[lvllabiies]

   — ❝ SO THEN THE G SITUATION STARTS AROUND OCTOBER … and that’s shortly before the masquerade incident takes place. ❞ They’re intent and FOCUSED on their current objective : trying to make sense of the recent past , especially now that everything has come back to them and , therefore , have brought them inches closer to getting even more of the answers that they’ve so wanted to deduce. Rock music softly plays from their phone on a bluetooth speaker besides them , and they’re currently using dry erase markers & a whiteboard as a map and section for notes so there’s a visual to make connecting these far much easier. They uncap the red marker with their teeth ( it’s their own ) and drag it from a quickly drawn manor to a cluster of stick trees , speaking to themselves , ❝ And forest possibly invokes similar scenarios to that of the manor , so that means the manor and the forest could potentially be connected … ❞ They draw three question marks beside the line to show their uncertainty. And they stand back to survey their work , before a finger points to the left of the board. ❝ So then how does G … ❞ A few moments of hesitance as they trail off , tongue in cheek , before they cap the marker and look down. ❝ Excuse me - but do you think you could graciously pass me that blue marker right there ?? I’d greatly appreciate it , if you’d kindly. ❞

[belleofthebells]

Isabella was no stranger to the coffee shop. Her diet probably got half of it’s calories from just the coffee she drank. She was working on her laptop, scrolling through e-mails and tabbing in and out of various spreadsheets and word documents. She only stopped to take a sip of coffee every few minutes. She had been going at this for a while, but at this moment, after she took a sip of coffee, she sighed. She turned her head to the closet person to her, cup in hand

“ I wish coffee stayed hot for longer than it does. I know all the cream I put in it probably doesn’t help it stay hot, but it’s just really inconvenient sometimes. Do you think one of those UBS coffee warmers would be a worthwhile investment? It may make any cup I use too hot to hold, though… ”

As if to emphasize the point, she was tapping on the side of her computer, to the USB port.

[jxllydrummr]

The sound of drumming was filling the music store, as Ichika got lost in the rhythm. It was one of her days off, and she had been itching to practice, even more than she usually did. She had been here for only thirty minutes, but she was already moving onto her fifth song, with narry a break in between. It wasn’t intense, but it was consistent, not professional sounding, but with a ton of heart in it. She was practicing a particularly tricky part of one of her favorite songs, a part that had her staring intently at her drum kit as her sticks flew from part to part to part on it. She actually did it a few times, seeming to stare a hole into the poor kit.

When she finally looked up, practically slamming her stick on the crash cymbal, she was met with someone close to where she was practicing. She froze, quickly grabbing onto the cymbal to silence it.

“ A-Ah! Sorry, I didn’t see you… am I, uh, being too loud? I can get pretty into my practice… u-um… ”

With one hand still on the crash cymbal, she pulled her sticks close to her, as if it was a shield.

[helcouture]

             ❝  WAIT ,  SO THE STOLEN ITEMS  were given back ?  oof ,  finally …  i didn’t even realize that had happened !  ❞   mostly because of how the girl had been trying to ignore things that weren’t directly relevant to what she considered the busiest time of the year  —  and consequently ,  the worst .  besides her friends ,  career and university ,  helena couldn’t bring herself to care or want to keep up with much else ;   it was just too much work !  not to mention ,  someone was bound to update her on everything sooner or later ,  regardless of whether or not the magenta - eyed girl asked for it .   leaning back in her seat ,  helena continued to sketch a new piece of jewelry in her ever trusty ,  baby pink notepad .  ❝  the  holiday season  is just a lot for everyone ,  you know ?  i hate being kept out of the loop ,  but i also hate having so much to do …  oh well ,  i do have to focus on my shop ,  so i suppose i could just trust on you to keep me updated from now ,  right ?  ❞   she pauses the sketch ,  gaze lifting towards her companion for the day .  ❝  you’re obviously really well informed …  even if i tried ,  i could  never  be as good as you !  ❞

[waters-forming-bonds]

💙

It was finally the end of Apala’s work day at the university. After a long day of classes and grading research assignments, she was thinking about how she would spend what time left she had in the day. She could go to the beach, it would likely be too cold to soon after all, or she could stop by the library quick, pick up a new book to read for the night. Or perhaps maybe it was a day to try and learn more about what was going on in this world she found herself in awhile back. How long has it been now? She couldn’t even recall at the moment.

All of these thoughts whirled in her head as she locked up her classroom for the day. To say she seemed distracted for once would be a bit of an understatement as she turned around and nearly ran into you, luckily quick to snap out of her train of thought and stop herself before she did. “ Oh, my apologies. . I got caught up in my thoughts and . . Did you need something? ”

[mcrtalsavant]

&&  — “ I FEEL LIKE I’M FALLING ASLEEP JUST SITTING HERE. ” for the past half hour , it’s true , link had been drifting off , though they didn’t know why. it wasn’t like them to find themselves that exhausted , though it seemed as if their recent pattern of staying up all night was really taking a toll on them. they’ve been noticeably nodding off , too , head resting in their hands as they stifle back another yawn. “ i wonder if i could like, parkour and nap. ” there’s a pause , a clearly terrible idea forming in their head. “ wait , imagine it. i create a new trend , it’s called napping in terrible spots. the first spot ?? on top of the roof of a car. i can just go outside and lay on someone’s car with a blanket and fall the fuck to sleep. does that sound brilliant , or does that sound brilliant ?? ”

[snvkcskin]

&&  — THERE’S A CERTAIN, SPECIAL KIND OF HUMILIATION YOU GET WHEN YOU’RE STOOD UP ON A DATE , vienna’s eyes moving from the drink in front of her to the door , hoping that maybe , possible , the cute girl she met at the diner the other day would walk through those doors. maybe she’s just in traffic ?? granted , it’s not that traffic around the saturnalia was that bad , much less at 8 pm when everyone was finally starting to settle in for the night. the defeat was finally starting to settle over her after finally , she heard the door open again , only to find that , well … it wasn’t her. it was enough to make her sink back in her seat , the confident aura she often carried with herself now dissipating as she swore she felt her ego shatter. wow , this was shit. turning to face the person closest to her , she cleared her throat , trying to act as if this was all just a coincidence and that she hadn’t been waiting for someone. after all , nothing was worse to her than showing that kind of emotion. “ so , i’ve heard people say this place is better than the burlesque but honestly i don’t fucking know. what do you think ?? ” it’s dumb , but it’s something. 

[goldcnvntlcrs]

&&  — HE CAN HEAR THE PERSON IN FRONT OF HIM TALKING , BUT HE CAN’T REALLY FIND A REASON TO LISTEN. it’s not unsual to find claude in this predicament , clearly bored out of his mind as his eyes drift from the dark , amber gaze before him over to the figure across the room , almost immediately keeping his attention on them. “ eh , i think i’m good and about done with this conversation. ” nobody could say claude every claimed to be graceful about these things because , well… he didn’t. not really when it came to people talking his ear of. without any hesitation , he moves over to the person he spotted , leaning against the wall as he offers them a small smile. “ thank god you looked at me , i was so fucking bored over there. ” shrugging , he looks over to the person he just ditched , then back to his new companion. “ lets say we ditch this place , hm ?? i can think of ten better things we could be doing. ”

[burnededens]

   — ❝ IT WASN’T A HUGE ISSUE , ❞ Jacob’s of course referring to whatever seemed to have caused the ugly shiner he’s sporting along his right eye - right underneath the sickly white eyebrow scar above it. He cleans a glass , continuing , ❝ Some prick in a back alley was lookin’ to start a fight n’ I wasn’t havin’ it so I let him get one good punch in and then he started talkin’ about how he was gonna wreck my shit n’ all that before I fought back n’ kicked his ass to kingdom come. Y’shoulda seen it , he had no chance. ❞ Of course , all of this is just a COVER-UP story so he doesn’t have to explain how he slipped and fell while getting out of the shower. No , he’s a badass - and everything he does has to be badass. Slipping & falling isn’t badass. ❝ But that stuff happens everyday , y’know ?? It’s NORMAL , I’m USED TO IT. I go toe-to-toe with dumbasses like that in m’sleep. ❞

[cfprodigalson]

Ezra rarely seemed like he was at work, given that he frequently hung around the arcade on his off days and rarely acted very seriously when he was on the job. In fact one of the few times he did pause to be serious in any manner was when it came time to help someone who had fallen in the rink, though he still remained calm and light hearted in his demeanor even as he rather carefully checked fallen patrons for injuries. Just now he’d had to carry someone with a sprained ankle up to the front to sit and wait for their ride, and he was currently skating back towards the rink itself. As he went he paused to greet people as he passed. “Hey, you look really good today,” Ezreal said with a warm smile. “Just wanted to tell you that!”

[cfblues]

Lux was indisputably asleep leaning back in their behind the desk, though it was much harder to tell given the shades that were resting on their face as they always did. Still it’s made obvious when someone knocks on the hardwood of his desk and Lux jolts awake, hidden eyes snapping open. “Hello, welcome to Cozy Corner how can I help you?” Lux rarely works off the typical customer service script, but his ability to launch into it is practically second nature at this point after working here for so many years.

[gxorgx]

Surrounded by so many people had never made him feel so alone as it had in that moment, unsure of where it was that he belonged anymore. The crisp air blew against his red cheeks, burning him in such a way that soothed the ache inside of him. Breathing out through the mouth in childlike wonder as the gust of smoke blew out with it, smiling for just one second. He belonged to the earth, to the world around him, it reacted to him and gave him the small comfort of know that at least he had that.  Lost in between memories of two different people that where one in the same, having so much and yet feeling like he had nothing. Wondering if he would ever feel a semblance of normality, or if his world would continue to collide in such a way that he was unsure of how to deal with.  Reality suddenly rushed at him as he found himself in the middle of a crowded street, bumping into people as he moved with the motions. “Excuse me. Sorry. I beg your pardon. Omph,” he mumbled as he finally stepped out of the crowd. “I almost thought i’d be eaten alive.”

[bitterparamour]

          ❝ Oh,  come on,  babe.   It’s not like              that - and if it was, well,  we never              really talked about being together,              right  ?  So  it’s not  like  it  counts.              And  anyway,  I figured you  didn’t              want anything out of it.  Since you              never really asked about anything              besides the company.  Or will you              try to deny that now ? ❞

          She yells out, well, something - Sylvain has long since checked out of the conversation - before turning tail and leaving. Not that he’s any surprised. How many times has he had variations of this exact conversation, both from this life and his past one?

          Ah, well. He’s heartbroken now, he supposes. Won’t hurt to look for someone to… comfort him for a while - and he’s about to turn and leave to do just that when he notices a shadow, hears a footstep from behind a wall. Maybe they think they’re being sneaky, but he’s long since gotten used to the feeling of being watched, knows how to detect when someone has their eyes on him.

          ❝ You  have a habit of  watching  a              poor guy get his heart broken, or              is this just a one-time thing ? ❞

[spectergeuse]

it’s them and one other, sitting next to each other at the local diner. it’s atmosphere is warm, a welcome contrast to the gray chill of december outside, golden light illuminating everything in a soft glow. people are all around, from all different parts of castletown, here for the shakes, the burgers, the pattymelts. or, in the brunette’s case, the pies. felicity is one of the biggest fans of pie out there. it reminds them of growing up, and while not all of those memories are as sweet, there’s always one that breaks through: a little them, with a family  of a mother and father and little boy, the fresh smell of butterscotch and cinnamon in the air. kind of like christmas, but for more than just a holiday.

the pie in front of them this morning is pecan, a seasonal choice. it’s good, don’t get them wrong, but it’s also a really big slice. the diner cooks know them, their wide eyes and soft smile; they offer them extra pie for no charge most times they come in. so, a dainty hand pushes the plate between them. would you like some? they ask without words, eyes shining, happy to share.

[slauqhtered]

𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵  𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲  𝗵𝗲𝗿  𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀  𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽  𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁,  blythe  sees  flashes.  images  she  will  never  rid  her  mind  of  —   a   sword  of  bone,  the  world  shaking  after  a  dragon’s  roar.  cloth  of  gold  and  red  and  blue,  blood  staining  her  hands.  even  as  a  child,  she  never  had  much  of  an  imagination,  had  never  been  one  to  jump  at  petty  fears.  (  it  had  worried  her  father,  she  knows,  to  see  his  child  so  stoic.  perhaps  he’d  be  grateful  for  her  previous  apathy,  could  he  see  the  mess  she  is  now.  god,  she  wishes  she  could  talk  to  him.  )  so  why  now  does  her  mind  plague  her?  she  wishes  it  would  stop.  in  the  distance,  a  child  shrieks.  blythe  nearly  leaps  from  her  seat.    ❛    that’s  just  wonderful.    ❜     she  mutters,    ❛    i’m  losing  my  mind.    ❜    and  now  she’s  talking  to  herself.  great.

[lionknightess]

      IT HAD BEEN A WHILE  since the blonde felt this bothered by something specific rather than this new life as a whole .  ever since the robberies  —  more specifically ,  the discovery that something  so precious  to her and her best friend had been stolen ,  there wasn’t much more isolde could bring herself to think about .  sure ,  she’d been going about her days as if nothing had changed ,  doing her best to push forward as usual ,  but still ;  why hasn’t the culprit been found yet ?  is  the police  not taking these matters seriously ?

       a part of her wanted to  do something  —  anything would be better than standing still and watching as people came up with dozens of different theories that were most likely far from the truth .  she had never been good at leaving things in the hands of others .  that being said ,  it is only when she hears a voice directed towards her that the blonde snaps out of her thoughts ,  emerald gaze instantly shooting up towards the source .  ❝  huh ?!  … sorry ,  i wasn’t– i got a bit distracted .  my apologies .  ❞  with a sigh ,  she offered an apologetic smile ,   ❝  would you repeat that ,  please ?  ❞

[covnterfeiit]

   — THEY’LL ADMIT THAT THEY’RE NOT AS CAUGHT UP ON THIS G SITUATION as much as they maybe should be ; because things are growing out of control fast , and Shiloh’s not really much of the type to try and feed into this stuff. And , also , they feel … bad. Not because they did anything wrong , but because they were one of the unaffected. But now it seems to be all people are talking about , and as they pack an order for a customer scheduled to pick it up soon , they try and make conversation. ❝ S-So , um … ❞ They bite their lip , looking up at the other. ❝ Did … did they catch that guy yet ?? The one that stole all of the stuff ??  ❞