over her words. Shaking his head, he slides his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head and pressing a soft kiss to her temple.] Nuh-uh, no apologizin' for that. M'glad you're happy t'see me -- was worried you'd, uh.. regret what happened. I missed ya, pretty girl. 

[penelopetennell]

It's a pity that the town is so quiet.

Life is no fun without people, you know.

[buckhart]

S'even less fun with no Penny.

[dinah-eve]

I want to go to the Fall Festival...

[dinah-eve]

Me neither, unless you count h-

I-I’m sorry. Nevermind. I’d love company. I’m Dinah, by the way.

[buckhart]

Nothin' to apologize for, miss. S'real nice to meet you -- I'm Mercer. Ah, m'not the best company, but I'll try. How bad can a haunted house be?

[dinah-eve]

I want to go to the Fall Festival...

But I have no idea where to start. I don’t think I can go into that haunted house alone, either.

[buckhart]

Haunted house, huh? Never been in one. Y'want some company?

[thayerbuckhart]

Unbroken [Mercer & Thayer]

[thayerbuckhart]

I don’t want you t’take any of it, man. [There was just too much, there was so much that Mercer would drown if he knew them all.] Y-you couldn’ta done anything! [Raggedly, Thayer tried to make him understand.] It didn’ ha-happen because you left. It was already happenin’. [The ropes their mother tied him up with just happened to be laced with Mercer’s name before he left. That was all. That was the only difference.]

[He took a shaky breath, Mercer would need something. Maybe they could.. just do this one thing at a time. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Desperately he struggled to grasp something, something Mercer didn’t already knew.]

She- she wouldn’t feed me if I d-didn’t make her c- [The words can’t leave his lips, he feels like he’s choking on them. This was so much harder than Thayer had ever expected, desperately he knotted up his hands again, wringing them hard as he could. There was that awful itch and bite and burn again, the need to rip everything in pieces starting with himself. All kinds of ugly and all kinds of hate ebbed through his bones, suffocating him. Thayer took a shaky breath and ran his hands through his hair, a pained sound escaping. Mercer couldn’t know how festered he really was, it would break him. Somehow his anguish became anger.]

I c-c-can’t talk about this!

I told you! I fuckin’ told you!

[buckhart]

Well, that's too fuckin' bad, 'cause I'm done lettin' you carry this alone, y'hear me? [Mercer swallowed hard and stared at the palms of his hands, studied the lines, anything to distract himself from twitching.] I know it was already happenin', that's what... that's what really kills me, bud. 

[Mercer shut his eyes, shook his head. Thayer couldn't say it but he knew. He knew.] Okay. Okay, we don't -- we ain't gotta talk about it. Y'come to me when you're ready an' not a minute sooner, alright? I'll wait. [He held back tears that stung his eyes, desperate for release. His brother was breaking in front of him and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it.] M'sorry..

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

[His words reminded Penelope of the mistakes she had done when she was a little girl. She wondered if Mercer didn’t want her to know his mistakes.] Mercer…I… [She stopped herself as she quickly realized that she shouldn’t try to push the truth out of Merce like this. She should wait whenever he was ready to tell her his secrets. It appeared to be the most respectable thing to do.] 

[As he gently kissed her knuckles, turmoil occurred in her stomach leaving her with a bittersweet emotion to suffer with. Pens attempted to hold back the tears that were threatening to come down. She wished that Mercer didn’t see himself as if he was a beast—a monster—that is worthless and doesn’t deserve anything good. Why can’t he see what she sees?] You’re funny, but you’re not a joke. [She clarified, forcing a small smile on her face and pecked his cheek with a tender kiss.]  Nor a freak. You’re just so cool, and fun, and really nice. You make me…feel happy. That’s why I want you. A-And I’m not perfect. [Penelope looked down at her feet and shifted them together.] I…can never be perfect…but I am willingly to be the perfect teacher maybe. For your writing and reading problem, I mean.  

[buckhart]

I'll tell ya one day, Penny. S'just.. it ain't easy for me. Gonna take time, y'know? Is... that alright? [He knew he was asking a lot of her. He wouldn't be surprised if she walked away, but God, he really hoped she didn't.]

[The corner of his lips turned up in a small smile as he looked down at Penelope with complete adoration. She was more than he could have ever imagined for himself, and even if she did decide one day that he wasn't good enough, he would always have this moment. That was enough for him.] Ah, well, you're perfect to me... nothin' you do can make me think otherwise. I really like you, Pens. I don't -- don't wanna lose you. [Mercer laughed, nodding his head and running his hand through her hair, cupping the back of her head and pressing a kiss to her forehead.] F'you think you're up for the challenge.. I'd appreciate it a whole lot. I'd be sure to make it up t'you.

[thayerbuckhart]

Unbroken [Mercer & Thayer]

[thayerbuckhart]

[Thayer froze up at Mercer pulled his hands apart. He swallowed hard and tried to push back the ugly itch to keep doing it that gnawed at his insides. In an effort to stop he balled up his fists with his sleeves tugged over his wrists.]

Jesus- what d’you want from me? D’you wanna know everythin’ in detail? You don’t wanna know. [Each of his words were cut short and sharp. Mercer did not want to know, no matter what he thought, the moment he heard it he would want to unhear it, and you cannot unring a bell. Thayer took a shaky breath and leaned against the wall, brows furrowing as he shut his eyes tightly. Desperate to shut Mercer out of his old life, Thayer just clammed up.]

W-why d’you need t’know? Why? [In stress his fingers wove through his hair and knotted up tightly, tugging without realizing. Thayer always had to tear himself apart, so used to hurting he didn’t know what to do without it, it was so ingrained in him that he just did it.]

[buckhart]

I don't wanna know anythin' you ain't comfortable tellin' me. F'you don't want me to know, fine -- but y'can't keep it bottled up forever. Y'can't keep all'a that pain to yourself; y'gotta share it. Y'gotta let me take some.[Mercer stared at his bother from his place at the edge of the bed, wringing his hands. Thayer looked so on edge, Mercer briefly considered the possibility of another episode. Maybe they weren't just night terrors.]

'Cause whether you believe s'my fault or not, I do. I left you when y'needed me, an' I need to know what I allowed to happen. I need to know what I put y'through. 

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

[Penelope furrowed her eyebrows, resting her fingers against his chest.] I..I don’t understand what you are talking about, Mercer. If you are not the man I think you are, then tell me about the man who is standing in front of me right here and right now. 

[She shook her head, not wanting to believe that he might not good enough for her.] Why are you’re always so mean when you talk about yourself? [She tried to smile one of her cheerful smiles, but it became a frown instead.] You’re perfect to me. Why can’t you see that?

[buckhart]

[Her touch sent him spiraling, he tried to catch his breath but lost his train of thought. All he could focus on was her. Swallowing hard, he shook his head.] It's too much. You'll never look at me the same, Pen. 

[Mercer laughed bitterly, grabbing her hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles softly.] M'just bein' honest about who I am, Penny -- m'a joke. Can't read, can't write. I got this... this twitch. M'a freak.. always have been. And you- God, you're perfect. How could you ever wanna be with someone like me?

[buckhart]

Think this cold weather's gettin' to me.

[darlarandall-blog]

No - N-not for him at all. I would never want it for him like that. He - He doesn’t deserve it.

Oh - Oh, n-no, I’m just - I’m glad he’s got someone else that cares for him — that took care of him. 

[buckhart]

Hey, y'don't deserve it either, y'know..

I, uh... m'not so sure I took good care of him, but I tried m'best. S'real nice knowin' he's got someone else lookin' out for him.

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

I…[She knew that he was right. She barely knew that much about him and just met him only a few weeks ago, yet her fondness for him seemed to make her overcome that essential fact. Though, in the back of her mind, Penny was well-aware that a Tennell woman wouldn’t had given into a man so easily like she was willing to do now. A Tennell woman would be unyielding and sharp with the opposite sex. Show that they were in control, but Penelope has never felt any more in control than she does with Mercer. He made her feel safe, restless, and so many other overwhelming emotions that she couldn’t clarify. She wasn’t used to these emotions but she wanted to keep feeling them.]

…Then, let me learn. [Penelope said in a low whisper, not wanting to ruin the fragile innocence of their moment.] Let me know more about you, Merce. 

[buckhart]

[It took all of Mercer's strength to exercise restraint and keep from kissing her again -- now that he started, he never wanted to stop, and it scared him more than anything his mother had ever thrown his way. He wanted to know everything about Penelope, but he knew it would have to go both ways... if he told her what he did back home, who he really was, she'd leave. And he wasn't ready for her to be gone.]

Y'don't wanna know, Penny. It ain't... I ain't who y'think I am. M'not good enough for you. Never will be. [He was starting to feel it creep up again- the urge to twitch, to jerk, and he begged his body to comply with him. Just this once.]

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

[Pens could not properly describe the hot-blooded feeling she was undergoing at the moment, but she knew she could keep kissing Mercer like this forever. Yet on the other hand, she was scared. She had been feeling scared about the charming Cajun, then again also puzzled and blissful. So when she kissed him back, Penelope finally realized what he is to her. She has been so infatuated with the man this whole time. That is why she wanted more than just a friendship from him; she genuinely does want him to her brightside, her knight in dented, scraped armor. To just be hers. She pulled away only far enough away to look up into his dark eyes. She looked at him up and down as an unbreakable smile covered her lips that still lingered close to his.]

I-I promise you that I won’t regret this, Mercer.  I would never regret wanting this. 

[buckhart]

[Mercer waited for her to push him away, to say this was a mistake, that he disgusted her. He wouldn't have been surprised; he didn't deserve happiness, and he certainly didn't deserve Penelope. His body hadn't been his for so long -- it had been under his mother's control for countless years, that even now, when she was dead and long gone, she still had some strange hold on him. It occurred to Mercer that this was the first time he'd made his own choice to be close to someone. It was both scary and exciting at the same time, but he couldn't keep from worrying that it was only fleeting. He kissed her again before pulling away, resting his forehead against hers. She had no idea what she did to him.]

There's a lot y'don't know 'bout me, Pens...

[buckhart]

Think this cold weather's gettin' to me.

[darlarandall-blog]

But - a’aren’t we all really? Scary - even in here.

I - I think so -y-yeah. He’s probably - m-my best friend to be honest. I know - sounds silly, 

[buckhart]

Yeah, when y'put it like that... I guess so. Doesn't have'ta be like that forever, though -- not for him.

Doesn't sound silly at all, Miss Darla. M'real thankful he's got you.

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

[Penelope’s heart began to pound fast like a hummingbird’s wings as Mercer pressed his lips against hers. Without hesitation, she  hungrily kissed him like she had never kissed anyone before. Her arms fell around his neck, letting her fingers twist into his hair pulling him closer to him. She was surprised by his sudden action yet didn’t want to question whether or not she was dreaming or this was a reality for her right now.]

[buckhart]

[Mercer slid one arm around Penelope's waist, cupping her face with his other hand. For once, he wasn't fighting off the urge to twitch, he wasn't in pain or worrying about Thayer... he was lost in Penny, in the beautiful, effervescent blonde who was slowly knocking her way through the steel walls guarding his heart -- a place he had never allowed anyone but his brother.]

I don't want y'to regret this, Penelope.

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

One hundred percent sure.

[buckhart]

F'you say so...

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

Try me. I have never had a surprise that I hadn’t liked yet. 

[buckhart]

You sure about that?

[penelopetennell]

Great.

[penelopetennell]

Of course! And what do you think is not a good idea?

[buckhart]

F'I surprise you -- y'might not like it.