all you need is your fire

gem mohanty. boycott love, detox just to retox and i'd promise you anything for another shot at life and perfect boys with their perfect lives nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy

[gem-mohanty]

GEM MOHANTY

“i guess somehow we made it back / with a few dreams of ours still in tact / i am a diamond on the inside, just add the pressure / know it’s inside me, but i got no map, to my own treasure.”

Nicknames: Gemmy (fam only) Pronouns: He/him Sexuality: Queer Magic status: Gifted, pyrokinetic -- out Nationality: English Ethnicity: Korean/White Accent: English (London) Height: 6′1 Build: Fit Complexion: Tan, a small scar across his eyebrow (from a taser), a larger scar across his other eyebrow/forehead (from the bombing), big scar on his bicep from being shot/another line along his shoulder blade where he was shot again lol, some acne scarring, a few other scars on arms/legs from working construction and smashing his finger one too many times. Eye color: Brown Hair color/length/style: Black, shorter with a scraggly beard atm. Like this.  Tattoos/piercings/daily jewelry: Tattoo of a cat playing with sun like it is a ball of yarn on his shoulder/arm. “30″ on his opposite inside bicep. Two “x”s, one on each hand between his thumb and forefinger on the back. (See some tattoos here!) No piercings, wears leather bracelets. 

Pets: click here to meet Gem’s dog, Vivienne!

Occupation: Mohanty Construction, contractor/foreman since August 2021 Relationship Status: Engaged to @lady-snow-flower (dating since July 15, 2024) What would you find if you Googled them?: The coverage of his trial (he was on trial for murder and conspiracy in December 2025 in relation to MAFIA activity, acquitted of all charges). The article about his arrest and subsequent prison sentence in November 2016 for burning down a section of the secondary.  What natives would know about them: Was part of the terrorist organization MAFIA and involved in the bombing of InterPride. Burned down a section of the secondary school in 2016, has a large family, adopted, was in prison from 2016-2021 on arson charges (felony offense.) Snow Song cheated on the sheriff (Tom) with him and it came out in front of the whole town. Other: Has pyrokinesis that is out of control. Has a reputation for being a bad boy.

biography 🔥 character sheet 🔥 instagram 🔥 inspiration 🔥 powers 🔥

[gem-mohanty]

Pasts That We Were Never Gonna Change🔥[Self para]

In which Gem reluctantly visits Abracadabra to try and get the one up on MAFIA...[takes place: July 5]

featuring: Sam

PAST RELEVANT THREADS: Location Scouting If You Give a Magical Boy a Cookie School’s Out Straw to Sticks to Stone Would You Like to Form an Alliance?

[cw -- panic attack (vague), mention of pregnancy, nothing else really slay]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

“How is Vivienne doing?” 

That wasn’t what Gem expected to be the first words out of Sam’s mouth when he sat down across from him at Abracadabra during prison hours.

Gem silently held out his phone, laying it flat on the table between them. (He knew the rules; no touching.) He put it on the album that he had of Vivi and let it start playing. 

Sam was absorbed in the photos, which gave Gem a chance to look him over. Was he skinnier than when Gem had seen him last? Was he eating? Was he getting bullied? Or did he not need Gem at all? 

There was a part of him that wanted to apologize for not having written. Or come to see him, though, at least that, he probably figured Sam understood. Just being back here, even as a visitor, made Gem sweaty, his heart beating unsteadily. He felt nauseous and a little panicked. Even if, rationally, he knew that both Belle and Snow were waiting for him on the mainland. 

(Snow had very much wanted to come. Gem had very much told her under no circumstances was that going to happen. And not just because…he never wanted her to come to this place, but it made Magicks sick. And considering what happened to her normally when magic went wonky, and the fact she was pregnant—he wasn’t taking any chances.) 

If he didn’t turn back up by the time visitor hours were over, the two of them would come looking for him. 

He knew that. But still, in these solid, cement walls, oppressively hot in the sweltering summer heat wave, it was like the outside world didn’t exist. The doors had been locked behind him and they would only open up when visitor hours were over. When he was ready to leave.

Maybe. 

Unless they hauled him off on some ridiculous charge. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Or he could get jumped by some MAFIA faction that paid off the guards. 

“She looks good,” Sam said and Gem snapped back to the present.

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[read here]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[delilah-mohanty]

Objectives and methods || Gelilah

[delilah-mohanty]

Delilah couldn’t help it — she rolled her eyes. She had told herself going into this conversation that she was going to be supportive, and rolling her eyes probably wasn’t a particularly supportive move, but surely Gem knew that that wasn’t what she meant.

What Delilah meant was: had he spoken to a professional? She was entirely sure who she meant by that at first, but surely there was someone who knew something about this. About a magick suddenly losing their abilities. There had to be an expert in niche phenomena like this, someone at the university maybe who could help…

Or, y’know. A doctor. Losing your ability to do something was a symptom of many different conditions. Delilah saw it every day. And a doctor in Swynlake, one who perhaps was used to or even well versed in treating Magicks, might have some idea.

“No, I mean — a professional.” She said. “A doctor. What if it isn’t anything to do with the magic, Gem? What if it’s physical? When’s the last time you had a check up?”

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Delilah's eyeroll had Gem prickling.

He was doing the right thing! What more did she want from him? Yes, it was his fault that this was happening at all, but he was trying to fix it! He wasn't trying to take care of it himself, even though he really wanted to. He knew getting mixed up in it would only send him back to prison.

And, besides, he didn't have his--

A doctor?

Gem blinked.

"What?" he said. "What are you--are you talking about my magic?" He snorted and shook his head, though his shoulders dropped slightly. Relieved that, at least, she wasn't about to berate him (again) about his bad decisions.

"It's just--gone. I dunno. I figured it just...is what it is. It was weird after..." Gem trailed off. For some reason, actually saying: the bomb exploded felt...too difficult. Even if both he and Delilah knew what had happened. They'd never directly talked about it.

"Since before I went to prison and then I figured that shit just finished it off. Being in that shit hole makes you feel like you're dying."

@delilah-mohanty

[belladonna-wright]

RSVP - Gessie

[belladonna-wright]

[Outfit]

Now Jessie would have dearly loved to kick down the damn door that remained firmly shut in front of her, if that wouldn't have created several other problems for her ... not least the fact she'd still be unable to enter the new home that her friends were setting up for themselves.

But also that she knew full-well how rare this invitation was, coming from Gem himself.

From Snow? Well, of course Jessie had been expecting one. But from Gem?

Something was wrong, and she could feel it prickling on the hairs on the back of her neck. Something had happened, and they had postponed the wedding. Jessie's fingers drummed on her arm as she folded her arms across her chest and listened for the sound of footsteps coming towards the door.

When it finally opened, Jessie surveyed her host with a gaze that pierced like an x-ray.

"I'd have bought a house-warming present, but I'm waiting to see what vibe you're going for," she said, eyes checking Gem's face.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Nothing was wrong.

Okay, well, that wasn't true. Nearly everything was wrong. But that wasn't why Gem had invited Jessie over. He'd done that because...well, all his other friends were dead, lol. And he had no one to show the house off to besides his family, who were various levels of unimpressed (except Joy, lovely Joy).

And even if it wasn't nearly close to finished, he was proud of it. He was still confused how he'd landed it--but he'd managed. It had been him who'd apparently charmed Alice into giving up her home to him. And now, he'd be able to provide a safe place for his family.

Besides, he respected Jessie's tastes. They aligned well with Snow's. She'd probably have real thoughts and not just compliment everything.

"No entry without housewarming gifts," Gem quipped, leaning against the door frame.

[outfit]

@belladonna-wright

[gem-mohanty]

Breaking Even🔥[Hot Dog]

[wolf-innsheepsclothing]

Wolf was spending more time on the porch than ever these days. At least on the porch, he could forget about the emptiness that lived within the house once more, in those hours when Snow had left to go to her new house.

He heard Gem coming, footsteps that had crept into the realm of the recognisable in all his long visits to the old house. The only other one who knew every creaky step on the floorboards.

Wolf was content to melt into the shadows and become yet another ghost, as he so often did when Gem came out for a smoke, but the other - for as much as he didn't make eye contact - said Hey.

Hey, he said, as if there was nothing but a mutual friend between them. As if Wolf hadn't had to spring to action barely days ago to try and tear someone limb from limb because of this man - for Wolf had no doubt that it was related to his past and not Snow's.

"Hello." Wolf said, a little guarded.

Gem had seen, once and for all, the great grey shape of the wolf that night. He had said little at the time, but...

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem figured that Wolf was guarded because he hated Gem more than he had before after the disaster of the MAFIA attack. Not that Gem really blamed him.

Point was: there was nothing in his mind that might make him think it was anything else. After all, Gem had known Wolf was a werewolf for years. And he'd been friends with plenty of them in MAFIA. He'd lived in Swynlake his whole life. Even though werewolves were still on the fringes, he'd seen them once or twice before. Not to mention other shapeshifters.

The only reason to be wary of them was if they were out of control and gonna bite.

Though, at this point, maybe Gem would take being a wolf over not having any magic at all.

He let his cigarette wither halfway down before he said anything else.

"There hasn't been anything weird around has there?" Gem asked, half turning to lean his hip on the porch railing.

@wolf-innsheepsclothing

[lady-snow-flower]

Fight For Me🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

Snow did not agree.

She hadn't wanted John Cunningham to die. She didn't think he deserved it-- even with his hands around her throat-- and he certainly didn't deserve to die in the gruesome manner he did. Her hands curled on her own lap, her eyes falling to them as she remembered his blood soaking her through.

There had to be some other way-- a midpoint between Snow being as helpless and fragile as an antique Victorian doll and... killing people.

"I appreciate your faith in me, but I really don't know. And I don't want to kill people, Gem. Even-- even if it was in self-defense, my magic-- what it did to John-- it's so obviously dark magic, it would send people after us, just like last time. Remember the police? The investigation?" she said quietly. "I need to learn a less messy...dangerous way."

One that didn't give them another corpse to hide.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem almost rolled his eyes.

He supposed it was, in part, jealousy. That Snow had magic and he didn't. That he had felt so--helpless and she didn't have to. She was choosing to feel helpless.

And maybe he should respect her for not being bloodthirsty. He did not want her to be a killer if she didn't have to be.

Unfortunately, their life meant that sometimes, it was necessary.

"It isn't dark magic," Gem argued. "It's just magic. None of it is good or bad. Some of it is dangerous, but not dark."

Gem would no. He'd spent his entire life having people judge him for being some sort of criminal because of his magic. Because his magic had only wanted to protect him. It was a weapon, but it was also a protector. He missed it intensely right now.

No matter how much grief it had brought him, it had also kept him safe. It kept him warm in the cold London winter when he was sleeping under bridges. It had made him important to MAFIA. It had saved Holley and himself when the bomb exploded.

He knew it could've saved them from Carmen.

"Besides, even with John--you could've plead self-defense." He remembered the bruises around her neck. He remembered telling her that at the time.

His arm fell to rub at her shoulder. "You shouldn't have to learn how to protect yourself anyway," Gem said, frowning. "That's--supposed to be my job. I'm sorry," he told her, again. It wasn't the first time and no matter how much he tried, it wouldn't be the last time, he was sure.

@lady-snow-flower

[gem-mohanty]

Would You Like to Form an Alliance?🔥[Mowell]

[gem-mohanty]

@miss-holleyshiftwell

Gem had called Belle and she had told him to get in touch with the "local branch of the RAS." Which had him rolling his eyes. Unfortunately, he had been trained to do what Belle said.

So, like a good, obedient dog, Gem took out the card that Holley had slipped under his bedroom door all those months ago. He resented the fact that he had known he should keep it. That, maybe, one day, his past would come back to haunt him.

He told Holley that he needed to speak with her, privately. Begrudgingly, he offered up All Summer for their meeting place. There were still boxes everywhere, but it was secluded and felt safe. Away from the rest of town, free of any curious ears or eyes.

When Holley arrived, Gem led her down the main hallway, turning right at the last door and took her right into the kitchen. He liked that about the house, the four doors in the hallway only gave glimpses into the various rooms. Keeping them private.

"Would you like any tea?" Gem asked, stiff as if he was a robot, programmed to do so. He kind of was. His parents and Snow both always did it when people came over, so he supposed he should too. Even if he did want to jump right into it. Waiting and making small talk made him itchy.

[outfit]

[miss-holleyshiftwell]

Gem had finally reached out.

Gem had finally reached out!

Holley was trying to be levelheaded about this. She knew it was because of Belle, because Belle had given her a heads up. And that was completely and totally fine. Holley just really didn’t want to mess this up, because she knew she’d already messed things up with Gem multiple times.

She knew she’d been aggressive, but at the time it had seemed the only way to make up for what had happened. Especially since he’d completely avoided all her other attempts at reaching out. 

But — the fact was, he did reach out. And she was going to approach this professionally and calmly.

“Oh tea would be lovely, thank you,” Holley said, with a smile. “Whatever you have!”

It was the polite thing to do, you know, accept an offer of tea. 

That being said, even though the polite thing to do in a social situation would be to make idle small talk, Holley restrained herself. 

Interacting with Gem, she’d realized, would be a lot like when she first adopted Evelyn. She had to wait for Evelyn to come to her, let Evelyn set the boundaries and approach Holley on her own terms. 

That being said, like with Evelyn, Holley had to offer a small something to get him to come closer.

“So, Belle told me you had something to discuss.” 

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem poured Holley a cup of tea and frowned to himself.

He had thought that Belle would fill Holley in on everything so that he didn't have to. Of course, that wasn't Belle's style. She was going to force him to do it.

Annoying.

He took a breath and set the tea down in front of Holley on the kitchen island. They hadn't bought chairs for it yet. Maybe they should go sit i the living room (which was furnished), but Gem was not good at hosting. And he also didn't like people in his house in general. The less rooms she saw, the better.

Just because he saved her life didn't mean they were friends.

This was business.

"Yeah," Gem said. A long pause followed but then, Gem sighed.

"A few days ago, Carmen Lucena, a MAFIA member, attacked Snow. And me." Gem left Wolf out--not because he wasn't grateful, but he was sure the wolf wouldn't be happy about being exposed.

"We managed to get away, but only just. There was this little boy...Snow said he's been hanging around the Hauntley since I went to prison. She thought he was a ghost, but obviously, he's been spying on us. On her.

So. What's the RAS gonna do about it?" He fixed her with a level stare.

@miss-holleyshiftwell

[delilah-mohanty]

Objectives and methods || Gelilah

[delilah-mohanty]

Delilah could see the way he hesitated, the flash of worry in his eyes. It reminded her of when they were small, when Delilah was her parent's second in command, and any time she could hear a commotion she would walk into the room and demand to know what was going on. Gem had that familiar look of fear in his eyes now, she thought - like he was worried about getting in trouble.

But he wasn't in trouble - this time. Not with Delilah at least. She gave a nod when Gem agreed, gesturing for him to follow her, through to the other side of the house. She didn't want her parents to overhear, and she thought Gem might appreciate the privacy.

Delilah had been thinking about Gem's magic, or lack thereof, every day since she had found out. It was a strange concept to someone who had never had any magic in the first place. She would have assumed that it was like the ability to roll your tongue or wiggle your ears, a trick that was somehow innate, not able to be learned, and not something you ever lost. But there Gem was, his fire extinguished, like it had never been there in the first place.

When she was sure they were alone, Delilah turned and asked, "Have you been to see anyone about your--?" She nodded in the direction of his hands.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

What the fuck had he done now that garnered a private conversation?

As he followed his eldest sister, he glanced over his shoulder, like his mum might catch his eye and come rescue him. But, she wasn't paying any attention. She was busy cooking.

So, he resigned himself to whatever dressing down he was about to get. He was too tired, too worried, to care what Delilah had to say. Anything that she was going to yell at him about, he already hated himself far more for.

When they finally stopped, his stomach clenched and he brought his arms up, crossing them defensively over his chest at once. It was his safest pose. Even when he did have his magic, usually tucking his hands away helped somewhat. He always had stood with his shoulders up to his ears, worried that he might hurt someone if they came to close.

It was a hard habit to break.

Even though that was true, when she first spoke--he was confused as to what she meant. He wasn't thinking about his magic or lackthereof.

"About my...?" he repeated, shaking his head. "I mean, I told you already--I went to the RAS. They're going to find Carmen and take care of it."

@delilah-mohanty

[lady-snow-flower]

Fight For Me🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

Snow wasn't expecting that at all.

Well, she expected Gem to laugh at her (or feared it), but she hadn't thought he'd laugh in that exact manner, or compliment her in the process. She blushed and blinked rapidly, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear at his description of her. She didn't recognize that woman at all. Her, crush Carmen's bones? Absolutely not.

She supposed the mangled corpse of John Cunningham might agree with Gem, but that had-- that was a special circumstance.

To this day, she had no idea how she had done that. And she never wanted to do it again.

"That's-- that was only that one time and-- I dont' know how to crush anyone's bones, not on purpose," she said, shaking her head. "That just happened. And besides, I was thinking-- I need to know, um, more of a... a middle ground approach, you know, like-- to get away from people, not... kill them."

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem shrugged. "If you're trying to get away from someone, they probably deserve to be killed. I wouldn't have shed any tears if you took Carmen out. And you would've, if it would've come down to it."

He reached out to play with a piece of her hair, still smirking at her.

"It's natural, y'know? Your magic knows how to keep you safe. At least yours doesn't overreact like mine used to like to. It might under react but you could probably hone it. You would've been just fine if that's what you're worried about."

Gem tucked the piece of hair he'd been playing with behind her ear. His thumb brushed her cheek. And maybe, he was saying this for himself too. That she would've been okay.

If he hadn't been there.

If Wolf hadn't.

She could take care of herself. Their child. Him, now that he was, apparently, completely useless.

@lady-snow-flower

[gem-mohanty]

Breaking Even🔥[Hot Dog]

[gem-mohanty]

@wolf-innsheepsclothing

Gem was at the Hauntley for the first time in a few days, which he was pleased about. It wasn't that he didn't love the Hauntley, but absence certainly made the heart grow fonder and he was more than happy to not be wedged in like sardines with other employees and guests of the Hauntley. It had all just been a little much for him.

But now, he could appreciate it's liveliness. He saw it as all of Snow's hard work, paying off.

He was waiting for Snow as she finished up a few things. They had plans tonight that had, of course, been waylaid.

Gem stepped out onto the porch, lighting a cigarette in the fading daylight. It was until he let his first breath of smoke out that he noticed Wolf at his usual perch.

"Hey," Gem said, taking another drag.

[outfit]

[delilah-mohanty]

Objectives and methods || Gelilah

[delilah-mohanty]

@gem-mohanty

Delilah had gone back and forth on whether or not to ask Gem about his magic, or lack thereof. On the one hand, she knew he wouldn’t want to talk about it. Their relationship was already strained so thin that if she held it up to the sunlight, she’d see right through it. So she wasn’t exactly keen to go poking any more holes into it.

But so much of her work had looked at the neurological basis of magic — if there was one to speak of. Being a doctor in Swynlake meant looking at magic alongside anatomy and physiology, and whilst Delilah was nowhere near finding any sort of link, she did have to wonder. And she had been wondering about Gem ever since finding out that his hands were now merely hands, and not weapons he could only vaguely control.

In the end, her curiosity had won out. When Gem stopped by to pick up something from the house, she left her reading behind and stood by the front door. “Hey,” she said, inclining her head towards the doorframe she was leaning against. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

(Outfit)

[gem-mohanty]

"Yeah, I know, Mama. I know," Gem said, kissing his mother's cheek in the kitchen. He'd stopped by to pick up some dinner for him and Snow. And because he missed home.

All Summer still didn't quite feel like home. Instead, it felt like a dream that Gem was afraid to wake up from.

He knew it would get there one day, once everything was fully unpacked and lived in. He loved it, of course. Home was just a very particular place to him. One that he was very protective of, considering how long it had taken him to feel like the Mohanty Cottage wouldn't be taken from him either.

With a tote on his shoulder full of food, Gem made his way to the front door. Only to find it blocked by his eldest sister.

Gem felt something in his stomach twist.

He almost blurted: no! Like he used to do when he was young and didn't want to have a conversation.

"Sure," he said, somewhat wearily, resigning himself to whatever berating he was about to receive. It wasn't like he didn't deserve it.

[outfit]

@delilah-mohanty

[lady-snow-flower]

Fight For Me🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

Snow felt the words fold up inside her, like a secret note she didn't want anyone, even Gem, to see.

Which was really very silly. Out of everyone in the entire world, she felt comfortable with Gem, obviously. But they'd never talked about something like this before-- and Snow's self-consciousness felt like a third person in the room with them, with its arms folded, ready to laugh as soon as Snow said her request out loud. She worried that Gem might laugh along with it or else look at her like she was downright stupid. A woman like her? Learning to fight?

And that self-consciousness did have a point-- or, it came from somewhere. Because even though Snow knew she needed to learn how to fight, that didn't mean that she wanted to. Her stomach fluttered and twisted nervously as she thought about it.

Well, you probably shouldn't have become a necromancer then, hm? What's wrong? You can dig up bones, but you can't throw a punch?

She took a deep breath and told the voice inside of her to shut up.

"I was... thinking that-- I don't like feeling so helpless all the time," she began, this first sentence whooshing out of her in one embarrassed breath. Her cheeks were already growing warm as her eyes darted away. "It's probably important that I--well, you know. If someone tries to grab me, I ought to be able to defend myself, right? Like-- physically."

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

"Huh? What?" Gem pulled back to look at Snow properly, baffled.

"But--you can defend yourself," he said with a laugh.

He didn't understand where she was coming from. After all, he'd seen the handiwork of her defending herself against John Cunningham. As much as he loved Snow, that mangled mess did still haunt him a little bit sometimes.

He'd watched her bring a cat back to life. She'd fixed his broken wrist, she'd kept him from the edge of death when Bill had poisoned him.

She had come back to life.

To Gem, she was one of the most powerful Magicks he knew.

"You're not helpless at all. You could've literally crushed Carmen's bones to dust. It would've been sick."

@lady-snow-flower

[lady-snow-flower]

Fight For Me🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

Carmen's attack did not leave her system.

Two days later, she was still on edge, even in places she knew that she should not be-- like the Hauntley, with Wolf guarding the perimeter, or at Hatter's in the middle of the day, where Carmen would not dare attack. It didn't matter. Her heart fluttered in her throat; she felt like a mouse darting from corner to corner every time she traveled between locations, frightened that, at any second, the cat's claws might snatch her by the tail.

She hated feeling this way. And she hated how she kept acting like this helpless little girl whenever danger crossed her path. Snow had chosen a dangerous life-- perhaps it had taken this third attack now to recognize and accept it fully. She was a necromancer. She was friends with werewolves and vampires. Her fiancé had gone to prison, twice.

She couldn't be a princess in a tower, depending on her knights, her prince, to keep her safe. At least, not all the time.

At first, Snow had dusted off the old necromantic grimoire she had dug up from Margaretha's grave (long story) and flipped through it, looking for ways to craft her magic into something dangerous. But so many of the illustrations turned her stomach-- and no matter what Jingyi thought, Snow was still her mother's daughter. There were lines she would not cross. There were risks she could not take, not with her magic. She didn't want to succumb to black magic by succumbing to her fear.

So, she needed a different way.

And that was how she ended up plopping down beside Gem on their brand new couch (!!) at All Summer, after he got home from work. She had come home early, since Maddy was working a shift for dinner, so they didn't need her.

"I have a question," she said seriously.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

The shadow of Carmen's attack hadn't left Gem's thoughts either, though he was better at compartmentalizing. He had to, or he was going to lose his mind completely. The RAS had told him that they would do their best to track Carmen down. All they could do was wait for the confirmation that she'd been apprehended.

Gem was being a good boy and not seeking her out himself and begging for his family's survival with his own life in exchange.

Though, he did keep thinking about it. It was a tantalizing thought. Sometimes more appealing than being a sitting duck and letting someone else protect his family. It was a new feeling for him. After all, Gem had always been able to protect himself. He was the thing to be feared. Or he once had been.

Now, he was useless. Pathetic. All of his hard work had been destroyed along with his magic.

He had spent the last two days beating himself up or beating nails into wood, imagining Carmen's face to pass the time. Gem was angry. Angry because he was scared. He didn't want to lose anyone else. He had already lost so much to MAFIA. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

The only thing that lifted his heart was seeing Snow and his family. Knowing they were safe. And he was glad for All Summer, which felt like a cocoon from the rest of the world, buried in the trees.

"That so?" Gem asked, putting his arms around Snow. He had just showered, so his wet hair dripped onto her shoulder. "What about?"

[outfit]

@lady-snow-flower

[gem-mohanty]

The First Day of All Summer🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

Snow could point out that he often waited for her to "get home," even if "getting home" meant traveling up two flights of stairs to her room, where Gem often stretched out while reading a book.

But she didn't. Because it was going to be different. She wouldn't be a few flights away, and otherwise, the nights Gem didn't come to Hauntley, he was home with his parents.

Though she supposed he could still go over- and should go over - for dinner with Padme and Rohan a few times a week. Actually, they both should do that...and have Gem's parents over here!

Before they did that, they needed the place to look lived-in. Not like a staging area for their boxes.

She glanced around. "Oh, it's not so bad," she said, optimistic as always. "Tomorrow morning, I can get up early and probably take care of the kitchen at least, if you don't want to tackle it now--"

She heard Gem's stomach growl, answering her question for her. She laughed again.

"And I can pick up food tomorrow! So you can come home to a full fridge. How about that plan?" She stretched up to kiss his cheek lightly.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem sighed like all of this was a big inconvenience to him, tilting his head back briefly. The kiss on his cheek had him blushing, a little smile tugging on his lips despite himself.

He couldn't help it, how could he? There was nothing in his life to complain about. He was living in a bounty of good, the kind of good he'd never had before. And he was basking in it, like a lizard on a rock. The way a cat bathed in a square of light.

There was a part of him that was still worried this was a dream. That he would wake up back in that cold prison cell, missing Snow and his family and his freedom.

But Snow kissed his cheek and the feeling lingered. Reminding him that this was real.

And they actually did have a shit ton of boxes to unpack. If they were in a dream, that part would've happened automatically, magically. All Summer would be lived in and perfect.

"That sounds good," Gem leaned in to kiss her, then he patted her ass, signaling for her to step back. "C'mon, while we wait for the food to get delivered, we can start some of the unpacking...otherwise I'm not gonna know where shit is tomorrow trying to cook. Then, after dinner we can try out the shower, mm?" He winked at her before he reached into his pocket and flipped his pocket knife to start opening one of the boxes and diving in.

@lady-snow-flower

[gem-mohanty]

To Build a Home🔥[Snow Quartz]

[lady-snow-flower]

"Fighting? How is that going to earn us anything?" she said. "Unless you make me cry, of course, and then maybe I can earn some sympathy from a few sellers here..."

She glanced around the room, seeing if anyone looked especially vulnerable.

Not that she should do that, of course! This was just hypothetical. Snow doubted she could cry on command anyway. She was a rather actress, all things considered.

@gem-mohanty

[gem-mohanty]

Gem snorted. She underestimated how uncomfortable people got when couples started even snipping at each other. All they had to do was air a few "dirty" secrets--like the fact that she was his mistress (lol) and people would be dropping prices left and right just to get them out of there.

He knew this because he was the kind of person when people realized who he was, they simply tried their damnedest to get out of his way.

"Nah, all you have to do is start snipping about how you're my mistress and they'll be falling over themselves. Let's just try it--what's the worst that could happen? We lose out on some nightstands?" Gem briefly swung his arm around her neck to pull her into a quick hug, kissing the top of her head, before letting her go as he spotted the salesperson hurrying back to them...

@lady-snow-flower

[gem-mohanty]

Would You Like to Form an Alliance?🔥[Mowell]

[gem-mohanty]

@miss-holleyshiftwell

Gem had called Belle and she had told him to get in touch with the "local branch of the RAS." Which had him rolling his eyes. Unfortunately, he had been trained to do what Belle said.

So, like a good, obedient dog, Gem took out the card that Holley had slipped under his bedroom door all those months ago. He resented the fact that he had known he should keep it. That, maybe, one day, his past would come back to haunt him.

He told Holley that he needed to speak with her, privately. Begrudgingly, he offered up All Summer for their meeting place. There were still boxes everywhere, but it was secluded and felt safe. Away from the rest of town, free of any curious ears or eyes.

When Holley arrived, Gem led her down the main hallway, turning right at the last door and took her right into the kitchen. He liked that about the house, the four doors in the hallway only gave glimpses into the various rooms. Keeping them private.

"Would you like any tea?" Gem asked, stiff as if he was a robot, programmed to do so. He kind of was. His parents and Snow both always did it when people came over, so he supposed he should too. Even if he did want to jump right into it. Waiting and making small talk made him itchy.

[outfit]

[gem-mohanty]

Straw to Sticks to Stones🔥[Snow Quartz]

In which Snow and Gem recover from the ambush, and discuss what to do next...

@lady-snow-flower

PAST RELEVANT THREADS: Location Scouting If You Give a Magical Boy a Cookie School's Out

[cw -- passing pregnancy mentions, suicidal ideation (vague)]

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SNOW: When they arrived home at All Summer, it was dark, and the house was quiet, like it was holding its breath. And for the very first time that week—and admittedly, it hadn’t been very long living here at all—Snow missed the Hauntley, if only because then they wouldn’t be alone. 

And Snow wasn’t sure they should be alone.

But Gem had insisted. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, and she couldn’t convince him, even though she knew that electric injuries could be insidious (and Gem had to know that too.) Maybe she could reason with him in the morning. But until then, they went home, and Snow gently cleaned the wound where Carmen’s electricity had entered. She applied a gentle compress, made Gem tea, and then crawled into bed with him. 

They should go to sleep. Gem needed to sleep—to rest, to recoup. Snow didn’t know if she could, though. Living in a haunted house had helped Snow fall in love with the dark, but now she was too frightened to reach over and turn off the lamp. 

Still, she should try. She gently stroked Gem’s brow. “How are you feeling? Are you tired?”

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[read here]

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